Thursday, October 10, 2024

Meet My Fellow Wild Rose Press Author Karen Bartell and Read About Her Paranormal Romance FOX TALE, Set in Japan, for Spooktober

I met Karen when I saw her featured on another author's blog post, and saw that she's also a Wild Rose Press author. We struck up a lively correspondence, are doing blog exchanges, and are reading each other's books. We share our fascination with the paranormal, although I have no ability in that area--I've never seen a ghost. But I do believe.

About Karen

Author of the Trans-Pecos, Sacred Emblem, Sacred Journey, and Sacred Messenger series, as well as Fox Tale, Kissing Kin, Wild Rose Pass, The Keys: Voice of the Turtle and more, Karen is a best-selling author, motivational keynote speaker, IT technical editor, wife, and all-around pilgrim of life. She writes multicultural, offbeat love stories steeped in the supernatural. 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. 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 Texas Piney Woods with her husband Peter and her mews—three rescued cats and a rescued *Cat*ahoula Leopard dog.

What separates perception from deception―illusion from reality?

Fox Tale Spooktober


True story! Fox Tale had been in rewrites for three months. We’d been trying to move for eight months but were stymied until we sold our house. Once we found a buyer, we had to move fast. Within days of signing the contract for Fox Tale, we signed a contract for a house on Foxtail Lane. COINCIDENCE?

About Fox Tale

Fox Tale is a paranormal romance set in Kyoto and Tokyo, Japan. It’s about a woman who’s terrified of heights. When Chase saves Ava from plunging down a mountain, he diverts her fears with tales of Japanese kitsune—shapeshifting foxes—and she begins a journey into the supernatural.

She’s attracted to Chase, both physically and metaphysically, yet primal instincts urge caution when shadows suggest more than meets the eye.

She’s torn between him and Rafe, her ex, when a chance reunion reignites their passion, but she struggles to overcome two years of bitter resentment. Did Rafe jilt her, or were they pawns of a larger conspiracy? Are the ancient legends true of kitsunes twisting time and events?

Fox Tale has been nominated for October’s “Cover of the Month” contest:  https://allauthor.com/cover-of-the-month/18478/ 

I’d really appreciate your vote!

Background of Fox Tale

My husband works for a Japanese company. When he was instructed to meet with his Tokyo team, I leapt at the chance to accompany him.

The next thing I did was research Japan’s cryptids. What appeared were Inari’s kitsunes or fox spirits—and voilà, the idea for Fox Tale was born. 

What are Inari’s kitsunes? Japan’s history of foxes is complex.

According to Fox Tale’s leading man, Rafe, “Originally, Inari was the concept of a successful rice harvest. Over time, devotees fleshed out that belief, and Inari became the androgynous god of wealth.”

“And the kitsunes?” asked the protagonist, Ava.

“The relationship has always been cooperative…Initially, foxes kept rice fields free from rodents, ensuring good crop yields. Eventually, people humanized the foxes into guardians and agents.” 

While my husband attended meetings, I explored Tokyo, sometimes alone on foot and sometimes with a group tour. I took copious notes, and each site I visited became part of my developing story. With the supernatural element, as well as the locale established, my imagination began taking flight.

I spoke to locals as often as possible, asking if they believed in kitsune--or if their neighbor or grandmother believed in them. (Luckily, many Japanese speak English!) Not one admitted to believing in the old superstitions, but almost all knew of someone who did. 

Said Fox Tale’s antagonist, Ichiro, “Most Japanese live in concrete canyons, and rational university educations replace superstition. Still, fox stories persist through theater, festivals, language, and literature…or kiterature as I call it.”

“Despite a waning belief?” I leaned closer.

“Even today, some believe in fox possession…although believing in kitsunetsuki might not be fashionable in this age of supercomputers and artificial intelligence, stories still circulate in the tabloids and mass media.”

“For example?”

“In 2019, a doomsday cult member rammed his car into pedestrians on Takeshita Street, then pled not guilty on the grounds that the cult was fox possessed. And as recently as 2022, the Sessho-seki split in two.”

Skeptical, I squinted. “The what did what?”

“The killing stone…according to legend, it imprisoned an evil nogitsune vixen. Her spirit escaped when it split in half and began spewing sulfur fumes, killing anyone that approached…For over a thousand years, Japanese medical practitioners considered kitsunetsuki a disease. Even into the twentieth century, psychologists believed fox possession caused mental illness.”

