Karen, welcome to TRR! Tell us about yourself.

I was born in the Philippines and, like the heroine of COFFEE AND KUNG FU, I am the daughter of overseas missionaries. After high school at a boarding school in Manila, I came back to the US for college and got as far as the oral exam for the PhD in European history before discovering that academics was not my cup of tea! (You would think I'd have figured it out earlier...I'm a slow learner!)

Are you coming to romance writing from another job?

If you can call being a graduate student another job... :) Other than that, I've mostly had a long string of unpleasant office temp jobs. Believe it or not, my favorite job (no kidding) was cleaning motel rooms for a little family-owned motel on the edge of town. I got to turn on the clock radios and open the windows onto the fields and woods behind the motel while I worked. Fresh air and no one to notice while I yodeled along to my favorite songs! I loved it. Except when the Connely brothers came through and had certain non-flushing contests in the bathroom...but that's another story! :)

What led you to write romance?

I am a longtime reader and I used to read something in the neighborhood of about 400 books a year (I have less time for pleasure reading now). When I sat down to write, I assumed romance would be the logical place for me. But everyone (editors, agents, contest judges...everyone) said my heroines were too sarcastic, my heros weren't heroic enough, my plots were too complicated....I got so depressed I sat down and wrote the book I wanted to write and that book was COFFEE AND KUNG FU. (And no, I wasn't fantasizing about using the dragon fist on any editors or agents when I wrote it....) So COFFEE AND KUNG FU isn't a strict romance (at least by the standards of editors, agents, and contest judges!) although there is definitely a romance in it.

Tell us about your road to publication.

I wrote my first romance in 2000. It won the Fabulous Five Silver Quill (the Wisconsin RWA chapter's contest for unpubbed writers) in romantic suspense. The editor requested it, and I thought I was a published author for sure. Until the editor left the house two weeks after I sent in the manuscript and I got a form rejection from Harlequin signed "Sincerely, The Editors." After that, I decided I needed an agent. I had 174 rejections on 4 manuscripts before my agent called to offer me representation. She sold the book about a month after sending it out. Proof positive that a good agent is definitely the way to go. (And no, I can't tell you who she is, because she's already overwhelmed with queries and she would send knee-crushers to my house if I put her name out in public!)

What kind of research was involved for your first book?

None, really. I already love and own all the Kung Fu movies mentioned in the book. The hardest part was changing the setting to Boston, as that wasn't where the book took place originally.

Tell us about your debut book.

A quick synopsis of COFFEE AND KUNG FU:

The daughter of overseas missionaries, twenty-six-year-old Nicci Bradford must confront her life and her future in the United States. To help her, she has philosophy and insight from classic Kung-Fu movies starring Jackie Chan. Although she feels a strong connection with a rootless wanderer named Ethan, who works at a nearby Boston coffee shop, Nicci finds herself being sucked into the shallow world of "proper" and "normal" in US society. In the end, she is faced with a fork in the road: to go along and become the proper all-American woman with the beige house on the cul- de-sac or to break free and follow her dreams.

Who are your influences as a writer?

The list is rather broad. Penelope Williamson, because she isn't afraid of emotions; Mary Jo Putney, because her stories grab you and suck you in; Neal Stephenson, for the wonderful, snappy way he uses the English language; George Orwell, for his simple but beautifully descriptive style; and Georges Simenon, because he can put you into 1930's Paris with three words or less!

What does your family think of having a published author in their midst?

I don't think they were surprised I would try to write a book--they always encouraged me to follow dreams. I do think they were surprised I actually published one.

Tell us about plans for future books.

I have another book, SEPARATION ANXIETY, coming out (tentatively) in June 2004. It will be another NAL trade paperback, but while it has the same "voice" as COFFEE AND KUNG FU, it is different. A bit darker and a bit more emotional, perhaps. I'm excited about it, but I'm a little afraid, too. As an author, I'm always stretching myself and trying to grow. SEPARATION ANXIETY reflects that attempt, and that is a little nerve wracking!

How can readers get in touch with you?

I have a website: http://www.karenbrichoux.com and there's an email link there, or you can send an e-mail to email@karenbrichoux.com.

Karen, thank you for joining us and best of luck with Coffee and Kung Fu!

July 11, 2003