Karin Shah's Blog - Posts Tagged "witches"

Character Deja Vu

I don’t know about other writers, but my characters become my friends. I remember scenes they’ve played a part in the way I remember incidents that happened in my own life.

I even think about how they would react to the events of my daily life, even though the books or manuscripts are published or complete.

I always think of Tia and Rork from STARJACKED when I read or see something about the underground railroad on TV. Tia, a life long space pirate grew up with slavery, but eventually comes to see that it’s wrong and fights to save children from the system. I would like to think I would be as brave, but it’s easy with the hindsight of history to know something is wrong — it seems obvious — but when everything around you has been a certain way your whole life, its much harder to see the injustice, let alone take a stand.

Rork, the hero, is a law man. An undercover agent for the Union of Planets. I always think of him when I see an undercover plot on TV. All too often when officers are deep undercover, it’s difficult for them not to identify with their targets, but Rork never ceases to have a clear vision of right and wrong.

Anything about witches reminds me of Thalia, my heroine from BLOOD AND KISSES. She’s a witch who never lets a little problem, like not being very powerful, hold her back. Though, I ache with her through her insecurities, she always steps up and handles what needs to be done.

I hold a special place in my heart for Thalia’s hero, Gideon. Mistakes he made as a human haunt him. He can’t shake the idea that he’s a monster, but he still allows a young witch to convince him to help her in her quest to stop a killer. Though, he’d like to, he can’t stop caring. I love that about him.

I’m in the process of writing and revising several other manuscripts and those characters wake me up at night, or tug on my heart when something reminds me of them. I want others to love them and hurt for them as I do.

What about you? Do things remind you of characters from books, movies, or TV? What characters hold a special place in your heart?

Best,

Karin
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Published on December 14, 2011 11:25 Tags: characters, science-fiction-romance, space-pirates, vampires, witches

Attending RWA National Conference? Live near Anaheim, CA? stop by and say, Hi!

I will be signing my vampire Romance BLOOD AND KISSES at the RWA National Conference Literacy signing on Wednesday July 25 at the Anaheim convention center. It's a great cause -- part of the proceeds go to promote literacy -- and lots of big name authors will be there! Besides moi*g* , there will be Christina Dodd, Alyssa Day, Lyndsay Sands, Jayne Ann Krentz, Rebecca York, Robin Owens, Nalini Singh, Alexandra Ivy and so many more, it would take forever to list them.

And for those who like my SFR, but aren't into vampires and witches, please stop by and say hi, anyway. I would love to meet you!

Karin.

http://www.amazon.com/Blood-and-Kisse...
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All Ebook 50% off at www.SoulMatePublishing.com

Today only! To celebrate Soul Mate's one year anniversary, all ebooks are 50% off at www.SoulMatePublishing.com. Just enter promo code HAPPY ANNIVERSARY. This brings most to around $2.00, including my BLOOD AND KISSES.

Thrust into the role of witches' Champion after the untimely death of her mother, Thalia Kent is a witch in over her head -- believing herself not half the witch her mother was. When a vampire murders Thalia's mortal cousin, Thalia is forced to ask Gideon Damek, immortal vampire for help. 
Gideon has lived with the dark secret of his own bloody past for thousands of years. He knows he's far too dangerous to get involved with anyone, let alone a young, maddeningly attractive witch, still a vision of her death compels him to agree, but cornering a deadly rogue isn't their worst problem -- witch blood is poisonous to vampires and falling for each other could be the last thing they ever do...
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Published on October 12, 2012 10:36 Tags: 50-off, ebooks, halloween, paranormal-romance, romance, vampires, witches

Shiny things week of Jan 14th

1. A fabulous review from Night Owl Reviews! Please be a pal and check it out, like, tweet and/or share!:-)
http://www.nightowlreviews.com/v5/Rev...

2. DH completed his first marathon! I am super impressed!

3. I'm a Ghost Adventures fan, though I watch from the skeptics pov. I really like Zak Aaron, and Nick, and find them hilarious. This past episode at Wyomining Frontier Prison was laugh out loud, as they have a little "stake-out" while waiting to speak to a home owner, and apparently a bunch of men sitting around in a mobile home eating snacks get a uh, gassy.*g*

4. Our basenji puppy is hopefully going to be born in a week or so. We're hoping for a brindle male. I would love to get a dog from the humane society, but with out allergies, it's not possible.:-( Our vizsla really needs a friend. she's not eating very well. Oh, she's eating treats, just not her regular food.
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Free ebook!

For those of you who enjoy Paranormal Romance, my book, BLOOD AND KISSES is free today (and I think tomorrow) on amazon. :-)

http://www.amazon.com/Blood-and-Kisse...

