Interview Karen Hulene Bartell Author of The Keys: Voice of the Turtle
Give a warm welcome to Karen Hulene Bartell author of The Keys: Voice of the Turtle. Pull up a chair, grab a drink of your choice from the cooler, a Chocolate Chip or Peanut Butter cookie from the plate, and let’s find out a little about Karen and The Keys: Voice of the Turtle!
What inspired you to write?
I always had a creative imagination. (My childhood dolls were never baby dolls—always lady dolls, who went on exciting adventures.) But what inspired me to write? In a word, reading. In second grade, my mother took me to the library and helped me choose books. By third grade, I had my own library card, walked to the library alone, and chose my own books. All during my childhood, my mother let me stay up as late as I wanted—if I read. As a result, I became a voracious reader, and in my case, writing was simply a natural progression.
Do you see yourself in your characters?
I see a little piece of me in all my protagonists, but in Christmas in Catalonia and my current release, The Keys: Voice of the Turtle, I see a lot of Karen. To be honest, I excise all but my flavor, saving the juicier details for future books 😉
Where do your story ideas come from? If they come to you in the middle of the night, do you get up and write them all down?
Where do story ideas come from? Heaven? What do you call inspiration? God? I could be arrogant and say, nope, all my ideas come from me and me alone, but I don’t think so. Many ideas come when I wake each morning. So what do you call that? Genies of the mind as Napoleon Hill and Andrew Carnegie named them—invisible elves somehow manufacturing stories and whispering in my ear? I don’t think so. I’m going to call inspiration Godsent.
But when? Ideas come to me either in the morning, when I wake, or while I’m traveling. I’ve written some of my best concepts sitting in airports or hotel bathrooms at midnight (so I don’t wake my husband with the light). Being out of my element and in new environments stimulates my imagination. Traveling inspires me.
If writing is your first passion, what is your second?
Traveling, hands down. Nothing ignites my passion for life as much as traveling to provocative places, encountering new experiences, sampling different ethnic foods, and meeting stimulating people, I’m inspired. Ideas flow. (I should’ve been a travel correspondent.) Traveling that takes me out of my rut and propels me into new realms of possibility.
SPEED ROUND FOR A LITTLE ADDED FUN:
Speed Round (one word only answer): Yep, I know torture for a writer!<evil laugh>
Favorite movie: GIANT
Favorite book: 1984
Last book read: MALINCHE
Favorite color: BLUE
Stilettos or flipflops: FLIPFLOPS
Coffee or tea: COFFEE
Ebook or audiobook or paperback: EBOOK
Pencil or pen: PEN
Favorite song: MAGIC
Streak or not: NOT
Favorite dessert: SOFTSERVE
Favorite junk food: PRETZELS
Favorite thing to do to relax: MASSAGE
Champagne or gin: CHAMPAGNE
Paranormal or Historical: PARANORMAL
Wonder Woman or Top Model: WONDER WOMAN
Favorite TV show: MASH
Hot or cold: HOT
POV: THIRD [PERSON]
I’d die if I don’t have: FREEDOM
Review or Not: REVIEW
Tell us a little about THE KEYS: VOICE OF THE TURTLE:
and not one, but two apparitions—Maita, the angry victim’s spirit, and Bart, a swashbuckling ghost. Ruth’s curious ability to connect with the ghosts may help them move on, but how?
Keya is in a probate battle over her turtle-nesting beach. Land-hungry relatives want it bulldozed and developed. Like Ruth, she has a special gift—she can talk to animals. Between Ruth’s help and Keya’s unique ability, they work to save the property, but is it too late?
Can Keya save her beloved turtles? Can Ruth find Maita’s murderer or help Bart solve his 400-year-old mystery? There’s more than meets the eye to Keya’s land. Add in a dashing sailor who believes in her, and Keya may have more than she bargained for…
Sneak peek between the pages of THE KEYS: VOICE OF THE TURTLE:
“Conveying this land to the turtles would be my way of leaving the world a better place.” She turned toward Ruth. “Does that make sense?”
