Gladiators tug at Karen S. Moore's Heart Strings

Today in the ludis we're tugging the Heart Strings of Karen S. Moore. Refill your cuppa, sit back and enjoy our chat about the author and her latest release. 

Tell us 3 secret things about Karen Moore:

One of my ambitions is to own a donkey. 

People often get the impression that I am quite reserved but I love to sing, dance and laugh as much as I can!

I live in a house over 150 years old . . .

You began writing at a young age. What drew you to write then and now that you’re all grown up?

At 7 years old, I was given a Scooby-Doo notepad.  I was a huge Scooby fan and I remember thinking that I'd like to write him some new adventures.  Having written one story, I think I may have suggested to my parents that I send it to the program makers!  They quickly disillusioned me and tried to explain that there was already a team of writers in operation.  Ah, the confidence of youth!

And since I grew up . . . hmmm, I'm not sure I ever did truly grow up.  I think, that's an important part of writing and keeping your motivation.  You have to continue to be excited by life and allow yourself to play with words, characters and plotlines.

You’re celebrating the release of Heart Strings with us today. Tell us about it?

'Heart Strings' is a collection of ten short stories, united by their strong emotional content.  The book spans a mix of genres, including Mystery, Ghost Story and Fantasy but the overriding themes are Relationships and Romance. 

Throughout the pages, some colouful characters emerge, including: Athena, a reclusive lover of literature, Marina, a thoroughly Modern Witch and Bill, a cynical writer, forced to embrace the Festive Season.

Do you have a favorite story in the book? What makes it so?

I think the story I am most satisfied with is the opener: 'Athena'.  The whole story grew from this very strong, yet vulnerable female lead.  Athena has given up work due to illness and now amuses herself with cake-baking and other people's lives.  She watches everything from her window, between turning the pages of the latest crime novel.

The fact that her world is so small makes for an intense study of the relationships within her family and the new friendship she forges with her enigmatic neighbour.

Out of all your books, which one would you spend a day inside of? What would you do or whom would you spend time with?

'Heart Strings' is the only long length work of fiction I have published apart from Poetry Collections.  I don't think I'd want to spend time inside them, too many random words, swirling around!

At this moment, I think I would hang out with Bill from 'Rewriting Christmas'.  He's throwing a Christmas party, heading to Santa's Grotto and playing in the snow.  With the approach of the Festive Season, it would be great to rediscover my inner child! 

What do you feel are key elements when writing romance?

The relationship between your leading female and leading male is central. 

Dialogue is very important, the way your couple interact and look at each other, what they have in common, or disagree on.  There has to be a spark between them, as in a real life romance!

What inspired you to write the stories of Heart Strings?

I've been writing a lot of short stories since moving from Wales to Ireland so it must be something to do with the location!  I do think a significant change in your personal life can aid inspiration.  You find yourself in different surroundings, meeting new people.  I also live in a very quiet countryside location these days. I have to write to amuse myself!

How do you choose what stories go into a fiction collection? Were there some that didn’t make the cut?

I did wonder whether to include two of the stories in this collection: 'The Professor's Child' and 'Ghost Writer'.  I wrote these, back in Wales, when I was running a small publishing company and they were released as individual booklets as part of a 'Mini Lit' series. 

The tone in these stories is a little more serious than that of the others.  However, I feel in a collection like this you can get away with offering different genres and viewpoints.

Is there a character in the book you would like to be romanced by? Who and what would he do for you?

I think the character closest to my ideal man would be Luke from 'Roadtrip'.  He and Jenna are best friends who become lovers.  As my husband is my best friend, I think some of the conversations the two of them have echo our own closeness and banter. 

Do you have any up coming projects or events that you would like to share?

I've started work on a new book inspired by two of the stories in 'Heart Strings': 'Return to the Country' and 'The Move'.  The stories are set in a small Irish town and feature many compelling characters from the local community.  I feel these characters are crying out to be developed and given stories of their own, so it's looking like it could become a novella! 

I'm also going to be teaching a workshop called 'Story Wise' from February onwards, in a range of locations, across the Southeast of Ireland.  I'll put the details up on my website and Facebook Page, when confirmed.

Where can we find Karen Moore and your books? 

Download Heart Strings at: http://amzn.to/X3RO2a (Amazon UK)

                                        or: http://amzn.to/U4lLb6 (Amazon US)

 Visit me at:

My Website: http://ksmoore.com/

My Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/K-S-Moore/283414931696084

My Twitter Profile: https://twitter.com/KarenSDavies

Thank you for joining us Karen you're welcome back to the ludis any time! Show Karen some comment love, have  you read Heart Strings or any of her other titles? 

