New Release~When I See You by Katherine Owen

When I See You available for Kindle
exclusively at Amazon until 3/20/12

He breaks his promise,
  more than once.
 He makes another.
 Will she believe him?
 Can he keep it?

Jordan Holloway and Brock Wainwright share a past connection and devastating loss that intricately ties them to one another. But now, both must find their way to a new and different life and discover for themselves that moving on begins with letting go, making promises, and keeping them, most of all.

 LOOK for the PRINT edition of When I See You in early January at Amazon and Barnes and Noble and other online retailers.

Visit Katherine Owen's author page at Amazon for the latest updates including all book releases and formats (print and e-book).

A Belle's Tales: Not To Us by Katherine Clare Owen

Best Review Ever for Not To Us!

A Belle's Tales: Not To Us by Katherine Clare Owen: Those who know me know my love for all things paranormal and supernatural. It is my favorite genre of books and movies alike. On occasion...

Book Review: Falling Under by Danielle Younge-Ullman

FALLING UNDER by Danielle Younge-Ullman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Falling Under is amazing contemporary fiction, but to learn that it is a debut novel for Danielle Younge-Ullman makes it even more special. Younge-Ullman does a fantastic job of creating a broken heroine in Mara Foster. The author portrays Mara's dark world where she "literally" fears the world, everything in it, and herself, most of all. Younge-Ullman deftly introduces readers to Mara's past through effective narration, but not necessarily predictable flashbacks. No. This talented author just takes you there in first person present tense. I love that! I write in this technique as well and appreciate the dedication and intricacy of it. Younge-Ullman also utilizes first person past tense and second person for some of the flashback narration and effectively conveys Mara's pain so well this way. It's beautifully done.


Younge-Ullman keeps the story moving and readers guessing as to what has happened in Mara's past relationships, especially with Lucas, that make her so fearful. Readers will be intrigued with the introduction of Erik and the inexplicable tie in their relationship that makes them so dark and needy of one another. The subtext with her best friend Bernadette is also compelling. And, when Mara meets Hugo, it would appear he's set to be the ultimate hero and rescue her, since he appears to serve so well as the calm to the storm that is Mara. It is easy to discern Hugo's love for her early on, but Younge-Ullman avoids the predictable cliche of having Hugo be the one to save her. No. Younge-Ullman leads readers further into Mara's dark past and allows them to really feel her pain for themselves. Readers will come away enlightened as to why Mara's so bent on self-destruction and, perhaps, even comprehend how it could win out. I'll leave it at that.


Falling Under is honest, heartbreaking, at times, yet so satisfying. The writing is amazing and so well done that it reads like a sheet of music.


Here's one of my favorite passages:

"I feel his eyes on me. He knows if I’m here, I’ve done everything I can to still the storm inside, to put all the demons back into their boxes and seal the lids. But sometimes they won’t go. Sometimes my ears are full of screaming, and sometimes, like tonight, the voices are mine."


And this one:

"You haven’t had his lips pressing onto yours, or heard the deep, low whimper that comes from the back of his throat when your lips move in response. You haven’t had him hold your face in his hands and felt him shudder, and no painful, heated ache has rocketed down from your open lips to your tongue and fired along your nerve endings and made you feel like your body was on fire. But now you have. And the world is a different place. Locked together in a tangled embrace, you travel past desire, past time and age and circumstance, past, even, the barriers of body, to a place where you are together, linked in the deepest sense. And for a few timeless moments, you are not alone."


Danielle Younge-Ullman is a fantastic writer. And, all I can say is more, more, more!



Katherine Owen

Author of Not To Us & Seeing Julia


View all my reviews

The Fictionist who wrote Not To Us

The Fictionist who wrote Not To Us I had a fabulous time talking about Not To Us at the Great Thoughts, Great Authors blog. Go check it out. And if inclined, you can find the books at Amazon or Barnes and Noble or Apple iBooks.

The evolution of bouncing back

Another Indie Chick whose personal story just about breaks your heart, yet inspires, most of all. Please welcome Heather Marie Adkins.



