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Do you like fantasy? If so, sit back, put your feet up, and relax for fifteen minutes as you take a trip to Goldfield Forest.

When an 18th-century archaeologist saves the life of an elf in the Amazon rainforest, he has no idea his kindness will set off a chain of events that, two and a half centuries later, will affect a contemporary witch and the little people she protects.

Goldfield Forest will be released on July 4th, but you can read the first two chapters in Preview of Goldfield Forest now. It’s free at Amazon and most other ebook retailers.

Until next time, keep reading and writing!

Cheers!

Karen and Ivan

Lounging on the beach, or lounging in your living room, if you enjoy mysteries, it’s nice to settle back and get lost in one. Race into Murder is free today through May 27th. https://amzn.to/3zKNpZZ

Jeff Frazier trains racehorses, and his dream of a champion is about to come true. But a jockey is murdered, an innocent man is arrested, and Jeff’s dream becomes a nightmare. The racing world is in chaos as the killer is torn between justice & morality. “A crime tale with an engaging setting and some intriguing characters” Kirkus Reviews. “…driven by the strength of its characters…well-plotted murder mystery…” Book Review Directory.

For those who enjoy short stories, Unwelcomed, by John Podlaski is a good one. It will keep your attention. https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1040426

When Johnny comes home from Vietnam, he thinks he’s done fighting. But when the battle comes to his doorstep, he doesn’t hesitate. “…a thought-provoking, action-filled short story…” Amazon Review, Jan S. “…pulled me in with the first paragraph and kept me wondering what was going to happen next.” Amazon Review, Charles Jones.

If you have a minute, I need your help! It appears some of my newsletters are being kidnapped and routed to junk. To combat the problem, I’m told the receiver needs to comment on the email or add the sender’s address to the contact list. So, even if you didn’t need to search your spam to find this newsletter, would you please write a short comment? Just “hello” or an emoji should do the trick and I would appreciate it.

Until next time, keep reading and writing.

Cheers!

Karen

These days, I’m busy waiting for the hummingbirds and watching the baby rabbits who have already begun dashing around the yard in the evenings. Happy Spring! This momma rabbit has been living in our yard for years and builds her nests in some of the strangest places!

Now, I need your help! It appears my newsletters are being kidnapped by the spam stalkers and routed to junk instead of inboxes. I’ve gotten several inquiries from subscribers who say they are not receiving my emails. At my suggestions, they located them in their spam folder. At first, I figured it was simply a glitch, but it wasn’t. Apparently, if a large number of emails are sent, they are tagged as spam and go to the receiver’s junk folder. I’m not sure what a “large number” is but it appears to be relatively small.

In any event, the only way to combat it is for the receiver to either comment on the email, mark it as “not spam,” or add the sender’s address to the contact list. Of course, you need to see the email in order to do that and if you’re like me, you don’t often think to check what’s in your junk folder! So, even if you didn’t need to search your spam to find this newsletter, would you please write a short comment? Just “hello” or an emoji should do the trick. Thank you!

Whether they get to where they’re aimed or not, I’ll continue to send you notice of free and discounted books, book reviews, and an occasional author interview. If you’re interested in being featured in a future newsletter or blogpost, please let me know. And if you’re a reader, I’d love to hear from you, too. Maybe it’s time to feature someone who likes to read. What do you think?

Until next time,

Karen

Juan Velasquez is no stranger to violence and crime is a way of life. Juan’s Path to Justice, a free short story introduces Juan & takes him from the gang-controlled streets of Mexico to a new direction where the law of justice is sacred, legal or not. https://amzn.to/3EvVJir

Deadly Repercussions, on sale for $.99 from 4/26/24 through 4/29/24, tells the rest of his story. https://amzn.to/3xcvwBa

As the holiday season comes to an end, I’m seldom in a hurry to put the decorations away, although I try to have everything done by Valentine’s Day. Does anyone else keep their tree up until the last week in January?

During the past year, many of you have read my books, subscribed to my blog, connected on social media, and visited my website. Thank you! With thousands of books and blogs available, I appreciate it every time someone chooses to read one of mine.

Best wishes for a happy and healthy 2024!

Our tree is decorated, the baking is done, gifts are wrapped, and I consumed two entire quarts of eggnog this past week! I’ve heard it’s a scientific fact food and drink have no calories from the week before Christmas until New Year’s Day. How lovely that would be …

Speaking of gifts, I have one for you. DEADLY REPERCUSSIONS is free from today through December 26th. The link is below.

Best wishes for a lovely Christmas and a New Year filled with health, happiness, and lots of books! 

Your comments are always welcome. I’d love to hear from you.

Until next time, keep reading and writing!

Karen

While I’m basting the turkey and mashing potatoes, I’ll be thinking about my next novel, which is almost finished. A fantasy, set primarily in the Amazon rainforest, it includes a cast of supernatural characters and magic of all kinds, along with a contemporary family whose interactions with the fae keep their lives interesting.