Ruth nodded and gazed at Keya as if for the first time. Her cousin’s intentions were clear. “But legally, how can you will the property to the turtles?”
“Easy. I leave it to the Turtle Refuge.” Keya laughed inwardly as they meandered along the beach. “And this is where you come in. When you’re writing the brochure, add a few paragraphs about planned giving and charitable bequests…” Her words broke off as Keya stared as if in a trance.
Ruth looked at her. “What’s wrong?”
Her hand shaking, Keya pointed to a shady patch of beach half hidden by sand dunes. A lifeless hand lay tangled in seaweed, its fingernails broken and bloodied.
Racing behind the sandbanks to help, Ruth skidded to a halt, her heels digging into the sand. A woman’s bloated body lay staring at the sun, her eyes opaque and unseeing. “Do you recognize her?”
“No.” Keya shook her head as the cat gingerly approached, sniffing and meowing. “But Earnestine said she smells familiar.”
THE KEYS: VOICE OF THE TURTLE BUY LINKS:
Amazon eBook: https://amzn.to/2XV2wO1
Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/2yfSB7b
Barnes & Noble NOOK Book: https://bit.ly/2YFHWgQ
Barnes & Noble Paperback: https://bit.ly/2yuBEWO
About the Author:
Author of the Sacred Emblem, Sacred Journey, and Sacred Messenger series, Karen is a best-selling author, motivational keynote speaker, wife, and all-around pilgrim of life. She writes multicultural, offbeat love stories steeped in the supernatural that lift the spirit. Born to rolling-stone parents who moved annually, Bartell found her earliest playmates as fictional friends in books. Paperbacks became her portable pals. Ghost stories kept her up at night—reading feverishly. The paranormal was her passion. Wanderlust inherent, Karen enjoyed traveling, although loathed changing schools. Novels offered an imaginative escape. An only child, she began writing her first novel at the age of nine, learning the joy of creating her own happy endings. Professor emeritus of the University of Texas at Austin, Karen resides in the Hill Country with her husband Peter and her “mews”—three rescued cats and a rescued *Cat*ahoula Leopard dog.
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KarenHuleneBartell
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KarenHuleneBart
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/karenhulenebartell/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/611950.Karen_Hulene_Bartell
Website: http://www.KarenHuleneBartell.com/
Email: info@KarenHuleneBartell.com
It was wonderful having you with us today. Please feel free to stop by anytime. Good Luck with The Keys: Voice of the Turtle.
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged ghosts, Karen Hulene Bartell, Paranormal, The Keys: Voice of the Turtle, Urban Fantasy by Tena Stetler with 18 comments.
Making of A Demon’s Witch, Now on Sale for 99¢!
Hey Everyone! I’m starting the weekend with a fantastic .99¢ SALE (For a limited time) on my best-selling, award-winning novel A DEMON’S WITCH. This is the first book of A DEMON’S WITCH SERIES a five book series (so far) which as been nominated and won several best series awards from Paranormal Romance Guild’s Reviewers, The Romance Reviews and A.R.E.
A Demon’s Witch, was born in a hair salon from a song. I was talking with my hairdresser, Jen, one Saturday about the things she sees and hears in her line of work and my imagination took off. She laughed as I bounced ideas off her. I remembered a 1960’s era song about a hairdresser named Bruce. A little more brainstorming with Jen and my hubby then A Demon’s Witch was born. After that the what if’s began.
What if the hairdresser is really a ruggedly handsome demon overlord. Now tell me if that isn’t different. LOL
What if a powerful witch breezed into his salon and the attraction was undeniable?
What if the witch’s brother just happens to be the demons overlord’s hired enforcer? Will they survive discovery and make a life together?
What if the salon is multi-species catering to mortals and paranormal creatures alike is located in Washington DC? Flaming manicure bowls, Fried hairdryers, a magic portal in the basement make it a bit different.
