Savoring Serendipity by @karilemor #RomanceGems

 For many years, I loved going to writer conferences and reader events, looking to make connections with others book lovers like me. Obviously, that has been stalled for the past year. But this weekend, I have the chance to get back in the saddle, so to speak.

In the colder months, I live in the beautiful town of St. Augustine in Florida. My husband and I fell in love with the place a few years ago during a six-month RV trip down the east coast. And right here in my glorious town is the Book Obsessed Babes Author Signing Event on March 19 and 20. I don’t even have to get a hotel room as a few of the events are right in downtown. Walkable from where I live.

There’re a few fun social events, and I’ve already got my mask so people will know who I am.

 

 The book signing is much of the day on Saturday, and I’m so excited to meet new readers who love romance as much as I do. I’ll also get to meet other authors of this fabulous genre. These new authors make me think back to all the fabulous people I have met over the years who have helped me on my journey.

Many years ago, before I was anywhere near publishing my books, I was on a forum for romance writers set up by Harlequin. Here I met some of my closest writer friends. My critique partner, MA Grant, was found on this site. It’s interesting because she writes paranormal and fantasy and often m/m while I write contemporary and suspense and write m/f. Yet, even though I don’t normally read her subgenre, I LOVE everything she’s written (because she’s the most excellent writer ever). We complement each other when we critique each other’s early drafts. We each have strengths and weaknesses and help the other with them.

Two other friends I found online are Kris (Kickstand) and Emily (Firedew). These ladies started as fan fiction writers like me. I had written over a million and a half words of fanfiction before moving onto original work. (I wrote under the names kariesue and darker works under karasel) Kris is a voracious reader of many genres and is essential in letting me know when I need to add something to a book or when characters need tweaking. Emily has been promoted to my editor and is so amazing in suggesting new words or changing the order of sentences and paragraphs to make them flow better. And she adds in all the commas that I forget (probably millions!)

I have another small group of ladies we call The Fab Four. We roomed together at one of the RWA conferences and have remained friends, supporting each other. Each week, MA Grant, Carrie Nichols, Brynn Kelly, and I provide motivation and assistance in whatever we need. It’s so great having these women be available for support and suggestions.

For the past two years, I’ve had another group who all support each other. This is the fabulous Romance Gems and this blog. A few of the Gems are good friends and writers from local events (Peggy Jaeger, Kathy Hills, and Nora LeDuc!!) I get to see these women in person when there are reader and writer events set in New England. I love touching base with them and hope to do so again soon (Fall in Love New England, here we come!!).   And so many other non-Gems that I've connected with!! 

The rest of the Gems have become good friends and part of my stalwart support system. I’m very excited to be a part of a new ‘world’ being created by them. The Last Chance Beach World. The first book releases in May and I will be book 5 coming out early November. Stay tuned to this blog because I’m sure there’ll be lots of information in the next few months about this new endeavor.

I believe all these people have been brought into my life for a reason. Serendipity. They have been essential in getting me to where I am today with the books I currently have published. Take a peek at my website and other social media to find out about my small-town contemporary series, The Storms of New England.  As well as my romantic suspense lite series, Love on the Line.

Until I ‘see’ you again,

Happy Reading!

 

Kari

 

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My Top 5 Favorite TV Friendships by @KaraONealAuthor #RomanceGems

THE RANGER'S VOW will be up for pre-order soon, and while I have many things I love about this story:

1) A bad-boy Texas Ranger

2) A feisty heroine who can pick locks

3) A hero who vows never to fall in love and a heroine who declares she will never marry

4) And....a garter thief

One of the best aspects of this book are the friendships between Sherry -- she's the spunky heroine who picks locks -- and her four sisters. They are Sherry's voices of reason, her champions, her secret-keepers. They hold Sherry accountable, but also would walk through fire for her, even if she was wrong.

I loved writing the scenes Sherry had with her sisters. And it got me to thinking about other friendships. Now I've already counted down my favorite book friendships, so I thought I'd share those from TV. Please tell me yours! 

1) Dorothy and Sophia from The Golden Girls. You gotta love how honest they are with each other.

