Kari Trumbo's Blog, page 9
April 28, 2017
An Ivy Tangles has released, and at a reduced price
I considered putting off the release of Ivy, because I lost my dear mama last Sunday. However, she loved the fact that her daughter was an author. The book has been ready for weeks, so in honor of Mom, I’ve gone ahead and released it. I hope you love Ivy and Levi’s story as much as I loved writing it.
Ivy Masters is done running from her dead husband and haunting memories, but how can she start over again without money or family to help her?
Levi Towne has known heartache and disappointment, and is now determined to find a wife who’ll meet his needs but leave his heart out of it. When his letter to the mail-order bride service goes missing, he figures it’s a sign he’s just meant to be alone. But fate has other ideas.
Ivy can’t believe her luck when she stumbles upon a letter to the Bride Gazette. She meets all Levi’s requirements, and doesn’t mind his desire to keep things simple. As the days pass and she gets to know Levi, Ivy can’t help but want a true marriage. But when Levi and Ivy’s troubled pasts unravel, the tangle of secrets they both hide can either strangle their future or make love bloom in their hearts.
An Ivy Tangles, by Kari Trumbo, an emotional love story that will keep you turning the pages.
Get your copy HERE
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March 25, 2017
New Release Kisses in Keystone
Hattie’s past need not hold her back, not from him and not from God. CLICK TO TWEET
I’m so excited about this release. Not only can I share my love of a great Old West town, but I get to honor two of my good friends who have overcome addiction. In Kisses in Keystone, Hattie Arnsby struggles with a debilitating addiction to whiskey. It started as a coping mechanism (though it wasn’t obviously called that then) to deal with a father who didn’t love her. When her father was gone, its hooks were in her deeply.
Enter one Hugh Bradly. He cannot overcome her addiction for her, but he can still be her knight on glistening horse that takes her out of her miserable situation and loves her into health.
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Hattie Arnsby’s been a slave to men and whiskey for the last year.
She’s drowned herself in drink to avoid her life at the Red Garter Saloon in Keystone, SD. When a handsome deputy finds her after a year of searching, she finally sees a sliver of hope.
Hugh Bradley is deputized to find Hattie and bring her home, but her captors aren’t ready to set her free. He must help her be rid of the drink and the binds of the brothel.
But when Hattie’s handed temptation, will she run back to her past or embrace the love growing between them?
Kisses in Keystone, the second novel in the Seven Brides of South Dakota series by Kari Trumbo, combines romance, history, action, and faith into a story you won’t want to put down. GET YOUR COPY HERE
If you haven’t had a chance to read the first in the series, you can find Dreams in Deadwood HERE
March 14, 2017
Progress and Developments
I’ve just hit the 30% mark on Love in Lead, my May release. If you’ve been following along, I had A Ruby Glows release in January, Dreams in Deadwood in February, Kisses in Keystone is ready for release Feb. 25 (ahead of schedule). April’s release, An Ivy Tangles (Cutter’s Creek novel) is with my editor right now. I am on target to get all 12 releases planned for this year.
Here’s a little known fact: I give away a print ARC copy of every single release exclusively to my newsletter list. If you aren’t there, you should be! You can find me RIGHT HERE!
Speaking of releases, I will have a surprise coming soon that wasn’t on my schedule, it’s a special project just for fans (and future fans) of Cutter’s Creek.
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Here’s a sneak peek of the prequel to the entire Cutter’s Creek Series, Montana Trails.
Alton pulled up a chair as close to her bed as possible without jostling her and handed her the steaming mug. “Careful now, my story’s no good if you burn yourself.” He really couldn’t help but dote on her, he always had. She’d felt cherished almost from the time they’d met. They had been so much in love that it clouded her memory of what life was like before him.
The town was now bustling with people who she loved to look after. Though they had no children of their own, every child and now most of the adults called her Grandma Cutter instead of Florence. She gripped the cup in her cold hands and gazed up at her wizened husband. “All right, I’m awake and you have my attention for one hour.” She tapped on his pocket watch hanging over his belly. “You’d best check the time. You tend to be long-winded.”
Alton laughed and flicked open the time piece. “Yup, the hands are still there. Now, you get cozy. I’m going to tell you the story of the most beautiful woman in the world.”
“I think I’ve heard this story before.” She yawned but her heart warmed at his words.
He chuckled, the soft noise a sweet rumble to her ears. “Well, even Solomon said there was nothing new under the sun.”
She shifted into her pillows and focused on his face. The same face she’d fallen asleep next to for over twenty of her fifty-five years.
Alton leaned back in his seat and scratched his chin. “Now, where was I? Oh, yes. The most beautiful woman in the world.” He reached over and patted her hand. She knew who he was talking about, she’d been the subject of all his stories. “This is the story about how the most beautiful woman came to live in the most beautiful place in all America, maybe even the world. It all starts one dreary morning in Missouri when… oh, what should I name the most beautiful woman?” He thrummed his fingers over his chin and smiled. “Ah, I have the perfect name, Florence. Florence received a letter one day while at her teaching position at a stuffy Missouri school.”
She smiled at him. “Alton, be kind.” She laughed. “I think this is going to be a good story.”
“It is.” His eyes twinkled. “I already know the ending.”
