A
hearty “Welcome back!” to my fellow TWRP author Karen Hulene Bartell. She’s sharing
the details on her latest release, the second in 2024.
Title – Fox
Tale
Author –
Karen Hulene Bartell
Genre –
Paranormal Romance
Publisher –
The Wild Rose Press
Book
Blurb –
Heights terrify Ava. When a stranger saves her
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 Chase 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?
I
haven’t heard of this legend, but a story about fox shifters who can manipulate
time sounds fascinating. Let’s see the Fox Tale excerpt –
The
kitten crawled on the pillow, purring in my ear as he kneaded my neck and
shoulders with his silky paws.
“That
actually feels good.” I chuckled at the irony, then exhausted, fell into a deep
sleep. I found myself sitting on a shaded, grassy slope. A gentle breeze
fluttered against my cheek.
No,
not a breeze, Chase.
He
caressed my cheek as he swept my hair behind my ear and whispered sweet
nothings. His breath tickling, he nuzzled my neck.
Goosebumps
slid down my spine.
Then
he massaged my back….
As
latent yearnings awakened, I arched my back, enjoying the waves of sensation.
With a shudder, I moaned, pulling him toward me in a deep kiss….
Bbbrrringg,
bbbrrringg, bbbrrringg.
As
the alarm jolted me awake, the heat rose to my cheeks, and I scanned the
surroundings to get my bearings. Mortified, I cringed beneath the sheets. What
have I done? Then relieved to see only the kitten for a bed partner, I gave
a nervous laugh. It was a dream--just a dream.
The
kitten uncurled from between my legs, purring.
Embarrassed
by the sensations it elicited, I scrambled to my feet. Did the kitten
trigger those dreams?
When
did you start writing?
An
only child, I began writing my first novel at the age of nine, learning the joy
of creating my own happy endings…However, I got four pages into my first “book”
and realized I had to do a lot of living before I could finish it!
IMHO,
reading is the entry to writing. Born to rolling-stone parents who moved
annually--sometimes monthly--I found my earliest playmates as fictional friends
in books. Paperbacks became my portable pals. Ghost stories kept me up at
night--reading feverishly. Novels offered an imaginative escape, and the
paranormal was my passion.
So
here I am all these decades later, still creating my own happy endings…
Your
history sounds so familiar: grade school attempts at writing and scouring the
library for fictional friends. (Been there, done that too!)
With
another release under your belt, what's next for you?
I’m
writing a political-suspense thriller set in Taipei, Taiwan, entitled Silkworm,
that portrays a US Senator’s daughter caught between two men, two cultures, two
political ideologies, and the two Chinas.
A
love triangle is the metaphor for Taiwan and China (the two dragons) competing
for geopolitical and technological accords with the US. As mainland China seeks
to recover the third of its lost provinces–Taiwan–Rachel Moore struggles to
escape the triple nightmare of impending war, a marriage of convenience, and an
assassination plot against the man she loves. Silkworm weaves their
stories with the trilateral events currently erupting in Southeast Asia.
Wow,
from paranormal to political thriller! You are multi-talented, for sure. Best
of luck with everything on your plate.
Here
are the Buy Links for Fox Tale –
UNIVERSAL
LINK: https://books2read.com/u/br9VJM
AMAZON:
https://shorturl.at/uwGPX
GOODREADS:
https://shorturl.at/jozDY
BARNES
& NOBLE / NOOK: https://shorturl.at/nuMOZ
For
more about Karen, here’s her Author Biography –
Author
of the Trans-Pecos, Sacred Emblem, Sacred Journey, and Sacred Messenger series,
as well as Kissing Kin, Fox Tale, 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.
Connect
with Karen on her Social Media Links –
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/KarenHuleneBartell
MeWe:
https://mewe.com/i/karenbartell
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/HuleneKaren
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
Amazon
Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/karenhulenebartell
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/karenhulenebartell/
BookBub:
https://www.bookbub.com/profile/karen-hulene-bartell
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenhulenebartell/
AUTHORSdb:
https://authorsdb.com/community/17847-karen-hulene-bartell
Please show Karen
some love by visiting her sites and checking out her books.