Coffee Time Romance Presents - Awaken the Witch Within

“Awaken the Witch Within” - Join me on Friday 18th May for the Coffee Time Romance Chatters e-Loop, 16:00 - 18:00 EST (21:00 - 23:00 GMT)

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/karenfindoutaboutnewbooks

I will be hosting an e-loop chat with Coffee Time Romance to promote my paranormal romance series 'The Redcliffe Novels.' Join me to hear about the Redcliffe sequel Love Kills (A Redcliffe Novel) due for release in June 2012, and hear about British bookshop owner Jessica Stone as she discovers her true self and adjusts to life with a vampire and his werewolf brother…I will also offer free online Goddess Oracle card readings during the chat, on behalf of Spirit Sisters.

Mind, Body and Spirit Event in Solihull, West Midlands, UK

Spirit Sisters are hitting the road! We are heading out to the West Midlands next weekend for a Mind, Body and Spirit event at the Holiday Inn hotel in Solihull. See http://www.spirit-sisters.co.uk for more details.

Who are the Spirit Sisters? Well, I will tell  you. Spirit Sisters are myself, Catherine Green, and my sister, Emily Hargreaves. I am the author and spiritual advisor. Emily is the holistic therapist and spiritual advisor. Together with our Spirit Brother, we are the Witch, the Shaman and the Druid...

At the event next weekend I will be offering spiritual guidance in the form of Tarot and Oracle card readings. I will also do a talk about my British paranormal romance series The Redcliffe Novels, and will sell signed copies of my books. My Spirit Sister will offer holistic therapies including massage, reflexology, ear candles and Indian head massage. She will also offer Reiki drumming sessions which I personally recommend as a wonderful treatment!

So come along, say hello, check out my books and maybe have a treatment or two... See you later!

Spirit Sisters and the Redcliffe Novels

This weekend (Sunday 6th May) I will be at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Chester, UK to talk about my Redcliffe novels. I will sell signed copies of Love Hurts (A Redcliffe Novel) and The Mirador Fantasmagoria, and I will tell people about the upcoming release of Love Kills (A Redcliffe Novel). As part of this promotion I will do a free talk about my books and my work as a spiritual advisor for Spirit Sisters.

There have been several occurrences lately which led me to believe in the connection between myself as a psychic medium and my work as an author. For example, I described to my editor how I envisioned the artwork for Love Kills (A Redcliffe Novel). She responded very excitedly by saying I had described almost exactly what she and her design team had been considering. Coincidence or psychic knowledge? I prefer the latter explanation.

The more I progress on my spiritual pagan path, the more excited and amazed I become at the events that unfold around me. Two years ago I never considered the fact that I would be preparing to launch my second novel, having written a third and currently writing a fourth. It seems that once I stepped out of my rational, restrictive mindset, I was set free to truly express myself and do what is natural. And the result is exhilarating, exciting and totally rewarding. Now you must excuse me, I have some writing to do...

The Redcliffe Novels: Writing a Trilogy

I am currently writing the third book in my Redcliffe novels paranormal romance series. Love Redeems (A Redcliffe Novel) concludes the story of how our protagonist Jessica Stone met and fell in love with a vampire, and subsequently discovered the truth about her friends and acquaintances in the fictional Cornish seaside town of Redcliffe. I originally only intended to write one book with this story, but it  just sort of spiralled and took on a life of its own, so now here I am.

My first Redcliffe book Love Hurts (A Redcliffe Novel) introduces us to Jessica Stone and her best friend and business partner Elizabeth Gormond. They are happy running the local bookshop and socialising with friends at the Ship pub on the promenade. Jessica is independent and content with her life, and she doesn’t need a romantic relationship. Or so she thinks. One night she meets Detective Jack Mason and she falls in love, hard and fast. Jessica cannot admit her true feelings at first and neither can Jack.

The story continues as Jessica meets Jack’s identical twin brother Danny Mason. There is confusion and embarrassment, and then she must learn to differentiate the two men. Finally, she discovers the secrets they have been hiding from her, along with her close friends in Redcliffe. Jessica unwittingly becomes entangled in a messy police operation, and the brothers’ secret identities are revealed. One is a vampire, one is a werewolf. But that isn’t the whole story.

