Hands down, penning a bio is always the
most difficult writing challenge we take on. What do we
say? What do we keep a secret? Considering we've been writing
together for over twenty-two years...well, that reveals
more about us than anything you'll likely read here. We're
fiction writers simply because we enjoy escaping into an
exciting, colorful, fictional world of our own making. Take
great, shameless pleasure in delving into the lives of others.
Revel in living vicariously through our characters, trying
on career hats we'd never otherwise put on, stretching muscles
we'd probably be better off excercising in reality. We won't
even discuss how our writing allows us to voice opinions
on society, romance and human sexuality that aren't subject
to public ridicule but rather presented as entertainment.
To go there, well, we'd be revealing a little too much,
now, wouldn't we?
So we'll stick to just the facts, ma'am -- or sir, depending
on your preference, which may or may not have anything to
do with your sex. Should you desire more information, feel
free to e-mail us and we'll provide you
with our phone number, or -- our preference -- arrange to
meet with you one-on-one where we can learn as much, or
perhaps more, about you as you will about us. Depending
on our mood, we may spill everything we'd prefer to keep
a secret, like which traits we would change about the other
if given half a chance. Likewise, we may wisecrack our way
through the interview, sprinkle our responses with what
we find exciting about our latest book, and blissfully skate
over personal details that might bare a little too much.
Trust us, this is not an attempt to create an aura of mystery.
We're not quite that saavy. No, we're just very protective
of our evolving selves and consider ourselves open-minded,
known to change an opinion the moment we voice it or are
presented with further information, so we're hesitant to
commit any to writing. Guess we're very Socrates-like (as
opposed to Socratic) in that way, which isn't altogether
a bad thing..
So rather than dictate to you here, we'll lay out the basic
facts, then provide a number of links to others who have
interviewed us.
I'm (Lori Schlachter Karayianni) a Holy Toledo, Ohio, native,
having attended Central Catholic but ultimately graduating
from Macomber-Whitney with certification in computer science.
After working in the computer industry for a number of years
-- and after Tony and I endeavored to write our first novel
-- I switched to temp work which ultimately led to a four-year
stint as a secretary/sales clerk in the engineering and
international sales departments of Owens-Illinois, the international
container company that put the "glass" into The
Glass City. I put the brakes on before I reached the five-year
mark, however, the point of no return for most dreamers
who get caught in the corporate trap (more vacation time?
Better benefits? Probably I should stay until retirement).
Tony's background couldn't be more different from mine,
but thankfully it led him to me. Born in Smila, a small
hillside village in the area of Ancient Olympia outside
Pyrgos, Greece, (where his family has deep roots and an
older brother still maintains the family olive groves) he
was raised in Athens during a time of political and cultural
upheaval, although neither stopped him from becoming a drummer
in a successful pop band that often played with Greek singer
Teris Chrysos. He immigrated to the U.S. in late 1976 and
with the help of the Greek community achieved the American
Dream. Only the hunger for something more, the restless
searching that originally compelled him to turn his back
on his successful music career and brought him here, remained.
It wasn't until after we'd become a couple, and he turned
to me and suggested that we try our hand at writing, that
both of us discovered the true meaning of the word "dream."
And we like to say that we've been living it ever since.
We began writing in June of 1984. Always as a collaborative
team, meaning that when Tony suggested we try our hand at
writing, we did so: together. We began with romance, simply
because that's what our first book evolved into. But mystery
has always held a special appeal for us, and while all our
books contain a measure of the same, we were thrilled when
our our agent Robert Gottlieb contracted with Forge/Tor
for us to write our own comedy-mystery series for the hardcover
market Sofie Metropolis, PI. SOFIE
METROPOLIS was released in June of 2005, and
since three more have found their way onto store shelves:
DIRTY
LAUNDRY, FOUL
PLAY and WORKING
STIFF. The first three titles are also available
in paperback, and all four are also on audio through Blackstone
and Books on Tape. We're happy to report that Robert and
Alanna Ramirez have recently negotiated a contract with
Edwin Buckwalter of Severn House for the
next two Sofie titles.
Aside from the Writing to Sell Fiction Diploma
Tony earned from Writer's Digest School, we consider ourselves
proud graduates of HKU (The University of Hard Knocks),
with Bachelors in Humility, Masters in Commercial Hooks
and Ph.D.'s in Trial and Error. Beyond the countless writers
conferences, seminars, workshops and symposiums we've attended
over the years, our ever-changing handle on craft and voice
stems directly from writing, re-writing, and writing again.
And from working with the great team of agents at Trident
Media Group, and our extraordinary editors Brenda Chin of
Harlequin and Melissa Ann Singer of Forge/Tor. Our route
was a circuitous one to be sure, but one that has afforded
a treasure trove of experiences we otherwise might not have
enjoyed.
After
countless years, and a mountain of rejection letters, we sold our first book
in January 1998. Our August 2009 Harlequin Blaze UNBRIDLED
marked our 45th original published title. Click here
for a full bibliography.
We count our adult sons Tony, Jr. and Tim as our own personal
heroes. Along with cats Patch, Spike and Nia, we call Toledo,
Ohio home base, but also travel to Athens, Greece -- Tony’s
hometown -- as often as we can to breathe in all things
Greek.
(Click here
to browse through our personal and professional photo album,
including entries from our two-month, crosscountry 2005
Baklava Express Tour.)
Television appearances include: FOX 6's
Good Day Alabama in Birmingham (live); WBIR-TV NBC's Style
with Moira Kaye, Knoxville; Knoxville’s CBS's Volunteer
TV Cooking with Uncle Walt during noon news (live); and
ICN6's Northern Kentucky Magazine (live).
Radio includes: Cincinnati’s WRRS-FM's
Cover to Cover; Toledo’s 92.5 FM (live); Tampa’s
WXYB 1520 AM (live); Philadelphia’s B101.1 FM Women's
File; NY's Aktina at 91.5 FM (live).
Audiences include:
Featured luncheon speakers at the Ohio
Library Council's annual convention 10/12/07.
Featured luncheon speakers at Medina County's Writers
Live 19/11/07.
For more info on our many speaking engagements, please refer
to our Travel Blog by clicking here.
The authors’ motto is “have aprons, will cook.”
They also frequently speak to writing and reading and library
groups on myriad topics.
