She Captures My Heart is on Sale!

Howy!

It’s snowing!  Well, it’s really raining, but on Tuesday it’s supposed to snow here most of the day.  Don’t know what the weather is where you are, but whatever it is, I hope you are enjoying it.  So, without further ado, let me give y’all a warm welcome!  Welcome to a terrific Tuesday!

My latest effort, SHE CAPTURES MY HEART, is going to be on sale this week, but the sale goes away on Sunday (or maybe Monday).  Normally priced at $4.99, it is on sale now for $2.99.

This story is about two people who met under unusual circumstances when teenagers (Amelia, the heroine of the story, was fourteen or fifteen — I forget which and he, GRAY FALCON, was nineteen, I believe).  They meet in book #1, SHE STEALS MY BREATH.  And so today, instead of giving you an excerpt of a scene from the current book, I thought I’d share the two scenes Amelia and Gray Falcon share in book #1, when these two meet and became friends.

I’ll start the excerpt out with a short blurb of the current story, SHE CAPTURES MY HEART.

Hope you’ll enjoy the excerpt (First Comes the Blurb from She Captures My Heart).

 

Two Worlds. Two Hearts. A Forbidden Passion.

Amelia McIntosh was only fourteen when she fell in love with the young and handsome Gray Falcon of the Blackfoot Tribe. He’d helped her through a difficult time, and, for him in turn, she’d opened up a vital part of the medicine man’s world. Five years later, Amelia is still in love with the mesmerizing Gray Falcon, but her refusal to marry anyone but him has created a dangerous problem for her and her family.

When Amelia—the pesky little girl from Gray Falcon’s past—returns to the Northwest, he can’t help but notice she has blossomed into a beautiful, desirable woman — one who sets his heart aflame. Yet, he must resist her feminine charms because, though she is a friend, what she asks of him is against all Gray Falcon stands for as a medicine man.

United only in love, will love, alone, be enough to stand strong against a world threatening to pull them apart?

And now, the two excerpts from the book SHE STEAL MY BREATH.

Excerpt #1 from Chapter Eight of the book, SHE STEALS MY BREATH

Ipii vai, enter,” called Gray Falcon to the scratch a visitor was making upon his lodge.  He was surprised when his friend, Comes Running, was followed into the tepee by a young, pretty white girl.  He recognized this girl, for he had seen her often within the fort; he knew she was the younger sister of Laylah, the beautiful white woman who so fascinated his friend, Eagle Heart.

Gray Falcon had not, however, expected a girl to come visiting—especially a white girl—and he didn’t know what to do.  How did one act toward such a one, especially since he had never entertained a girl within his lodge, let alone a white girl.

What was she doing here?

But, Comes Running was preparing to leave, and Gray Falcon called out to him, “Are you not staying?”

“I cannot,” said Comes Running.  “The girl found me and asked me to bring her to you.  I have done this.  Now, I must go and fortify my own lodge against the storm.”  And, this said, he left.

Not knowing what to do or how to respond to the girl, Gray Falcon came up onto his knees and gestured toward the opposite side of the lodge, inviting the girl to sit.  She sat.

She was a pretty girl, with long, brown hair and eyes that seemed to change color with the clothing she wore.  Several days ago, he had seen her wearing blue, and her eyes had appeared to be blue.  Now, however, their color was not blue; instead, her eyes were a deep green, like those of a mountain lion’s in the dark depths of the night.  But, unlike a mountain lion’s stare, her look was not that of a predator.  Rather, it was fearful.  Was she afraid of him?

It seemed unlikely, since it was she who had sought him out, not the opposite.  He continued his study of her, though his gaze at her was fast and sharp, pretending he had no interest in why she was here before him—and in the middle of a blizzard.

Her face was shaped like a heart, as though it might mirror the emotions of compassion and love.  But, lovely and pretty though she might be, she was much too young for a man’s admiration.  And, she was white.

At present, she was gazing around the inside of the lodge, and Gray Falcon was well aware when she eventually came to include him in her perusal, but she looked quickly away.  At last, however, she said to him using sign language, “I have been asking about you.”

He nodded, then gazed at her quickly.  He signed, “Me?  You have been asking about me?  Why?”

“You are the friend of a man called Eagle Heart, are you not?”  She had pronounced the name “Eagle Heart” aloud.

“I am,” he signed.

“My…my sister is missing.  And, according to my sister’s fiancé, it is possible Mr. Eagle Heart left the fort to go out into the storm to find her and keep her safe.”

He nodded.

“My father can’t find her.  Her fiancé can’t find her.  Her fiancé tells the story that she was thrown from her horse and was hurt bad and was in so much pain, Mr. Thomas, who is her fiancé, could not move her.  He returned to the fort then and tried to secure a party of men to go back to her, but he could not raise one because the blizzard came upon us so suddenly.  It is true he has looked for her since then.  But, because of this frightful storm, no one can leave the fort for longer than several minutes at a time, for, as you know, there is danger of a man getting lost in the storm’s wrath.  Still, my father found he could not sit at home and do nothing.  So, he and Thomas left the fort in the middle of this blizzard to try to find her, but they could not do so, and they barely managed to make their way back to the fort again.

“Please, I am here because you are Mr. Eagle Heart’s friend, and I was wondering if you might know if he went to rescue my sister.  Mr. Thomas has said he believes this is so.  Please, do you know if this be true?  Did your friend go to her?  Is he with her?”

Gray Falcon didn’t answer at once.  After all, didn’t the elders teach the boys that a real man must first think through his thoughts before speaking?  Yet, he was impressed with the girl.  Young though she might be, she had yet mastered the language of sign well enough to make herself understood by him.  Still, what could his reply be to her?

