Karen Deen, a Kiama-based finance professional turned bestselling romance author, found inspiration for her debut novel while attending a superannuation conference in Sydney in 2017.
At the time, Deen was a partner at a successful accounting firm in Jamberoo and had never considered writing beyond being an avid reader. “I left school and went straight into accounting,” she said. “I was a good reader but never wanted to be an author.”
The idea came to her unexpectedly as she looked out over Sydney Harbour. Struggling with the demands of balancing her career, family life, and caregiving for her ill mother, Deen was experiencing significant physical and mental exhaustion. “It felt like everybody wanted a piece of me, and I had no pieces left to give,” she recalled.
Seeking an outlet for herself, she began sketching the plot of a novel on paper. “It all just came flooding out,” Deen said, describing how she wrote 10,000 words by hand within days and later transitioned to typing on a laptop.
Encouraged by the positive feedback from friends and family, she completed her first book, Loves Wall, which launched a five-book series. Despite the demands of a full-time accounting career and family commitments, Deen would write late into the night. “Books are an escape from the daily grind,” she explained, “and creating that world for readers is a privilege.”
Deen now writes full time, producing up to four novels annually, including three series: Time for Love, The Chicago Boys, and Hotel Temptation. Her latest release, The Attraction, continues her trend of contemporary romances set in international locations.
The transition from finance to writing was accelerated by the pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic. “We became counsellors for panicked clients, and it was emotionally taxing,” Deen said. “Life’s too short. I thought, if I don’t do this now, I never will.” She officially resigned from her accounting firm in 2020.
Her personal experiences also influence her storytelling. The Attraction features a workplace romance within the corporate hospitality world, reflecting her background in finance. “Every author draws on parts of themselves,” she said.
Next month, Deen will travel to the UK for a book signing event for The Attraction, which has attracted thousands of romance readers. Although she has yet to set a novel in her hometown, she has not ruled out writing an Australian small-town romance in the future.
Deen’s novels are available on Amazon and her official website.
