Fabulous and Brunette: Kissing Kin by Karen Hulene Bartell - Book Tour - Guest Post - Giveaway

Kissing Kin

by Karen Hulene Bartell

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GENRE: Paranormal Romance

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BOOK BLURB:

Maeve Jackson is starting over after a broken engagement—and mustering out of the Army. No job and no prospects, she spins out on black ice and totals her car.

When struggling vintner Luke Kaylor stops to help, they discover they’re distantly related. On a shoestring budget to convert his vineyard into a winery, he makes her a deal: prune grapevines in exchange for room and board.

But forgotten diaries and a haunted cabin kickstart a five-generational mystery with ancestors that have bones to pick. As carnal urges propel them into each other’s arms, they wonder: Is their attraction physical…or metaphysical?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPT THREE:

“Mind if I camp out ’til the roads clear?”

“Under the circumstances?” The clerk shook his head. “Not a problem.”

“Thanks.” He started toward the sitting room and nearly bumped into Maeve, leaning against the wall. “Sorry, didn’t mean to wake you.”

“You didn’t.” She tossed her chin. “I was cat-napping.”

“Right.” He compared her guarded veneer to her sleeping-beauty persona. Which is closer to her true self?

“Couldn’t help overhearing.” Gesturing toward the clerk with her chin, she grimaced. “I’m responsible for you being out tonight--”

“No.” He shook his head. “This is just a freak storm.”

“You don’t have to sleep in a chair.” She took a deep breath and gave a quick, tight-lipped smile. “My room has two queen beds, and you’re welcome to one of ’em.”

Unsure of the extent of her invitation, he did a double take.

“Just so we understand each other, this is a bunk, a place to sack out. Period. Amen.” She spoke in a low-pitched, no-nonsense voice. “Nothing more, so don’t get any--”

“Got it.” He covered his disappointment with a laugh. “Thanks, I appreciate the offer, but I’ll be fine dozing by the fire.”

“Hey, I’ve bivouacked with soldiers in Afghanistan. We do what’s necessary under extenuating circumstances.” Shrugging, she glanced at the door. “And this blizzard qualifies.” Her face relaxed into a smile.

Her offer tempting, he compared sitting up all night to stretching out in a bed. Then he glimpsed the clerk.

“If you’re worried about my reputation, don’t be.” She laughed, the sound like sleigh bells tinkling on a crisp, wintry night.

What is it about her that conjures thoughts of other times--other eras?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GUEST POST:

The Making of a Paranormal Romance Writer

How does a person become a paranormal romance writer? For me, it was predestined. Born to rolling-stone parents who moved annually, I found my earliest playmates as fictional friends in books. Paperbacks became my portable pals. Ghost stories kept me up at night--reading feverishly. The paranormal became my passion, and as adolescence approached, romances began topping my reading list 😉

But before discussing the making of a paranormal romance writer, let’s define paranormal romance.

Paranormal refers to anything beyond the norm, anything that can’t be rationalized by science. Ghosts definitely fit the bill, but so do many other beings--or magic or extrasensory perceptions, such as telepathy, psychokinesis, precognition, or psychometry.

Paranormal romance novels are set in the real world…but with a little more than meets the eye. Just out of sight--or in plain sight--ghosts, shapeshifters, demons, angels, vampires, psychics, mediums, fae folk, zombies, and telepaths also inhabit this world. If you remove the paranormal element--the ghost, shapeshifter, et cetera--what’s left is the normal world.

I like ghosts. Many--if not most--of my novels include a ghost, but I also like cryptids, such as bigfoot, kitsunes, chupacabras, Jersey Devil, Wendigo, et cetera. Keep in mind, the characters of paranormal romances are the most significant feature--regarding both protagonists and the antagonist. (Create backstories for each character. More later on how to craft them.)

The setting for a paranormal romance could be a haunted house or lonely country town where neighbors are few and far between. Or the locale could be isolated mountains or megacities. Or the setting could occur in other dimensions or during other eras. Though a supernatural love story has a lower level of violence than an urban fantasy, the atmosphere is spookier, and the mood is darker than romance.

If you’re considering becoming a paranormal romance writer, immerse yourself in the genre. Read, READ, R E A D. Then analyze the settings and plots to distinguish recurring patterns or unique developments.

Practice worldbuilding. Create a supernatural world that feels as real as this one with its own laws, history, and constructs. Consistency is crucial, but worldbuilding can’t dwarf the human experience--human emotions, conflicts, or motivations--because readers must relate to the story’s characters and events.

A paranormal romance writer’s role is to find a happy medium between the natural and supernatural. Let readers suspend their disbelief yet bond with the characters.

Build suspense. Hook the readers’ attention at the start, then use foreshadowing to gradually develop conflict. Finally, establish sexual tension / chemistry between the romantic couple.

So how does a person become a paranormal romance writer?

To begin, I suggest creating backstories for each of your story’s characters, as well as for the ghost, shapeshifter, demon, angel, vampire, et cetera. Create a mythology that your readers never see, but that guide your paranormal characters’ actions and dialogue.

Here’s an exercise I use when crafting backstories for paranormal characters. I pose these questions:

• What are their paranormal / magical / supernatural powers?

• Do they have a code or set of laws governing them? (Does their ability allow them to function only at night, at 202 Main Street, when stressed / distressed, during full moon?)

• Why / how did their paranormal / magical / supernatural powers come to be?

• How do these beings hide from the normal world? (Or what makes them invisible?)

• Where do they come from? (The heavens, hell, mars, etc.)

• How many exist, or is this the only one?

• What’s their weakness? (Kryptonite, crucifix, potion, sunlight, water, etc.)

• Do they have any natural enemies, predators, or genetic predisposition to a disease?

• How have they survived over time? (Or is this a new species?)

Once you have your backstories in place, follow these steps:

1. Refer often to your backstories to keep your narrative consistent and your characters on track.

2. Hook the readers’ attention at the start.

3. Create a credible world.

4. Build suspense through foreshadowing as you gradually develop conflict.

5. Establish a frisson between the romantic couple.

6. Weave all the elements together.

7. Tie up all mysteries and loose threads.

8. End your story with a bang.

Happy writing!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR BIO:

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:

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