Latchkey Kid by Heather Marie Adkins

It isn’t easy being the daughter of a police officer, but it’s even more difficult to be the daughter of a female police officer. I would come to understand this early, and often, in my life.

My mom’s career has always been the whirling force of my existence.

She was sworn into the Louisville Police Department on September 10, 1990. I was five years old. For the majority of my developmental years, I bounced through a succession of caretakers—my grandmother, my father and stepmother, and a kind woman I called ‘Mama Lo’—while my mom was forging her way through her early years as a rookie officer.

I remember late nights—my mom in her uniform, her gun belt digging into my side as she bundled me into a blanket to carry me to the car. I remember mornings getting on the school bus, knowing Mom would be coming home from work just in time for me to leave. But when I remember these things, they are snippets: Only bits and pieces of the woman who is my mother. Her job was demanding and sometimes, you just have to sacrifice to make your dreams come true.

When I was ten, Mom aced the Detective test and was granted her first promotion. Suddenly, we were buying a new house in a nice neighborhood. I was in middle school, which was awkward enough, and Mom began working 4 pm to midnight.
Thus began my time as a Latchkey Kid.

What's in a whisper?

It was happenstance (LOVE that word!) that I met up with Cheryl Shireman, a few months ago. It was one of those social media encounters via this very blog. And then, we had a lovely Facebook chat about writing. Cheryl is light years ahead of me with her successful publishing of her novels, but her story was so encouraging to my own writing endeavors. I was even more surprised when she asked me if I would be interested in participating in this anthology idea  where she would be featuring 25 independent women writers (aka Indie Chicks) and I said, absolutely. Little did I know what the project would entail and how many amazing writers would participate, including a foreword written by Karen McQuestion and excerpts from amazing writers such as Melissa Foster, Lizzy Ford, Mel Comley, Linda Welch and so many more. I admit I felt a little out of my league and in awe of these extraordinary writers, but I persevered because of the response I've been getting from my readers about Seeing Julia and Not To Us. And, if reading the personal stories and excerpts of 25 up and coming independent women authors isn't enough, the proceeds from this anthology go toward the Susan G. Komen Foundation For The Cure for breast cancer research.



So, what's not to love? In light of that, we're promoting the anthology by sharing each of author's personal journey of self discovery over the next few months. I know! It's right up my alley!



Here's Cheryl Shireman's guest post about her personal journey with this anthology.


Is Your Life Whispering to You?

By Cheryl Shireman

I believe life whispers to you and provides direction. I call that life force God. You can call it whatever you want, but there is no escaping it. If we are open, and brave enough to say yes, life will take us in directions we never expected, and you will live a life beyond your wildest dreams.

Those whisperings often come in the form of a “crazy” idea or a nudge to move into a certain direction that seems odd or silly or daring. Then there is that moment when you think, Well, that’s weird. Where in the world did that come from?

And then there’s the second moment, when you have to make a choice. You can dismiss the crazy notion, and probably even come up with a dozen reasons why it’s a bad idea. You don’t have the time, the money, or the resources. Besides, who are you to do such a thing? What in the world were you thinking? So, you dismiss the idea. We always have that option - to say No.
But it comes back - that whisper. Sometimes again and again. But if we are practical, and safe, we can squash the notion until it is almost forgotten. Almost.

Simple instructions for writing your way out.

Steps for making art by Wynton Marsalis:

seek instruction
make a schedule
set goals – chart development
focus while practicing
relax, practice slowly, you can’t be in a hurry if you’re gonna get better
practice the things you can’t do – don’t rehearse your instincts
always give maximum expression – invest
don’t be too hard on yourself
don’t show off
think for yourself
be optimistic
look for connections to other things

**********************

Just think, if you did this every day with such intention, no matter what you do, what you would accomplish.
Best, Katherine

Goodreads | Chelesbells (The United States)'s review of Seeing Julia

Goodreads | Chelesbells (The United States)'s review of Seeing Julia

Awesome review of Seeing Julia. One of the best reviews I've gotten. I'm so thrilled!