Literary Birthday – 14 May – Karen M. McManus

Happy Birthday, Karen M. McManus, born on 14 May 1969.

Karen M. McManus Quotes

1. Ideas can come from all kinds of places…  I’ve also gotten ideas while watching crime shows, reading profiles of prominent families, and from conversations with interesting people. (FAQs)
2. I started writing stories in second grade, but stopped in high school when it became difficult to finish books. I went to college and did many other things until I read The Hunger Games in 2014 and was inspired to start writing again. I wrote two books, before One of Us Is Lying, that helped me learn my craft. (FAQs)
3. My number one piece of advice is to connect with other writers at the same stage of the publication journey as you are, and exchange work with them. Getting and giving constructive feedback is essential to development! (FAQs)
4. I’m naturally drawn to dark topics and how people react when they’re thrust into a situation that scares or confuses them, but I like to balance that with hope and humour. (FAQs)
5. Create detailed character worksheets for each main character, including notes on their personality, their family, how they look/dress/talk, their likes and dislikes, and anything else that pops into your head! Even if you don’t use all of it in the book, it will help you get to know them better. (Get Underlined)
6. Create urgency with a countdown. It doesn’t have to be a literal ticking clock—any looming threat will work. (Get Underlined)
7. Read for craft, especially in the genre you want to write. Note what captures your attention, and what makes it wander. (Get Underlined)
8. Opening chapters in particular can be fun to analyze, and because they’re often requested by agents along with your query letter, they are important to get right. If a book draws you in right from the start, analyze why and apply that to your own writing. (Get Underlined)
9. I listen to music while drafting, and have put a couple of my playlists on Spotify. (FAQs)

Karen M. McManus is a bestselling American thriller author. She is known for creating suspenseful plots and complex characters. Her young adult books have been #1 New York Times, USA Today, and international bestsellers. Her first novel, One of Us Is Lying, spent more than five years on The New York Times Best Seller list, Her work includes the One of Us Is Lying series, which was turned into a television show, as well as the standalone young adult novels Two Can Keep a Secret, The Cousins, You’ll Be the Death of Me, Nothing More to Tell, and Such Charming Liars. McManus’ acclaimed, award-winning books have been translated into 42 languages. Entertainment Weekly says, ‘When it comes to YA suspense, Karen M. McManus is in a league of her own.’ Her adult debut, Dying to Be Us, will be released in 2027. Follow her on Instagram.

Source for image: Author’s website, Kaitlyn Litchfield Photography

by Amanda Patterson

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