Interview with Author: Karen Janowsky

It is a great pleasure to welcome Karen Janowsky author The Persistence of Memory Book 1: Deja Vu.

Welcome Karen to The Adventures of the Everyday Fangirl and thanks so much for taking the time out your busy schedule to help us get to know more about you and your new series better!

What does the title of this novel, series or set of stories signify?

The Persistence of Memory is actually a painting by the surrealist artist, Salvador Dali. It features a dreamscape with clocks melting. The interpretation is that time as we understand it is meaningless.

In this story, time is at the heart of the conflict. The characters are both from different time periods, and time has gone by at different rates for them. Somehow though, they keep finding each other—love and connection are more important than the passage of time.

Do the names of the characters in your novel have some sort of significance or importance to you? If so, give a few examples…

Daniel is named for the Biblical figure who was thrown into a den of lions as punishment for his faith. His faith, however was what allowed him to survive. Daniel in this story is also a survivor, even though his faith has been utterly shaken.
Inanna is another name the Sumerian goddess Ishtar goes by. In this story, I’ve made her into a separate but related character to the goddess.

What prompted you to write in this genre and who or what inspired you to?

Superheroes and mythology have fascinated me since childhood. In fact one is really a modern version of the other. Heroes in these stories are all-too-human, but the stakes in their decisions and actions are much higher than for everyday people.

What are the most important attributes to remaining sane as a writer and do your characters reflect some of these attributes?

I’ll let you know once the characters have moved their residence from inside my head! They’ve been living there, driving the writing for over two years.

What kind of research did you have to do for the novel, series or set of stories that was different from others?  

A lot of research went into this story: Sumerian civilization, mythology, and language, life in the 1930’s, the Second World War, Yiddish and Hebrew as languages, how to fight in various situations, and what certain intimate positions looked and felt like.

What makes you laugh?

I’ve got a pretty dry sense of humor, and I tend to like British comedians, like Eddie Izzard and (although he lives in the U.S. now) Craig Ferguson.

What makes you cry?

I’m a big sucker for happy endings. Loss makes me cry.

What are you a fan of and is this reflected in your writing?

I’m a huge superhero fan, and a Doctor Who fan. So both the superhero genre and time travel loom large in the story. I also love and research fairy tales, and several of my published poems and short stories are retellings of them.

Is there anything else you want to add about the story, series that has not already been mentioned?

Book 1 starts off a slow burn romance. Daniel and Nina have a lot to work through and resolve before they can really be together. But it does happen, and by Books 2 and 3, the romance borders on erotica as they explore their relationship and sexuality.

What is the best way for readers to interact with you?

You can find out more about The Persistence of Memory Book 1: Deja Vu by visiting Goodreads or Amazon. I WILL have a Facebook fan page and author web page soon; my publisher is still developing them. Until then, they can reach me at author@karenjanowsky.com.