A Gallant Night #FridayFlash

Lucinda stood in the gallery and sipped her wine as she gazed at the veduta. The landscape was done in earthy oils. The artist expressed great elocution in his work. As she moved on through the gallery, she found another painting. This one seemed so real, as if the man standing at the parapet could tumble out of the work.

Applause erupted as the artist raised his glass in a toast to Phillip Glazer. Pronounced fee-leep glass-a-er. The shmuck probably wasn’t even French. Lucinda had a premonition that all the artist’s efforts to impress the great critic were all a fallacy.

In her mind’s eye she could picture the review in which uppity Philip would eviscerate the young artisan. At the very least sever an artery.

With a sigh, she moved into the exhibits. Lucinda couldn’t help a quiet laugh as she passed a couple. The gentleman was trying to impress his lady friend, badly. He stood back from the painting with a distant expression. Then proclaimed that the artist was ocular. Oh yes, the young man had a vision alright. A vision of getting that girl between the sheets.

A huge landscape caught her eye. The view was from the bottom of a gorge. Near the end of the great trench was a cave, coming out of the gaping mouth was supposed to be a bear. After another sip from her flute, she decided the artist should stick to landscapes only. The bear looked more like a hamster.

Next was a classic view of the medieval hero Robin Hood. The outlaw stood in disguise lined up with the other archers. Arrow knocked ready to fly true and win the legendary contest. With a grin, she entertained the notion of being able to step into the painting and blow in his ear as he let fly. Let’s see him make that shot.

An odd coupling by the same artist the next painting held a limo in the Nevada desert. A man dressed forties gangster style stood against the side of the car. He might have been attractive but for the horrendous scar down the side of his face. Something caught her eye and she started to laugh at the artist’s morbid sense of humor. A man’s shoe lay just under the edge of the limo’s trunk. The scared man wasn’t really alone in the desert after all.

In the next exhibit she found the scene of an interior of a house. A woman stood in the background hands on her hips. A man cooked over an old wood burning stove, he was apparently her husband. The poor man was tall and thin obviously worked to death by the shrew.

The next piece was a collage of calendars. It was quite impressive how he managed to encapsulate so much history into the piece. There was a calendar from the year JFK was assassinated the date circled in red. Little pictures of historical events speckling many of the dates.

Lucinda actually liked the Florida landscape. The beach with its white sands seemingly stretched on forever. Palm trees bent to shade a group of sunbathers as the waves licked at their feet. A dog with a Frisbee in his mouth ran along the shore, which made her a smile.

Hanging next was a peep inside a brothel. Ladies enticed men with their unmentionables and pretty smiles, with hope to make a few dollars that night. Some were danced, others drank, a few couples locked in romantic endeavors but all laughing and gay. All but one. At the corner window seat a woman with long golden locks stared at the moon. Her sapphire eyes held a longing, perhaps of dreams lost. 

Lucinda sighed as someone behind her made loud comments. She had lost patience with the crowd growing in number and noise. The wine no longer able to quench her thirst she poured it into the potted tree. Lucinda glanced around as she slipped the flute with its gallery charm that dangled from the stem into her purse. On her way out, she over heard Fee-leep tell another patron the artist should have stuck to flipping burgers.

The valet brought her car and Lucinda tipped him before she drove away. On the way home, she listened to Mozart drift through the speakers. Once inside her apartment the illusion was shattered.

She toed off her shoes then walked to the wall by her dining table. Lucinda pulled the flute from her purse and set the glass on a shelf turning the charm to dangle from the front.

She stepped back and looked at her collection. There was a glass from almost every gallery in New York and LA. Since the move to California, Lucinda had found the Beverly Hills posh galleries a lot of fun. It was her little escape from her mundane life as a post office clerk.

Once a month she would dress to the nines walking among the beautiful people. Experiencing the world in their eyes for a couple of hours, tasting fine wines, foods she would never be able to afford. Walking to her bedroom Lucinda took off her dress she’d saved for six months to buy it. There were three fine gowns in her closet just for her little trips.

As she slipped on the less glamorous oversized sleep shirt, Lucinda thought about the gallery and all she had seen tonight. Her gallant night out, her name for these outings. As she rested her head on, her pillow Lucinda made note to check the listings for next month so she could plan her next gallant night.  

A Magical Book Signing at Raintree

Yup that's me... sorry if I cracked your screen : D

This past Saturday, I did a book signing event at Raintree Books. It's a wonderful new/used book store in Eustis, Florida. Being able to sign here was a very special moment for me. Raintree was the first book store I remember going to.

At about  7 or 8 yrs old. I can remember finding out that magic was real. My mom and I walked into the small storefront and looked at all the books in the little nook right where my table sat on Saturday.