Karin


Karin Shah
BLOOD AND KISSES Soul Mate Publishing
 What's a witches' champion to do when a rogue vampire is stalking her community? Fight vampire with vampire.
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Published on February 23, 2013 08:53 Tags: familiars, free, kill, killers, paranormal-romance, serial-killers, suspense, vampires, witches

Context confusion

I have two fancies. I show my dogs. And I write. Of course, the second is more of an obsession, but both subjects fill my inbox. The problem? Both subjects have very similar lexicons. For example, I see the subject heading "stacking". I think they're talking about stacking a dog so the judge can go over it. But, no. When I open the email, it's actually about stacking books. There's nothing wrong with it, it's just like expecting food to taste a certain way when you put it in your mouth. If it tastes different than you expect, sour instead of sweet, etc. It might not be bad, but it's--surprising.
Both my interests have newsletters. Both have "Bitches." one being Smart and Trashy and the other being actual female dogs. Many of my wring friends have the same first names (and sometimes similar last names) to my dog friends.

And then there's my own failing memory, (see The Screw-Up)

I suppose a solution would be to have two different email addresses, but I can hardly remember to check one, so I guess I'll have to live with the confusion. Just please don't be offended if I ask about your bitch....

How 'bout you? Got interests that confuse? I'd love to hear about them.:-)

Karin
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So you live in Gotham/Metroplolis/New York City

I love Superheroes. Probably obvious to those who have read my books. My heroes and heroines are always Superhuman.

Marvel's the Avengers, Captain America, and Thor are all on Netfilix now and after re-watching them and seeing Man of Steel in the theater, I came up with these tips for surviving the superhero version of NYC

1. When you take your young son to the theater, wait until the show is over to leave. You can hang in the lobby. I'm sure there are drinks or something available to occupy your time.

2. If you are a business owner, make sure your insurance covers "smashing" and other damage from Superhuman fists or bodies crashing through your building.

3. Resist the urge to watch Superheroes battle. Stay away from the windows. In fact evacuate the building, and run. Run away as fast as you can.

4. If a superhero directs you, follow his advice. Now is not a good time to ask who he is and why you should listen to him.

5. Move.

Hope you enjoyed my tips! I'd love to hear some of yours!

Karin
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Hello Atlanta!

In a few short days, I will (hopefully) have wrapped up my chapter's contest, finished packing my son for Taekwondo camp, made sure my daughter has what she needs for her big dance performance months in the making, and be winging my way (metaphorically as I must use a plane, unlike my characters*g*) to Atlanta for the Romance Writers of America's yearly national convention.
The highlight of my time there (well, one of them) will be the Literacy Signing. My books are now all in print, but compared to the ebook copies, they are pretty expensive, and I am not well known, so I will have to keep my expectations of lines stretching around corners for sometime in the future. For now, I will hope I can meet scads of fellow lovers of the paranormal, science fiction, and fantasy. And that friends (both virtual and physical) will stop by and say hello.

So here's me, formally inviting you to meet me in Atlanta!

(I will try to remember the chocolate this year)

See you soon!

Karin
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Guess who I winged Chocolate at!

Although I almost didn’t have a hotel room Tuesday night, I ended up having a blast at the conference. Luckily, Tuesday morning I called my my close friend, roomie, and Soul Mate editor extraordinaire, Debby Gilbert, and we realized I’d gotten my wires crossed (are you surprised?) and didn’t have a room in the conference hotel that night only hours before I was due to leave for the airport. I managed to secure one, but I could have done without the adrenaline rush.
I arrived at the hotel (much thanks to the fabulous Donna MacMeans for posting intricate directions on the COFW loop for those of us taking the MARTA from the airport) Wednesday was the literacy signing.
I as expected, I didn’t sell out, but I had a blast talking to everyone. Mostly thanks to Ranger, whose pic I had up on my IPad as an icebreaker.
I was up against the windows at the end of the aisle, so I didn’t get that much traffic, but Maggie Shayne was across from me and when her line got long, I’d say, “Hey, if you like Maggie Shayne’s books you might like mine.:-)
She was a good sport and when things got a little slow and she got hungry, I chucked some Hershey’s nuggets across the aisle like it was Mardi Gras. She’s a good catcher.:-)
There is more to share from RWA, but that will have to come in a later installment.

Did you have any adventures this weekend? Who did you meet? Where did you eat? Did you throw candy at anyone?

Karin
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Guess Whose Book is a BOTM!

Yep, it's me! I'm so excited! My novel BLOOD AND KISSES has been chosen to be a Book of the Month (BOTM) for August at the Paranormal Romance: New and Upcoming Authors/Books group on Goodreads (GR).

To celebrate, I am giving an ecopy of IN LIKE A LION to a lucky commenter on the discussion thread over the course of the month. THE CHIMERA CHRONICLES, beginning with IN LIKE A LION, are a spin off from the world of BLOOD AND KISSES and my heroine from BLOOD AND KISSES, Thalia, is in it.

Read BLOOD AND KISSES and stop by to take part of the discussion. in September, I will randomly chose a number from the discussion thread. It's that easy!

Hope to see you there!

Karin
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