Karen Black
Black writes in a variety of genres. Mystery, romance, or fantasy, her character-driven stories combine imagination and experience to weave dramatic plots with believable characters in descriptive contemporary settings, sometimes with fantasy worlds within them. In most of her publications, a four-legged character is included, even if it’s just a cameo appearance.
The author of four novels, three novelettes, and a dozen short stories, she has won several awards, including the 2022 Grand Prize for the RRBC 90-Day Alpha/Omega Short Story Writing Contest and Top Finalist in the KCT International Literary Awards. Her novel, Race into Murder, is a 2024 Readers’ Favorite award winner. Black began writing in 2010. Since 2021, she has been the editor of the RRBC Pipeline Magazine, a bi-monthly publication of the Rave Reviews Book Club. Her website is storiesbykaren.org.
Black lives in the United States with her husband, and two alien creatures disguised as cats. One of them, her muse, is rumored to be ET’s second cousin. The rumor, however, has not been confirmed.
The author of four novels, three novelettes, and a dozen short stories, she has won several awards, including the 2022 Grand Prize for the RRBC 90-Day Alpha/Omega Short Story Writing Contest and Top Finalist in the KCT International Literary Awards. Her novel, Race into Murder, is a 2024 Readers’ Favorite award winner. Black began writing in 2010. Since 2021, she has been the editor of the RRBC Pipeline Magazine, a bi-monthly publication of the Rave Reviews Book Club. Her website is storiesbykaren.org.
Black lives in the United States with her husband, and two alien creatures disguised as cats. One of them, her muse, is rumored to be ET’s second cousin. The rumor, however, has not been confirmed.
|
|
|
Race into Murder
|
Mystery
Jeff Frazier is a racehorse trainer whose dream is about to come true. He has a thoroughbred with the talent and the ability to compete in some of the most prestigious races in the country. But the colt becomes the catalyst for murder, and Jeff's dream turns into a nightmare when a well-known jockey is killed and an innocent man is arrested. 
|
Goldfield Forest
|
Fantasy
When a mystical clan saves the life of an 18th-century archaeologist in the Amazon rainforest, it sets off a series of events that impact the supernatural world two centuries later. Maria Goldfield, a 21st-century guardian of the fae, is approached by Lena, the clan's queen, who needs her help to battle for the survival of the supernatural inhabitants in the Amazon jungle. Risking her life and the lives of her family to fight for the future of the little people she protects, Maria agrees to fight beside Lena. Goldfield Forest takes the reader on a journey filled with adventure, romance, mystery, and pages full of magic. 
|
Deadly Repercussions
|
Mystery, Suspense
From the streets of Mexico to mountains of Wyoming, Juan Velasquez does what is needed to survive and to prosper. His belief in the rule of law is trumped only by his belief in pursuing justice, a trait that is passed down to his granddaughter, Elaina. Assassination within Juan’s family triggers a homicide investigation that sets off a chain of events leading to betrayal, kidnapping, and more death. When Juan disappears during his own search for the assassin, Elaina deciphers details that could lead her to him. Hesitant to share the information with authorities, she sets out alone. When she finds answers, she realizes nothing is as it seemed. Deception and devotion become confused and, while loyalty has benefits, it also has a cost. 
|
Long Stories Short
|
Paranormal, Fantasy
Written in a variety of genres, LONG STORIES SHORT is a collection of drama, suspense, and paranormal stories that don’t end quite the way the reader expects. A house fire causes tragedy in Aftermath. Magic or Miracles will take you on a journey that may help you decide if there’ a difference. Andrea wonders, how long is Forever? Mark and Erin discover the power of the Ouija Board in You Summoned Me. Does Bigfoot exist? Eli believes so and One Step at a Time tells his story. Could there be life after death? Valerie is convinced there isn’t until A Candle in the Darkness makes her wonder. When the law doesn’t provide protection, Mountain Justice does. How far would you go to save a friend’s life? A hasty decision has devastating results and Unintended Consequences. Dreams and reality collide when Yvonne runs for her life in The Hunted. Man’s best friend is also a woman’s best friend. Together, they discover Indisputable Evidence. 
|
Dancing Valley
|
Fantasy
For nearly a century and a half, Carolyn has protected the mystical creatures who live in her family estate in Dancing Valley. She is a guardian of the fae. When Anita arrives, lost and exhausted, Carolyn knows the young woman didn’t find her cottage by accident. Abandoned by her mother, when she was hours old, Anita’s only clue to her history is an emerald pendant tucked into the pocket of the shirt she’d been wrapped in. After the unexpected death of her adoptive parents, Anita sells everything and heads to the wilderness. During a week of hiking unmarked trails, she becomes lost and roams for days until she sees a fairy, a creature she’s been convinced doesn’t exist. Anita follows the tiny creature, who leads her to Carolyn, who leads her on a journey to learn about her past and discover her destiny. When Dancing Valley is threatened, Anita stands beside Carolyn, risking her life to fight for her new home and her mystical family. 
|
Five Stories Short, A Supernatural Quintet
|
Fantasy
Spirits, little people, witches and fetishes fill the pages of Five Stories Short, A Supernatural Quintet, where magic happens throughout. In “The Legacy,” cats communicate with humans and the Tarot cards show what is to come. Tonya is sworn to protect the little people who live around her in the “Laughing Hills.” When her partner disappears, it is the little people who uncover the tragic mystery, then make sure justice is done. Carolyn finds a ghostly friend who saves her life in “The Last Act,” and surprises are waiting in “Mommy, Look,” when Bianca realizes spirits are all around us. For centuries, stories have been told about the power of artifacts and carved fetishes. Tammy and Brian learn the stories are true in “The Ancient Ones.” 
|
Vindictive Angel
|
Suspense/Thriller
If a murderer is killed, is the executioner a criminal or a hero? When the legal system fails, should justice be ignored? When a homicide has eerily similar circumstances to a murder that occurred months prior, detectives learn the current victim is the third who died identically. A serial killer is on the loose and appears to be a vigilante. Torn between his belief in the law and his demand for justice, lead homicide detective, Devon Mahoney, must decide which he values more. 
|
