Meet Karen E. Osborne

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Karen E. Osborne. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Karen below.

Karen, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.

As a child, my father was always disappointed in me and my mother surprised, incredulous in fact, if I did anything right. Lose/Lose. Fortunately, I was smart and my father gave me the gifts of reading and books. Siblings, aunties, cousins, grandmothers, loved me. My teachers encouraged me. Still, all through school, college at age 16, marriage at 20, and motherhood, I felt less than. Shy and timid, I sought outside confirmation for everything from how I wore my hair, to the clothes I wore, my weight, parenting skills, and my passion — writing. Poems and short stories received rejection letters or silence.

Then something wonderful happened. A friend introduced me to teaching. She led workshops on various empowerment and leadership topics and taught me how to do the same. I was good at it and invitations from places as far away as Australia and South Africa arrived. But, I still read every evaluation with trepidation, and dwelled on the one criticism. Was that from the guy in the third row, second seat? Why didn’t he like the workshop? What did I do wrong?

I found a wonderful therapist. What a gift. I healed, grew, and stopped searching for the one person who didn’t like my work. But it wasn’t until I was in my sixties, that I returned to my passion. Rejection letters are tough. But I had armor now. I believed in myself. I trusted my beta readers and put myself out there.

My first novel — Getting It Right, came out in 2017. I cried with joy when my agent presented the contract and advance. Essence Magazine named it a Must Read. Then came a drought. Doubts resurfaced but I didn’t quit. 78 rejections. Query number 79 received an enthusiastic Yes! In 2021, Tangled Lies, an award-winning murder mystery launched, followed by Reckonings in 2022, an award-winning family drama. True Grace, an award-winning historical fiction novel came out last year and novel number five, another murder mystery, is scheduled for March 2025.

I feel incredibly grateful. It’s been a journey.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

After a long career as an international consultant and trainer, I retired and turned my attention to full time writing. Although I still volunteer a LOT.

I love book clubs. Book talks and signings are exciting. I enjoy meeting readers, listening to their reactions to themes, characters, and stories. Readers make me a better writer.

The issues I focus on in my novels are overcoming trauma, the damage from secrets and lies, and the hope of redemption and forgiveness. Foster care, adoption, and what it means to be a family, shows up in my stories. In my next novel, a murder mystery, a weave in themes about being homeless and the impact on families.

I will be at Reading Between The Vines Book Talk and Signing, September 15 at 11:00 a.m.
Hook and Ladder Winery, 2134 Olivet Road, Santa Clara CA. If you’re in the area, please come by for good wine and an interesting conversation.

Heading to NY for Book Talk and Signing, November 6 at Harrison Public Library, 2 Bruce Ave. Harrison, NY. This will be virtual as well. Check my website for links as the event gets closer.

Plus, I will be a guest on a several upcoming podcasts including Bookaholic, Authors Who Lead, Tell Her This, and Literary Entertainment! Live Author Interviews. I’ll post the dates on my website as they become known.

Finally, I host a weekly video podcast interviewing fellow authors — What Are You Reading? What Are You Writing? Amazing and interesting people and stories. Come meet your next favorite author and books every Tuesday. www.KarenEOsborne.com/blog-1
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There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

For writers getting started.

1. Focus on your craft. Read, take classes, workshop your work.
2. Writers write. Try to write every day or at least every week.
3. Finish a project. So many writers quit early or mid way. Finish. It is an accomplishment.

For gaining self esteem and confidence.
1. Be brave. Step out there.
2. Ask people who love and know you, what they admire about you.
3. Read the list on a regular basis as a reminder of what an fine person you are.
4. Therapy can really make a difference.

Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?

I am grateful for so many excellent people who’ve encouraged and helped me. The list is really long. And my heart is filled with gratitude.

That list is topped by husband Bob. We met when we were 13 and 14 years old. Married at 20 and 21. 56 years later, he is still my best friend, and biggest cheerleader.

He helped me secure jobs, taught me management at the kitchen table, supported me when I quit my job (in a huff), helped me start my consulting and training career, and reads my novel manuscripts several times each before I send them to my publisher.

He believed in me when I didn’t. Each of my novels are dedicated to him.

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