The second of six posts focusing on writing effective blurbs for your books is up now on the Alien Romances blog.
 
"Series Blurbs", Part 2 (Writer's Craft Article) by Karen S. Wiesner:
https://aliendjinnromances.blogspot.com/2022/01/karen-s-wiesner-blurbs-series-part-2.html
​

I received a new review for my very first published book, LEATHER & LACE, Book 1: Gypsy Road Series:
 
5 Stars! “In this light contemporary romance, Bethany Briggs is a shy, virginal salon owner. Her older brother raised her after their parents died. Needless to say, he’s overprotective despite that she’s 24. She’s so naïve he’s afraid if she’s allowed to make her own decisions--and mistakes--she’ll get hurt.
 
“On the surface, Rod Summers is the very definition of bad boy. I was skittish of him from the minute he walked into Bethany’s salon. The rumors about his temporary conquests are legendary. Even someone as sweet as Bethany has heard them. Yet her heart beats faster at her first sight of him while Rod has truly never met anyone like her before. This couple from completely different worlds embodies the romantic ideals of leather and lace. I loved this story.” ~Linda's Reviews
 
Find out more about the Gypsy Road Series here:
https://karenwiesner.weebly.com/gypsy-road-series.html
http://www.writers-exchange.com/gypsy-road-series/

The first of six posts focusing on writing effective blurbs for your books is up now on the Alien Romances blog.
 
"High-Concept and Back Cover Blurbs", Part 1 (Writer's Craft Article) by Karen S. Wiesner:
https://aliendjinnromances.blogspot.com/2022/01/karen-s-wiesner-blurbs-series-part-1.html

I received my first review for Shotgun Wedding, Book 13: Adventures in Amethyst Series:
 
5 Stars! “In SHOTGUN WEDDING, Trevor’s bygone downfall in the form in Delaney, a hot divorcee, returns to him like a harbinger ghost of Christmas past. His wife Eden questions if his pledge to never again make a fool of himself--or her--over Delaney was just a pie-crust promise to convince her not to divorce him last time. I really felt for Eden as she struggled with the situation and her own self-worth and self-respect. Trevor is as clueless about women as he is about technology, but he’s made up for his mistakes in the past and he’s been working so hard to do right by his siblings who run the resort with him that he may have overlooked his immediate family of  late. Ultimately, his heart was in the right place, and I couldn’t help loving him for that. This is a fun, feel-good holiday story with an intriguing little twist I didn’t see coming at the end.” ~Linda’s Reviews
 
Find out more about the Adventures in Amethyst Series here:
https://karenwiesner.weebly.com/adventures-in-amethyst-series.html
http://www.writers-exchange.com/adventures-in-amethyst-series/
​

Just in time for New Year’s resolutions, my new article about staving off writer’s block is now up on the Alien Romances blog:

​Karen S. Wiesner "Brainstorming: The Cure for Writer's Block"
https://aliendjinnromances.blogspot.com/2021/12/karen-s-wiesner-brainstorming-cure-for.html

JANUARY 2022 CATCHUP
 
Karen Wiesner’s Karen’s Quill Newsletter
 
**NEW website!!** https://karenwiesner.weebly.com/
**NEW blog!!** https://karenwiesner.weebly.com/karens-quill-blog
http://www.facebook.com/KarenWiesnerAuthor

Creating realistic, unforgettable characters one story at a time…
 
In addition to being a popular writing reference instructor and writer, professional blurbologist and freelance editor, Karen Wiesner is the accomplished author of 145 titles published in the past 26 years, which have been nominated/won 134 awards, with nearly 20 more releases contracted for spanning many genres and formats.
 
WHAT'S NEW
 
My annual tallies are in! In 2021, I managed to complete the following accomplishments:
-outlined 2 novels
-wrote 2 novels
-revised and polished 7 novels
-completed editor revisions for 5 novels and 1 novel reissue
-had 5 novels and 1 novel reissue published
-read 210 books (last year I read 180)
 
**
You can find my latest Alien Romances Friday posts here:
 
Karen S. Wiesner: "How to Spot Dead or Lifeless Characters, Plots, and Relationships (CPR)", Part 3 (Writer's Craft Article): The final of three posts focusing on how to spot dead or lifeless characters, plots, and relationships in your fiction is up now on the Alien Romances blog:
https://aliendjinnromances.blogspot.com/2021/12/karen-s-wiesner-how-to-spot-dead-or_01852994672.html
 
Karen S. Wiesner: "How to Spot Dead or Lifeless Characters, Plots, and Relationships (CPR)", Part 2 (Writer's Craft Article): The second of three posts focusing on how to spot dead or lifeless characters, plots, and relationships in your fiction is up now on the Alien Romances blog:
https://aliendjinnromances.blogspot.com/2021/12/karen-s-wiesner-how-to-spot-dead-or_0972461072.html
 
