Historical Fiction
Date Published: 10-10-2024
Publisher: Books to Go Now
Amidst the devastation of World War I, a young American woman named Abigale
Belorman discovers a profound calling: to restore hope to the WWI wounded
soldiers. In France they were called ‘Gueules Cassees’, or
‘Broken Faces’. Using her sculpting skills, she begins crafting
intricate masks that conceal the scars of war, offering a semblance of
normalcy to those who have endured unimaginable suffering.
Colm Harp, a skilled metalsmith, is driven by his own wounds and a personal
tragedy to join Abigale's mission. His younger brother, Danny, has returned
from the war with devastating facial injuries, and Colm is determined to
give him a chance at a life worth living. Together, Colm and Abigale embark
on a journey of compassion and resilience, their work becoming a beacon of
hope for countless wounded soldiers.
As they navigate the challenges of war-torn Europe and the
limitations of early 20th-century medicine, Abigale and Colm discover the
transformative power of human will. Their story is a testament to the
resilience of the human spirit, the enduring power of love, and the
extraordinary lengths people will go to make a difference in the
world.
War changes all their lives, but if you can improve one
person’s life, is yours not for the better? What if you could help
hundreds? What would you give up?
Interview
What is the hardest part of writing your books?
CK: Having to cut a scene that you really like but there’s really no reason to include it. That and keeping track of character and scene details when I have gaps of time between certain events.
JC: Finding the time to do it. The age-old writer’s problem.
What are your most played songs?
CK: Time to Say Goodbye, Nights in White Satin, Paint it Black, Unchained Melody, and Stayin’ Alive
JC: Broadway show tunes, always. Give me some boys who can sing. And anything by Crowded House or the Beatles. Being from the Seattle area a little Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters, Nirvana, Soundgarden, and Death Cab for Cutie thrown in.
Do you have critique partners or beta readers?
CK: Yes. I have two critique partners and a couple of beta readers as well.
JC: Of course. We have been together for over 13 years and I couldn’t do it without them! Also, beta readers are helpful to find errors or plot holes.
What book are you reading now?
CK: Fools & Mortals by Bernard Cornwell
JC: Sarina Bowen (contemporary romance) and Sarah Maclean (historical romance). I just joined a horror book group through our library and reading an HP Lovecraft St the Mountains of Madness in a Manga version. It’s very cool! When I find an author I like, I usually go back through their catalog and read their backlist.
How did you start your writing career?
CK: My mother was a voracious reader and I learned to love books from her. I used to read and think how I’d change a story or the same with movies. I had this story in my head for years. After I retired, I decided to finally write the story. I did and while I worked on it, I went to writer’s workshops and read books on the craft and kept trying to learn. It took a couple of years but I got my story to the point that a small house offered to publish the book. I’ve continued with different series since then and now have 13 novels in publication.
JC: I have always dabbled in it from a young age. When I grew serious about it fifteen years ago, I had a bad experience with a big publishing house. This made me decide to start my own publishing house with Books to Go Now and have taken 400 or so authors along with me on the journey.
Tell us about your next release.
CK: I just released a book called Broken Faces, which I co-authored with Jennifer Conner, one of my critique partners and a prolific writer herself. It is sent in WW1 and loosely based on an actual woman who made masks for veterans who returned terribly disfigured. There are pictures in the back of the book of men she helped.
JC: I'm currently developing a prequel screenplay to my award-winning horror screenplay, 'Starvation Heights.' This project, inspired by a true historical event that occurred only a mile down the road from me. It delves into the chilling story of a woman who lured wealthy women clientele to her establishment under the guise of 'curing their ailments.' Tragically, these women were subjected to starvation and ultimately met their demise, while the perpetrator profited from their life insurance policies. Fun times
About the Authors
Broken Faces is a collaborative new fiction from Chris Karlsen, the winner
of the NYC Big Book Award and Chanticeer’s Global First Prize for
historical suspense.
Jennifer Conner has over 80 books and has landed in the Amazon top twenty
authors.
Contact Links
Chris Karlsen
Jennifer Conner Website
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