February 20, 2017
Fun Little Game
I’m giving away books everyday this month to celebrate the release of Dreams in Deadwood. Today we are playing a fun game of spot the difference! If you find it, click on over to www.facebook.com/karitrumboauthor and post “got it” in the comments to enter. Winner, drawn at random, will win a copy of the Karen Kingsbury book Even Now and Even After. Good luck!
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February 7, 2017
Dreams in Deadwood
We are continuing our month long party on my author page and today I’m looking for your thoughts on my cover for the new book. I simply love how this conveys not only the romance, but the struggle these two face. I’m so excited to share this book with you. Within the next few weeks, you’ll be able to get a copy of your very own!
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Comment at the post at www.facebook.com/karitrumboauthor/ to enter!
February 2, 2017
Today’s Giveaway Post
Today, I’m giving away books from Lena Goldfinch and Karen Witemeyer! To enter to win, we’re talking about historical markers. They are all over the US, but do you live near one? Answer there, not here, for a chance to win!
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February 1, 2017
The February Giveaways Have Begun!
As I promised, the first day of book giveaways started this morning. Be sure you don’t miss a single day! What a better way to spend the month of Valentines, than to celebrate romance!
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Here is the link to the post on Facebook. You have to answer the post to be entered, so comment here if you like, but direct your entry there, and good luck! FACEBOOK
January 23, 2017
The Eyes Have It
I’m pretty sure my lovely editor wanted to reach through the computer screen and strangle me. In October, I had her look at the first book I ever published, To Honor and Cherish, the one I was so proud of. I’d submitted it to various agents and done an obscene amount of rewrites on…to find out that while the story itself was good, it needed some work. A lot of work.
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One thing that I noticed as I went through her notes was my propensity for the word looked and mentioning what the characters eyes were doing. I contemplated that for a while. I also worked on fixing it, which was much harder than I’d expected. I’d gotten rather comfortable relying on what the eyes were doing to give the emotion of the story.
It finally came to me. In my life, more than anything else about a person, I notice their eyes. More than hair color, style, clothing, anything. You can tell a lot about a person by reading their eyes and I’ve watched people for as long as I can remember. I can probably tell you the eye color of, and what my friend’s do with, their eyes depending on their mood. However, I might not notice other actions as readily. I’ve had to learn in the last few months to search my memories, picture my characters within the story, not just their faces up close and personal.
I was so face-focused that when I started writing, that was the easiest place to start and now it’s become part of my voice. While I know I need to keep it in check to propel my stories, it’s something I struggled with because so much of how I relate to people takes place at eye level.
It took over a week to do the rewrites on To Honor and Cherish, but I’m so proud of it now. The story is much better and everything is so much more clear. It’s the story I wanted to tell, but didn’t have the skill yet. Between the guidance of my editor and what I’ve learned, we whipped that book into shape.
While you’re still going to get some “eye” candy in my stories, I can assure you, it’s much less than before. I’m pretty sure my editor would throw me over a cliff if I didn’t.
January 15, 2017
Making Goals
If you do a search through this blog, you will see that I’m big on setting goals. I started doing that when I decided that this was going to be more than a hobby for me. I highly encourage anyone, no matter what level or time constraint you have, if this is more than a hobby, make the goal. I have set some pretty hefty goals for myself. I’m not sure if I will meet all of them, but I’m well on my way. Here is a list by month.
January (completed) Release A Ruby Glows on the 5th
February: Do major giveaways all month to kick off release of Dreams in Deadwood, book 1 of the Seven Brides of South Dakota series. Release Feb. 28. (Already with my editor, cover is done)
March: Release Kisses in Keystone March 30, book 2. (MS is half done, cover designer working on a mock up)
April: Release An Ivy Tangles April 28th. (MS is half done)
May: Release Love in Lead, book 3 May 26 (my birthday!) (notes have been written)
June: Release Romance in Rapid, book 4 June 30.
July: Release Hearts in Hill City, book 5 July 28.
August: Release an as-yet un-named Cutter’s Creek novel on August 18.
September: Release Courting in Custer, book 6 September 29.
October: Release Passion in Pierre, book 7 of the Seven Brides series Oct, 27.
November: Christmas novella tentatively titled Minnehaha Mistletoe Release November 25th.
December: Release From This Day Forward, book 4 of the Western Vows series. December 29 (first few chapters done)
I’ve already got my editor on retainer and my cover artist on speed dial. I’m excited for this new year and I’ve been planning for it for months. How about you?
January 10, 2017
Just a Spoonful of Sugar…
While, I wouldn’t necessarily agree that a spoonful of sugar will help the medicine go down. A spoonful of words, day after day, will help you build a story.
One of the things I love about NaNoWriMo is the little bar at the top of the page that shows your progress. I love updating it every day and watching it get to full. Here is my new little ticker. Isn’t it wonderful?
12665 / 50000 words. 25% done!
Because of some adjustments in my writing schedule, (we’ll be releasing Cutter’s Creek novels every four weeks now instead of every 3) my second Seven Brides of South Dakota book is the one I am now working on. It’s slated release is March 30, 2017. In April, I’ll be releasing the much awaited story of Ivy Masters, An Ivy Tangles. If you don’t know who Ivy is, you might want to pick up both A Carol Rings and A Ruby Glows, to find out more. 
