Saturday, December 23, 2023

Grace Lessons and My Word for 2024

Each December, for many years, the Lord gave me a “word” for the new year. The last couple of years, I sought words, but they never came.

This year, I hadn’t been seeking, but last week, one word kept appearing (and is still appearing) to me in so many different ways, even though I hadn’t mentioned it to anyone. And already, He is using the word to teach me, guide me, challenge me to become more like Him.

The word is GRACE.

Before I had my boys, I knew if I ever had a little girl, I would name her Grace. My grandmother’s best friend was a beautiful woman named Grace, whose face – and life – shone Jesus every moment I knew her. When I was a teen, I said to my grandmother that Grace must have had a pretty special life to be so lovely and loving, but she said that Grace’s life had actually been quite difficult, painful, and harsh. Years later, I finally understood it was those trials she encountered and conquered that drew her closer to the Lord. Just thinking of her today brings tears to my eyes – may we all be like Grace.

As I began pondering GRACE as my word for 2024, on Thursday, we took a short daytrip for our annual lunch with family members. After hello hugs, we went into a restaurant, ordered food, and while we waited, one of them mentioned having a sore throat, but said, “It’s nothing. And even if it’s something, tomorrow’s another day.”

With Tim’s age, I’ve been cautious all through the pandemic, and then with my cancer journey this year, the caution continued. We had already cancelled/postponed holiday visits with other family members because a loved one has covid. 

But no one had mentioned any illnesses with this family, so we didn’t KNOW we should have cancelled too. When she mentioned her throat, we just thought she meant her sore throat was allergies, and we continued our meal. 

But the literal minute we walked through our front door, she sent a text that said, “When we got home, I decided to get my throat checked and I tested positive for covid. Sorry.”

I’m grateful now that she notified me by text because that gave me time to explode verbally to Tim and not to her. I was so angry. Tim was so angry. She’d had the sore throat for a couple of days and still kept our lunch date, when it could have easily been rescheduled. Not only did she expose us, but she exposed everyone at the restaurant, and at the store where she stopped on the way. We had managed to avoid direct exposure for four years, and her carelessness ended that.

Of course, as soon as we got her text, we showered (which was already the plan anyway just because we had been out and about), washed all our clothes, sprayed with Lysol, etc. And as I write this – Saturday – neither of us have symptoms and pray we won’t get sick. 

Yet through all of that, the anger still lingered.

I spent about 24 hours seething, ranting, and raving at every opportunity about her lack of sense, lack of respect, etc. We’re quarantining ourselves for a couple of weeks, so that we don’t expose anyone if we happen to be contagious and we’ve had to let go of any expectations of gatherings with other family members and friends in the coming weeks.

Each night, we read a chapter or two in the Bible, and right now, we’re following an Advent plan that had us reading Matthew 5 last night. When I got to verses 21-30, the Lord convicted me. I needed to forgive her, period. I needed to forgive her, even if … period. I needed to forgive her. GRACE. Show GRACE to her. Just like God did and does for us. 

As I thought about all of that, I found something curious. Years ago, someone hurt me deeply. I sought counsel with our pastor, and he asked if I thought it would ever be possible to forgive that person. Without one millisecond of hesitation, I said, “Of course. What right do I have not to forgive someone when God gave Jesus so that I can be forgiven?” And I forgave that person instantly.

Fast forward to this event, and I found offering forgiveness was harder, and I don’t know why. So I’ve asked Him to help me. Help me to forgive. Help me to love. Help me to show GRACE. Help me to see her through His eyes and His heart, not my own. 

And He has. I have forgiven her and have released the anger. The weight lifted from me was instant, and now I can go back to enjoying the holidays, rather than wallowing in the negativity.

The more I thought about it, the more I could easily ask and answer, “What right do I have not to forgive someone, when God has forgiven me time and again?” And as I reflect on this past year, which has been so incredibly amazing because of God's mighty presence and His extravagant grace - His gifts - in my life, why would I WANT to hold onto the anger? Let it go and get back living a life filled with the joy I’ve experienced all year long. (My last post, Hitting a Milestone, shares my journey this year.)

I asked Tim to forgive me for all the ranting and raving and He has. I asked God to forgive me for my entire reaction, and because He is faithful, He has.

2024 promises to be an interesting year. Hopefully, I’ll learn His GRACE lessons early. He already has at least one book planned for me to read, by one of my favorite authors: Graceful Influence by Lori Roeleveld releases in March! (You can pre-order now.)