No man was under any obligation to tell others what he planned or what he might do, and this included his friend, Eagle Heart.  A man made his way in life without needing the assurance of another.  It was what made a boy into a man.  Still, it seemed only logical that if Eagle Heart had known the woman, Laylah, was in trouble, he would have gone to her.

But, how was he to tell this girl these truths in a way that might set her mind at ease, and without further questioning?  At length, and after more thought on the matter, he signed, “I do not know this with certainty, but I suspect my friend might be with her.  If he knew she were in trouble, it is to be assumed he went to find her and keep her safe.”  He didn’t add that he believed this because his friend was captivated with the beautiful woman, Laylah; it wasn’t necessary to make this known to the girl.  One had only to observe the manner in which Eagle Heart glanced at the woman, Laylah, to know he was besotted with her.

“Mr. Falcon, do you really think he might have gone to her?”

“I do.  He is not here with me, though this is his lodge.  Have no fear.  He would not become lost if he went to find her.  And, finding her, he would take care of her.”

“But, what if he found her too late?  What if…what if…  What if she needs a doctor to attend to her?”

“What is a ‘doctor’?”

“You call them ‘medicine men,'” she signed.

“My friend is such a man.  If anyone can save her and keep her warm through the storm, it will be my friend.  Do not worry.”

Gray Falcon meant what he said.  He doubted Eagle Heart would have found the woman too late.  If his friend intended to find her and save her, so it would be.  Further, he knew Eagle Heart would do everything within his power to keep her alive.  And, his friend did have this kind of  power.

“Please, sir, I thank you for what you have said, but I am very worried about my sister, and I have come here to ask if you might please take me out of here and into the blizzard to look for my sister in case he didn’t find her….”  She sighed.  “I am sorry to bother you, but I must do something.  I cannot sleep for worry over her.  I cannot eat.  I would leave on my own to find her, but I cannot go into the blizzard alone.  I know this.  I would become lost and most likely would die.  But, sir, I have not known what to do to help my sister or who to turn to.  Neither my father nor my mother understands how devastated I am at my sister’s disappearance.

“And, then I remembered you and Mr. Eagle Heart are friends.”  She paused and looked once more around the lodge.  “Will you help me to find her?”

Gray Falcon was impressed with the girl’s compassion for her sister, as well as her courage in seeking him out to gain his assistance.  However, he could not give her what she wanted, and so he signed, “I…I have no way of finding him.  There will be no tracks for me to follow, and, without tracks that show me where he has gone, I can be of no help to you.”

When the young girl began to weep, Gray Falcon despaired.  He had no knowledge of what to do for a girl like this.  And, not knowing, he remained silent.

“Sir, please.  I must try to find her.  I know where she last was, for Mr. Thomas could tell us that much.  Perhaps you could take me there?”

He didn’t answer at once.  How did a man speak to a girl like this and bring her to understand the dangers of this kind of storm?  How did he tell her they might likely die if they were to leave here and traipse through the storm, not knowing where they were going?  How did he answer her pleas without causing her more grief?

He couldn’t.  And, even though his heart was touched by the girl’s love for her sister, he knew he would not be able to help her.  At length, he signed, “I dare not take you away from here.  Storms like this are best used to settle down in one’s lodge and endure through them.  If I were to go with you into the blizzard, we might get lost.  Death could be the result.”

She glanced away from him and asked, “May I stay here, then?  I can’t go home.”

“You are too young to be alone with me.  Do your parents know you are here?”

She didn’t answer.

“I am sorry, but you cannot stay here,” he signed.  “Come, I will walk you to the gate of the fort.”

“Sir, please don’t send me away.”  She glanced down.  But, soon, lifting her glance to his, she signed, “It took me most of the day to summons my courage to come here to speak to you.  Please do not make me leave.”

He frowned at her.  “I cannot keep you here.  We are alone, and you are too young to be here with me while no one else is in the lodge with us.  Also, you will be missed, and when they look for you and find you here with me, there will be trouble for me, for my people and for you, too, I think.  But, I will tell you what I will do.  There is perhaps a way I might be able to reach my friend.  But, I must be alone to accomplish this, and I must do this in the ancient and proper way.  You cannot be here while I reach out to him, for you would distract me.  I will take you back to the fort, and you may come here tomorrow to see what I have discovered.  Come, I will walk you to the fort’s gate so you do not lose your way in the storm.”

“No, please don’t send me away.  Please.”

He didn’t speak.  In truth, he didn’t know what to say to this girl or what to do with her, and he had been honest: he was afraid there would be trouble because she was here with him…and alone with him.

“Couldn’t I sit in the back of your lodge?  I would turn my back on you.”

“No,” he signed.  “It is not right that you should be here with me when no one else is present.  I cannot state this too greatly.  And, if you wish me to try to contact my friend, I must be alone.”

She didn’t answer.  She simply sat before him and stared down at the buffalo robe she sat upon.  At last, she signed, “I am afraid I won’t be able to return here tomorrow because I am gone now, and they will be strict with me tomorrow.  Please, I won’t be any trouble to you.”

Gray Falcon sighed.  “What you do not understand is that you are already in trouble,” he signed.  “After a certain age, no young girl may be alone with a boy of my age.  What is your age?”

“I am fourteen.”

“No, you cannot stay here.  You are old enough that you could be thought of in an ill manner if you stay here with me.  I do not wish this for you.  I do not wish this for me.”

She sat still for a moment, then began to cry.

He sighed.  What was he to do?  Eventually, he gained her attention and signed, “Stay here.  I will see if one of the women in our band will allow you to stay with her in her lodge.”

“You would do this for me?”