“But not anymore…” Crossing my arms, I hugged myself, seeking reassurance. “Right?” 

Gathering all the information I could from locals, as well as researching online, the plot for Fox Tale began to take shape. Once I had the realistic component that tied the supernatural to the natural, I had the storyline. Then the characters emerged as the story unfolded in my mind.

When my husband finished his meetings in Tokyo, we visited Kyoto, where we toured Fushimi Inari. The mountain is sacred in the Shinto religion, a place where “deities coexist with nature” and where, some believe, Inari resides.

Fushimi Inari has an ethereal presence. Its otherworldly aura and scenery are difficult to describe, but if anything supernatural could occur, it would happen on that mountain.

While at that shrine, the various parts merged into the basis of Fox Tale: the supernatural element, general locale, plot, characters, and finally the specific location for the otherworldly activity.

Lo and behold, a novel was born.

Excerpt

I applied my makeup with an artist’s hand, blending three shades of eyeshadow and going heavy on the mascara. Then I slipped into the black cocktail dress I’d bought for the occasion--a fusion of chic and slutty.

Wish I knew what Rafe planned for my birthday. Dinner at an upscale restaurant? Pub food at a sports bar?

“A surprise,” was all he’d said.

What’s the fine line between dressed to kill and overdressed? Glancing at the mirror, I glimpsed the exposed décolletage, then examined my naked left hand. More importantly, is tonight the night? After dating for three years, the conversation had finally turned to rings and weddings, and with graduation a month away, I was eager to take the next step.

At six o’clock sharp, I sat by the door, butterflies fluttering in my belly.

Ten minutes passed, fifteen. I texted him. An hour later, I called. When he didn’t pick up, I left a voicemail.

At eight o’clock, I checked my email. No messages, no texts--radio silence.

At nine o’clock, I removed my makeup, the black, smoky taupe, mauve, and greige streaks on the cotton pad mirroring my mood. After showering, I picked at soggy leftovers as I studied my bare left hand. Leftovers…

When the phone dinged, I flinched. Rafe?

Mia--Guess who’s at Tootsie’s? And Rafe’s not alone. What’s going on?--

I sat back, stunned. He wouldn’t break up with me on my birthday--without even the courtesy of telling me--would he?

Purchase FOX TALE

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Contact Karen




Tuesday, October 1, 2024

To Kick Off Spooktober, Meet My Author Friend Alicia Dean and Check Out Her Latest Release CROW GIRL: 13 Stories, 13 Authors...Get Your Fright On

 

I always enjoy hosting Alicia, especially during the creepy season, and you'll see why...

Meet Alicia

At age 10, Alicia wrote her first ever romance (featuring a hero who looked just like Elvis Presley and who shared the name of Elvis’ character in the movie, Tickle Me), and she still has the tattered, pencil-written copy. Alicia lives in Edmond, Oklahoma, where she enjoys reading, writing, MLB, NFL and watching (and rewatching) her favorite television shows like Dexter, Justified, and Breaking Bad. Some of her favorite authors are Michael Connelly, Dennis Lehane, Lee Child, Lisa Gardner, Ridley Pearson, Joseph Finder, and Jonathan Kellerman…to name a few.

Crow Girl ~ A Friday the 13th Horror Short Story by Alicia Dean

I am in awe of how smart crows are. Crows can not only form affectionate bonds with people who treat them well (as did the little girl in the below Mr. Ballen YouTube video), but they can also hold grudges against those who don’t. A team from the University of Washington tested how well the birds could identify human faces using two Halloween masks (one resembling a caveman to be used as the aggressor, the other resembling Dick Cheney for the control).

At five sites, a scientist donned the caveman mask before catching and banding some wild crows. Getting trapped is never a fun experience, and upon their release, the crows loudly scolded their assailant with threatening caws. Seeing this, other birds swooped down to harass the captor. Over several years, researchers wore the masks on strolls through all five test spots. The crows—including many who’d never been captured or banded—scolded and dive-bombed the “caveman” while ignoring “Dick Cheney”.

The younger crows, who were born after the initial experiment, also scolded the “caveman.” The grudge had been passed on.

I went a bit further than simple grudges in my latest release, CROW GIRL, A FRIDAY THE 13th STORY. 😊

Watch Video on YouTube


About CROW GIRL

Ten-year-old Twyla Gillette was abandoned by her mother and placed in an abusive foster home. Teased unmercifully by her classmates, she has no friends—other than the crows. As a toddler, she shared her food with the birds and they befriended her, bringing her gifts and always looking out for her, protecting her.