Saturday, November 11, 2023

Hitting a Milestone


As 2022 ended, I had plans. Nothing extravagant, but perhaps a couple of adventures and a fall conference to prepare for and attend. But I quickly learned that God had other plans, and I’d rather be in His plans than anywhere else.

I’ve not publicly shared this story for family reasons, but with this week’s milestone, the roughest part is over so I’m now able to go public and offer my support, encouragement, and prayers for anyone else on a similar trek.

This new journey began 9 months ago. Armed with the full armor of God, a healthy dose of faith and hope, and surrounding myself with a small army of MIGHTY Prayer Warriors, I set out to do battle.

The first week of February this year, I performed the monthly shower breast exam like I’ve done since … forever, I think. As usual, nothing out of the ordinary, but a few days later, on February 10th, when I was changing clothes, I glanced in the mirror and noticed a golf-ball sized knot at the top of my left breast. It felt squishy – like the rest of me – but since cancer runs in our family, I took immediate action.

During the rest of February, I went through physical exams, mammograms, ultrasounds, and biopsies which revealed two masses, not just one. On February 24, I was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma, grade 3, stage 1, HER2+. Translated, that means I had an aggressive, fast-growing form of breast cancer in a very early stage. The original lump was cancer, the second lump was benign.

In late March, they performed a lumpectomy and lymph node biopsy, removing the cancerous tumor and lots of tissue around it, which thankfully revealed no more cancer cells – the cancer was contained within the single tumor and had not yet spread. During surgery, they also installed a Medi-port where the chemo and immunotherapy drugs are administered.

As a random side trip, I broke a tooth the week after surgery, so mid-April, I had oral surgery to remove it, and then spent a few weeks healing from both surgeries before they scheduled the cancer treatments.

In mid-May, I began the first of six chemotherapy treatments, administered every three weeks. After each treatment, I returned for seven weekdays of shots. Then, once that regimen was completed, I began 21 days of radiation on October 9 and this week, the milestone: I finished radiation.

I’ll still receive immunotherapy treatments through May via the Medi-port, but the drug is not as harsh as the chemo drugs or radiation, so the hardest part is over.

My heart overflows with gratitude for my family, friends, and the mighty Prayer Warriors who supported and encouraged us and who were so faithful in their prayers for us. My daughter-in-law Jess helped navigate the overload of information and schedules when there was hardly time to breathe, and was by my side for several doc visits and treatments.

All the doctors, nurses, and pros have told me how well I’ve done, but I can’t take any of the credit. I’m a big, rebellious wimp when it comes to all things medical. But GOD never left me. He carried me through all of this without one ounce of fear – seriously. He provided for my every need every step of the way – seriously. He gave me strength. He calmed my innards as the meds kicked in. He kept my mind sound. (I heard that snicker.) He kept my car and tires in good shape the entire time, even with the crazy commute.

God deserves and gets all the credit. I feel like a walking miracle and I’m grateful, awed, and humbled because of all HE did for me. 

For those who’ve asked, YES, there are books forthcoming. In the first month, I thought one of the books might be a journal, but after my first chemo treatment, I changed formats because there are already so many journals and memoirs. (Writing is a tremendous tool for processing difficult situations.) I knew I wanted this book to be different, so I changed my focus and format to better serve readers and I’m very excited about offering this resource. I’ll provide more details in the coming weeks, but for now, I’m back to work for a couple of weeks, then I’ll take a much-needed month-long break to breathe and to spend time with family. 

We'll see what the Lord has planned for next year. 


Tuesday, October 25, 2022

Why I Write the Yucky Stuff


Last week, I shared a blog post, When Holidays and Birthdays are Difficult, that had some folks questioning why I write about such things. Some people prefer happy, cheerful, surface-level posts. Some seem to think I want the drama that posts like this may cause, which could not be further from the truth. To help readers understand why I write the yucky stuff, I thought I’d offer a little explanation.


I write about seasons of pain because there are many others who are in – or who have experienced – similar seasons, and some of those people are seeking hope. They are seeking someone who understands. Someone who will not judge, will not condemn. Those people need to know they are not alone. They may also need Jesus, so perhaps God will give me the privilege of helping point them toward HIM.


In her recent book, Colorful Connections: 12 Questions About Race that Open Healthy Conversations, author Lori Roeleveld wrote this powerful statement:

“Shame is a silencer.”

Let that sink in. When I read Lori’s words, they lit up like a neon sign on a dark, stormy night. I stopped and read that sentence again and again, finally understanding so many years of my own silence. How many times had I been silent when I should have spoken out?