“I will try.  I may not be successful.”  He didn’t look at her to see what her response might be.  Instead, he rose and trod toward the entryway; leaning over, he prepared to crawl out of his lodge.  But, he didn’t.

Looking back at the girl, he signed, “Did you bring any of your things with you?  Extra clothing?  Food?”

She shook her head.  “I had to run away quickly.”

He didn’t answer.  Instead, he pulled back the flap to his tepee and stepped out into the snowy blizzard.

This is the first time these two meet.  And now for the second excerpt in the book, which occurs later on, but again, Amelia is asking Gray Falcon to let her go with him to rescue her sister.

Excerpt #2:

Gray Falcon heard the scratch on the buckskin covering of his lodge’s entrance.  At once, he knew the identity of the caller without even looking.

He said, “Ipii, enter.”

When Amelia McIntosh stepped into his lodge, he greeted her with a quick nod and a smile.  Indeed, in these last few weeks, he had become used to her many visits; he even looked forward to them.  At first, he had considered her a nuisance, but with her continued determination to speak with him, he had become used to her—and considered her to be a friend.

She was a pretty girl in her youthful demeanor.  Her brown hair often shone with health, and her facial shape looked more heart-like than round or straight.  Her cheeks most often were rosy, and her eyes were gray—the color of his namesake, the gray falcon.  But, the color of her eyes was unusual, for it often changed depending on the shade of her clothing.

She was not flirtatious with him when she came to visit, nor was he with her.  This made it easy to be friends.  Usually, their conversations concerned his friend and her sister, and it was through Amelia that he had learned of Eagle Heart’s marriage to the woman his friend called Ikamo’si-niistówa-iitámssin, Steals-my-breath.

“I’ve come to inform you of what my father is doing,” Amelia told him using sign language, for they had neither one learned the other’s language.

He nodded and gestured toward the place across the fire opposite to him.  It was his way of asking her to be seated.

As she sat down upon the buffalo robe which he had long ago placed there especially for her, she continued, “My father has hired a Crow scout who brags he can track anyone or anything, and he and my father have left the fort to go in search of my sister and your friend.  My father has told my mother he intends to catch your friend and my sister together, and he means to kill Eagle Heart and bring Laylah back home.”  She glanced away from him, and he saw so much sadness within her look he felt compelled to rush to her side and give her comfort.  But, she was not his to touch nor to hug, not even as one friend might give aid to another.

“My mother begged him not to do this,” continued Amelia, “but, my father is determined.  ‘No daughter of mine,’ he’d said, ‘is going to leave a perfectly good man at the altar to run off with a savage.’  Even now, my mother is in her room, crying.  I have come to you to ask if your business at the fort is done and, if it is, if you might be able to track behind my father and the Crow scout.  It is in my mind to ask you to prevent my father from killing your friend.  If my father really does find them and he murders Eagle Heart, I know my sister will never forgive him.  And I would not ever see her again.”

He nodded and, by way of gestures, said, “I will do as you ask.  The trade I came here to do is finished, and I have been preparing to go on the trail of my friend and join him in his search of his brother.  I have only delayed leaving because he is newly married and would not appreciate me interrupting his first days together with his bride.  But, now is the right time to go, though only a few weeks have passed.”

“You will do this for me, for my sister, too?”

Áa,” he said, then continued in sign, “If your father and a Crow scout are on his trail, I must leave at once.  It is good that all my trading is now concluded.”

“I want to come with you.”

Gray Falcon was taken aback and signed, “You cannot.  It is not safe for you to come with me.”

“I would, too, be safe.  My father would never hurt me.”

“It matters not.  Bullets can go astray as can arrows.  And, there is another reason you cannot go: you must not be alone with me on the trail.  You are too young and others will think that we…  No, if your father means to kill my friend, where I am going could be very dangerous.”

“I know,” she signed.  “I still want to go with you.  And, I disagree with you about being alone together.  After all, I’m here with you now, and nothing has happened.”

Saa,” he said.  He then signed, “There are many others in this camp who can see our shadows on the tepee, and I have always ensured our silhouettes are never close together.  You also come here frequently, and so many of my people are accustomed to seeing you with me.  But, being on the trail with me is different.  We would be entirely alone.”

“I know.”

“Instead,” he continued, “please stay here and keep my friend’s lodge with you until either he or I can return and claim it from you.”

“My mother could do this, and I could then go with you.”

Saa.”  The word was more emphatic said the second time.  “It is too dangerous.  You are too young.  People will think bad things about you if I allow you to travel with me and if I don’t also marry you.  And, you are too young for me to marry.”

“I am not.  My grandmother on my father’s side married my grandfather when she was fourteen.  I am fourteen, soon to be fifteen.”

“You forget.  I have not asked you to marry me.”

She glanced up at him with a look of reserve in her eyes.  It was an emotion he had not witnessed in her demeanor before now.

She asked, “Are you married to someone else?”

He sighed deeply, then signed, “I am not.  But, you must not do this.  It is the man’s place to ask the woman.”

“I am waiting….”

He laughed.  He had often found her to be an amusing girl, but this…  He was Indian, she was white and her father was tracking his friend, Eagle Heart because he had dared to marry his other daughter.  This was trouble.  She was trouble.  And, it was drama he did not wish to court.

After a moment, she breathed in deeply and signed, “If you will not let me go with you, will you at least kiss me goodbye?”

“Saa,” he said.  He followed the word with sign and said, “We are not a married couple that we might kiss, and I say this again: you are too young for me to marry.  You must be content to grow up and wait.”

“And, then you’ll ask me?”