When the teasing turns to vicious bullying, and her foster family’s abuse becomes more relentless, Twyla relies on the crows to make things right.

It’s not that she wants her friends to hurt anyone…but sometimes wicked people have to learn a lesson.

Excerpt

He was alone in the woods…with nothing around except the psychotic birds. They wouldn’t actually hurt him, though, would they?

He stumbled back and turned to run but tripped on a tree stump and went flying, landing on the ground with a painful thud. He was getting to his feet when something hit him from behind. He grunted and fell to his knees. Looking back over his shoulder, he saw the birds…so many of them…swarming, diving, swooping at him. Then they were on him, pecking his face, his head, his chest. He tried to cover his face, but there were so many birds and…how were they so strong? They weren’t that big, but they were in some kind of vicious frenzy, and they were relentless.

One of the birds drove its beak into his ear. Warm, wet liquid dripped down the side of his neck, and agonizing pain ripped through his head. The fuckers had punctured his eardrum. The screeching caws rang out, echoing his terror, drowning out his sobs. Birds continued to attack…tearing him to pieces.

“Help!” he shrieked. “Somebody help me, please!” But he had a feeling only one person could stop this…and he’d locked her up and left her there…all alone in the dark. And now her friends were making him pay. If he could take it back, he would. But he couldn’t do anything except lay on the ground, sobbing and begging for mercy.

Find my story everywhere except Amazon 

(Amazon terminated my account due to false accusations they made against me) https://books2read.com/CrowGirl

Find All 13 of the Friday the 13th #5 Series Here



 

Thursday, September 26, 2024

My Halloween Story, Favorite Halloween Recipe, and How a Ghost Helped Solve a Murder in my 1894 Romance FROM HERE TO FOURTEENTH STREET

 

I do paranormal investigations with a group near where I live, and I attended my very first 

ghost hunt with them a few nights before Halloween. About ten of us visited Old Dunstable 

Cemetery where some victims of a 1702 Indian massacre are buried. It’s the oldest cemetery 

in Nashua, dating back from when the land was part of Massachusetts. The earliest burial 

dates from 1687. Researchers had found the victims’ names, so we were able to locate their 

gravestones. The only equipment I had at the time were my dowsing rods and a digital 

camera. While others in the group made their attempts to contact spirits, I stood before a 

gravestone that read: this Man, with Seven more, that lies in this Grave; was Slew, All in

 A day, by the Indiens.



Holding my rods, I asked a few questions: Did you die in the massacre? Were you born here? You can only ask simple yes or no questions and ask the rods to cross for yes and separate for no. I got answers to all my questions. I then stood before another stone reading: Rev. Thomas Weld, Born June 1653, Settled as the first minister of the church in Dunstable Dec. 1685, probably massacred by the Indians while defending the settlement June 7, 1702, age 49. All the while, I felt a strong presence, and immediately began feeling dizzy and lightheaded. I found that this happens quite frequently when I ghost hunt. I’ve never seen a ghost, but have felt presences near me, and always get dizzy when I sense someone is nearby. I took several photos throughout the cemetery, and some came out with brightly colored arcs among the tombstones. I didn’t dare visit that graveyard on Halloween night!

Several of my books have paranormal elements, and my next release is FOR THE LOVE OF HAWTHORNE, the love story of Nathaniel and Sophia Hawthorne. Nathaniel bore a burden that plagued his family since 1692. His ancestor Judge Hathorne condemned nineteen innocent victims to death during the Salem witch trials. His heinous deeds brought shame and guilt upon the family through the centuries. In her last moments on earth, Sarah Good cursed the judge and his descendants from the hanging tree. Nathaniel's belief in this curse haunted and tormented him until Sophia, a gifted medium, made it her quest to save him by contacting Sarah’s spirit and asking for forgiveness.

