Author Interview with Karen Charles, Author of EVAN'S GIFT #authorinterview

Today we are interviewing Karen Charles, author of the children's book, Evan's Gift. 

Karen Charles grew up in West Africa and traveled to countries in Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. Her rich background and lifetime experiences are reflected in the depth of her writing. In her stories, she transforms real-life narratives into gripping fiction thrillers. Her novels intricately weave the threads of truth into a tapestry of suspense, intrigue, and riveting storytelling. She is the author of two children’s books, “Freeman Earns a Bike” and “Evan’s Gifts,” and three thrillers based on true stories. “Fateful Connections” takes place in the aftermath of 9/11, and “Blazing Upheaval” takes place during the Rodney King riots in Los Angeles and the Northridge earthquake. “A Glimpse Too Far” offers all the mystery and heart-pounding suspense of a psychological thriller and is based on a true story.

Karen Charles has two businesses—a global company that trains international teachers to teach American English and an Airbnb on a beautiful bay in Washington State, where she currently resides with her husband. 

Visit her website at www.weaveofsuspense.com. 

Connect with her on X, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Can you share a story about what brought you to this particular career path (becoming an author)?

I didn’t start out thinking, I want to be an author. I started as a teacher and a listener. For years, I worked with children during moments of real upheaval, social unrest, trauma, fear, and uncertainty. I saw how deeply children absorb what’s happening around them, even when they don’t have the words to express it.

Writing became a way for me to make sense of those experiences and to offer stories that could help others do the same. Whether I’m writing for adults or children, my goal has always been to tell stories that heal, that open conversations, and that remind us of our shared humanity. Evan’s Gift came from that same place, wanting to reach children early, before the world hardens them.

Your latest book, Evan's Gift, is a delightful children's book that teaches kindness and empathy. How did you come up with this idea? 

The story is based on my experience as a kid earning my own bike, growing up in Africa.

The idea came from watching how children respond to kindness, both when they receive it and when they give it. I’ve seen classrooms change because of one child’s gentle act or quiet courage.

Evan’s Gift grew out of the belief that kindness is not small or passive; it’s powerful. I wanted to create a story that shows children that they already have something meaningful to offer the world, simply by noticing others and choosing compassion. Evan doesn’t have superpowers; his “gift” is something every child can access, and that was very important to me.

 

Can you tell us about the main character in the book? 

Evan is a thoughtful, observant child. He’s not the loudest or the most outgoing, but he pays attention. He notices when others are hurting or left out. Evan represents so many children who feel deeply but don’t always know how to express it.

What makes Evan special is that he learns his kindness matters, that even small actions can ripple outward and change how people feel about themselves and each other.

 

Can you tell us about the other characters in the book? 

The other characters are the people in Evan’s world—friends, classmates, roommates, and adults, who are affected by his kindness. They’re intentionally relatable because I wanted children to see themselves and their own communities in the story.

Each character reflects a different emotional experience, helping young readers recognize feelings like loneliness, gratitude, and connection in a gentle, age-appropriate way.

What is the very first line of your book?

Cough! Sputter! Bang! R-O-A-R! The little plane’s engine finally caught, vibrating the whole cabin.

What is the main reason people should read your book?

Kindness and empathy are skills we have to nurture, especially in children. Evan’s Gift opens the door to meaningful conversations at home, in classrooms, and in counseling spaces about how our actions affect others.

It’s a story that reassures children that they matter and empowers them to make a difference simply by being who they are. In today’s world, that message feels more important than ever.

You are a person of enormous influence. If you could  start a movement that would bring the most amount  of good to the most amount of people, what would  that be? 

I would start a kindness-and-listening movement, one that teaches children and adults alike to truly see one another. Not just to react, but to pause, notice, and respond with compassion.

If we could raise children who understand empathy, who know their feelings matter and that the feelings of others do too, I truly believe we would change schools, communities, and eventually the world. Evan’s Gift is a small part of that larger hope.

When Evan trades his dream of a new bike for compassion, he discovers the greatest gift of all—helping others. Perfect for classrooms and families, “Evan’s Gift” celebrates empathy, courage, and the beauty of giving in a warm, uplifting story about generosity and the power of choosing kindness.

• Genre:children’s fiction
• Sub-genre:Social Themes / Friendship
• Age Range (years):5 – 12
• Language:English
• Pages: 48
• Paperback ISBN:9798317824341
• Publisher: BookBaby

Ethan’s Gift is available at BookBaby.

If you like:

Adventure

Empathy

Courage

Friendship

Generosity

Kindness

You’ll love this book!

Author Interview with Evy Journey, Author of ARTSY RAMBLER #authorinterview

Today we are interviewing Evy Journey, author of the nonfiction, art and travel book, Artsy Rambler: Mindful Journeys to Paris and Beyond. 

Evy Journey writes. Stories. Blogs (three sites). Cross-genre novels. She’s also a wannabe artist, and a flâneuse (an ambler).

Evy studied psychology (M.A., University of Hawaii; Ph.D. University of Illinois) initially to help her understand herself and Dostoevsky. Now, she spins tales about nuanced multicultural characters negotiating separate realities. She believes in love and its many faces.

Just as she has crossed genres in writing fiction, she has also crossed cultures, having lived and traveled in various cities in different countries. Find her thoughts on travel, art, and food at Artsy Rambler.

