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Telling stories to combat boring summer holidays, turned to RPL games and online writing.
Finally, after writing for academic research and courses, Karen decided to try fiction. Distant dimensions populated with the vampiric shape shifters that had flourished in her imagination, finally appeared in three books called the Shaytonian Chronicles.
The desire to write a book her grandmother could brag about led to the semi autobiographical Can You Smell Burning. Wry Aussie humour about the times in your life when it's better to laugh than cry.
Reviewed by Michelle Randall for Readers' Favorite
Here on Earth the stories of vampires are a bit twisted and not so true, but in another parallel dimension there is a world called Shayton that is inhabited by real vampires and they are nothing like the stories. On Shayton the world is in danger of collapsing and the ruling Council is always on the lookout for ways to correct the issues and stave off the collapse. Lisa is the daughter of the king, but she has been banished from Shayton and lives on Earth. Now the council wants her back, and selects a human to bring with her for a special purpose: providing a god-Child. The Shayton Chronicles Book 1: Destiny Sets follows Lisa as she is brought back and conceives not one but two children and the lives of Lisa and Tony, the children, and Shayton that follow their conception and birth. Karen Fainges takes a paranormal or fantasy novel and adds the elements of a family saga to give a new and different angle on the idea of vampires and their coexistence with our world.
The Shayton Chronicles Book 1: Destiny Sets begins what promises to be a unique and fun series. Even though it could be called paranormal or fantasy, I think the best genre label for it should be family saga. It follows Lisa and Tony, then their children, through life to the point where they are once again reintroduced to their parents. Talkar is followed as he fights for his place in the world of Shayton, then as he leaves and finds a fulfilling life on Earth with Molly, and later a child with another species. Karen Fainges does a wonderful job of creating a story that you want to follow from the beginning, characters that you relate to and feel for. Although this book spans a great deal of time, it almost feels as it is all happening within moments of each other. This is definitely a good book for adults, highly mature young adults, and those loving the idea of a new approach to vampires.
