FOX TALE
by Karen Hulene Bartell
GENRE: Paranormal Romance
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?
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?
Interview with Karen Hulene Bartell
We usually don't talk about villains in interviews. Share with us who or what is the antagonist of your story.
Chase is seemingly the villain of Fox Tale, yet from his perspective, he’s…
“A guardian? Yes, but an angel…?” His lips rose in a sly smile. “I’m also a male with physical needs.” The smile faded. “I’m lonely without a woman’s company. I yearn for a woman’s touch.” The corners of his mouth drooped, and he spoke in a flat monotone. “Which brings us full circle to where this conversation began. You remind me of a woman I almost married—”
Chase has objectives, but he acts and reacts according to his own code of honor.
The true villain is Atsuki, however, with his expensive suits, chauffeured cars, and Yakuza tattoos. Atsuki is an old adversary of Chase. Though his superficial generosity and lavish gifts fool many, Atsuki bends time and shapeshifts to attain his goals, then lures his pawns to their demise.
What are the top five things on your bucket list?
Travel is the number one item on my bucket list, and I could easily name five places/trips as my top five things. Alaska is my uppermost destination, and my husband and I have tickets to cruise the Inner Passage this spring.
But thinking hypothetically, I would next go to the Emerald Isle, then Greece, Spain, and Portugal.
But if travel is just one item instead of five destinations, the other four things on my bucket list would be to collaborate with a simpatico literary agent, make the New York Times Bestseller list, write throughout my life, and live to be a ripe 105 years old.
Who is your biggest supporter?
That’s easy--my biggest supporter is my husband. We’re each other’s biggest fans.
What can your readers expect from you next?
My current WIP is a suspense intrigue thriller--a departure from my more usual genre--paranormal romance. I believe Sino-American diplomatic relations will decline as tensions between Taiwan and China intensify. In my next novel--working title, Silkworm--I’ll put those predictions into print.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Author of the Trans-Pecos and Sacred Emblem series, Karen is a best-selling author, keynote speaker, wife, and all-around pilgrim of life, who writes multicultural, offbeat love stories. Born to rolling-stone parents who moved often, 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:
Facebook ~ MeWe ~ Twitter ~ Instagram ~ Website
Email ~ Amazon ~ Instagram ~ BookBub ~ LinkedIn
4 comments:
Thank you for hosting today.
The blurb and excerpt sound really interesting. Thanks for sharing.
This sounds like a good book.
looks like a fun one
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