He chuckled again.  “If I were to marry you,” he signed, “I would be as bad off as the hawk who must do the bidding of his mate.  Always, you would be squawking at me like the female sparrow to do this or that.  A man likes to have peace in his home.”

“Well, I can see I will have to do it, then.”

“Do what?”

She came up to her feet, paced toward him and, bending, kissed him on the lips.  He was startled—not by her behavior, because he had come to expect these kinds of occurrences from her.  No, he was shocked because it felt good.  Too good.

He looked up at her with new eyes, but he did not kiss her back.  Instead, he scooted as far away from her as his lodge would allow.

Nevertheless, she followed him, knelt in front of him and signed, “I will never forget your friendship with me at a time when I desperately needed a friend.  And, I hope you will never forget me.”

He nodded.  He would not forget her, nor would he be able to put her kiss very far out of his mind.  But, all he signed in response was, “Do not fear.  I will always remember you.  Will you come here tomorrow to see me off on my journey and take the tepee and other possessions from me?”

“I will.”

“I will be leaving early in the morning, before the sun is up in the eastern sky.”

“I know,” she signed.  Then she smiled at him as she came up to her feet and, turning away from him, strode toward the tepee’s entrance flap.  Before she stepped over the bottom fold, however, she looked over her shoulder and smiled at him again.  She whispered, “Wait for me,” in English, and then she was gone.

He didn’t know what she’d said, yet he nodded all the same.  And, as he watched her go, he prayed the time when she would grow into adulthood might pass quickly, for he did wish to see her again and  experience her kiss once more.  But, perhaps when they were both a little older.

 


Well, that’s all for today!  Hope you enjoyed reading the excerpt.  Again, the book is on sale at Amazon for $2.99 and is is also on KU so you might be able to read it for free.

 

 

tinyurl.com/SHE-CAPTURES-MY-HEART

 

 

Winners! Eight Different Winners for Karen Kay’s E-book Extravaganza

Howdy!

Thank you to all of you who came to the blog yesterday, on Valentine’s Day and left a message.  I enjoyed each and every one of them.

We do have winners for the eight (8) different e-books and the winners, along with the e-book they’ve one are:

 

Quilt Lady — GRAY HAWK’S LADY

debby 238 — WHITE EAGLE’S TOUCH

Laurie Gommermann — NIGHT THUNDER’S BRIDE

David Bibb — THE EAGLE AND THE FLAME

Kathleen Mattingly — IRON WOLF’S BRIDE

Randy O’Keefe — BLUE THUNDER AND THE FLOWER

bn 100 — SHE STEALS MY BREATH

Tai K — SHE CAPTURES MY HEART

Hope you all had a wonderful, beautiful and romantic Valentine’s Day! 

 

 

 

The Legacy of John Trudell and a Special Valentine E-Book Give-away

Howdy!

Welcome, welcome to Valentine’s Day Tuesday! Just to remind you, today I’ll be giving away eight (8) different e-books to eight (8) different bloggers.

This give-away was announced earlier this month, and here’s the post:

Valentine’s Day Give-Away.  Come to my blog (Karen Kay) February 14th, and enter the drawing for a chance to win one of these e-books.  Eight e-books (one each from the books listed here) will be given away on my blog on that date, February 14th.

Hope to see you there!

 

 

 

 

 

Be sure to read over our Give-away Guidelines to the right of this page and check out our rules and then, in order to be a part of the drawing all you have to do is comment on this post and you are automatically entered into the drawing.

Onward…

Tomorrow is the birthday of John Trudell.  And, in case you are not familiar with his work, John Trudell was a Lakota broadcaster in the early 1970’s.  He was a member of the American Indian Movement in the 1970’s and was their spokesperson.  After the tragic loss of his wife, his mother-in-law and all of his children, who perished in a fire while John was away, John took several years to mourn their loss and it was at this time he began to write poetry.  John went on to write some of the most beautiful poems I’ve read.  He also became a philosopher and toured and spoke to many groups of people about his ideas of life.  Around this time, one of his friends approached him and said he could set his poems to music.  John then went on to record his poems which were then set to American Indian music, as well as Rock ‘n Roll.

He was involved in many different protests during these years and was also in the film, Dreamkeeper.  (I believe he was the coyote in one of the legends told in the movie.)  He was also in the film, Thunderheart, a movie starring Val Kilmer.  There is also a documentary of his life available for purchase at Amazon, entitled Trudell.

On this special Valentine’s Day, I thought I’d post a few beautiful lines John wrote to his wife in the poem, YOU WERE.  This poem was set to music and one can view it on YouTube here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3qarkF-bfI

“You were here, but not long enough.

“Pretty woman in my mind,

“that laughter in my soul,

“those memories in my heart…”

John Trudell

John is no longer with us, having passed in 2015.  But John’s poems, his views of life and his philosophy have brought inspiration and enlightenment to many people and I would like to honor his life in this blog today.

Well, that’s all for today.  Hope you’ve enjoyed the blog.  And, may I wish you all a wonderful Valentine’s Day.

 

 

My Favorite Things ~ Karen Kay

 

Let me say a big Howdy to you all!

Like Linda said in her blog yesterday, I thought for a long time about what I might blog concerning this.  My favorite things.  Hmmm….  Finally I decided to blog about some of the heroes of the stories I write and to tell you a personal experience that caused me to realize how important these romance stories can be.  Probably you are aware that for writers, these characters we create become real people to us, and, in addition, they can help us in so many different ways.

Let me start first with the hero, Eagle Heart, from SHE STEALS MY BREATH.  The title for the book comes from being inspired by many poems from John Trudell — of AIM and Rock & Roll fame.  But the hero of this story came to me recently at a time when things were not so easy for me.

