Karin Beery, Author
Hopeful Fiction with a Healthy Dose of Romance
Karin Beery is a Michigan-born storyteller who writes the kind of fiction many of us crave—hopeful, heartfelt, and sprinkled with just the right amount of romance. Whether she’s crafting small-town love stories or diving into the messy, meaningful parts of everyday life, Karin’s goal is always the same: to leave readers feeling a little more encouraged than when they started.
She’s the author of several contemporary romances and rom-coms, including Summer Plans and Other Disasters, Practically Married, Avoiding Marriage, Finally Forever, and her newest entry in the Novak Sisters series, Curveball on the Dance Floor. Karin also shares her editing expertise with fellow writers through her popular nonfiction guide, How to Edit Your Novel: Practical Tips for Strengthening Your Story.
KP - As a lifetime writer, I'm always on the prowl for helpful books to guide me through the editing process. One day, I discovered Karin Beery’s “How to Edit Your Novel: Practical Tips for Strengthening Your Story” and read it cover to cover, filling the book with sticky notes and highlighted text. Her clear instructions—paired with practical examples—were exactly what I needed to hone my writing.
In February 2024, I had the pleasure of serving on the launch team for Karin’s novel Finally Forever, Book 1 in the Novak Sisters Series—a sweet romance featuring former competitive dancer Caroline Novak and All-American defensive end Ben Allen. Then, in October 2025, she released Curveball on the Dance Floor, Book 2 in the series, which is at the top of my TBR list!
Editor. Mentor. Novelist. Karin truly does it all.
Welcome, Karin Beery.
About Karin’s Book
KP - What inspired you to write this book, and how did the idea first take shape?
KB - I originally wrote this Curveball to be a novella follow-up to Finally Forever. For several reasons, I turned it into a full-length novel as part of my first trilogy. I love reading trilogies and I know others who do too, so I decided to try it. As I have two sisters, I thought my first attempt at a series should be about sisters.
KP - Are any of your characters inspired by real people in your life?
KB - Christine (the female lead in Curveball) was inspired by my younger sister, who is also a high school PE teacher and former softball player.
KP - Which part of the book was the most challenging to write, and why?
KB - The whole thing! I thought it would be easy to make it novel length, but so much of the timelines in Finally Forever and Curveball overlap that it was way more complicated than I anticipated.
KP - Do you have a favorite scene, passage, or character in this work?
KB - My favorite scene is Tony and Chris celebrating after she competes in the dance competition. I won't say more because I don't want to spoil it!
KP - What do you hope readers will carry with them after finishing your book?
KB - My primary goal for all my books is entertainment--I want readers to feel like they had a nice break from reality for a while. The next goal: hope. I hope that my stories will help stir hope in the hearts of my readers.
Chris can handle a curveball at the diamond. Can she handle one on the dance floor?
Christine Novak doesn’t shy away from physical challenges until her older sister needs help on the dance floor. Though she prefers cleats to heels, Chris agrees to help—it’s only for four weeks and for a good cause. But dancing doesn’t come as naturally as throwing a ball, so her sister calls in backup. Handsome, talented, experienced backup.
Tony Caldwell—champion ballroom dancer and Chris’s first childhood crush—agrees to show her the steps, but between her memories of him ago and the ten-year age gap, Chris struggles to keep her feet in place. Determined to help her succeed, Tony steps out the studio to prove to Chris that she can dance, and that he’s not who she thinks he is.
Extra practices and time together do more than boost Chris’s confidence. As her nerves subside and reality replaces her memories, Chris and Tony become more than dance partners, but their new adult connection might not be enough to overcome the past that catches up to them.
Available on Amazon now.
Writing Process & Craft
KP - Please describe your writing process. Do you outline extensively (plotter) or discover as you go (pantser)?
KB - I'm a character-first writer, so I don't plot my stories, but I do a lot of work on my characters before I start writing them: what are their personalities, what are they trying to achieve and why, how will they change throughout the story? I start there, then think of a few plot points I want to include and ask myself: how could I get these people from point A to point B in a realistic way?
KP - Do you follow a daily writing routine? If so, what does it look like?
KB - I do not. I'm the primary caregiver to my special-needs aunt and for my mom in many ways, as well as the homemaker and a book editor. My schedule needs to be flexible to accommodate their schedules, and setting daily writing times/goals has never worked for me. Instead, I have two months out of the year when I focus on writing first drafts; I spend the rest of the year editing/revising. I HAVE to set specific writing times for myself, though, so I take it a week at a time--one week I'll have a couple of hours, another week I can fit in eight.
KP - How do you handle writer’s block or creative slowdowns?
KB - Plow through them. I used to take time off for those, but it resulted in very little output. Now, I force my way through--you can always edit it later.
KP - Are there any writers or books that shape your style?
KB - Allie Pleiter's The Chunky Method taught me how to embrace my crazy schedule and still be productive without writing a specific amount every day. The Complete Writer's Guide to Heroes & Heroines by Cowden, LaFever, and Viders was a game changer for characterization. For plotting, I love Plot and Structure by James Scott Bell and Save the Cat! Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody.
Looking Ahead
KP - Are you already working on your next project? If so, can you share a glimpse?
KB - I'm finishing the Novak sisters series with the story about Carmen (the middle sister) and her boss/housemate, Tag. It's my first attempt at a grumpy/sunshine romance.
KP - How do you see your work evolving in the future?
KB - I've never done well without boundaries (I hated class assignments to "write about anything"), so I'm learning to create my own boundaries to help me succeed. Scheduling writing times was the first step. The next is using an online random-info generator to pick my next book's story tropes! My favorite books/movies are dramadies--dramas with a lot of comedy, so I'd like to tackle more series topics but with a comedic flair. I would also like to try writing a cozy mystery series.
KP - What kind of stories do you hope to keep telling?
KB - My brand is hopeful fiction with a healthy dose of romance, and that's where I'd like to stay.
Learn More About Karin
For more information, please visit Karin’s website.