Adds a new dimension to our concept of DC, doesn’t it? Or maybe you just thought DC was full of demon’s and creatures that go bump in the night to begin with. LOL
What’s A Demon’s Witch about: Well…I’ll tell you.
It’s about family, blood or otherwise. It’s about doing the right thing for maybe the wrong reasons. Keeping secrets is not always the best action, especially when preternatural powers are involved. A Demon’s Witch takes you into the realm of magic & paranormal, with surprising & suspenseful twists & turns.
The adventures of Bruce and Angie are an entertaining escape from the ordinary world. Be swept away into a magical romantic fantasy adventure, you’ll never want to leave. This spicy tale has it all intrigue, humor, thrills, danger and a splash of magic to keep you on the edge of your seat.
What did the 5-star reviews have to say about A Demon’s Witch?
“I thoroughly enjoyed this sexy paranormal story with excellent world building and well developed characters. The author has created a clever setting by making the headquarters of the demon a trendy hair salon in Washington DC. It makes for some entertaining situations. Enter a feisty witch who knocks the demon off his feet and turns his carefully ordered world upside down.” L. Williams – 5 Stars
“This debut novel by Tena Stetler is phenomenal! She created a unique paranormal world filled with witches, wizards, demons, fairies, and a few other surprises. Absolutely loved the chemistry between Bruce and Angelique!I was swooning the moment Bruce entered the scene.”
‘A Demon’s Witch spicy romance has it all intrigue, humor, thrills, danger and a splash of magic to keep you on the edge of your seat.”
A peek between the pages of A Demon’s Witch!
A feeling of dark foreboding, like storm clouds forming on the horizon before a violent storm, washed over Bruce as he maneuvered the SUV into the parking lot behind The Krystal Unicorn.
Tristian was already there and it wasn’t to give his report. Bruce could feel the fury in Tristian’s magic signature hanging in the air. A silver tipped arrow penetrated the windshield, split the arm securing the rearview mirror, and stuck in the headrest a quarter inch from Bruce’s neck. Blue liquid oozed from the tip and a stream of red mist escaped from the other end of the arrow.
“Hold your breath and don’t open the door or windows. The influx of fresh air will spread the poison.” He hissed though his teeth not daring to take a breath.
Air pressure inside the vehicle changed, Angie’s head felt like it was going to explode. Bruce. She whispered into his mind, a benefit of being mated.
I know, just a few seconds more, I’ve got it handled. His deep smooth voice floated reassuringly in her mind, as he reached over caressing her shoulder.
The pressure eased and the red mist sucked in on itself disappearing along with the oozing liquid. He pulled the arrow from the headrest, fingering the hole in the upholstery.
Through gritted teeth, Bruce growled. “His first mistake was that he missed me. His second deadly mistake was he risked your life. That is unforgivable.” Those two things also told Bruce that Tristian wasn’t thinking clearly, fury was coloring his judgment. That gave Bruce an edge, though the attack caught him off guard. He hadn’t expected Tristian’s attack to put his sister at risk.
The console between them lowered to seat level. He hoped to add fuel to the fury burning inside Tristian. Bruce put his arm around Angie’s waist and pulled her against him, his lips pressed against hers then gently covered her mouth as his tongue traced the soft fullness of her lips. He drew back, touched his lips to hers again trailing them down to the pulsing hollow of her neck and whispered, “You’re going into the shop now, Willow is waiting just on the other side of the door. Please stay there, you’ll be able to remain in my mind just don’t interfere. I need your presence there as a calming one. Willow can help you.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I know. There wasn’t time to explain how everything works and I’m not exactly sure myself. Only that I can feel you in my mind and I assume you can feel me in yours.”
“Yes, it’s a weird sensation,” Angie said a tremor in her voice.
“We’ll learn together to use it to our benefit, now is as good a time as any to practice.”
She snorted, “Sure, our lives are on the line. No big deal.” She threw up her hands.
