KARLY LANE writes Rural and Women’s Fiction set in small country towns, blending contemporary stories with historical heritage.
She is a passionate advocate for rural Australia, with a focus on rural communities and current issues.
Good Reading caught up with her as she released her 24th book, Twist of Fate.
ABOUT THE BOOK
At 29 years old, single, living in a very small country town, and working in the same job she’s had since she left school, some would say Bel Buckley’s life is mediocre at best.
But Bel is content and always escapes to her beloved romance novels whenever she feels a bit lonely. No matter how hopeless a situation seems, there’s always a hero to swoop in and save the day with a happily-ever-after at the end.
Despite her best friend, Emma, trying to set her up with every eligible man in town, no one holds a light to Bel’s perfect hero: Jax Lexington. Bel owns every book in the outrageously romantic series and loves them.
Emma is concerned about her obsession, but Bel knows the line between fantasy and reality . . . until the day Jax Lexington arrives in town.
Her fictional hero is real – and he’s best man at her cousin’s wedding.
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MEET KARLY LANE
What did you think you’d do as a career when you were young?
I remember having a number of careers in mind: a vet, a sheep station owner … think that one came after being obsessed with The Thorn Birds!
The last thing I ever thought of becoming was a middle-aged, crazy farm-lady, author, with an addiction to buying too many goats and horses, but here I am …
What was your first job?
I worked as a bank teller. Which is ironic considering I can’t add up to save my life!
When did you start writing novels and what inspired your first story?
My first attempt to write a book was back in the early ’90s but I had no idea what I was doing. I later tried again mid 2000s and after joining Romance Writers of Australia I became published in 2010 with Allen &Unwin bringing out my first Rural Fiction, North Star.
Using the advice of ‘writing what you know’ I decided to use my own experience of moving back to my home town with my children, after a divorce. Luckily for me, publishers were looking for rural fiction and my book fit the genre perfectly.
Twist of Fate is your 24th novel. How have you fitted it all in with four kids? What’s your secret?
It seems incredible and hard to believe I have so many books! I think most parents know that when you have a big family, you just have to make time for things or it won’t get done. That’s what I had to do with my writing.
I would take advantage of any spare moment I had to write. Play School, Wiggles and Hi5 were my saviours when the kids were young. Nowadays they’re all (mostly) grown ups so I get to write in a much more civilised way doing 9-5 hours.
Rural fiction has become a force in publishing. What do you think it is about this genre that resonates with readers so much?
As a reader, I know that I, personally, am always looking for books set in Australia, so I guess readers really enjoy reading stories set in familiar places. I think the characters and issues are also very relatable.
Can you tell us a little about Twist of Fate and what inspired the story?
Twist of Fate is set around bookworm, Belle, who has an obsession with romance novels and the hero of her favourite series, Jax Lexington. Her best friend just wants her to find a good man to settle down with, but no man can ever compare to Jax and why would she settle for less?
Then one day, her hero arrives in town. Technically, he’s in town for her cousin’s wedding, but he was the very image of Jax Lexington!
Twist of Fate was inspired by the question: What would happen if a fictional character stepped out of a book?
What experiences in your own life do you find help to inform your stories?
I think life experience is a great teacher. Personally, I’ve had a lot of changes in my life, and I think it gives you a different view on things like relationships and love. I’ve also been able to draw on my love of animals and farming, which I often feature and use in my books.
When not writing what do you most love doing?
I love being on the back of a motor bike, exploring places near and far, and travelling.
If you could travel back in time, what would you tell the young Karly as she was just about to start on her life journey?
Trust the process and embrace the life lessons.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Karly Lane lives on the beautiful mid-North Coast of New South Wales, and she is the proud mum of four children and an assortment of four-legged animals.
Before becoming an author, Karly worked as a pathology collector. Now, after surviving three teenage children and with one more to go, she’s confident she can add referee, hostage negotiator, law enforcer, peacekeeper, ruiner-of-social-lives, driving instructor and expert-at silently-counting-to-10 to her resume.
When she isn’t at her keyboard, Karly can be found hanging out with her beloved horses and dogs, happily ignoring the housework.
Twist of Fate is her 24th novel.
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