How a Ghost Helped Solve a Murder in FROM HERE TO FOURTEENTH STREET


My heroine Vita Caputo lived on Mott Street on Manhattan's Lower East Side. In 1894, her fiancé Tom's cousin Mike was found murdered in an alley next to her tenement building. Prejudice against Italian immigrants and the generally corrupt police force went to work accusing and convicting Vita's father and brother of the crime. As they languished in The Tombs, the infamous prison, Vita, Tom, and gifted medium Jadwiga Wisen held a seance with a Ouija board that spelled out "frame" when Jadwiga asked who the true killer was. Frame? Yes, of course, Vita's dad and brother were framed--they were innocent. But when Tom went home and looked at his window frame, it gave him an idea--there's more than one kind of frame. He went to Vita's apartment, inspected her window frame, and discovered clues that led to the arrest of the true killer of his cousin--I won't give away any more!

Purchase FROM HERE TO FOURTEENTH STREET on Amazon



HAPPY HALLOWEEN HEALTHY PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE

Ingredients:
3/4 cup low fat cottage cheese
2/3 cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt
1 tbsp. flour (gluten free if need be)
2 tbsp. honey
1/4 tsp. salt
4 egg whites
2 tbsp. lemon juice
1/2 cup pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice, no sugar added

Directions:

Place everything in your blender and blend until smooth. Pour into a greased or parchment lined cake pan or a mini scone pan.

Bake at 350 F for 50 minutes.

Optional : When cooled, top with whipped cream 

Enjoy!

1 serving = 1/8 of the entire cake

Carbs: 13 gm

 



 

 

Thursday, August 29, 2024

Meet My Guest Kimberly Monaghan, Creator of Books Uplift--A Place to Share, Learn, Promote and Celebrate How Books Uplift Us Each and Every Day

I honestly can’t remember how I came across Books Uplift—it could have been on one of the numerous Facebook author groups I belong to, or an author friend may have recommended it...but one visit and I was hooked. Kimberly devotes endless hours to the constant updating of Books Uplift, keeping it up to the minute with posts for authors and readers—all of us lovers of books. Read Kimberly’s story of how she created Books Uplift, and please use the link below to join in and let Books Uplift brighten your day!

Kimberly’s Story: The What” and the Why” of Books Uplift



What is Books Uplift? To be succinct and a little sassy, it
s exactly whats written on the website: A place to share, learn, promote, and celebrate how books uplift us each and every day.” Perhaps a bit trite but, trust me, its a serious endeavor. A passion project dedicated to encouraging positive promotion and celebration of everything related to books. And much, much more. 

Ive been asked on numerous occasions why I started Books Uplift. After all Im not profiting from this venture, and it requires plenty of time. In fact, I invest numerous hours each week writing blogs, reading, and reviewing books, interviewing guests for spotlights, and creating positive, upbeat, and hopefully educational articles. Not to mention the research, planning, organization, soliciting guest and expert insights to keep Books Uplift fresh. Im thrilled each time Im asked why?” because Books Uplift has grabbed someones attention. Thankfully, this is a frequent occurrence. 

To drill down a little further, here are a few reasons I decided to make Books Uplift a positive, not-for-profit community.

Learning. For me, writing things down and slowing my thought process improves learning and retention. I cant tell you how many notebooks Ive filled over the years, rewriting portions of texts, books, and other content-laden documents so I could absorb information. I never knew why Id developed this habit until later in life I was diagnosed with dyslexia. It also helped my retention process to review books which I did for NSLS and School Library Journal for over ten years. Doing so was a great joy and that formulated a fun habit that Ive continued to this day. Then one of my friends, a published author, recommended I take all these notes, reviews, and articles and share them with the world. Start a book blog,” she suggested and so I did. That s how Books Uplift was born. 

Positivity. The majority of what you find online is negative. Its a seemingly safe place to disparage others and unfortunately provides a false sense of courage or power. Tired of seeing all the negative commentary, I wanted to build a community of positivity around something we all love—books! Books unite the masses and are the foundation for creative dialogue. And the people behind them—authors, publishers, publicists, editors, bookstores, artists—well, wow! They put their life into these little gems. No easy feat. Trust me. So, when a book is published it deserves praise, not punishment. Though not every book is for everyone and yes, fair and honest reviews are critical for the marketplace, growth, and development, everything that goes into a books creation deserves applause. No negative reviews here. Like my momma always said, If you cant find something nice to say, dont say anything at all.” 

