BOGO offer on Where the Fire Falls

May 17, 2018By Karen Barnett 1 Comment

We are getting so close to the release date for WHERE THE FIRE FALLS, and I’m excited to see the latest story in the Vintage National Parks novels get out into the hands of readers just in time for summer travel. My publisher is offering a special BOGO pre-order deal right now that you’re not … Read More

An eBook sale plus another HUGE giveaway!

March 13, 2018By Karen Barnett No Comments

There is so much exciting book stuff going on right now, that I’m not sure where to start–with the surprise eBook sale of OUT OF THE RUINS *or* the second BookSweeps giveaway with 15+ inspirational historical fiction authors? I know I just came at you a couple of weeks ago with a BookSweeps giveaway, but … Read More

Reading and Writing Challenges for 2017

January 1, 2017By Karen Barnett No Comments

I’ve spent today thinking about what lies ahead for 2017. Here are a few things on my list: Our oldest will graduate from high school We’ll be sending that same child off to college! Our youngest has ten gazillion dance competitions and performances coming up I have a book deadline . . . . . . and … Read More

Setting Goals for Fall

August 17, 2015By Karen Barnett 2 Comments

I don’t know about you, but it’s been a super-busy couple of weeks for me. I’m ready for a book and a hammock. Who else feels that way? Instead, I’m going to do a little organizing and let you know what’s happened this month and what is coming up this fall. Ready? WINNER First off, I need to … Read More

Remembering the 1906 Earthquake: The Shaking Begins

April 14, 2015By Karen Barnett 13 Comments

Many people have asked what inspired me to write a novel about the 1906 earthquake. The answer is simple. The stories. I love historical documentaries and when I watched American Experience: The Great San Francisco Earthquake, I was gripped by the stories told by elderly survivors. They’d all been children at the time, but their memories were … Read More

Anniversary Week: Bringing the 1906 Earthquake to Life

April 13, 2015By Karen Barnett 18 Comments

Do you remember a day in your life when everything changed? How about a day in our nation’s history?  What springs to mind–Pearl Harbor, JFK’s assassination, Septemeber 11? For many San Franciscans, that memorable date was April 18, 1906. The region was rocked by a massive earthquake, touching off an inferno that consumed much of … Read More

Win an Early Copy of Beyond the Ashes!

March 31, 2015By Karen Barnett 7 Comments

When I turned in the second book of the Golden Gate Chronicles, the release date seemed like an impossible wait–June 16, 2015. Now it’s only a few months away! Whee! I can’t WAIT for you to read this story. I’m head-over-heels for these characters, and their love story about broke my heart. That might sound … Read More

Behind and Ahead, Part 1

January 1, 2015By Karen Barnett No Comments

I’m not much for resolutions, but I love to take the first few days of the year to look behind and look ahead. It’s good to look back and count your blessings. It’s also good to look ahead and dream about what might be in store. So, what happened in 2014? I’m only going to hit … Read More

Tell Me: What Makes Great Historical Fiction?

September 5, 2014By Karen Barnett 15 Comments

I’m curious . . . what makes a historical novel “great” in your eyes?  What features draw you into the story? For some it may be the romantic thread, for others it could be a desire to experience a specific time period. Here are four characteristics of great historical fiction that never fail to hook me. … Read More