I’ve been silent through a dysfunctional childhood. Silent through divorce, even after I was told divorced women belonged in the basement. I remained silent when I was told women should not speak in church. I’ve been silent since my younger son raised one hand in worship during a song in church, and the pastor pulled me aside afterward to tell me my son was not welcomed there. I’ve been silent ever since. Silent through pain and heartache that some mothers face every day with mentally ill children. Silent through extreme hardship. Silent in the valleys and even silent on the mountaintops, because after so many valleys, we know the mountaintops are only momentary.

I’ve been silent for too long, haven’t I? During my silence, I have learned one important truth: it’s always easier to write on someone else’s behalf than it is my own. God instructs us through His word to speak up, too, so how can we remain silent when we see wrong?


Learn to do good;

Seek justice,

Rebuke the oppressor,

Obtain justice for the orphan,

Plead for the widow’s case.

(Isaiah 1:17 NASB)


As we grow and mature, we learn (hopefully) how to bridle our pens, controlling when and where to write, not just lashing out in our pain or anger. We strive to write life-giving words, rather than words that do harm, because we know how this Story ends.


If words I write can offer comfort or hope or inspiration to one person – one weary, struggling soul – or point them to Jesus when they’re so thirsty for His Living Water – then any momentary discomfort, worry, embarrassment, or concern I may have about sharing my journey is worth it all.



Friday, October 21, 2022

When Holidays and Birthdays are Difficult

As the holiday season approaches, we decorate, we plan, we remember. We have expectations that these special times will be filled with love, laughter, joy and excitement. But unfortunately, holidays are often bittersweet or painful for some, because we’ve lost loved ones, or because money is tight, or because distance separates us from those we cherish, or a terminal illness hovers, or a plethora of other reasons.


This week, my mind has been on one of those other reasons, so I am summoning the courage to write for anyone else who finds themselves in similar circumstances. If you are one whose holidays and birthdays are sometimes difficult, please know you are not alone.


Last week, in a group setting, one of my friends brought up the topic of what she called “the unmentionables” and that phrase fits the relationship I have with my younger son.


Yesterday was his birthday, and while I longed to post happy birthday wishes to him on social media so everyone could celebrate him with me, I didn’t.


Why?


Because he’s in jail. Again.


He could be considered an unmentionable child, because when he does become the topic of conversation, I always feel the need to explain or clarify or even … hold my head in shame, embarrassment, failure.


I have two children – two sons. I love them both with every fiber of my being.


Referring to my younger son, some have asked how I can love someone who causes so much pain and destruction.


My sons are polar opposites in most ways and most of their lives have been a battle, either with each other, or between all three of us.


Older son and I have both wrestled with all the thoughts that plague us, wondering how we “went wrong” in our roles as mom or brother, what we could/should/would have done differently. I’ve accepted 100% of the blame for too many years – blame from myself, from extended family, from friends, from younger son himself, who, as of yet, accepts no responsibility for his own wrongdoings.


One day recently, I finally accepted the fact that I am NOT 100% to blame. None of us are. Some of us played a role in making my son who he is today, but ultimately, his mental illness, his drug and alcohol abuse, and his own choices made as an adult play a role, too.


Holidays are difficult for us as a family. Too many have resulted in extreme episodes that left many of us frustrated, hurt, angry; he’s been homeless or in jail on many others. Holidays and birthdays are trigger points for him, so whenever one rolls around, we’ve come to expect meltdowns, anger, destruction.


How do you wish a sincere “happy birthday” to anyone when they’re sitting in a jail cell, angry at you, angry at the world? You don’t. You can’t. But the Lord gave me a Bible verse night before last to send my son with a note that said, “you are not forgotten today, or any day.” He responded with a thank you and an I love you, so I was able to say I love you, too, without it blowing up in my face. For the day.


Was it the best birthday? No. Was it the worst? Far from it, so we’ll call it good. Today, that’s enough.


Last night as I was going through the mail, I found a “happy anniversary” card from Prison Fellowship. We’ve supported their ministry for years, so the card was thanking us for “supporting restoration.” The timing was not lost on me – to receive the card on my son’s birthday, to open it after our text exchange. The note on the back of the card said, “Remember those in prison.” Some of us can’t forget.


Jesus said,

“I was hungry, and you gave me food. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was alone and away from home, and you invited me into your house. I was without clothes, and you gave me something to wear. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’


“Then the good people will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and give you food, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you alone and away from home and invite you into our house? When did we see you without clothes and give you something to wear? When did we see you sick or in prison and care for you?’