Charity. Several years ago, I experimented with ads and site affiliations. It didnt feel right. Im always annoyed by the pop-up ads on sites, pulling me away from content and making it difficult for me to concentrate on what I m reading. Now, let me be clear, I dont have a problem with this strategy per se, but it really detracted from the values behind Books Uplift. Then in 2020 I had to step away from volunteering in a physical capacity (as we all did). It especially bothered me that I couldnt volunteer at my favorite shelter Save-A-Pet (well, we no longer lived in Chicago, so theres that). Then a light bulb went off and I decided to make Books Uplift a charitable platform. I removed all income streams and encouraged affiliates and others wanting to support Books Uplift to donate to some of the amazing charities that are doing great things with books. The response has been amazing, and the charity partners are very grateful for the support. Of course, I had to add a column for Readers Rescues to spotlight the wonderful people whove adopted pets and gave them a forever home.

Connecting. Ive always been a natural connector. I love meeting new people, making introductions, building groups and communities—ask anyone that knows me So, the Books Uplift Community is a wonderful place for connecting with others who love books and believe in their positive impact on the world. Ive been exploring how I can make it more interactive and I certainly welcome suggestions. For now, I encourage comments on articles, blogs, and contributions, and of course joining the community Ive built on Facebook. 

Love. This is truly a labor of love. Books Uplift provides me an outlet to share things Ive discovered. Of course, its a wonderful way to share the work of all those in this community with the world. I dont ask for anything in return, but patience and support. With that being said, I hope more people will support the community by getting involved, giving to the charities spotlighted, visiting the bookstores, or offering positive comments on the blogs, articles, interviews, and reviews. Of course, I love receiving the positive and supportive feedback in my email—Thank you. But we would all truly appreciate your adding your positive commentary when moved to do so, and please, please, please share on social media all the posts, articles, charities, spotlights, or interviews that have captured your interest, moved you to action, and touched your heart.

Visit Books Uplift

Visit Kimberly's Creative Portfolio

 


Wednesday, May 15, 2024

Meet My Fellow Wild Rose Press Author Laura Strickland As She Celebrates The Release of Her New Historical American Romance SLOW TRAIN TO NOWHERE: SEAN

Laura and I are authors with The Wild Rose Press, and when I saw a post about her book, released yesterday, I knew I had to invite her to be my guest here. 

This is my kinda book!

Meet Laura

Multi award-winning author Laura Strickland delights in time traveling to the past and searching out settings for her books, be they Historical Romance, Steampunk or something in between. Married and the parent of one grown daughter, Laura has also been privileged to mother a number of very special rescue dogs, and is intensely interested in animal welfare. Her love of dogs, and her lifelong interest in Celtic history, magic and music, are all reflected in her writing. Laura's mantra is Lore, Legend, Love, and she wouldn't have it any other way.

About SLOW TRAIN TO NOWHERE: SEAN

 Five children from the orphan train. Can the eldest protect the rest?


When Sean Hussey returns to the town where he lived as a boy, it’s with revenge on his mind. He’s made a success of himself out west and intends to get even with the farmer under whose thumb he once suffered. He’ll show mercy only to the others who shared his fate in days gone by, especially sweet Jenny whose memory he still cherishes.

Sarah Rupert hasn’t had it easy growing up as a girl from the orphan train, and as a survivor of shocking abuse. Since the death of her husband, she’s had to support her young son by dubious means. When Sean Hussey comes back into her life it’s a miracle, because he’s the boy she always wanted for her own. Trouble is, Sean just may be in love with another woman.

Excerpt

They talked for a while about the changes in the town and Sean worked on his second drink.

All of a sudden he nodded at the glass in front of her. “Why d’you do that?”

“Do what?”

“Order a drink and just let it sit? You did the same before.”

“I get my drinks for free.”

“But you don’t drink ’em. Why?”

“Want to know the truth?”

His light eyes fastened on her face. “Always.”

“I’m afraid if I start drinking I won’t be able to stop and then the boogie-men from the past will swoop in and get me.”

“Boogie-men?”

“There’s not much keeping them at bay. Just these walls I’ve put up and have to kind of keep in place. If I get tipsy, those walls might fall down.”

He studied her seriously. “Describe these boogie-men to me.”

She didn’t want to. “Can’t. That might invite them in.”

He drew a breath and covered her hand with his where it rested on the table. “Honey—”

“No, Sean. I dare not let ’em in.”

“All right then. I won’t ask nothing more.”

“They’re—they’re like the ones you see in nightmares.”

He shook his head. “I don’t dream much anymore. Used to when we first came here. I used to dream I was back in New York. Running the streets. Looking for my ma.”

“But she died on the way over from Ireland, right?”

“Fancy you remembering that.”