Karen S. Wiesner: "How to Spot Dead or Lifeless Characters, Plots, and Relationships (CPR)", Part 1 (Writer's Craft Article): The first of three posts focusing on how to spot dead or lifeless characters, plots, and relationships in your fiction is up now on the Alien Romances blog: https://aliendjinnromances.blogspot.com/2021/12/karen-s-wiesner-how-to-spot-dead-or.html
 
Karen Wiesner:  I Have Dreamed a Little Dream (Authors and Dream Inspiration), Part 4: Dreams and nightmares--how do they play into a writer's creativity? I'm exploring this question on the Alien Romances blog right now. The final of four posts is up here:
https://aliendjinnromances.blogspot.com/2021/12/karen-wiesner-i-have-dreamed-little.html
 
NEWEST AND UPCOMING RELEASES
BRIDGE OF FIRE, Book 10: Woodcutter's Grim Series including: OUT OF THE ASHES, Part 1; A NEW BEGINNING, Part 2; and INTO THE SUN, Part 3
Fantasy Romance Novels
Available now in paperback and electronic formats
http://www.writers-exchange.com/woodcutters-grim-series/
 
SHOTGUN WEDDING, Book 13: Adventures in Amethyst Series
Contemporary Romance Novel
Available now in trade paperback and electronic formats; also to be available in ADVENTURES IN AMETHYST TRIO OF HOLIDAY ROMANCES
http://www.writers-exchange.com/adventures-in-amethyst-series/
 
NEVER A BRIDE, Book 11: Adventures in Amethyst Series
Contemporary Romance Novel
Coming soon in electronic and paperback; also to be available in ADVENTURES IN AMETHYST TRIO OF HOLIDAY ROMANCES Collection
http://www.writers-exchange.com/adventures-in-amethyst-series/
 
UNLUCKY IN LOVE, Book 12: Adventures in Amethyst Series
Contemporary Romance Novel
Coming soon in electronic and paperback; also to be available in ADVENTURES IN AMETHYST TRIO OF HOLIDAY ROMANCES Collection
http://www.writers-exchange.com/adventures-in-amethyst-series/
 
ADVENTURES IN AMETHYST TRIO OF HOLIDAY ROMANCES including NEVER A BRIDE, Book 11; UNLUCKY IN LOVE, Book 12; and SHOTGUN WEDDING, Book 13
Contemporary Romance Novels
Coming soon in paperback and electronic formats; also available individually
http://www.writers-exchange.com/adventures-in-amethyst-series/
 
NEW REVIEWS
 
I received a new review for KALEIDOSCOPE SERIES (Books 1-7):
5 Stars! “In the Kaleidoscope Series, secondary characters that appeared in Book 1 are brought into the next six short stories in the series.
 
"In Perfect Cadence, Book 1, Joshua had more self-control them most when the woman of his dreams came into his life--at exactly the wrong time. But, years later, when she reappears once more, he has a second chance at finding everything he ever wanted. Keri has the worst luck in men imaginable. But what a lot of fun when luck is finally in her favor. 
 
“Book 2, In Cahoots With Cupid, Keri's boss Angela is the heroine. I loved that six-year old Kiowa told ten-year-old Angela that he’d marry her one day. His tenacity in pursuing her was inspiring.
 
"Behind Amethyst Eyes, Book 3, Rob’s been flirting with Aimee like crazy, but it wasn't until her co-workers convinced her to get a makeover that he saw a woman he could fall for. Aimee and her fiery temper were fun and intriguing. I loved seeing Rob sweat under it!
 
“In Book 4, Jordana’s Chair, Dex is smooth, well-dressed and hot as a firecracker. He could have had any of the gorgeous women flocking around him that he wanted. Yet it’s quiet, simple Jordana, his next door neighbor and a woman who’s trying to put her broken life back together, that intrigues him the most.  I laughed and cried for and with these characters. Ultimately, I was elated with every triumph they earned over the cruelty of life.
 
"In Book 5, Paper Tiger, Billy has waited for years to get Roni to marry him. I was impressed that he never faltered in his certainty that he wanted her for life. But Roni was hiding something that kept her from taking chances with those she loves. I was riveted with the suspense of this story set with Halloween horrors.
 
"In Cabin Fever, Book 6, Shayna is a divorcee with a seven-year-old son. Her ex-husband left her insecure and untrusting. Falling in love with Dakota was the easiest thing in the world--for Shayna and for me. He tenderly took care of his students, one of them Shayna’s son. The agonizing pain of his past, losing what mattered most to him, was something I felt vividly in these pages.
 