She has one ungranted wish: to live in Paris where art is everywhere and people have honed aimless roaming to an art form. She visits and stays a few months when she can.

Evy’s latest book is Artsy Rambler: Mindful Journeys to Paris and Beyond.

Visit her website at https://evyjourney.net.

Connect with her on social media at:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/evictoriajourney

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eveonalimb2

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/evy-journey 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14845365.Evy_Journey 

Can you share a story about what brought you to this particular career path (becoming an author)?

I’ll quote a few passages from the book that address this question:

At the beginning of high school, I knew I wanted to keep writing. Maybe, I thought it would give me the best chance to go places, see what I wanted to see, and write about it. So, when I was in my senior year, I asked my parents (who held a tight rein on the moolah) if I could major in journalism. 

But they said, “No way! The only real careers that would earn more than enough to live on are in science. Why not chemistry?”

I tried chemistry for a couple of years but it didn’t work for me. My parents agreed to a compromise and I switched to psychology. Presumably, to pursue a career in psychology, you needed to go to graduate school. Grad school required a lot of writing. Academic writing. For relief from my academic rut, I tried haiku and I wrote travel journals and short stories.

The leap from short stories to novels proved to be a short one. I focused on made-up happy stories tinged with emotional angst. I dealt daily with sad stories and saw too many depressing ones in my job. I couldn’t spend hours writing about them. 

Your latest book, Artsy Rambler: Mindful Journey's to Paris and Beyond, centers around unveiling the beauty and complexity of the world around you by unleashing the power of art as you satisfy your wanderlust. How did you come up with the idea to write this?

I believe the germ of an idea for this book began on my very first trip to Europe, decades ago. Once again, a quote, this time not from my book, but my first travel journal:

Today, after downtown Athens, we visit the Acropolis that the local guide Maria, a fascinating well-informed Greek lady full of warmth, brings back to life for us. I’m awed by the glory that lived here so many centuries before the British empire. The Acropolis is a well-thought-out piece of engineering and architectural wonder made to stand, it seems, for infinity. The Parthenon in particular had been built as a monument as well as a center of culture to be enjoyed by all Greeks.

Seeing artistic creations in my travels made me realize over and over that art has much to tell us, not only about the beauty of the world around us, but also about life, including its hazards. Pablo Picasso’s Guernica, for instance, deals with the ravages of war. Art movements show us man’s need to change, to innovate and create. When Edouard Manet defied the French Academie des Beaux-Arts rules to paint Le Dejeuner sur l’herbe, it energized a young group of artists to produce what may now be the most popular art style, Impressionism.

 

What's the first line of your book? 

From the Prologue: How It All Began:

I ran after my brothers and their friends—empty cans in their hands—as they rushed to a pond to catch tadpoles.

 

What's the main reason someone should really read your book? Out of all the places you have traveled, which have you fallen in love with more? 

As to the first question, I think one editorial review says it best: art and travel are not collectibles to be amassed and hoarded but tools for reflection, empathy, and self-discovery.

For me, art, particularly when combined with journeys into other cultures, is transformative. 

Because art means a lot to me, I fell in love with Paris. “Why” is dealt with in Paris, Je T’aime, the first chapter after the Prologue. Art, though, has not been the only draw. Cuisine, of course, and other cultural activities the city offers. 

Were there any places you wouldn't ever go to again even if your life depended on it? 

Not among the places my husband and I visited. You get some kind of an advisory on hazards when you apply for a visa to go to another country and we pretty much allowed that kind of info to guide us in our travels. 

You are a person of enormous influence. If you could  start a movement that would bring the most amount  of good to the most amount of people, what would  that be? 

What bothers me the most right now is something that might be considered esoteric, but could lead to man-made catastrophes. It’s the notion of “Other-ness.” It’s not just about racial or social class differences and discrimination, although those might be the most obvious and the most likely to be fatal. They have led to genocides by the Nazis, the Khmer Rouge—much less well-known than the massacre of Jews—and a few others. 

Most countries have this problem—from insidious to blatant. I’d start a foundation that studies this problem and develops ways to significantly reduce it. Meantime, I’d find ways to help people in countries where this problem is a serious threat to its people. 

Art and literature could be one of the initial means to bring awareness to this problem. One that stands out for me is Adam Johnson’s The Orphan Master’s Son, a Pulitzer-prize-winning novel I’ve reviewed. It does an excellent job of showing the dystopian-like reality of life in North Korea. 

Experience the transformative power of art when you see the rich and vibrant city of Paris through the eyes of a mindful artsy traveler. From the light-inspired grandeur of Gothic cathedrals and the fresh beauty of Impressionism, sinuous forms that speak to our innate sense of beauty, and the rare library that helps one define oneself; to the role of French cuisine and cultural events in shaping the city’s uniqueness, this collection of essays will take you on a journey of discovery and self-reflection.

Amidst the charm and allure of Paris and its art, questions arise and conflicts are explored. Can art truly enrich our understanding of life? Can it help extricate us from constantly waging wars? And how does a urinal become a symbol of controversy that challenges our conception of art?

If you enjoyed “A Moveable Feast” by Ernest Hemingway, this thought-provoking and sometimes meditative collection of essays will unveil the beauty and complexity of the world around you by unleashing the power of art as you satisfy your wanderlust.

Read sample here.

Artsy Rambler: Mindful Journeys to Paris and Beyond is available at Amazon.