08 Jul Welcome to Day 4 of #RRBC’s July “SPOTLIGHT” Author Tour for Karen Black! @KarensStories
Introduction
It is my pleasure to welcome you to Day 4 of RRBC’s July “SPOTLIGHT” Author Tour for Karen Black, a member of Rave Reviews Book Club. Below, you’ll learn about what inspired Karen Black to write and discover some of the work she has published. I hope you’ll support her at every stop of her blog tour!
Meet Karen Black
As soon as I learned to read, I became a voracious book lover. After I mastered “Dick and Jane,” Nancy Drew became my heroine, and Agatha Christie’s incredible Hercule Poirot fascinated me. Dick Francis was a favorite author of mine, too, probably because his novels took place at the racetrack. The Dick Francis novels fed my appetite for two loves: horses and mysteries.
In the old days, clouds had magical qualities. A favorite pastime was to watch them and find an image and create a scenario around it. Although I didn’t realize it then, cloud watching was my introduction to flash fiction. My childhood fascinations stayed with me and they are apparent in the stories that I write.
“Long Stories Short” is a collection of ten short stories. I tried to create scenarios that are believable, or at least within the realm of possibility. There are, of course, exceptions. For example, “Magic or Miracles” is a story with paranormal overtones that might be possible. But someone who doesn’t believe in what they can’t see might find “Indisputable Evidence” difficult to believe.
“LONG STORIES SHORT”
“Race into Murder” is my first novel, and it came as no surprise to those who know me, that it is a mystery set at a thoroughbred racetrack.
“RACE INTO MURDER”
My most recent eBook, “Treacherous Love,” is a short story about misdirected passion that often occurs in situations of domestic abuse. It is the first of several stories that will be included in my next anthology.
“TREACHEROUS LOVE: A SHORT STORY OF MISDIRECTED PASSION”
About Karen Black
Karen Black lives in the eastern United States, with her husband and a variety of critters, wild and domestic. Hobbies include herb gardening, wildlife watching and winemaking, though all are put on hold when she’s caught up in a story. With a lifelong affection for animals, a fascination with the supernatural and a background in criminal justice, the author draws on experience, as well as imagination to create stories that are believable, unique, and entertaining. Expect the unexpected.
Contact Karen Black at:
Twitter: @KarensStories – https://twitter.com/KarensStories
Facebook: Stories by Karen – https://www.facebook.com/StoriesbyKaren/
Website: Stories by Karen – https://storiesbykaren.org/
To follow along with the rest of her tour, please visit the “SPOTLIGHT” Author forum on the RRBC site!
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If you’re an author and interested in receiving this kind of support for you and your work, please join us at RAVE REVIEWS BOOK CLUB! We look forward to adding your name to our roster and your books to our catalog!
Yvette M Calleiro
Posted at 08:33h, 09 JulyI also read Dick and Jane (because of my parents) and Nancy Drew, but from there I ventured into VC Andrews and CS Lewis. Cloud watching was one of my favorite past times as well, especially when I was really young. Thanks for bringing these memories back for me. 🙂
Linnea Tanner
Posted at 09:59h, 09 JulyThank you, Yvette, for dropping by and comments. I also found it fascinating that both you and Karen loved to watch clouds. Some of Karen’s comments also brings back memories for me.
Karen Black
Posted at 10:13h, 09 JulySo many shared memories! I still see images in clouds; old habits die hard.
Jan Sikes
Posted at 08:49h, 09 JulyI remember the Dick and Jane readers, Karen, and it was where I first fell in love with words and stories. I also read every Nancy Drew mystery ever written along with the Hardy Boys. 🙂 Now, I’m dating myself and loving it. I hope you are having a fabulous tour! Thank you, Linnea, for hosting today!
Linnea Tanner
Posted at 09:57h, 09 JulyThank you, Jan, for dropping by. It is a pleasure to host the blog highlighting Karen Black. Of most interest to me is how Karen created scenarios from images of clouds she envisioned.
Karen Black
Posted at 10:18h, 09 July“Look, Jane. See Dick run.” For me, Dick and Jane opened a door to the mystical world of words that hasn’t closed, even after all these years. The tour is so much fun. Thank you for your support.
Karen Black
Posted at 10:28h, 09 July“Look, Jane. See Dick run.” Those few words opened the door to a new world for me. I’m happy that the door never closed. This tour is amazing, and so much fun! I am thrilled with the support and encouragement from other authors.
Karen Black
Posted at 10:22h, 09 JulyThank you for hosting today, Linnea! I appreciate your support.
Linnea Tanner
Posted at 14:54h, 09 JulyIt is my pleasure, Karen, to host your author spotlight. It has been so fun learning more about you and your work.
Wanda Fischer
Posted at 14:06h, 09 JulyI too remember Dick and Jane. I graduated to “Misty of Chincoteague” by Marguerite Henry and then the Black Stallion books. Seems like so many of us were cut from the same cloth! Terrific stories!
Linnea Tanner
Posted at 14:51h, 09 JulyThank you, Wanda, for visiting and sharing your comments. It seems like we all had familiar experiences with reading Dick and Jane in elementary school.
Linnea Tanner
Posted at 14:53h, 09 JulyThank you, Wanda, for visiting and sharing your comments. It seems that we all had the experience of reading Dick and Jane as our first reading experience.
D.L. Finn
Posted at 11:09h, 10 JulyI’m a huge fan of Hercule Poirot too Karen. I love stories came from cloud watching, they really do hold magic. Thanks for hosting, Linnea!
Karen Black
Posted at 13:10h, 10 JulyI wonder if cloud watching falls under “great minds think alike?” Thanks for stopping by.
Linnea Tanner
Posted at 13:30h, 10 JulyThank you, D.L., for visiting my website and for commenting on the post about Karen Black. I agree that cloud watching is a magical experience! Hope you have a lovely day.
Mar
Posted at 11:51h, 10 JulyLovely post, Karen. To this day, I still enjoy watching the clouds. ❤ Thank you for hosting, Linnea!
Karen Black
Posted at 13:13h, 10 JulyThank you, Mar. I’m basically easily entertained; I also find ocean waves fascinating.
Linnea Tanner
Posted at 13:33h, 10 JulyThank you, Mar, for visiting my website and commenting on the post about Karen Black. A week ago, we had the most amazing sunset in which dark storm clouds to the east suddenly turned crimson red. It was a surreal experience. Have a lovely day.
Wendy Scott
Posted at 02:44h, 12 JulyOh, I remember the Nacy Drew mysteries!
Linnea Tanner
Posted at 11:21h, 12 JulyThank you, Wendy, for visiting and comments. I also remember the Nancy Drew mysteries! Have a lovely day!
Bette Stevens
Posted at 16:35h, 23 JulyCongrats on your spotlight, Karen!
Karen Black
Posted at 19:03h, 23 JulyThank you, Bette. The RRBC support has been incredible, and much appreciated.