“In Book 7, The Longest Night, Jolie married Jag, an international photographer years ago, when she was young and too in love to realize how hard a long-distance relationship could be. Living their lives separate most of any given year was too hard, and I cheered when she decided to start divorce proceedings. But there’s more to Jag--and this marriage--than meets the eye.
 
“I loved reading these interconnected stories.” ~Linda's Reviews
 
Find out more about the Kaleidoscope Series here:
https://karenwiesner.weebly.com/kaleidoscope-series.html    
https://www.writers-exchange.com/kaleidoscope-series/
 
I received a new review for WOODCUTTER'S GRIM SERIES, Volume I (Books 1-3 and The Final Chapter):
5 Stars! "Books 1-3 of the series and The Final Chapter are contained in this collection that scared me silly, and, trust me, I don't scare easily.
 
"In Papa, Book 1, Ms. Wiesner's retelling of Hansel and Gretel with a twist will make you hunger for more of these reinvented fairy tales. My heart went out to Rand and Amy. After a loveless marriage he couldn't seem to escape, Rand finally divorces his wife, who is the mother of his children. With Amy, he's at last found someone to love who loves him back. When his ex-wife and their young son and daughter are killed, Rand and Amy try to heal, but it seems past sins and a wicked curse won't let them.
 
In Book 2, Blood of Amethyst, the horror continues with a loose retelling of the story Rumplestiltskin. Amethyst and her father's farm is too close to the woods where the evil in Woodcutter's Grim is said to lurk. But her relationship with Gabe, the sheriff in town and the Guardian of the Protectorate that is the only defense against the evil, reaches an ultimatum with her pregnancy and imminent birth of their first child. The horrifying choice she makes and the consequences of that decision set the tone for everything that follows this story in the series.
 
"In Dancing to the Grave, Book 3, the author continued to freak me out with a chilling, twisty-turny rendition of The Pied Piper of Hamelin. Amethyst's best friend Diane is the heroine in this story. After an extremely rough few years apart, Diane and her husband Kurt, a member of the Protectorate, are trying to put their marriage and lives back together. But, after what happened in the previous story, the evil that lives in Woodcutter's Grim is out for revenge. Even as I was rooting for this couple to come out victorious, a happily-ever-after seemed like the least likely scenario.
 
"The Amethyst Tower, the very last book in the Woodcutter's Grim Series, finishes out this collection, which contained an explanation from the author on the suggested reading order of the books in the series. Luckily, Wiesner *does* recommend reading The Amethyst Tower directly after reading Books 1-3--even before going on to Books 4-10. All those books were written in a way that assumes the reader has already read The Amethyst Tower, which is kind of a time-travel fantasy story loosely based on Rapunzel.
 
"The Amethyst Tower is a complicated, thrilling tale of good versus evil, hope and patience, and epic triumph only earned by never giving up, no matter how impossible the odds.
 
"The Final Chapter concludes an awesome series that I didn't want to stop reading. Highly recommended!" ~Linda's Reviews
 
Find out more about the Woodcutter's Series here:
https://karenwiesner.weebly.com/woodcutters-grim-series.html
https://www.writers-exchange.com/woodcutters-grim-series/
 
I received a new review for 2-in-1 Supernatural Romance Novellas including The Amethyst Star and Creatures of the Night:
 
5 Stars! "In the first story, The Amethyst Star, a futuristic romance, I felt very sad that Lady Sher, a human queen and the last of her kind, could never be free to love given that the world has changed drastically since the Intergalactic war. Randolf is a prince from the planet Chaashane. Protecting Lady Sher is his only option--as is loving her from afar. This story does a good job of showing how sometimes the world needs to change and it takes strong beings to stand up for injustice.
 
"The second story in this collection, Creatures of the Night, is a paranormal romance. Susanna Heath meets a dark and mysterious man. Nicholai's old-fashioned manners and fervent passion for the heroine almost made me swoon. This story wasn't what I expected, which was what made it so unusual and enjoyable."
 