This hero entered into my dreams, calming some fears in my life at that moment in time.  His care and concern for the heroine in the story was really somewhat based on the care that he showed me in my dreams.  It was this hero who encouraged me to research and write about the Medicine Man of old.  Now, this might seem strange that a hero talks to the author.  But, if you have a chance to talk to many writers, they will probably tell you the characters in these books take on a life of their own and often they do talk to a writer.  Also, sometimes they resist my attempts to write a scene they feel is out of character for them.  I’ve learned over the years to pay attention to this.

In the book, SHE CAPTURES MY HEART, the hero of this story, Gray Falcon, showed me what exactly a medicine man was all about when his concept of right and wrong was challenged.  Instead of caving, however, he made light of the problem, and he brought humor (as did the heroine) into the story.  Strangely, the humor came at a time when it seemed there wasn’t too much to laugh about.  These two (the hero and heroine) often gave me the giggles when I was writing the book.

In the book, BLUE THUNDER AND THE FLOWER, the hero’s struggle in a world foreign to him brought about some understanding of what those men faced so long ago and how they coped with what was thrown at them and how they went on to make a good life for themselves despite many trials and tribulations.

In the book, IRON WOLF’S BRIDE, this hero stunned me with his determination to keep his marriage alive, regardless of the lies and “road-blocks” set in his path.  This hero refused to believe the worst of the heroine and also gave me many insights into the Indian character of old because he realized there was foul play afoot and went about discovering it.  And, his determination and “smarts” to figure it all out impressed me.  He never gave up.  I thought it was a good lesson to learn.

In GRAY HAWK’S LADY, I was treated to a hero, who, despite his anger at what heroine had done to him, did not sink to treating her in a bad way.  In fact, he went on to treat her with respect, even protected her from others’ gossip.  It was also this book I was writing when I met my husband, and Gray Hawk was quite willing to re-enact our first kiss, which is written in the pages of that book.  Because of his care for this heroine who had, at first, treated him in a bad way, both she and I fell in love with his character.

These are some of the stories where the hero of the story has taken over and has somehow changed my perspective about something.  And, I love how, when the characters change, I do, too.

And now, for a story about romance and romance books in general and why they are one of my most favorite things:

Long ago, when I had very small children (they were both babies, really), there was a time when my husband (my ex) was often out of town.  He was doing internships and so finance was scarce.  My own parents were no longer alive to help out and my brother and sister lived very distant from me and my husband’s parents lived far away, also.  So, it was up to me to somehow take care of the babies and all this entails, including “bringing home the bacon,” so to speak.  It was at this time when I discovered the real treasure of romance books.  They calmed me down, helped me to get a good night’s sleep and helped to keep me going.  Also, I made some very good friends along the way, too, romance books being one of them.  Life got better, of course.  But, I’ve never forgotten that time, nor the simple pleasure the books provided.  Interestingly, one of my daughters tells me one of her finest memories from that time period is  going to sleep while I was reading a book.  From this, I’ve realized that sometimes all one needs is a good story to get a person through a tough time in life.

Well, that’s all for today.  Am hoping you enjoyed the blog on this terrifically fine Tuesday and, if you did, please leave a comment about your own favorite things.  Oh, I almost forgot.  When you leave a comment, you’ll automatically be entered into the drawing for the e-book SHE CAPTURES MY HEART.  See the Giveaway Guidelines to the right for the rules.

 

 

Good Evening! We have a winner for the e-book SHE CAPTURES MY HEART

Good Evening!

Hope your day have been good.  We have a winner for the e-book of SHE CAPTURES MY HEART.  Yay!

The winner is:

Kathy Rader

Congratulations Kathy!  To claim your book, please email me privately at karenkay.author@startmail.com

Thank you to everyone who came to the blog yesterday!  Your posts were both heartwarming and enlightening.  Have a super beautiful rest of the week.

Welcome to 2023! Interview & Give-Away

Welcome to my first Tuesday blog in 2023!

Hope y’all had a great and warm Holiday season.  Must admit mine was very busy, made busier because I had a new release out in December, SHE CAPTURES MY HEART.  A little bit of trivia:  forgive me if I blow my own horn here, okay?  This new book, SHE CAPTURES MY HEART, hit #1 spot for new releases on Amazon in the American Historical Romance category.

It’s a first for me and it was an unexpected excitement, I must admit.  I’ll be giving away an e-book of this new release to one of you bloggers today, so please don’t hesitate to come on in and leave a message.  I don’t know how to do screen shots yet and so I made a pdf of the page.  I tried to copy it here, but all that came out is here:

New Releases in American Historical Romance
#1
She Captures My Heart (The Medicine Man)
17
Kindle Edition
18 pts
Karen Kay
$3.49

Also, during December, I was interviewed by Written Word Media and I thought I’d post it here.  And, if you would be so kind, I’d like to leave a short excerpt of the book, also.  So here we go!

Book Title:

SHE CAPTURES MY HEART

 

What’s the story behind the story? What inspired you to write this book?

The Native American Medicine Man has always intrigued me because he was known to be able to heal people with natural remedies, as well as to help them become well by means of rhythm and song.  Sometimes the medicine man was known to be able to see into the future and often he was aware of what was in the environment for many miles around him.  The old Native American Scout also had this ability to see for miles around him.  There is a lot we don’t today know about these gallant men and it intrigued me to be able to research into this and to write about it. 

 

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of your book, what would they be? (Meant to be fun. Skip if you need to!)

For the heroine, Amelia McIntosh, I would pick the song, “A LOVE SO BEAUTIFUL,” by Roy Obison.  I would pick this song because she brings beauty and love into the hero’s life.