“Then the King will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, anything you did for even the least of my people here, you also did for me.’” (Matthew 25:35-40 NCV)

This holiday season, remember the homeless, remember those in poverty, remember those in prison.

* I learned about Prison Fellowship years ago after reading founder Chuck Colson's memoir, Born Again.



One of their programs is the Angel Tree. Prison Fellowship Angel Tree™ equips churches to strengthen relationships between incarcerated parents and their children and support the families of prisoners year-round.

Tuesday, October 4, 2022

Our Newest Release: Pickle in My Pocket

My husband Tim and I are excited to announce the release of our new children's book, Pickle in My Pocket. The book is available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Book Depository, and most major booksellers by request. 



When Tim and I first met, I learned that he loved to tell stories. Many of his stories were from his childhood and time spent with his first cousins. Pickle in My Pocket is a fictionalized version of his "fave-rite" story.





About the Book:


Come join Poppa Tim as he shares one of his favorite stories, Pickle in My Pocket.


"Ewww!"


He heard that!


This hilarious children's picture book features Poppa Tim as the narrator of a story from his childhood, with a life lesson about patience.


Pickle in My Pocket includes a short list of conversations starters for parents to communicate with their children.


We hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed creating this book. 

I talked Tim into a video to help us market the book too! Check out his dance moves!





Monday, October 3, 2022

Hope in the Midst of Pain

This weekend, a loved one’s niece and nephew (both teens) lost their father to a massive heart attack. 


During the month of September, other fathers and mothers (many fathers and mothers) were incarcerated, separating them from their children for indefinite periods of time, changing those families’ lives forever, too.

During the past week, people received terminal medical diagnoses, dealt with crushing financial hardships and struggled to pay – or couldn’t pay – for the bare necessities of life, senior adults have been forced to leave their homes because they could no longer afford mortgage or rent, and thousands have lost everything to a hurricane named Ian.


So much pain. So much loss. So much heartache. So much uncertainty. All in such a short period of time.


Yet the harder life gets, the more my faith strengthens and the more my hope grows. The harder life gets, the more I want to give people the same Hope that I cling to hourly.


My Hope is Jesus Christ, and that Hope is recorded in the Holy Bible. When life gets hard, and harder still, I pour through my Bible looking for God’s words to comfort me, sustain me, encourage me, inspire me, challenge me, hold me, guide me. I cling to His promises and long for His eternity.


  • My hope is from Him. (Psalm 62:5)


  • Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)


  • Jesus said, “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way where I am going.” (John 14:1-4)


  • The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit. (Psalm 34:18)


  • Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)


  • For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (Romans 8:18)


  • Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2-4)


  • Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. (Hebrews 9:27-28)


  • He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away. (Revelation 21:4)


  • He is our Hope today, in the midst of our trials, and He is our Hope for tomorrow, when there will no longer be any more pain and suffering. That day when we can spend forever with Him.


I long for that day, don’t you?







Friday, September 2, 2022

One of My Stories in New Release | I Chose You: Imperfectly Perfect Rescue Dogs and their Humans

I'm excited and honored to have one of my stories included in this new anthology.

I Chose You, Imperfectly Perfectly Rescue Dogs and Their Humans is a must-read collection of honest, humorous, and heartwarming stories about rescue dogs who found their forever homes. I Chose You reminds us to be grateful for second chances and that the right dog, at the right time, changes everything for the better.


“I’m so thrilled to discover this beautiful collection of stories featuring these imperfectly perfect rescue pups. I Chose You has won my heart!”

— Janice Thompson, author of Paws for Reflection: 50 Devotions for Dog Moms


“Great read! Nothing in life is perfect except unconditional love. I Chose You captures that choice!”

— Adrian Palmer Board of Directors Medical Advisor Australian Shepherds Furever Rescue


“The best prescription I can write for trauma survivors, veterans with PTSD, and others with mental health issues, is the healing power of dogs. I Chose You is the perfect gift for yourself or a dog lover and a wonderful reminder of the unbreakable bond between canines and their people.”

—Angela Miller, Licensed Professional Therapist


Available on Amazon.


 

Wednesday, August 24, 2022

Confession: I Lost My Focus

Have you ever lost focus? Ever chased a rabbit trail, only to come back to your starting point so you can start again?


That was my summer this year. I chased art. 


Now, as September approaches, I find myself back where I started, re-energized and refocused, ready to dig in once more. 


