Karen Vanderlaan  

Karen Vanderlaan has two great passions in her life: kids and horses. It is her personal mission to help kids in trouble and horses in trouble and get them all off to a better start in life.

Karen grew up on a dairy farm in Vermont where she attended a one-room schoolhouse for five years. She began riding horses almost as soon as she could walk.

Karen now lives in Utah where she raised her three children. She teaches children and horses.

Karen is also the author of the book Anna and Chen. Visit Karen online at http://www.karenvanderlaan.com

 

 

PageOneLit.com: Where did you grow up and was reading and writing a part of your life? Who were your earliest influences and why?

Karen Vanderlaan: I grew up in West Newbury , Vermont up until I was 12 when my parents divorced and we children moved with our mother to Fairview, Tennessee. I read voraciously, especially anything about horses-fortunately, thanks to some very astute teachers, I branched out and added some variety to my reading.
 

PageOneLit.com: Why do you write?

Karen Vanderlaan: I write because I feel that I have something of value to offer another person, and because I feel a need to put thoughts down that are tumbling around in my head.

PageOneLit.com: Briefly discuss your 2005 published book Anna and Chen.
Karen Vanderlaan: Anna and Chen is a simple children's story about a little girl and a horse who have established a friendship. Anna is my daughter and Chen is a horse I had owned since I was about 14.
 

PageOneLit.com: Let's discuss your new book Show and Tell. Is this based on a true story? Explain. This story is best described as revealing the best and worst of human nature' - Explain.

Karen Vanderlaan: Show and Tell is absolutely true, it is my story-my memoir. The book tells of a variety of abuses, some by an abuser in the family as well as men who preyed on a young girl's innocence and those who neglected children and/or horses held -the worst of human nature-and those who were polar opposites of them--the best of human nature.
 

 

PageoneLit.com: You believe 'life is full of magic, wonder and horses' - Explain - How many horses do you own/take care of? What is the special connection?

Karen Vanderlaan: Horses have always held a very special place in my heart and soul. When times are tough, they have been my best friends and grounding force. I currently own three horses and continue to train and give lessons as well as rescuing horses who are headed for slaughter.


PageOneLit.com: Show and Tell is very well written -- What is your writing process like? Do your write in the mornings? At night? Do you concentrate on plot or characters? Which do you feel is more important and why?

Karen Vanderlaan: Because I have a full time job and am raising my granddaughter, I write mostly in the evening and sometimes into the early mornings-especially in writing, "Show and Tell".

 

 

PageOneLit.com: What do you hope to achieve with Show and Tell? Are you doing speaking engagements or book signings to promote Show and Tell?

Karen Vanderlaan: The marketing of Show and Tell has been the toughest part of the whole process, I enjoy book signings and have really enjoyed speaking at several book club meetings-I hope to do more of the above as well as getting involved in speaking to bigger groups. I feel I have an uplifting message to share.
 

 

PageOneLit.com: What's next?

Karen Vanderlaan: I write a fair amount of poetry and will be putting together a book of poetry. I also have plans to write about the process of getting custody of my granddaughter aas her parents were immersed in drug addiction.
 

 

PageOneLit.com: What was the last book you read?

Karen Vanderlaan:I have just finished Falling Leaves, by Adeline Yen Mah-a wonderfully written memoir.
 

 

PageOneLit.com: Do you have any hobbies? What are they? How do they enhance your writing?

Karen Vanderlaan: Of course, the horses are a wonderful hobby as well as reading and writing-I also do a bit of gardening and am enjoying working on the little farm I live on. I have five grandchildren who I enjoy as well. Thank you for your time here with me and for reading Show and Tell.