This is why Love Hurts (A Redcliffe Novel) led into a sequel and eventually a trilogy. Love Kills (A Redcliffe Novel) is due for release in June 2012, and as I said previously, I am currently writing Love Redeems (A Redcliffe Novel).  There has been more violence and bloodshed, which is not something I originally intended, and Jessica Stone has discovered truths about herself and her heritage that were never in my fledgling story all those years ago. I am surprised and intrigued every time I sit down to write, which makes this journey a very exciting one.

Oh, and that’s not all. There will be a fourth Redcliffe novel. Jessica is very insistent that her story is not finished. In fact, she has a lot of trauma and adventure to experience along the way. So, I had better get back to work. See you later!

The Darkness of Love - Victorian Vampire Story

I would like to share with you the synopsis for another manuscript of mine, a historical vampire novel called The Darkness of Love. I began writing this one in 2010 when the vampire character Marcus Scott from my Redcliffe novels decided he wanted his story told. He became very insistent, so I had to write it!

Marcus Scott works as a stable hand for Lord Gregory Stockton during the prosperous and industrial Victorian era. He has grown up in the grounds of Stockton Manor, and his parents also work for Lord Stockton. Marcus is in love with Lady Sarah Stockton, and gradually begins to lose control over his passion. She also harbours desires for him, but struggles with her strict upbringing and devotion to her husband. 

Gregory discovers the depth of the would-be lovers feelings for each other, and he takes a special interest in Marcus, promoting him to a position within the house, and throwing him into close contact with Sarah. Gregory plans to turn Marcus into a vampire, and bring him over as his heir. The drama unfolds, and the humans are pawns in the vampire’s game of power and control, passion and emotion. 

Do you like the sound of it? I need an agent and/or a publisher if anyone is interested...

Mind, Body and Spirit Event in Chester, UK

I will be exhibiting at a Mind, Body and Spirit event taking place at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Chester on Sunday 6th May 2012. The event starts at 10:00am and finishes at 5:00pm. I will be doing a talk about my Redcliffe novels at 4:15pm, and all day I will be available to promote my books and my work with Spirit Sisters. I will offer exclusive signed copies of my books for sale, and there will even be sneak previews of the brand new Redcliffe novel, Love Kills....

Blog Lucky 7 Challenge - A Redcliffe Novel

I have been handed the challenge by WordzNerdzDebz, also known as the fabulous Debz Hobbs-Wyatt from Bridge House Publishing. She was one of the editors responsible for selecting my very first published short story The Teen Game in the Young Adult anthology Devils, Demons and Werewolves.

The challenge is to open your current manuscript or work in progress. Go to either page 7 or 77, whichever is juiciest. Copy the first seven lines on the page, and post them in your blog under this title. Then wait for your audience to react with excitement!

Here is my excerpt, taken from page 7 of my current manuscript Love Redeems (A Redcliffe Novel). It is the third book in my Redcliffe paranormal romance series, and this is from the very rough first draft in progress:

           “No!” I said, “I mean, yes,” I stuttered, “I just, I thought we needed a little space after what happened the other night.”
            Danny’s expression sobered a little as he stared at me.  He nodded.

            “I suppose that was wise,” he agreed, “But I will not be bullied by a tiger familiar.  Just learn to control her so she doesn’t force you to shift, and we will be safe.”
            The room spun around me and I swallowed nervously.

  

Now to pass on the challenge

Now I must choose 7 lucky and talented writers who have active blogs, and challenge them to the task. Here are my chosen few, from those who have not already done the challenge (I hope):

1. David J. Pedersen @got_angst
2. Sarah Luddington @BlakWulf
3. Craig Stone @robolollycop
4. Naomi Chance @Write_ShareNaom
5. Becca Campbell @beccajcampbell
6. Kirkus MacGowan @KirkusMacGowan
7. Rachel Chance @write_sharerachel

Have fun everybody!