Wrong Line, Right Connection

 Wild Women Authors welcomes author Karina Bartow as she celebrates the release of Wrong Line, Right Connection, a Vintage Rose romance, recently released by the Wild Rose Press. With Karina is phone operator Mabel Banks who will go first.

Good morning, Mabel. Thanks for joining us today. Let’s start with where you are from. Louisville, Kentucky.

Tell us a bit about Wrong Line, Right Connection. It’s the story of what started as one of my most humiliating experiences and ended as one of my best. I was working as a switchboard operator back in 1964, where an out-of-towner, Roy Stentz, rang up my station. He came to Louisville for business and needed me to connect him with the steel factory. His deep voice frazzled me so much that I connected him with the wrong place, not once but twice! I succeeded on my third attempt, and to my amazement, the fella asked me on a date to see if I was better at that than my job. 

What did you think the first time you saw Roy? He was tall and as handsome as I imagined.

What was your second thought? What if he’s married? In our three conversations, he never mentioned a wife, but how could I know he didn’t have one?

Do you feel it was love at first sight? I wouldn’t go that far, but I had a hunch I’d enjoy seeing him again if circumstances allowed.

What do you like most about Roy? His genuineness. He never hid anything from me, even though the way we met would’ve allowed him to. He’d probably say I’m the one who holds things close to the chest.

How would you describe him? He’s tall and handsome, as I said, but his inner qualities outshine his charm—which says a lot, believe me. He’s so accepting of people, and he’s made me a better person. 

How would Roy describe you? It depends on the day! He’ll be the first to tell you what a ditz I am, but I make him smile. I’m sure he’d call me stubborn, and he wouldn’t be wrong. I put him through his paces!

What made you choose to work as a switchboard operator? It was my first job out of high school, and I went back later in life when I fell on hard times. I enjoy interacting with people, especially in short spurts like that.

What is your biggest fear? Compromising who I am to please somebody else.

How do you relax? I love playing with my dog and spending time with my friends and family. 

Who is your favorite fictional character? Lucy Ricardo. She’s a spunky redhead like me, who doesn’t allow the man in her life to put her in a box.

What is the best piece of advice you ever received? Create your own happiness.

We thank you for spending time with us. Now we’d like to chat with Karina.

What movies or books have had an impact on your career as a writer?  The Wizard of Oz. Besides it being a classic movie and book, my mom heard years ago how long it took for L. Frank Baum to get it published, and she always used that to instill perseverance in me, even before I started shopping my books. I also love how imaginative it is and the message that we’re all lacking in something but have to find it for ourselves.

Is there an event in your private life that you were able to bring to this story and how do you feel it impacted the novel? Wrong Line, Right Connection in its entirety was inspired by dear friends from my childhood, so of course, my memories of them influenced the story. I even used some of their old love letters to add authenticity, even though the premise is fictional. At the same time, I drew off of some of my personal feelings and reservations to sculpt Mabel’s inner struggles and make it my own.

Tell us a bit about your publisher: how did you hear about them and what influenced your decision to submit to them? I’d heard of The Wild Rose Press before and submitted to them in the past. Though nothing had materialized up to the point when I queried them about Wrong Line, Right Connection, I didn’t want to count them out because I thought we’d be a good fit someday. I’m so glad I didn’t, considering two of my submissions ended up being accepted within months of each other.

What book[s] currently rest on your TBR pile? Carnegie’s Maid by Marie Benedict and The Art of Betrayal by Connie Berry.  

Lastly, what's up next and when can we expect to see it on the shelves?While I’ve dipped my toes into love stories a bit, I primarily write mysteries. Earlier this year, my second installment of The Unde(a)feted Detective Series, Brother of Interest, came out, so I’ve been working on the follow-up to that. In the meantime, I’m writing a short story that’s a bridge between the two, which will be featured in a podcast sometime in 2023.     

To learn more about Karina Bartow and the stories she creates, go to:

Website | Blog | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Goodreads

 

To purchase Wrong Line, Right Connection, go to:

The Wild Rose Press | Amazon | Barnes & Noble |Books-a-Million