“That’s the spirit.” He grinned raising his head and cupping her trembling chin in his steady hand, not taking his eyes off hers. “Believe me when I tell you, I won’t kill your brother. Although he is making it damn difficult. Nor do I believe he will kill me. Though that is his intention, right now. So put those thoughts out of your mind, they won’t help either of us.”
Available at:
Amazon.com, Amazon UK Amazon AU Amazon CA Kobo, The Wild Rose Press. Walmart.com and Barnes & Noble.
About the Author:
Often I’ve been asked why I write paranormal romance. Since I was old enough to read, I loved being swept away into a fantasy. Whether is was a trip to Mars, pretending I could wield magic with the characters in a book, or chasing a unicorn across the backyard only to find myself face to face with a vampire, my imagination ran wild with the written word. As I got older, if I didn’t like a part of the book or the way a story ended, I’d rewrite it. Oh what adventures Trixie Beldon and Nancy Drew had under my rewritten sections. LOL
Now I hope to encourage readers to leave your ordinary world behind for a few hours… be swept away into a magical romantic fantasy with a touch of mystery and suspense. It’s good for the soul and stress relieving to suspend reality for a while, whether you are reading or writing novels. <grin>
I love to meet new readers and chat with them or other authors. So please check out my social media links below. Talk with you soon!
Website: https://www.tenastetler.com
Authors’ Secret’s Blog – https://www.tenastetler.com/category/authors-secrets-blog/
My Say What Blog – https://www.tenastetler.com/category/my-say-what-blog/
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/tenastetler.author
Twitter Page: www.twitter.com/TenaStetler
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14187532.Tena_Stetler
The Wild Rose Press: http://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/1264_tena-stetler
Amazon: www.amazon.com/author/tenastetler
Newsletter Signup: https://www.tenastetler.com/newsletter-signup/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/tenastetler
Tribber – http://triberr.com/TenaStetler
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/tena-stetler
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tenastetler/
Thank you for joining me for a little peek into A DEMON’S WITCH and my inspiration to write it. I’d love you to join the magical, romantic fantasy, adventure. Download your copy today!
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged 99¢ Sale, A Demon's Witch, Demons, Hair Salon, Paranormal Romance, Tena Stetler, Witches by Tena Stetler with comments disabled.
Interview S.K. Gregory Author of Bloodlines
Give a warm welcome to S.K Gregory, author of Bloodlines. releasing today. Yippee!!
Pull up a chair, grab a drink of your choice from the cooler, a Chocolate Chip or Peanut Butter cookie from the plate, and let’s find out a little about S.K. Gregory and her YA Urban Fantasy, Bloodlines, Book One of The Dark Fae Chronicles! Pssst… Don’t forget to enter the Rafflecopter at the end of this post.
What inspired this particular story?
Bloodlines started out as a story in a boxed set called Cursed Lands. We were to come up with an idea for an urban fantasy/YA/Dystopian novel or novella. I chose this idea because I wanted to write about the Fae and I thought it would be interesting to see what the world would look like if they took over the world. My main character is half Fae herself and is caught between both sides.
Why should we read this book/series and what sets you apart from the rest and makes your book/series unique?
Bloodlines and the other two books in the series, Battlelines and Borderlines, tell the story of a young woman in an apocalyptic world, struggling to survive after the Fae attack and wipe out a large percentage of the human race. I think there are a lot of dystopian novels out there but not many deal with Fae taking over. It’s something a little bit different, full of magic and intrigue.
Who is your favorite character of all of the books you’ve written and Why?
At the moment my favorite character is Persephone from my Gods of Chaos series. I have always wanted to write about the Greek Gods, although she was not the God I would have chosen originally. I wrote a short story about her and it turned into a whole series. She is strong, cynical and a survivor, which I think suits her story.
Did you tell friends and family that you were writing a book? Or did it take a while to come out and tell friends and family you were a writer?
