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Happy Valentine's Day! Hope you're having a great one. Yesterday was the Super Bowl. I don't do football. Or basketball. Or hockey. Or soccer. Are you sensing a trend here? I did make food for the Super Bowl party at the campground. Meatball sliders and I made ice cream in my old fashioned maker. Then I shipped hubby off to the party and turned on the Food Network. Ahh... Today a special announcement went out in my newsletter. If you missed it, pop on over to mailchi.mp/f666100b2c6c/a-romantic-adventure-awaits-you-shay-and-adens-special-love-story and signup. I'll make sure you get a copy. And if you missed my announcement of Rock House Grill going audio, www.amazon.com/Audible-Rock-House-Grill/dp/B09S247QGL/ there you go. Now enough about me. I'm excited to bring you Karina Bartow for her first visit to the fire. ![]() Hi, Karina, I'm so glad you could join us today. While a pour us a cuppa please why don't your get started by telling us who you are beyond the bio. I’m Nin Nin to my nephew, Jordan, with whom I share a special relationship. I was seventeen when he was born, so I’m a cross between an authority figure and an annoying sibling. I take my role very seriously! Say hey Jordan for me. So, other than being the special person, what else interests you besides writing I enjoy shopping, especially for shoes. I’m also a big baseball fan. Naturally, I’m an avid reader, mixing it up between love stories and mysteries. Sigh, I hate shoes and have been know to by the same shoe in different colors to end the process. When I retired I donated all but a few pairs cuz you can't always wear flip-flops. You've been writing for a few years. Who is your network or support system? My parents and sister have played a big part in my endeavors, as have several close friends. I also have a former teacher who’s become like a writing coach, and she’s supported me more than I could’ve imagined. Who or what books or authors inspire you? Nicholas Sparks. I appreciated his simple style and how he could touch a reader's heart, especially in A Walk to Remember. Once I read that, I knew I wanted to at least try to write a novel. Do you have any fun or outrageous talent? I have Cerebral Palsy, so I guess my talent is typing thousands of words with my one semi-functioning hand. It’s not very captivating, but some people find it impressive. That's amazing. It's taking what you have and doing your thing. Not letting circumstances control you, but you controlling them. I believe you live in Ohio. What is your neighborhood like? Are there any places you frequent? What makes them special? I’ve lived in the same rural community for my whole life, and it’s pretty much all farmland in my area. We have a couple small towns not far, so we can take care of our shopping and all that. My alma mater is the most special part of it, as I made many good memories there. A lot of people supported me in my pursuit to walk on my own, including the football coach and his team. They even asked me to lead them out onto the field before their last game of the season. Small towns and rural life is truly special. The way the community comes around and supports individuals. Have you had any adventures lately? Conferences, conventions, vacations? Tell us a bit about what made it special to you. Like most people, I’ve stuck close to home since the pandemic began, but thankfully, we squeezed in a trip to Arizona in February 2020. I love that part of the country, and since we mainly went for spring training, we were able to attend a couple baseball games—some of the only few with fans allowed the entire season. It was special no matter what, but it became ever more precious with the chaos that ensued a few weeks later. I've never been to that part of the country. It's definitely on my to camp list. Now for a bit on the lighter side. What is your favorite mug or teacup if neither T-shirt with graphic or Meme. The one that my honorary niece gave me, which says, “Shoes make the woman!” If you could only choose one song to play every time you walked into a room for the rest of your life, what would it be? “Tubthumping” (also known as “I Get Knocked Down”) What ridiculous thing has someone tricked you into doing or believing? In an effort to protect her sand dollar collection, my sister convinced me there was a dove in the center of them that would fly out if I broke one. Do you play board games? What games do you like? Yes, they’re the highlight of my winter! My family and I enjoy classics, like Clue and Monopoly, as well as Sequence and Ticket to Ride. Who is the most interesting person you’ve met and talked with? Davy Jones of the Monkees. Not to brag, but he also gave me my first kiss—on the cheek, of course. Many of us of a certain age just swooned. How about some writing questions? What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book? To start with, I research the setting and try to visit it if I can. Then, I research subjects as they come up. I’m not a big one for pre-writing exercises; I just fly with it. How do you select the names of your characters? I have a variety of methods most of which are secret! On certain occasions, I use a quality the character has and try to form the name with it. In my new novel, Brother of Interest, the neighbor’s last name is Paletta because it means “Scoop” in Romanian—which is appropriate since she’s always digging for a scoop of gossip. That's great! Thank you for being a guest at the fire today. Karina, your newest book is coming out this Wednesday the 16th. Can you tell us a little about it, where to find it and more about you? ![]() Brother of Interest (Unde(a)feted Detective Series Book 2) by Karina Bartow Heat Rating: Sweet Minka Avery thought her days of hunting down fugitives were behind her…until her brother becomes one! There’s nothing more heart-warming than a brother and sister’s bond—or is there? In Minka Avery’s case, her relationship with her brother, Robin, has been strained for years, but never more than it is in Brother of Interest. For the past fourteen months, Minka's been basking in the joys of new motherhood, a far cry from the life she had as a deaf police detective. She sometimes misses the rush of chasing criminals, but she finds more excitement than she ever wanted when Robin ends up at the top of the list of suspects in a high-profile assault investigation. She may not have a badge anymore, but the sister and law enforcer in her impel her unofficially explore the matter on her own. Will she find her runaway brother? Will the evidence she unearths exonerate him...or point to his guilt? Get a copy The Wild Rose Press | Amazon | Walmart | Books-A-Million More about the Author Karina Bartow grew up and still lives in Northern Ohio. Though born with Cerebral Palsy, she’s never allowed her disability to define her. Rather, she’s used her experiences to breathe life into characters who have physical limitations, but like her, are determined not to let them stand in the way of the life they want. Her debut novel, Husband in Hiding came out in 2015, followed by Forgetting My Way Back to You, 2018. She may only be able to type with one hand, but she writes with her whole heart! Social media: Blog | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Goodreads
D. V. Stone
2/14/2022 02:01:33 pm
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Your Host D.V. StoneAward winning multi-genre author and blogger. Fantasy, romance, mid-grade. Nothing better than a campfire, book, and glass of wine. Okay maybe there is.📚 Follow Me!
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