I have revamped this website with more focus on books and writing. I'm still creating and selling art (and greeting cards are coming soon!) 


My focus is once again on writing, screenwriting, and publishing. Summer vacation - or after-midlife crisis - is over. Two of my own books, and an anthology with one of my stories included will release this fall. Screenplays are in motion, too, after quarter-finaling in a contest this summer.


So how did I refocus? First, I prayed and told God I needed help, because I was floundering. I told Him I thought I needed a coach. Two weeks after that prayer, author Lori Roeleveld announced some group workshops she was offering online, and I knew He'd answered my prayers. I signed up, and the first week just kicked me in gear. Tomorrow is our second session, and I can already say that this workshop has been life-changing. If you're looking for a coach, I highly recommend Lori Roeleveld's Take Heart! Coaching - she offers many writing, speaking, and life coach options on her coaching page.


I'm back to blogging once a week or so. Hope you'll join in the conversation. 


Have you ever lost focus? Did you get it back? Or move onto something else?


 

Thursday, March 26, 2020

Writing Spaces: Karen Hulene Bartell

Let's take a peek at the writing spaces of romance writer Karen Hurlene Bartell!

In Tuesday’s post, I blogged about A Day in the Life of Karen, illustrating my <ahem> “methodical” approach to writing, while dealing with rescued cats and dogs, who share my space ;)

Today, I’d like to show you that space—the cat-scratched, French-Provincial desk I hand-finished twenty-plus years ago, along with my desk mates, the “twins” (Marmalade and Habibi—Beloved in Arabic), the longhaired cat (Hui Gui, Chinese for Gray Ghost because we found him on Pentecost), and the catahoula leopard dog (Tory, short for Toreador because his brindle markings make him look like he’s wearing skin-tight toreador pants—and leopard because of his coat’s spots).

I call the cats and the catahoula leopard dog my “mews” because, despite their interruptions, they stimulate my creativity. Most of my novels include dogs, cats, or horses, and my critters are the models for their literary counterparts. Marmalade was the prototype for the empathetic cat in The Keys: Voice of the Turtle. Tory was the inspiration for the catahoula puppy in Wild Rose Pass. I based Holy Water: Rule of Capture on rescued wild horses from my past.

For years, I rescued and rehomed mustangs. Though horses no longer graze in the pasture, equine artwork surrounds me. From my desk, I see nine painted, cross-stitched, wood-worked, embroidered, or sculpted metal horses on my office walls. I no longer clean hooves, but I do dust horsey art.

Only a warning sign tilted against my bookcase remains from the days I gentled wild horses—UNDER TEXAS LAW (CHAPTER 87, CIVIL  PRACTICE AND REMEDIES CODE), A FARM ANIMAL PROFESSIONAL IS NOT LIABLE FOR AN INJURY TO OR THE DEATH OF A PARTICIPANT IN FARM ANIMAL ACTIVITIES. (Still have to chuckle when people walk into my office for the first time, see the sign, and do a double-take.)

Besides my critters, what else surrounds me? BOOKS! Four crowded bookcases flank the corners of my office, holding mostly nonfiction books for research or a sampling of the books I’ve written over the years. (I loan or donate any fiction I purchase.)

So I ask you, gentle reader. What better items to surround any author than books and critters? Okay, coffee—definitely, a cup of steaming coffee!


Wild Rose Pass by Karen Hulene Bartell

Blurb: 

Cadence McShane, free-spirited nonconformist, yearns to escape the rigid code, clothes, and sidesaddles of 1880s military society in Fort Davis, Texas. She finds the daring new lieutenant exhilarating, but as the daughter of the commanding officer, she is expected to keep with family tradition and marry West Point graduate James West.

Orphaned, Comanche-raised, and always the outsider looking in, Ben Williams yearns to belong. Cadence embodies everything he craves, but as a battlefield-commissioned officer with the Buffalo Soldiers instead of a West Point graduate, he is neither accepted into military society nor considered marriageable.

Can two people of different worlds, drawn together by conflicting needs, flout society and forge a life together on the frontier?

Excerpt:

Reining his horse between catclaw and prickly-pear cactus, Ben Williams squinted at the late summer sun’s low angle. Though still midafternoon, shadows lengthened in the mountains. He clicked his tongue, urging his mare up the incline. “Show a little enthusiasm, Althea. If we’re not in Fort Davis by sunset, we’ll be bedding down with scorpions and rattlesnakes.”