She remembered everything about him.

“Never looked for my pa. Knew where to find him. In a pub. With a glass.” He looked down at his own drink as if startled.

“Right now,” she confided, “I’m living my life for my boy, Luke. All I do is for him.”

“Not for yourself?”

“No.”

“You wanting nothing for yourself—”

Oh, she wanted.

“—don’t seem fair.”

“Were you happy out west, Sean?”

He shrugged uncomfortably. “I don’t think happy describes my state of mind. There were moments when I felt pretty good.”

“Never married?”

“Nah.”

“Never tempted?”

He shook his head.

So he was free. And she was free. For an instant Sarah caught a glimpse of something so wonderful, it dazzled her mind’s eye. He, though, was interested in Jenny, who wasn’t free.

Purchase SLOW TRAIN TO NOWHERE: SEAN

Amazon US


Connect With Laura

Thursday, May 9, 2024

Meet Steve Moretti, Author of Deep, Intriguing Time Travel Novels, Featuring MUSIC IS NOT BOUND BY TIME, Book One of the Song For A Lost Kingdom Trilogy

Having written several time travel novels, I'm always drawn to similar stories, and Steve Moretti far exceeded my expectations with MUSIC IS NOT BOUND BY TIME. This story drew me to it not only for the time travel element, but because his heroine Adeena Stuart is a musician. She plays cello and I play piano, but musician stories always connect with me. Meet Steve, read about MUSIC IS NOT BOUND BY TIME, and be sure to check out Books Two and Three of this trilogy, which I look forward to reading.

About Steve

I was a reader long before becoming a writer. 

The feeling of being swallowed whole by a great book is something I treasure. It is my goal with every book I write, to immerse the reader in the story – utterly and completely. 

I am drawn to music and art that transcend time, movies that dont age, and novels that forever embed themselves inside you. 

My writing focuses on artistic creators and the passions that define them, often tragically, men and women who are inspired to the point of obsession with their art. They leave behind creations that render them immortal, free from the constraints of time.

My background in broadcasting, journalism, public education, and the technology business taught me that great accomplishments are the result of individuals who are not limited by limitations or afraid to face what they they most fear. 

I live in Ottawa, Canada, with my wife and a menagerie of dogs and cats. My four young grandchildren keep me in wonder at the mysterious world around us.


About MUSIC IS NOT BOUND BY TIME


A gifted musician, a priceless cello, and a love worth risking everything. A time-travel fantasy powered by music.

Even as a rebellious child, Adeena dreamed of becoming a professional cellist. Driven to perform and to compose, she forsakes almost everything else, sabotaging relationships at the altar of her quest for musical perfection.

But after yet another failed audition, shes had enough. It is time to let go of her dream and get a real life. And then, a new hope arrives from her dying grandmother in Scotland – a lost music score written by an unknown composer in the 18th century.

When Adeena gets an opportunity to perform the lost score on the Duncan Cello, the oldest cello ever created in the United Kingdom, time transforms around her.

She is connected to Katharine, a young cellist living in 1745 Scotland. Both women are attracted to the Duke of Perth, James Drummond, a man history records as doomed to die the following year after the Battle of Culloden.

In Music is Not Bound by Time, the first book in the Song for a Lost Kingdom trilogy, the power of music transcends the limitations of the ordinary world for those who listen through their heart.

A fantasy that will sweep you away. Time travel powered by music.

An Excerpt

 Adeena wasn’t sure what to make of her situation.

An hour ago the music director of the National Arts Centre Orchestra was almost a stranger to her, more mythical creature than real person. Now, as she stood beside Friedrich Lang, with the pages of her score spread all over his piano, they were like old comrades.

She surveyed his private practice room. Baffles made the acoustics rich and pure. A row of spotlights lit a line of framed photographs highlighting Friedrich’s career, conducting and performing on stages around the world. One dramatic series of black and white photos captured him in performance at Carnegie Hall, dripping in sweat, entranced in what must have been a sorrowful violin solo.

“Ja! Ja! I see how this will work,” Lang shouted as he played parts of the score on the piano, getting a feel for the tone and tempo and muttering to himself.

Adeena began to worry that his interest was only in the music she had brought him.

“Would you like to hear me play, Mr. Lang?” she finally asked tentatively.

He suddenly stopped, looked up from the piano and stared at her, as if seeing her for the first time. “What?” he asked, focusing on her and then at her cello case, propped up in the corner.  “Yes, of course! Bring your cello over here. Let’s try playing this through, together.”