My family have always known as I was forever carrying a notebook with me everywhere I went when I was younger. My friends found out after I was published. My grandfather likes to tell everyone he meets about it! I should hire him as my agent! Lol.
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6574558.S_K_Gregory
It was wonderful having you with us today. Please feel free to stop by anytime. Good Luck with Bloodlines!
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Dystopian, SK Gregory, Urban Fantasy, YA by Tena Stetler with 2 comments.
Chat with Karilyn Bentley Author of The Shadowheart Curse.
Give a warm welcome to Karilyn Bentley author of The Shadowheart Curse, just released August 13, 2019. I am so excited the tell you about what happened to my friend and fellow author, Karilyn. Pull up a chair, grab a drink of your choice from the cooler, a Chocolate Chip or Peanut Butter cookie from the plate, and let’s find out a little about the “Call” Karilyn got and her new release The Shadowheart Curse!
Hi Tena! Thank you for having me your blog today! Before we get to the speed round questions, I’d like to tell your readers a little about how this book came about. It’s the book I got The Call for. In case anyone is unfamiliar with the term, The Call is something all authors want. The term got its name back when agents and publishers actually called the author to say that they wanted to represent or publish the author’s book. In this case, my publisher sent me an email asking to set up a call. Intrigued, and totally clueless, I said sure. I kept wondering all day what was going on, but unlike the time my boss at the day job emailed me about wanting to talk, I wasn’t nervous. Just curious. When she called, she said that a director had asked if I could write a book based off his idea. He had this idea he wanted to turn into a movie. Actually he had ten ideas for ten different authors and I was lucky enough to be one of those authors! She went through the specifics and asked if I’d be interested. Well, duh. But I also didn’t want to jump into anything without thinking about it, so I took a day to mull over the idea. After discussing with my hubby and thinking it over, I told my publisher yes. And The Shadowheart Curse was born!
If you are interested in watching the movie being made, go to https://deadlyten.com/ and signup. You’ll get email alerts for all the movies and can pick and chose which to live stream. The movies (all ten of them!) will release on 2/14/20.
WOW, just WOW! Congratulations Karilyn! I’m going to sign up in a few seconds. On to the Speed Rounds!
Speed Round (one word only answer): Yep, I know torture for a writer!<evil laugh>
Favorite movie: Star Wars series or Indiana Jones series. Or Avengers series. Or…. (can you tell I have problems making choices?)
Favorite book: Can’t choose just one!!!
Last book read: The Thief by JR Ward
Favorite color: Green
Stilettos or flipflops: flipflops
Coffee or tea: tea
Ebook or audiobook or paperback: ebook or paperback
Pencil or pen: pen
Favorite song: It changes all the time. Currently, Sympathy for the Devil
Streak or not: Not
Favorite dessert: cherry pie
Favorite junk food: Hot Tamales or Dots
Favorite thing to do to relax: read a book
Champagne or gin: champagne
Paranormal or Historical: paranormal
Wonder Woman or Top Model: Wonder Woman
Favorite TV show: Stranger Things
Hot or cold: cold
POV: first
I’d die if I don’t have: hand lotion
Review or Not: review
For the brave at heart, Second Speed Round <Only two words allowed>
1.What is your favorite book of all time? A Song of Ice and Fire series (I can’t just pick one!)
- Where do you relax to read? sofa
- What sound drives you right up a wall? Knives and forks scratching against a plate. It sounds like fingernails on a chalkboard (another sound I hate).
- What sound relaxes you? Water running over stones or the sound of a tide flowing in and out
- Favorite drink? Tea
- Walking in the sand, shoes or barefoot? shoes
- Favorite pet? Dog
- Snow? Love or hate? Love!
- Doing ________ is like nailing jello to the wall. Dusting. It always comes back.