As his detachment’s horses clambered up Wild Rose Pass, the only gap through west Texas’ rugged Davis Mountains, Ben kept alert for loose rocks or hidden roots, anything that might trip his mount. A thick layer of fallen leaves created a pastiche of color shrouding the trail from view. He glanced up at the lithe cottonwood trees lining the route, their limbs dancing in the breeze. More amber and persimmon leaves loosened, fell, and settled near the Indian pictographs on their tree trunks. When he saw the red- and yellow-ochre drawings, he smiled, recalling the canyon’s name—Painted Comanche Camp.

“How far to Fort Davis, lieutenant?” called McCurry, one of his recruits.

“Three hours.” If we keep a steady pace.

Without warning, the soldier’s horse whinnied. Spooking, it reared on its hind legs, threw its rider, and galloped off.

As he sat up, the man groaned, caught his breath, and stared into the eyes of a coiled rattler, poised to strike. “What the…?”

Flicking its tongue, hissing, tail rattling, the pit viper was inches from the man’s face.

A sheen of sweat appeared above the man’s lip. “Lieutenant—”


Buy Links:

Wild Rose Pass (Trans-Pecos) on Kindle
Wild Rose Pass (Trans-Pecos) in Paperback

Barnes & Noble NOOK Book
Barnes & Noble Paperback


About the Author:

Author of the Trans-Pecos, Sacred Emblem, Sacred Journey, and Sacred Messenger series, Karen is a best-selling author, motivational keynote speaker, wife, and all-around pilgrim of life. She writes multicultural, offbeat love stories that lift the spirit. Born to rolling-stone parents who moved annually, Bartell found her earliest playmates as fictional friends in books. Paperbacks became her portable pals. Ghost stories kept her up at night—reading feverishly. The paranormal was her passion. Westerns spurred her to write (pun intended). Wanderlust inherent, Karen enjoyed traveling, although loathed changing schools. Novels offered an imaginative escape. An only child, she began writing her first novel at the age of nine, learning the joy of creating her own happy endings. Professor emeritus of the University of Texas at Austin, Karen resides in the Hill Country with her husband Peter and her “mews”—three rescued cats and a rescued *Cat*ahoula Leopard dog.

Connect with Karen: 

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Amazon Author Page
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Tuesday, March 24, 2020

A Day in the Life of Karen

Today, we get a glimpse into the furry life of romance writer Karen Hulene Bartell. On Thursday, we'll get a glimpse of her writing space, too!


Thanks so much for hosting me on your blog. It’s a pleasure to be here!

DAY IN THE LIFE OF KAREN and WILD ROSE PASS
by Karen Hulene Bartell

Welcome to my world—not normal by most standards—but my life as it is ;)

An oversized cup of steaming coffee beside me, I sit at the cat-scratched, French-Provincial desk that I hand-finished twenty-plus years ago. As I focus on my work-in-progress, I re-read—aka edit—yesterday’s words, so the process leads my imagination back into the story.

One of the twin tiger cats (litter siblings) climbs on my lap, interfering with the pull-out keyboard, while the other twin hisses at the longhaired cat in a territorial dispute over which lounges closest to me on the desk.

Our catahoula leopard dog lazes on his bed nearby until I accidentally rustle a paper. Then he pounces on my lap to “retrieve” it, pawing the lap cat and causing the desk cats to hiss in protest. I order the dog down, quiet the cats, position the keyboard, so my arms can reach it, and again try to find where I left off in my WOP.

Three sentences later, Facebook dings. I toggle to my page and respond. Then I remember I haven’t posted any marketing blurbs this morning. I cobble together the cover jpg and another photo, along with a slightly reworded message.

Ooops—I haven’t tweeted, either. So I pick out the day’s best hashtags, add the blurb and photos, and post the link on the WRP promo group’s page. Then I retweet the other authors’ tweets. That reminds me to repost my Facebook post to several groups.

Ten minutes later, I toggle back to my WOP, edit four sentences, and the dog whines. He has to go out. “You were just out a half hour ago. You can hold it.” I concentrate on the WOP, refusing to meet his stare.

He rests a paw on my shoulder, looks at me with his expressive brown eyes, and sneezes—a sure sign he really does have to go. I scoot the cat off my lap, who takes out his frustration on the other cats. I break up the spat, put on my coat, fix the dog’s collar and leash, and take him outside. He finds an acorn, sniffs deer poop, and rolls in the grass but shows no interest in going potty.