Right in the heart of Historic Down Town Eustis, Florida 

There's a long counter that curves around a corner on the other side of the small storefront. You follow that counter around the corner and the magic happens. The small store becomes this huge one.

With rows and rows of books to explore. They have something for every subject you can imagine. The first time I saw it I was sure there was a wizard in there somewhere.

From the outside the shop looks average size, not big at all. Until you walk around that magical corner into pages of wonder.

Raintree's small storefront where the magic begins.....

Not only did I get a day of signing books. the chance to meet readers, and see my books on a store shelf for sale. I was given a chance to relive that special magic again.

And see a few other first time visitors experience it too. It was a magical afternoon at Raintree Books. I can't wait to go back.

Poof you have a book store 3x as big as the front part.
There has to be a wizard in this place somewhere. Maybe some
fairy dust involved? 

Something that makes every writer's heart skip Their books
on a store shelf. Truly awesome sight. :) 

Libraries Go EBook With Overdrive

Libraries across the nation have found a way to make EBooks accessible for check out by patrons though Overdrive. That's right you can borrow an ebook for 14 to 21 days on a checkout to your favorite EReader or right to your computer.

Each library has it's own ELibrary site. Lake County, Florida has theirs at mylakelibrary.lib.overdrive.com  . It is set up like an online store. You choose the book you want to borrow, add it to your chart, then check out. Within seconds you're reading your selection on your favorite device. 

There are only 2 copies available for each title so it is first come first serve, but you can place a title on hold. Instead of add to e cart you click place on hold just as you would searching the print book catalog. As soon as the title is available for you to borrow your Overdrive library will send you an email. Click the link in your email and check out your next favorite read. 

Overdrive library sites are easy to navigate for browsing or a specific search for a title, author, or series. Will these ELibraries take the place of your local library with that libraian who shushes you? Not a chance. 

Libraries are a place with many adventures in and out of the pages. There are many more services, classes, events, author meets, and much more for all ages that you can't get from a website. Did you know you can check out DVDs and music CDs at your library? Audio books, games for Playstation, Wii, XBox and more are available to be checked out for a week at a time as well. 

Libraries are combining with technology to better serve the patrons of their communities. Especially if you're a writer, your local library is an important tool we should never forget. The Lake Library System has been a tremendous supporter for local authors.Support your library today with a visit either virtual or in person today. 

  

Book Blogger Hop Friday May 20

Whew, it has been a busy life lately with lots of ups and downs. But all that is shoved aside for a BOOK PARTY! That's right it's time for another fantastic Book Blogger Hop. This week's bookish question is…..

"If you were given the chance to spend one day in a fictional world (from a book), which book would it be from and what would that place be?"
My Answer….. 
I think I would like to spend a day in the fictional world of JD Robb's In Death series. My Sis in Heart Rose got me hooked on this series. I usually don't care for reading futuristic style books but this one is different. The world is written in a way that makes it subtle. Not in your face sci fi like say Star Trek.

But I like the idea of walking into the kitchen and telling the 'autochef' what I want for dinner. Gliding through the streets in flying cars and being able to take flights to the moon or other planets for a couple hours then jetting back home. 
The people and places aren't really all that different from home but there's a few more conveniences to enjoy J Oh yeah I forgot to mention Rorke would sooo be my tour guide for the day. *wink

 






   

Deleted Book Love

Some of the books we adopted 

Yesterday was library day for my house. We love our library it’s not the biggest or has the most but we love it. Everyone is always friendly and they go out of their way to help you if you need it.

Yesterday’s trip was extra special. Not only did we find some great books to check out but the Library manager was in the process of deleting some books from the collection. 

While deleting books from the library collection doesn’t really sound like a good thing trust me it can be. First what causes a book to lose its place on the library shelf and into the deletion pile?  There may be a newer version out of a reference book , it’s rarely been checked out, the book is older and it’s time to move it out to make room for new books coming in.

Now why is this deleting thing good for us? Actually it’s good for both patron and library. Most libraries have a space or room for a ‘book store’. This is where all those deleted books go for adoption into someone’s personal collection.  

Most of these books are in new condition with little wear. They cost anywhere from twenty-five cents to one dollar each. A new book for a quarter can’t beat that! It’s more than just reference books in there too. Novels of all kinds, maybe even some DVD’s or music CD’s. You get to adopt great books and more for your own collection and help the library raise funds. 

This trip finding Miss Pam deleting was a big treat. She knows my son loves art and to draw, so, she set aside some books she thought he might like. This is something she does for us and other patrons that frequent the library.  See why they’re the best? J

We ended up with two tote bags full of books to adopt.  So what are you waiting for grab some extra bags and show your library some love by adopting some deleted books. 

Part of the Library Thursday Hop.. yeah okay I'm day late :)