For the hero, Gray Falcon, it would be “HEART TAKER,” by John Trudell.  This is a beautiful and romantic poem/song by John Trudell.

 

What’s your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

Romance, of course.  But I also enjoy Fantasy, Paranormal and Adventure.  But with other genres, for me, it must have a romantic element.  Also, I love reading Native American history for my stories.  This research, as we call it, is truly the icing on the cake.

 

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

Mostly I have research books on my TBR list:  AN INDIAN WINTER by James Willard Schultz; THE SUN GOD’S CHILDREN, by James Willard Schultz; IN THE GREAT APACHE FOREST, by James Willard Schultz; FOOLS CROW by Thomas E. Mails; BLACKFEET AND BUFFALO, by James Willard Schultz.  There are others but, at present, these are what I have waiting for me.

 

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

There’s a scene in the book near the middle of it where the heroine “comes clean” with the hero and confesses not only what’s in her heart, but the terrible problem she is facing and how she hopes it might affect him and her.  I didn’t really know what his reaction was going to be to this.  At first he was a little angry with her, but then, when he began to tease her and to court her for real, his antics made me giggle a little.

 

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

Hmmm.  I like to be warm when I write, especially I like warmth on my feet.  Must have my coffee handy, also.  And, when I am creatively writing (not editing), I love to have music playing in the background.

 

Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?

Another hmmm moment…  I guess when it comes to writing, it might be “finish what I start.”  Also, it applies to other things, like housework…finish what I start.  Sometimes not easy to do, but if I don’t do it, my mind seems to get cluttered.  So the motto, “Finish what I start,” would work well, I think.

 

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

I think I might like for people to think about this: that people are people regardless of color.  An Apache Medicine Man once said that we are all one race, the human race, and it comes in different colors.  I think he was very wise.

 

What is your Author Website? (If you have one, great! If not, no worries! 

https://novels-by-KarenKay.com


Well, that’s all of the interview.  And now for a short excerpt:  Please enjoy!

SHE CAPTURES MY HEART

by

Karen Kay

CHAPTER ONE

The Season When the Grass Becomes Green

St. Louis, Missouri

March 1840

As nineteen-year-old Amelia McIntosh scanned the contents of her trunk, she rejoiced.  After an entire year of planning this trip, the day had finally arrived: she was returning to the Northwest Indian Country.  Only her sister and her mother knew of her intentions, and they had sworn their allegiance to her, promising to not tell her father about what she had arranged until it was too late.

She smiled as she reached out a hand to trail her fingers over her several pairs of slippers and silk stockings; so pretty, so delicate.  These lay at the bottom of her trunk.  Picking up two muslin chemises, she placed these on top of the slippers and stockings.  Then, reaching out to gather together an assortment of corsets and stays, as well as petticoats and garter belts, she gently folded these on top of the rest.  Even a few pairs of trousers followed; these would be useful for wearing under her skirts whenever she felt inclined to take a stroll over the prairie.

On top of these, she laid out her many beautiful dresses, neatly folded.  There was one in green velvet, another in blue silk as well as a pink dress made of satinet.  But, her favorite was the dress of yellow silk.  It was beautifully low-cut, emphasizing a tiny “V”-shaped waistline.  And, it showed off her figure to perfection.  This was the dress she would wear to see him again.

Looking up, she glanced out her bedroom window, beholding the neighbors’ several cows grazing in the field that adjoined her parents’ property.  In the distance, she could clearly see corn and wheat fields stretching on and on into the distance, seemingly without end.

She sighed.  Nothing ever happened here.  At least nothing that helped to cure her of the longing to be out West, where every sunset was a work of God’s beauty and where the weather could change in a second.  Indian Country…  Gray Falcon was there.  She wanted to be there with him.

Silently she said, “I am coming back to the Northwest to see you—as well as my sister and her husband, of course.”  She didn’t say the words aloud.  Indeed, she spoke to Gray Falcon with her mind alone, not expecting him to answer, since he only sometimes “spoke” back to her.

“I know,” answered Gray Falcon.

His response surprised her, given that she had not anticipated a reply.  For five years they had communicated with one another in this way—mind to mind.  And, the distance between them hadn’t mattered.  The only drawback was that he rarely originated their little talks.  And, not always did he even answer her, although whenever he didn’t, he assured her afterward he had “heard” her well enough.

She sighed and said in the mind talk, “I am now grown up and ready to meet you again.”

“I know.  I am glad you reached out to me, for I have been wishing to speak to you.”

“You could always begin the conversation yourself, instead of waiting for me to contact you.”

She almost heard him grin.  “I should not encourage you.  You are already too forward for a girl.  My message to you is this: you must not travel alone.”

“I am not.  My best friend and her fiancé are accompanying me.”

“Does your father know you are traveling into my country?”

“No.”

“And your mother?”

“She is not here.  But, if she were, she would not try to stop me.  Indeed, it is she who suggested I travel to see you…and to visit with my sister, also.”

“Why would she recommend this to you?”

“Because I have had several proposals of marriage, but have turned them all away.  My mother is a little upset with me.”  Deliberately, she refused to think of the real reason her mother and father were “a little” upset with her.  It would serve no purpose to tell him, and it might even hinder her if Gray Falcon knew the rest of the truth behind this trip.

“Several proposals?  Of marriage?”

“As I mentioned, I am now grown up.”

“Why have you turned them down?”

“Because I do not love those men.  Don’t play innocent with me, Gray Falcon.  You know I love only you.  I have done so since the first time I ever saw you, and you know it.  I have not changed.  But, my mother thinks I should renew our friendship, for she believes only in this way might I change my mind about your culture and about you.”  There, that was all she would communicate on the matter.  Again, she kept the other motive for returning to Northwest carefully hidden within her thoughts.  Besides, she had always known she would return there to see him.  She was not lying to him about this, nor that she loved him and would always love him.

