Tag: Free short story

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How important is a title? Would “For Eternity” grab your attention if it wasn’t free?

Greetings, everyone!

While laboring over a title for my next novel, I wondered if other authors have a difficult time finding the right one. After a bit of research, I found some trivia that made me smile.

Most of you have probably seen the movie, “Jaws,” based on Peter Benchley’s novel by the same name. According to Mr. Benchley, he considered over 100 titles, including The Shark, Leviathan Rising, The Jaws of Death, Silence in the Water, and The Jaws of Leviathan. He came up with a winner with a simple one word title, Jaws.

F. Scott Fitzgerald settled on The Great Gatsby, but had second thoughts about not using a title he preferred, Trimalchio in West Egg. In my opinion, he chose the correct one. I wonder if Stephen Crane’s novel, The Red Badge of Courage, would have sold as many copies if it had used his other consideration, Private Fleming, His Various Battles?

Margaret Mitchell planned to name her novel Pansy, after the main character. After changing Pansy’s name to Scarlett, she considered Bugles Sang True and Not in Our Stars before settling on the final title, Gone With the Wind.

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Enough book trivia! Are you in the mood for a free short fantasy story? Download your copy below.

Monique is a witch who associates with no one but Dante, a raven. At Dante’s insistence, she accepts an invitation for a weekend at an enchanted hotel, where she rescues a kitten from the jaws of a goblin and is pointed in a new direction.

FOR ETERNITY- Various distributors including Barnes & Noble, Apple & Kobo  

FOR ETERNITY – Amazon.com

Thank you for reading my newsletter!

Best wishes,

Karen

P.S. Ivan says, “Cato, the kitten, is a character in the story. He reminds me of me in my younger days.”

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Happy Thanksgiving!

Scroll down for a free short story and the link to enter a giveaway for my new release.

For Juan Velasquez, crime is a way of life. The law of justice, however, is sacred. This short story follows a teenager from the gang-controlled streets of Mexico in a new direction. Loyalty is a family trait for Juan, even though his life is a masquerade with deception woven throughout. An introduction to Deadly Repercussions, this short story is the beginning of Juan’s journey into the next generation.

FREE at Amazon https://amzn.to/3EvVJir

and other retailers https://books2read.com/u/3J6k9e

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Deadly Repercussions takes Juan and his family to Texas, where the second generation follows a course set by the first.

Enter for a chance to win an ebook copy of Deadly Repercussions. https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/356550-deadly-repercussions

From the streets of Mexico to mountains of Wyoming, Juan Velasquez does what is needed to survive and to prosper. His belief in the rule of law is trumped by his belief in the pursuit of justice, a trait that is passed down to his daughter, Elizabeth, and his granddaughter, Elaina.

Assassination within Juan’s family triggers a homicide investigation that sets off a chain of events leading to betrayal, kidnapping, and more death.  Deception and devotion become confused and, while loyalty has benefits, it also has a cost. When Juan disappears during his unofficial search for the assassin, Elaina deciphers details that could lead her to him. Hesitant to share the information with authorities, she sets out on her own, aware that, in the undercover world, life is a masquerade and the path to the truth is complex.

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“From the cantankerous and slightly paranoid patriarch to the strong female lead, all the way down to the people surrounding them, whose motives remain dubious and questionable all throughout and leading up to the plot twist—the strength of the characterizations gave the book the momentum it needed as it raced toward its climactic conclusion.” The Book Review Directory

“…its special brand of suspense paired with inspections of generations that grow and change under the influence of violence and bad choices…”  D.Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

“Deadly Repercussions is an enjoyable mystery-thriller that explores the sanctity of justice and retribution. Quick and mysterious, Deadly Repercussions is sure to leave thriller fans feeling satisfied.” Independent Book Review.