Karmen Lee

Today I’m happy to welcome Karmen Lee to the blog. She’s answering a few questions and telling us more about her books. Please help me welcome Karmen!

Featured Author Q and A:

What are you looking forward to most at Coastal Magic Con 2025?

I sadly missed it last year due to catching COVID, so I’m really looking forward to meeting everyone and getting to connect with new readers and authors! Plus…Florida and a beach. Can’t go wrong with that setting!

Can you tell us a little bit about your writing: What genres do you write? Do you prefer to write one genre over another?

So, I write mostly contemporary romance, specifically Black sapphic romantic comedies. I find that it is often difficult to find light angst romance between two Black WLW characters and have them be the main couples. I love my dark and angsty stories, but sometimes you just want something that gives you all the good feelings and I want that for women who look and love like me.

What is your newest/upcoming release? Tell us about the book and series.

My next book is actually the second in my Peach Blossom series with Afterglow called, The Relationship Mechanic. It features the youngest of the Williams sisters who falls into a casual FWB relationship with her older sister’s, girlfriend’s best friend (I know, that’s sort of a mouthful!). It’s a lot steamier than book one in the series while still showcasing fun sibling dynamics and working through your own self-deprecating tendencies.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? Why?

Honestly, probably Peach Blossom which is the small town I made up. I really prefer small town living, but given the atmosphere of many small towns, especially in the South where I’m from, I don’t usually feel welcome. If I could find a small progressive town where multiple intersectionalities aren’t just tolerated, but fully accepted, I would move there in a heartbeat.

Do you have any pets? Please tell us about them.

I do! I have two cats, Hansel and Gretel. I wish I could take credit for their names, but they came with those when I adopted them from the Humane Society and they were too purrfect not to keep.

What are a few of your favorite reads from 2024?

I’ve shouted this book out before, but I will do it for the rest of the year most likely. My hands down favorite read this year has been I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast Is Me by Jamison Shea. Unapologetic, Black, queer, female rage that is, in my opinion, 100% justifiable. My second fav is Outdrawn by Deanna Grey. The way the two characters communicated their issues was chef’s kiss! And as a former wanna-be illustrator, I loved getting two Black women comic artists talking about their art and a comic I so wish was real! Two very different vibes, but I love both so much!

CMCon Quickies:

Long weekend or extended stay vacation? Extended stay.
Vampire or shifter? Vampire.
Duke or cowboy? Cowboy.
Beach or pool? Beach.
Trains, planes, or automobiles? Trains.

THANKS so much for playing along! Now let’s learn more about Karmen’s upcoming book:

The 7-10 Split by Karmen Lee

This is how love rolls…

For teacher Ava Williams, some subjects are not up for debate. Like history—specifically, the one she has with Grace Jones, bowling pro and local celeb. Who is now, for no identifiable reason, teaching at the same small-town Georgia high school as Ava. Once upon a time, they were thick as thieves, best friends, rivals who pushed each other, and total bowling nerds. Then they shared a kiss, sweet and confusing…and after that, they split and nothing was ever the same.

Ava is pretty sure she has every reason to hate Grace. Especially when the school’s soggy potato of a principal announces—finally—that the students can have the bowling team Ava has been pushing for, for years…only to hand it to Grace.

Now they’re expected to be partners and lead their new bowling team to victory in six months. And with that, their rivalry is back. Fierce, ultracompetitive…and with an undeniable attraction that pushes, pulls and crashes together. It’s history. It’s chemistry. And it’s just a matter of time before it explodes…one way or the other.

Series: Peach Blossom Book 1
Genre: LGBTQ Romantic Comedy, Smalltown Romance
Release Date: May 2024
Publisher: Afterglow Books

I hope you’ve enjoyed this Coastal Magic Convention Featured Author Spotlight post. Karmen Lee will be one of the amazing authors we’ll be hanging out with during the 13th annual reader weekend in Daytona Beach, FL, Feb 20-23, 2025.

For a full list of Featured Authors, info about the weekend, and link to register to attend, visit the Coastal Magic Website HERE. And be sure to watch for more Featured Author spotlights coming up here each month!