Ten minutes later, I re-read the same paragraph of my WOP for the seventh time, when the phone rings, disturbing the cat that’s climbing onto my lap. Caller ID displays Telemarketer, so I block the caller, sip the coffee, discover it’s cold, put the cat down, and go into the kitchen to reheat my coffee.

Ten minutes later, I focus on my WOP, re-reading the same paragraph for the eighth time, when…


Wild Rose Pass by Karen Hulene Bartell

Blurb: 

Cadence McShane, free-spirited nonconformist, yearns to escape the rigid code, clothes, and sidesaddles of 1880s military society in Fort Davis, Texas. She finds the daring new lieutenant exhilarating, but as the daughter of the commanding officer, she is expected to keep with family tradition and marry West Point graduate James West.

Orphaned, Comanche-raised, and always the outsider looking in, Ben Williams yearns to belong. Cadence embodies everything he craves, but as a battlefield-commissioned officer with the Buffalo Soldiers instead of a West Point graduate, he is neither accepted into military society nor considered marriageable.

Can two people of different worlds, drawn together by conflicting needs, flout society and forge a life together on the frontier?

Excerpt:

Reining his horse between catclaw and prickly-pear cactus, Ben Williams squinted at the late summer sun’s low angle. Though still midafternoon, shadows lengthened in the mountains. He clicked his tongue, urging his mare up the incline. “Show a little enthusiasm, Althea. If we’re not in Fort Davis by sunset, we’ll be bedding down with scorpions and rattlesnakes.”

As his detachment’s horses clambered up Wild Rose Pass, the only gap through west Texas’ rugged Davis Mountains, Ben kept alert for loose rocks or hidden roots, anything that might trip his mount. A thick layer of fallen leaves created a pastiche of color shrouding the trail from view. He glanced up at the lithe cottonwood trees lining the route, their limbs dancing in the breeze. More amber and persimmon leaves loosened, fell, and settled near the Indian pictographs on their tree trunks. When he saw the red- and yellow-ochre drawings, he smiled, recalling the canyon’s name—Painted Comanche Camp.

“How far to Fort Davis, lieutenant?” called McCurry, one of his recruits.

“Three hours.” If we keep a steady pace.

Without warning, the soldier’s horse whinnied. Spooking, it reared on its hind legs, threw its rider, and galloped off.

As he sat up, the man groaned, caught his breath, and stared into the eyes of a coiled rattler, poised to strike. “What the…?”

Flicking its tongue, hissing, tail rattling, the pit viper was inches from the man’s face.

A sheen of sweat appeared above the man’s lip. “Lieutenant—”


Buy Links:

Wild Rose Pass (Trans-Pecos) on Kindle
Wild Rose Pass (Trans-Pecos) in Paperback

Barnes & Noble NOOK Book
Barnes & Noble Paperback


About the Author:

Author of the Trans-Pecos, Sacred Emblem, Sacred Journey, and Sacred Messenger series, Karen is a best-selling author, motivational keynote speaker, wife, and all-around pilgrim of life. She writes multicultural, offbeat love stories that lift the spirit. Born to rolling-stone parents who moved annually, Bartell found her earliest playmates as fictional friends in books. Paperbacks became her portable pals. Ghost stories kept her up at night—reading feverishly. The paranormal was her passion. Westerns spurred her to write (pun intended). Wanderlust inherent, Karen enjoyed traveling, although loathed changing schools. Novels offered an imaginative escape. An only child, she began writing her first novel at the age of nine, learning the joy of creating her own happy endings. Professor emeritus of the University of Texas at Austin, Karen resides in the Hill Country with her husband Peter and her “mews”—three rescued cats and a rescued *Cat*ahoula Leopard dog.

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Wednesday, March 18, 2020

Activities for Sheltering in Place

We've entered a new stage of life for all of us worldwide this week. The coronavirus (COVID-19), which I will abbreviate as CV, has impacted us all, and we're just in the beginning stages of dealing with it here in the United States.

I've always seen our country as being strong and resilient, but right now, the world is watching and we're whining about having to stay home with our kids.

When did "home" become a bad place to be? Why aren't our homes our sanctuaries and safe places? [And yes, I'm well aware that there are homes out there that aren't so safe or happy, but this blog post isn't directed to those.]

As I've watched this story unfold, I've seen countless memes and posts about things to do while we're "stuck at home." I've seen things like cleaning, organizing, binging on Netflix or family movies, homeschool, and as of last night, even putting out Christmas decorations. While none of these activities are bad, I'd like to recommend some other activities to make the most of this time.