“Renew our friendship?  Surely she is not seeking for us to come to know each other in a physical way, is she?”

“Don’t be silly.  Of course she is not.  She hopes that I will come to see your world as primitive, and, realizing it is so, will give up my wish to marry you.  The truth is, she seeks to bring peace between me and my father, which will happen only if I give up my dreams of spending the rest of my life with you.  She tells me she doubts her plans for me will fail, for she believes either I shall soon tire of you, or you of me.”

He didn’t answer.  At last, however, he said in the thought speech, “Why do you tell me this?”

“To be fair and so you will know there is another reason besides simply seeing you and my sister to account for my coming to where you are.  I have not swayed away from being true to our friendship or from loving you—not even a little—but my mother wants me to put my feelings for you behind me, and she believes I will only be able to do this if I come to know a little more about the Blackfoot people, and you in particular.”  Again, Amelia kept her own reason for returning carefully buried in her thoughts.  Now was not the time to speak of it, if there ever would be a time.

“I have never sought to marry you.”

“I know.”

“But, your mother is wise, since she is aware of the friendship we formed between us.  It is this, I think, that causes her to be alarmed, for we became closer than perhaps she would have liked.  She, like your father, is afraid of a marriage between us.  But, what she doesn’t know is this: we can never marry.  Indeed, to marry one another could cause us both unhappiness.”

“I don’t agree.”

“I am not asking you to.  But, as you have been forthright with me, I will be so with you, if you do not fear me to speak of concerns that may not be easy for you to know.”

“Yes.  Please.  I am not afraid of what you have to tell me.  I probably know anyway.”

“Yes.  Although we became allied long ago, I have not wished to make you my woman.  It is not because there is anything wrong with you or because I do not like you.  I do like you.  I have always liked you, as you know.  But, I fear that were I to seek making our friendship into a romance, my life would be full of conflict and strife.  Always, there would be a plan or a scheme you would be urging me to fix for you.”

“You would never be bored if we married.”

“This is true.  However, I would also never have peace in my life.  But, we leave a detail behind us which concerns me.  Are you aware that if you continue to reject these men who seek your hand, your father might likely force you to marry a man of his choosing, not yours?”

Quickly, she froze her thoughts.

After a moment, he asked in the mind speak, “Did you hear me?”

“Yes, I did, and I suppose he could try,” she replied.  “But, I am, after all, the one who is required to say ‘I do.’  And, I will tell you again, I love only you and wish to be with you.  Still, I have given my word to my mother to renew our acquaintance and to try to give you up.”  This was all she would say on the matter; she would not lie.  She was simply keeping a rather large part of the truth from him.

He was silent for a long while.  At length, he said in mind speak, “You have pledged your word to her about this?”

“I have.”

Again there was a long pause before he continued, “I say this to you: your mother is wise.  You are white; you have no knowledge of my people and what would be required of you as a Pikuni man’s woman.  And, your experience with me is limited to one snow season, now five winters ago.  I think it is mere infatuation you feel for me, not love.”

“And, so you know my heart better than I do?”

He paused for a long moment, and she wondered if he had turned his attention to something else.  At length, however, he continued, “Again, I will say it: we are like the fox and the wolf.  We are natural enemies, but, under the same cause, we became aligned in an effort to help my friend and your sister.  Perhaps we should have never allowed ourselves to become friends.  But, we did.  Remember, we have never been more than allies in a cause, made to be that way because of a great threat to those people who were very beloved to us both.  I will tell this to you once more: I wish to be only a good friend to you.  Nothing more.”

“Why?  When I—”

“Because you are not like any girl I have ever known, and, while there is nothing wrong with you, if I were to bring you in close to me, I fear I would never know again what it means to have a sense of harmony and calm in my life.  And, I would like to have peace in my lodge.  I tell you this again: your mother is right.  Becoming my woman can never be in your future, and perhaps your coming here will help you to give up this idea.  Indeed, I am thinking I might align myself with your mother and invent ways for you to dislike me.”

“Oh, stop it.  And, I don’t like this concept of ‘never’ becoming your woman.”

“It will not be, simply because I say it will not be.”

“But, you are willing for me to become more familiar with you so I might give you up?”

He paused.  “Perhaps.  That is, if ‘becoming more familiar’ with each other is about helping you to give up this idea of becoming my woman.  Again, I must say this to you: I am not inclined toward marriage with you.  Nor should you be trying to be this with me.”

“But,” she said in the mind speak, “if this be so, and our bond with each other is not based on love, but rather, as you say, a need to help my sister and your friend, why have you not married yet?  You are not too young to have taken a wife by now.”

“I am the way I am because a man must have his feet firmly planted upon the ground before he marries.  Do not think it is because I wait for you.”

And yet, she knew this was not the complete truth.  She knew it because his thoughts and hers were momentarily joined.  There could be no lies between them, unless—like she was doing—those ideas were well hidden within his mind.

She glanced at her pocket watch.  “Oh dear.  I am late.  I must go,” she said, jumping to her feet.  “Our boat is set to sail shortly, and I must be aboard.  Wait for me.”

“This is my home.  I will be here.”

The communication ended.

 


Well, that’s all for now.  I would love to hear from you!

 

tinyurl.com/SHE-CAPTURES-MY-HEART

Winners! Winners for Karen Kay’s Give-away

Howdy!

Hope y’all are doing well!  And hope your holidays are wonderful.  There are a few more days left.