Find out more about this 2-in-1 here:
https://karenwiesner.weebly.com/miscellaneous-fiction-titles.html
http://www.writers-exchange.com/2-in-1-supernatural-romance/
 
MISCELLANY
 
Check out my Author Pages!
Writers Exchange: http://www.writers-exchange.com/Karen-Wiesner/ and http://www.writers-exchange.com/blog/
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Karen%20Wiesner
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/karenwiesner
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/karenwiesner
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/KarenWiesnerAuthor
 
WHAT I'M WORKING ON
 
Look for my WIP Moments on my Facebook Author Page http://www.facebook.com/KarenWiesnerAuthor where I'll be posting about what I'm working on and the progress I'm making with each stage of my projects. You can also follow my progress here: https://karenwiesner.weebly.com/works-in-progress.html
 
In December, I:
 
-Finished writing BONE OF MY BONE, Book 7: Bloodmoon Cove Spirits Series (June 2022)
In January, I'll:
-Revise BONE OF MY BONE https://karenwiesner.weebly.com/bloodmoon-cove-spirits-series.html
 
Find out what I'm working on in 2022:  https://karenwiesner.weebly.com/works-in-progress.html
 
Feel free to direct your friends to this newsletter!

The final of three posts focusing on how to spot dead or lifeless characters, plots, and relationships in your fiction is up now on the Alien Romances blog.
 
"How to Spot Dead or Lifeless Characters, Plots, and Relationships (CPR)", Part 3 (Writer's Craft Article) by Karen S. Wiesner:
https://aliendjinnromances.blogspot.com/2021/12/karen-s-wiesner-how-to-spot-dead-or_01852994672.html
​

I received a new review for 2-in-1 Supernatural Romance Novellas including The Amethyst Star and Creatures of the Night:
 
5 Stars! "In the first story, The Amethyst Star, a futuristic romance, I felt very sad that Lady Sher, a human queen and the last of her kind, could never be free to love given that the world has changed drastically since the Intergalactic war. Randolf is a prince from the planet Chaashane. Protecting Lady Sher is his only option--as is loving her from afar. This story does a good job of showing how sometimes the world needs to change and it takes strong beings to stand up for injustice.
 
"The second story in this collection, Creatures of the Night, is a paranormal romance. Susanna Heath meets a dark and mysterious man. Nicholai's old-fashioned manners and fervent passion for the heroine almost made me swoon. This story wasn't what I expected, which was what made it so unusual and enjoyable."
 
Find out more about this 2-in-1 here:
https://karenwiesner.weebly.com/miscellaneous-fiction-titles.html
http://www.writers-exchange.com/2-in-1-supernatural-romance/

A Christmas story just in time for the holidays! Ebook newly available--only $4.99; trade paperback edition coming soon
 
SHOTGUN WEDDING, Book 13: Adventures in Amethyst Series (Christmas)
Contemporary Romance Novel
Also to be available in ADVENTURES IN AMETHYST TRIO OF HOLIDAY ROMANCES Collection
 
Trevor and Eden were married right out of high school. She'd believed she was pregnant, but that hadn't been her sole motivation. Wildly in love with Trevor Johnson, she'd worried he was becoming disenchanted with her, his attention consumed by the needy and seductive Delaney Foster who came to Amethyst every year with her family. In the years Eden and Trever have been married, she's never felt quite secure in the belief that he married her by choice, in love.
 
During the Christmas season, plagued by unspoken guilt and doubts, she finds herself again competing with a soon-to-be divorced, distraught, and disgustingly gorgeous Delaney. Eden is obsessively aware she's no longer as young, thin, or sexy as she'd been before she had three sons.
 
To top off her growing stress, Eden has discovered she and Trevor's oldest son and his girlfriend, in their senior year of high school, are sexually active. The last thing they need is another shotgun wedding and the potential that a marriage undertaken for the sake of a baby isn't necessarily one of choice or love.
 
Read an excerpt and purchase from the publisher:
http://www.writers-exchange.com/shotgun-wedding/
 
Purchase from Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09P37KMY6?tag=writexchepubl-20&geniuslink=true
 
Find out more about this book and series:
https://karenwiesner.weebly.com/adventures-in-amethyst-series.html

I received a new review for 2-in-1 Supernatural Romance Novellas including The Amethyst Star and Creatures of the Night:
 
5 Stars! "In the first story, The Amethyst Star, a futuristic romance, I felt very sad that Lady Sher, a human queen and the last of her kind, could never be free to love given that the world has changed drastically since the Intergalactic war. Randolf is a prince from the planet Chaashane. Protecting Lady Sher is his only option--as is loving her from afar. This story does a good job of showing how sometimes the world needs to change and it takes strong beings to stand up for injustice.
 
"The second story in this collection, Creatures of the Night, is a paranormal romance. Susanna Heath meets a dark and mysterious man. Nicholai's old-fashioned manners and fervent passion for the heroine almost made me swoon. This story wasn't what I expected, which was what made it so unusual and enjoyable."
 
Find out more about this 2-in-1 here:
https://karenwiesner.weebly.com/miscellaneous-fiction-titles.html
http://www.writers-exchange.com/2-in-1-supernatural-romance/