Adeena felt relieved as she unpacked the cello and lifted it carefully from the case. He stared at the old instrument.

“That’s your cello?” he asked. “No endpin? Where did you get it?”

Adeena felt her heart pounding through her chest like it might expose her at any second. She took a deep breath and spoke carefully.

“It’s the…the Duncan Cello,” she said matter-of-factly. “I work at the National Gallery and I have, uh, well…I have special permission to use it.”

Lang studied her carefully and Adeena wished she could read his thoughts.

“Really? I just saw a story about it on the news.” He examined it more closely and slapped his hands together in hearty approval. “Five million dollars? Scheisse! Okay, you’ve got my attention young lady.”

Lang stood up and moved a wooden stool near the piano. He motioned for her to sit.

“Let’s play, my dear. See what we can do with this piece!”

As the conductor focused on her music, Adeena glanced toward the open cello case and the original copy of the score, sealed in a plastic bag. An image of her grandmother flashed in her mind. She mouthed a silent “thank you” to her.

It had not been easy to “borrow” the Duncan Cello from the National Gallery. Indeed it had required a certain degree of deviousness on her part. But for the moment, cello and musician were together. At last, she could perform the music that seemed a part of who she was with an instrument that felt like it had always belonged to her.

Adeena listened to the opening bars of the music coming from the piano. The conductor was astute. He understood this music instinctively. The effect on his face was clear and his focus profound as his fingers touched the keys. Lang’s head began to sway, directing an invisible orchestra in front of him.

Adeena sat watching him on a wooden stool. She pulled the Duncan Cello between her legs. It somehow felt naturally comfortable. This instrument was her voice, its haunting timbre was able to bestir her nethermost emotions with a depth she had never experienced. It brought release to the creativity imprisoned within her. As she traced her fingers along the smooth wood grain of its weathered fingerboard, a rush of blood pounded within her trembling hands.

Lang looked up from the piano. He seemed entranced as well, as he gave a slight nod of his head for her to begin, closing his eyes to better concentrate on the music.

Adeena tightened her grip, ready to start the dark, timeless tango of cello and cellist.

Slowly, she began to play. As the strands of her taut horse-hair bow glided across the strings of the cello with a lush friction, an odd sensation swept over her. The harmonics of cello and piano combined to create a sense of yearning, enveloping the windowless chamber in a wave of sound that focused the emotions rising within her.

Purchase the Song For A Lost Kingdom Trilogy on Amazon

Audio Book

Connect With Steve

Email: steve@stevemoretti.ca 

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Wednesday, April 24, 2024

Meet Karen Bartell, My Fellow Wild Rose Press Author, and Read About Her Paranormal Romance FOX TALE, Set in Japan

I met Karen when I saw her featured on another author's blog post, and saw that she's also a Wild Rose Press author. We struck up a lively correspondence, are doing blog exchanges, and are reading each other's books. We share our fascination with the paranormal, although I have no ability in that area--I've never seen a ghost. But I do believe.

About Karen

Author of the Trans-Pecos, Sacred Emblem, Sacred Journey, and Sacred Messenger series, as well as Fox Tale, Kissing Kin, Wild Rose Pass, The Keys: Voice of the Turtle and more, Karen is a best-selling author, motivational keynote speaker, IT technical editor, wife, and all-around pilgrim of life. She writes multicultural, offbeat love stories steeped in the supernatural. 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. 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 Texas Piney Woods with her husband Peter and her mews—three rescued cats and a rescued *Cat*ahoula Leopard dog.

About FOX TALE

What separates perception from deception―illusion from reality?

Fox Tale is a paranormal romance set in Kyoto and Tokyo, Japan. It’s about a woman who’s terrified of heights. When Chase saves Ava from plunging down a mountain, he diverts her fears with tales of Japanese kitsune—shapeshifting foxes—and she begins a journey into the supernatural.

She’s attracted to Chase, both physically and metaphysically, yet primal instincts urge caution when shadows suggest more than meets the eye.

She’s torn between him and Rafe, her ex, when a chance reunion reignites their passion, but she struggles to overcome two years of bitter resentment. Did Rafe jilt her, or were they pawns of a larger conspiracy? Are the ancient legends true of kitsunes twisting time and events?

****

Background of Fox Tale

My husband works for a Japanese company. When he was instructed to meet with his Tokyo team, I leapt at the chance to accompany him.