2) Deputy Chief Brenda Lee Johnson and Sergeant David Gabriel from The Closer. He stands by her when no one else would, and she does everything she can to protect him, as well.

3) Joey and Chandler from Friends. They are hilarious and so sweet with each other.

4) Captain Killian "Hook" Jones and Princess Sheriff Emma Swan from Once Upon A Time. They made each other better and never gave up on each other even though they faced extremely tough situations -- including death.

5) Jim Halpert and Dwight Schrute from The Office. It's wonderful to watch these guys go from enemies to friends. 

Friendship is so important. And you don't need many. Just one that is honest. A person who will love you no matter what, who will tell you when you have spinach in your teeth and defend you even when they know you're wrong. And then they tell you that you're wrong in private.

THE RANGER'S VOW is a romance that gives you that closeness, that honesty. I adore Sherry and her four sisters. They are a noisy mass of risk-takers and lovers, seamstresses and party-planners. And here's a little snippet:

Sherry held onto the footboard while Mary pulled her corset tight. “We have to convince Julia to go,” Sherry muttered. “She’ll just sit in y’all’s room weeping over Alex. We have to help her.”

“Her loyal heart won’t let him go despite his four month absence and his non-existent responses to her letters.” Mary sighed as she tied the strings. “I don’t know what else we can say to her.”

While Sherry checked her reflection in the mirror, she smoothed down her petticoat. “Tonight is just what she needs. Andrew and Ben will make sure she has a good time.”

Mary cocked her head, her nut brown, corkscrew curls swaying with the motion. “That’s not gonna help. Andrew and Ben are Alex’s cousins. They’ll only remind her of him.”

Sherry checked her soft bun with its artfully escaping tendrils then reached for her dress of lavender muslin. “But they’ve already agreed to help.”

“You asked?”

“They offered." Sherry slipped into her dress. "No one can help seeing her sad face and moping attitude.” She glanced toward the door, her mind’s eye picturing the room across the hall, and wondered if Amanda had had any luck talking Julia into getting dressed.

“And we need to brighten up because our sadness is only going to make her feel worse,” Mary added.

Sherry nodded in agreement. “You’re right. Let’s go see her.”

She followed Mary out of the room and across the wood-floored corridor covered with a green and gold carpet runner to the room Mary shared with Julia. When they were inside, they gasped.

“Oh, Julia!” Mary exclaimed.

“You’re going?” Sherry asked in relief and delight as she hurried forward to take her sister’s hands.

Julia pressed her lips together, her blue eyes shining with gratefulness beneath her becoming, red bangs. She swept her gaze over her olive-colored muslin dress. “I can’t keep feeling sorry for myself. It’s only going to wear down my sweet sisters, and I can’t have that.”

Sherry squeezed Julia’s hands then brought them to her chest. “We’ll make sure you have fun tonight.”

Julia shook her head. “I appreciate that, but I’ll manage on my own. I won’t trespass on my sisters’ good natures anymore.”

Sherry reached up and smoothed Julia’s bangs. “Well, we won’t be far, and Andrew and Ben plan on twirling you to every song.”

Julia forced a smile. “I’m glad I’m wearing my most comfortable dancing slippers.”

THE RANGER'S VOW

Sherry Forrester has her life just as she wants it. No attachments. No pressure from her parents to marry. A little bit of money and the freedom to be the lady she desires. When a stranger rolls into town, mysterious and gorgeous, her interest is piqued. Sherry swore she wouldn't give away her heart, but she longs for one night of passion, and the newcomer is perfectly capable of supplying that.

Texas Ranger Luke "Rip" Calhoun is hoping for a few diverting weeks in Pike’s Run. Along with promising to help the local sheriff catch a wily garter thief, he looks for challenging card games, good whiskey and a willing woman. When Sherry Forrester catches his eye—who wouldn't want her after stumbling upon her skinny dipping?—he does the hardest thing ever and waits for her to choose him to warm her sheets for a night. And only one night. For Luke made a long-ago vow never to let love ensnare him.

But what neither plans on is the hand of fate changing their paths…

Cowboys, lawmen, and soldiers, oh my! You can enjoy several other books in the Texas Brides of Pike's Run Series! Click HERE to see the rest!

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