- Rock and Roll, Country, Jazz or Classical? Rock and roll
- What can’t you leave the house without? My phone
- Calendar or not; Paper or electronic? Yes! Both paper and electronic (paper in the kitchen)
- Favorite place to write. Kitchen
- What is your decadent indulgent? Cornbread and maple syrup
- You’ve just won $1,000.00, you have only 24 hours to spend it, so what will you buy? Clothes, shoes, and household stuff
- Plotter or panster? pantser
- Introvert or extrovert? introvert
- Flight or fight? flight
- Favorite Monster? Mike Wazowski from Monsters Inc.
- Magic or Not? Magic
Now tell us a little about The Shadowheart Curse.
Escaping New York after a client’s untimely death, medium Adrianna Sinclair flees to her family property in Italy. All she wants is to avoid ghosts, but an attractive one tempts her in ways she never knew possible. Luca Fausto has been trapped on the Romani property for over a century for a crime he didn’t commit. Adrianna may be the answer to breaking the curse that keeps him bound. Standing in their way is a demonic spirit’s plan for revenge. Will they prevail or will Luca be cursed to the shadows forever?
How about a sneak peek between the pages of The Shadowheart Curse.
As soon as they put the food on the table, a cold breeze swept through the room, ruffling her hair. Maria and Luigi’s eyes widened as they glanced at each other. Small hairs prickled her nape like fingernails scratching across her skin. The cold draft only meant one thing, and it wasn’t a blast from the air conditioner. She doubted this place even had an AC.
No, the cold air meant a pissed-off spirit raced around her room. If she tried, she could see the thing, but she’d decided to no longer interact with ghosts shortly after being released from the police interrogation room. Which meant she was no longer working as a medium.
Bam! They all jumped as one of the nightstand lamps fell onto the floor.
Yep, a seriously pissed-off spirit.
Another gust of cold air swirled through the room. She felt the clash, the fight, even though she refused to allow herself to look at the swarming specters.
Why couldn’t they leave her alone? Because spirits are attracted to mediums. She knew the reason, yet a break every once in a while would be nice. Especially when she’d sworn never to converse with one again.
She took a deep breath, marched to the nightstand, and placed the lamp upright where it belonged. At least the golden cherub remained in one piece. Cold stung her hand, residue from the entity tingling her palm. Never a good sign. Closing her eyes, she focused on centering her thoughts, on stopping the chill from traveling up her arm. Before she opened her eyes, warmth returned to the room, the cold air vanishing like it appeared, sudden and without warning.
Maria held her fingers over her gaping mouth while Luigi pressed a hand against his chest. Their pale cheeks slowly regained color. Maria recovered first, crossing herself as if that would help protect her from an angry specter hellbent on destruction.
Did they know an evil spirit inhabited the place? Or were they as surprised as she was? “Something you want to tell me?”
Another meaningful glance between the couple. Luigi shrugged. “It’s an old mill. We have ghosts.”
She raised a brow. “Those weren’t just ghosts.” Ghosts did not leave behind a cold residue that caused tingles to creep across her flesh. She rubbed her hand on her jeans, trying to wipe away the sensation.
“No?”
“No. At least one of them was demonic.”
Buy Links: Amazon, Ibooks, Kobo, B&N
About the Author:
Karilyn Bentley loves to create stories, blending fantasy and romance mixed with a touch of funny. She currently lives in Colorado with her own hero, two dogs who are enthralled with their own voices, and a salt water reef tank complete with corals. When Karilyn’s not writing, she’s busy trying to get a vegetable garden to grow at altitude (and failing miserably).
Where to find Karilyn:
Website: www.karilynbentley.com
Newsletter: https://eepurl.com/ba_0Rf
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KarilynBentleyAuthor
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/karilynbentley1
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4051943.Karilyn_Bentley
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/karilynbentley
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/karilyn-bentley
It was wonderful having you with us today. Thanks for sharing your fantastic news with us. Please feel free to stop by anytime. Good Luck with The Shadowheart Curse.
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged deadlyten.com, Karilyn Bentley, Paranormal Romance/Suspense, The Shadowheart Curse by Tena Stetler with 20 comments.
