Karen Hathaway, 56, from Doncaster, has made a dramatic career change, trading in her senior financial adviser role for a life of writing erotic fiction. Under the pen name Wren Charles, she has released seven books, with four more in the works.
Hathaway's journey into writing began during her menopause, when she found herself struggling with anxiety and confined to her home for several months. It was during this time that she discovered the joy of reading, devouring 400 books in just over a year.
Her love of romantic novels became her escape from the anxiety that had taken over her life, and she soon found herself wanting to create her own stories. A friend's challenge to publish her own book was all the encouragement she needed, and Hathaway started writing every day in a summerhouse in her back garden.
As she progressed, Hathaway's writing style evolved, and she found herself drawn to the more spicy end of the romance spectrum, likening her work to Fifty Shades of Grey rather than Mills and Boon.
With the support of her husband and two grown-up children, Hathaway has been able to pursue her passion for writing full-time, self-publishing her books to avoid the lengthy wait for traditional publishing houses.