The next thing I did was research Japan’s cryptids. What appeared were Inari’s kitsunes or fox spirits—and voilà, the idea for Fox Tale was born.

What are Inari’s kitsunes? Japan’s history of foxes is complex.

According to Fox Tale’s leading man, Rafe, “Originally, Inari was the concept of a successful rice harvest. Over time, devotees fleshed out that belief, and Inari became the androgynous god of wealth.”

“And the kitsunes?” asked the protagonist, Ava.

“The relationship has always been cooperative…Initially, foxes kept rice fields free from rodents, ensuring good crop yields. Eventually, people humanized the foxes into guardians and agents.”

While my husband attended meetings, I explored Tokyo, sometimes alone on foot and sometimes with a group tour. I took copious notes, and each site I visited became part of my developing story. With the supernatural element, as well as the locale established, my imagination began taking flight.

I spoke to locals as often as possible, asking if they believed in kitsune--or if their neighbor or grandmother believed in them. (Luckily, many Japanese speak English!) Not one admitted to believing in the old superstitions, but almost all knew of someone who did.

Said Fox Tale’s antagonist, Ichiro, “Most Japanese live in concrete canyons, and rational university educations replace superstition. Still, fox stories persist through theater, festivals, language, and literature…or kiterature as I call it.”

“Despite a waning belief?” I leaned closer.

“Even today, some believe in fox possession…although believing in kitsunetsuki might not be fashionable in this age of supercomputers and artificial intelligence, stories still circulate in the tabloids and mass media.”

“For example?”

“In 2019, a doomsday cult member rammed his car into pedestrians on Takeshita Street, then pled not guilty on the grounds that the cult was fox possessed. And as recently as 2022, the Sessho-seki split in two.”

Skeptical, I squinted. “The what did what?”

“The killing stone…according to legend, it imprisoned an evil nogitsune vixen. Her spirit escaped when it split in half and began spewing sulfur fumes, killing anyone that approached…For over a thousand years, Japanese medical practitioners considered kitsunetsuki a disease. Even into the twentieth century, psychologists believed fox possession caused mental illness.”

“But not anymore…” Crossing my arms, I hugged myself, seeking reassurance. “Right?”

Gathering all the information I could from locals, as well as researching online, the plot for Fox Tale began to take shape. Once I had the realistic component that tied the supernatural to the natural, I had the storyline. Then the characters emerged as the story unfolded in my mind.

When my husband finished his meetings in Tokyo, we visited Kyoto, where we toured Fushimi Inari. The mountain is sacred in the Shinto religion, a place where “deities coexist with nature” and where, some believe, Inari resides.

Fushimi Inari has an ethereal presence. Its otherworldly aura and scenery are difficult to describe, but if anything supernatural could occur, it would happen on that mountain.

While at that shrine, the various parts merged into the basis of Fox Tale: the supernatural element, general locale, plot, characters, and finally the specific location for the otherworldly activity.

Lo and behold, a novel was born.

****

Excerpt

I applied my makeup with an artist’s hand, blending three shades of eyeshadow and going heavy on the mascara. Then I slipped into the black cocktail dress I’d bought for the occasion--a fusion of chic and slutty.

Wish I knew what Rafe planned for my birthday. Dinner at an upscale restaurant? Pub food at a sports bar?

“A surprise,” was all he’d said.

What’s the fine line between dressed to kill and overdressed? Glancing at the mirror, I glimpsed the exposed décolletage, then examined my naked left hand. More importantly, is tonight the night? After dating for three years, the conversation had finally turned to rings and weddings, and with graduation a month away, I was eager to take the next step.

At six o’clock sharp, I sat by the door, butterflies fluttering in my belly.

Ten minutes passed, fifteen. I texted him. An hour later, I called. When he didn’t pick up, I left a voicemail.

At eight o’clock, I checked my email. No messages, no texts--radio silence.

At nine o’clock, I removed my makeup, the black, smoky taupe, mauve, and greige streaks on the cotton pad mirroring my mood. After showering, I picked at soggy leftovers as I studied my bare left hand. Leftovers…

When the phone dinged, I flinched. Rafe?

Mia--Guess who’s at Tootsie’s? And Rafe’s not alone. What’s going on?--

I sat back, stunned. He wouldn’t break up with me on my birthday--without even the courtesy of telling me--would he?

****

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