But I need a title! If you have any ideas, please leave them in the comments. If I use your suggestion, or even a variation of it, I’ll send you a book of your choice from any I’ve written.

If you like sweet contemporary romance, especially one that includes a rodeo and some horse races, Ride into Romance might be one for you. It’s on sale for $.99, from today through November 28th.

A Wish and His Demand and Juan’s Path to Justice are both free this month. Scroll down for the details.

Until next time,

Best Wishes!

Karen

Ride into Romance

A rhyming tale to make you smile!

You’re Mine

Karen Black

This night was special, Halloween! Twelve months had passed since he’d last seen his faithful friend of many years. When she arrived, sometimes his tears still fell as he remembered when she’d left him. She was only ten. Renee, his pal, his special friend. He’d been the one who caused her end.

It happened on the railroad track. He often wished he could go back to that October thirty-first. That cold, dark night he made the worst choice of his life. He let her walk alone that night. They’d talked of costumes, trick or treat, and after dinner where they’d meet.

Renee was picking lavender. Having such fun, she never heard the train. It rumbled down the track and struck her squarely on her back. A momentary jolt of pain, her life extinguished by the train. Her spirit floated to his side where she decided to abide.

It happened sixty years ago. Since then, he’d never truly known a day alone in all that time. Each day, she told him, “You are mine.” She never blamed him for her death but made it clear she’d never rest without her friend. Most times a voice, yet Halloween allowed her spirit to be seen.

He lit a candle for some light within his room that moonless night. Then hovering above the flame, he saw her, and she called his name. And when she stood, the room turned cold. He reached for her, so he could fold her in his arms. He hugged his beautiful Renee, and like always wished she could stay.

Though once a year, she could pass through, the spirits’ barriers, he knew that every day, at least one time, he’d her softly say, “You’re mine.”

***

Do you believe in ghosts? I do. Although I don’t think the only time they visit is on October 31st, I suspect there are a lot more spirits wandering on that day, if only because we summon them.

Watch spooky movies, read scary books, dress up in costumes, and enjoy the parties. But be extra careful with Ouija boards and seances!

Looking for some spooky books? Here are a few you might enjoy reading, along with a short review of each.

WHEN THE ROOSTER CROWS AT MIDNIGHT by Hargrove Perth. The story grabbed me from the outset. But who could resist a first-person tale, told by a detective who happens to be a witch? Detective Mallory Shane is employed by the City of Pittsburgh’s Immortal Detective Association of Witches, IDAW. When witches are being killed by an assumed serial killer, it is up to Detective Shane to figure out who is responsible and why others of her kind are being attacked. At the same time, she needs to focus on keeping herself out of the killer’s path. With memorable characters and a fast pace, this well-done novel will keep you entertained.

DEAD GAME by Susanne Leist It doesn’t take long to get involved in this engrossing fantasy. I don’t usually recommend prologues but will make an exception. Read the prologue! In Leist’s delightfully chilling novel, all vampires are not created equal and all of them aren’t as wicked as most folklore has led us to believe. The author weaves a page turning story that will satisfy current fans of vampire tales and will undoubtedly create new vampire enthusiasts, with emphasis on the memorable characters in the Dead Game. I’m looking forward to Book Two.

BREATHLESS: A SHORT STORY by Yvette Calleiro A cross between be-careful-what-you-wish-for and karma-is-a-beast, “Breathless” is an adult fairy tale. Love and hate, good and evil, happy and sad are all woven together, with a touch of magic. The author has created an entertaining short story with exactly the right ending.

LONG STORIES SHORT by Karen Black is a collection of ten short stories, includes several previously published readers’ favorites. Mark and Erin discover the power of the Ouija Board in “You Summoned Me,” and “Magic or Miracles” will take you on a journey that may help you decide if there’s a difference. How long is “Forever?” Does Bigfoot exist? Eli believes so and “One Step at a Time” tells his story. Is there life after death? “A Candle in the Darkness” looks at both sides of the question. “Mountain Justice,” a story of domestic violence, friendship and a horse’s devotion might make you wonder how far you would go to save a friend’s life. A house fire causes tragedy in “Aftermath.” A hasty decision has devastating results in “Unintended Consequences.” Dreams and reality collide in “The Hunted.” Man’s best friend proves he is just that in “Indisputable Evidence.” Written in a variety of genres, the reader will find drama, suspense and paranormal. Expect the unexpected.

Until next time,

Thank you to everyone who entered the recent Sweepstakes for a chance to win Race into Murder, and to all the new subscribers to Stories by Karen. I appreciate your interest and your support!

It’s the end of summer but the beginning of football season. Yes, I am a football fanatic. Ivan thinks “touchdown” means “kitty treats.”

Here’s the link to a short story you can read at halftime.

“Treacherous Love” is free from September 2nd through the 5th.

Happy Labor Day!

Cheers!