Interview with Karen Autio

Hello, dear readers! I’m delighted to share an interview with local author Karen Autio, whose newest chapter book, Kah-Lan and the Stink-Ink, was released earlier this month. Enjoy!

Please introduce yourself to our readers!

Thanks, Jane, for inviting me to your blog! I write animal stories and historical fiction and nonfiction for young readers. When I’m not writing, presenting to students, or working as a freelance editor, I love canoeing and photographing nature and wildlife.

I’m a voracious reader and dream of travelling again. Raised in Nipigon, ON, I now live in Kelowna, BC.

You have a new book out—tell us all about it!

Happy to! Kah-Lan and the Stink-Ink (Crwth Press) is a chapter book for ages 7+ illustrated by the talented Emma Pedersen. Young Kah-Lan eagerly leaves his raft to explore the ocean. But it’s a dangerous place to survive on his own. After locating two other young males to raft with, they encounter trouble, finding themselves on a mysterious journey.

How did you first become a published author?

My life-long passion for stories became a drive to write my own. Family history and the journey of a silver spoon inspired my first book. After my writing workshop mentor critiqued one chapter of my manuscript, she told her publisher about my historical novel and encouraged me to submit once completed. I submitted it to several publishers, received some rejections, then was thrilled when my mentor’s publisher said yes.

It sounds like Kah-Lan’s story has taken a bit of a winding journey. Can you tell us a bit about Kah-Lan’s publishing story?

I fell in love at the Vancouver Aquarium…with sea otters! Besides their cuteness, the ability of these mammals to thrive in the cold ocean intrigued me. Curious about adventures a young sea otter could experience, I wrote (and illustrated) my original Kah-Lan story for a children’s literature course.

Once I set the goal to find a publisher, I needed the persistence of Kah-Lan himself as it took many revisions and five rejections before my dream finally came true. Kah-Lan the Adventurous Sea Otter came out in 2015, illustrated by Sheena Lott. The idea for another Kah-Lan book began brewing. Based on the outline and first chapters, I had a signed contract for Kah-Lan and the Stink-Ink.

What is your favourite part of the writing process?

Researching! Writing the first draft? Not so much. That can be daunting. But having the first draft to revise? That’s interesting and fun…until it isn’t. When I’m stuck, unable to identify what’s not working in my story, honest feedback from my writers’ group that illuminates how to solve the problem is pure gold. I used to find it difficult to have my writing critiqued, but I’ve learned my critique partners only want to make the story better.

Can you describe how you go about writing your books?

I started out writing whatever came to mind—no outline. But after finishing my first book, Second Watch, the process felt too chaotic. Now I start with a sparse outline, flesh it out in detail, then write directly on the computer. Book ideas begin with a concept, adventure, or historical event followed by figuring out the characters.

I need quiet when writing. When I need a break, I enjoy the view from my desk of sky, treetops, and birds.

Are you working on any stories right now?

Making Seaker (Crwth Press, 2021) is a STEM middle grade novel about friendship and kids with out-of-the-ordinary interests. I have picture book manuscripts under consideration by publishers. Ideas keep popping up (thankfully!), so I continue researching and writing new stories.

A big thank you to Karen for sharing her thoughts with us, and if Emma’s illustrations look familiar, it’s because she also did the wonderful artwork for my picture book Queenie Quail Can’t Keep Up! Be sure to check out Kah-Lan and the Stink Ink at your local bookshop!