A drawing was done and we have a winner!  Yay!  And the winner is:

debby 236

Congratulations Debby.  All you have to do to claim your e-book is to email me personally at karenkay.author@startmail.com

Many thanks to all who came to the blog yesterday!  I enjoyed “talking” to you all!

May the rest of the holidays be wonderful!

Auld Lang Syne — A History & Give-Away

Howdy!

Hope your Christmas was wonderful and hope these last few days of the year are filled with relaxation and perhaps planning for the year ahead.

Since it is so close to New Year’s Eve, I thought I’d continue our History of Christmas songs with the song most popular on New Year’s Eve, Auld Lang Syne.

It is to Scottish songwriter, Robert Burns, that the world owes its debt for the beautiful poem of Auld Lang Syne.  Interestingly, it’s become an  anthem that is recognized and sung all around the world.
 
.As the website at http://www.scotland.org says: “Auld Lang Syne is one of Scotland’s gifts to the world, recalling the love and kindness of days gone by, but in the communion of taking our neighbours’ hands, it also gives us a sense of belonging and fellowship to take into the future.”

 
Robert Burns penned the poem in 1788 and it is said to be set to an old folk song from the Lowland in Scots tradition, but interestingly, the melody sung the world round on New Year’s is not the original tune that the music was set to.  The older tune is said to be sung in Scotland as is their tradition.  I couldn’t find the original melody for this old song, but I wish I had — I’d love to hear what sounds like.

 
Another interesting fact is that it was Guy Lombardo who popularized the song and its use at the New Year’s event — although the song was brought to the United States by Scottish immigrants.  Lombardo started his broadcasts in 1929 — and it just somehow caught on — to the world at large.
 
In the words of Robert Burns, himself:
 
“… is not the Scots phrase, ‘Auld Lang Syne’, exceedingly expressive – there is an old song and tune which has often thrilled thro’ my soul”.
 
Robert Burns — a very handsome young man — who, though born a peasant, yet  lived with vigor.  However, and unfortunately for the world at large, he died young of rheumatic fever, even as his wife was giving birth to their 9th child.  He was only 37 years old.
 
When I heard he’d fathered nine children, I was shocked. And, to die so early, leaving a wife and nine children behind.  What a loss this was to the world.

But, let’s look at the song itself: 

The words to Auld Lang Syne — taken from the website:  http://www.scotland.org/ features/ / the-history-and-words-of-auld-langsyne

I’ve dug up the Scottish version of the song, as well as the English.  Do you have a piano?  A guitar?  Fancy singing along yourself? Here are the verses, and a translation of the words to Auld Lang Syne:
 
Scots Language version
 
Auld Lang Syne
 
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne.
 
Chorus
 
For auld lang syne, my jo,
For auld lang syne,
We’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,
For auld lang syne,
 
And surely ye’ll be your pint-stowp!
And surely I’ll be mine!
And we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.
 
Chorus
 
We twa hae run about the braes
And pu’d the gowans fine;
But we’ve wander’d mony a weary foot
Sin auld lang syne.
 
Chorus
 
We twa hae paidl’d i’ the burn,
Frae mornin’ sun till dine;
But seas between us braid hae roar’d
Sin auld lang syne.
 
Chorus
 
And there’s a hand, my trusty fiere!
And gie’s a hand o’ thine!
And we’ll tak a right guid willy waught,
For auld lang syne.
 
Chorus
 
English translated version
 
Long, Long Ago

Should old acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
And long, long ago?
 
Chorus
 
And for long, long ago, my dear
For long, long ago,
We’ll take a cup of kindness yet,
For long, long ago
 
And surely you’ll buy your pint-jug!
And surely I’ll buy mine!
And we’ll take a cup of kindness yet,
For long, long ago.
 
Chorus
 
We two have run about the hills
And pulled the daisies fine;
But we’ve wandered manys the weary foot
Since long, long ago.
 
Chorus
 
We two have paddled in the stream,
From morning sun till dine;
But seas between us broad have roared
Since long, long ago.
 
Chorus
 
And there’s a hand, my trusty friend!
And give us a hand of yours!
And we’ll take a deep draught of good-will
For long, long ago.
 
Chorus

************************* 

It’s been a rough year for many of us.  And yet, in some ways, our spirits have risen up to the occasion.  It is my wish for you that this next year be a better and more promising year.  And, though we might still have a bit of a rough ride ahead of us, if we can keep loving one another and showing kindness throughout this next year, I think we’ll be okay.

And now, I promised you a give-away.  As some of you might know, I have a new release out this month, SHE CAPTURES MY HEART, which is book #2 in the new Medicine Man Series.

 

I’ll be giving away this book in e-book format to one of you bloggers.  All you have to do to enter into the drawing is leave a comment to this post.  Be sure to come to the blog tomorrow to see if you have won!

Hot Info:  This new book has been at the #1 spot on Amazon for the New Release Category of American Historical Romances for seven days now.  Below is the link to the book.

tinyurl.com/SHE-CAPTURES-MY-HEART

May your New Year be filled with good health, kindness and love!

Merry Christmas! Ho! Ho! Ho!

Howdy!

Merry Christmas!

So many thank yous to you bloggers who came to the blog and left a comment yesterday.  And, since it is Christmas and the season of giving, all of you who left a comment yesterday are winners of the new e-book, SHE CAPTURES MY HEART.

Yay!  Many thanks to Ann, Debby, Rhonda, Quilt Lady, Emma, Denise, Jan, Linda, Megan, Colleen, bn100, Kathleen & Patricia!

All you have to do is please email me at karenkay(dot)author(at)startmail(dot)com

The book, by the way is still listed at a 30% savings, only $3.49.  But, the price won’t last forever.

Here’s wishing you, one and all, a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!