The CV is not going away overnight. This outbreak, and the lingering effects of the outbreak, are not like a southern snow storm where we stay inside our houses for three days, build snowmen, go nuts for a time, watch as the snow and ice melt, and then head back to work and our normal lives. This is not the case with CV.

Now is the time to think LONG TERM about what this causes and how it will impact our daily lives, our daily well-being. Recovery will take time - recovery of illness, recovery of lost jobs and/or lost wages, recovery from loss - loss of people, loss of experiences, loss of milestones, loss of opportunities, loss of time. Depression will likely set in like never before.

But we can get a headstart on dealing with these eventualities by taking action now. Here are some ideas you can start doing right now:

1) Plant a garden.

I ordered these heirloom vegetable seeds this week, concerned that prices might rise if I waited too long. Another pack had risen dramatically, so it made sense to order now. And with the arrival of spring, it's time to get ready. I'll be a little late in starting seeds, but at this point, I can't worry about that. I just have to start now.

With heirloom seeds, you can save seeds from the produce or plants, and use them for next year's garden.

You don't need a farm or large acreage to grow food. One of my favorite books on this subject, and a go-to book for millions, is the The Backyard Homestead: How to Produce All the Food You Need on a Quarter Acre. But if you live in the city, or don't have access to land, you can still grow food in containers. There are several helpful books for this, even on Kindle, including: The Vegetable Container Gardening Guide: How to Grow Food in a Container Garden, and How to Grow Potatoes: Planting and Harvesting Organic Food from Your Patio, Rooftop, Balcony, or Backyard Garden. Lots of others, but this will be a good start.

Learning how to garden makes a great family project - even in the research and planning. Get your family involved and let family members pick some of the produce.  This will help them take ownership in the success of your garden.

I also got some gardening soil. We're currently at my sister's and mom's house, and they have a fenced backyard that we may end up utilizing, but for now, we're going to grow as much as we can in a raised bed garden and in flower pots of all shapes and sizes, and a few 5-gallon buckets for potatoes and tomatoes.

I'm honestly not sure if we have enough, but it's better than nothing.

As your garden grows, learn about canning and freezing and preserving the food.

2) What about Protein? Have you ever considered raising chickens? I've thought about it for years, but I think I'm afraid of them. (My son laughs at my fear!) But I read someone's post yesterday and learned there's such a thing as "gentle, sweet" chickens, so I'm now exploring that. I just don't want to get in a chicken fight! Chickens provide eggs almost all year long, and reproduce so you can use some for meat and keep some for laying eggs. Both great sources of protein.

Do you own a rifle? Learning how to shoot it and how to kill wildlife for food would be beneficial. I love critters, so please don't attack me for suggesting this. But if you need to feed your family, this is something to consider. But please, please follow guidelines, seasons, and limits, because they were all put into place for a reason. And be sure you have a hunting license, too.

What about fishing? Do you own fishing tackle? (Fishing line and a hook is all you need, but a fishing rod and reel actually makes it a little easier and more fun.) I bought myself a Zebco 33 reel for my birthday a couple of years ago - Zebco 33 has always been my favorite reel, so when I needed a new one, I just replaced it. They also have a rod and reel combo with the platinum version, too.

Do you have enough property for a goat or two? They produce milk and can provide protein if you choose that route.

3) Learn how to do something you've never done before. We're cooks in our family, so asking these next two questions is odd for me, but do you know how to cook? Do your children know how to cook? And I don't mean cooking boxed or canned goods. I'm talking about real cooking. Maybe now is the time to learn how to bake bread, or make cinnamon rolls. Start with basics though - like scrambled eggs. Do you and your children know how to scramble eggs? boil eggs? poach eggs? fry eggs? (One of my favorite movie scenes is in Runaway Bride when Julie Roberts' character realizes she doesn't know which kind of egg is her favorite.) In recent years, I've taught myself how to make risotto that Gordon Ramsay might possibly praise (okay, maybe I'm dreaming, but it's really great!), I've learned how to bake artisan bread, and will be making my very sourdough starter for the first time this week.

What about candles? We made candles when we homeschooled, and it was fun and easy to do. We tried different methods with them, too, so we had variety.

One of my next projects is learning how to make soap. I've been exploring options - goat milk, donkey milk, coconut milk, essential oils - to find out what might work best for different things. I was gifted with some donkey milk soap, and my skin loves it. I could probably go broke buying all the fun soap making supplies, but I understand it can be made just as easily with only the basics. So I'm exploring what to do first.

Have you ever made your own laundry detergent or shampoo? I've made homemade laundry detergent before, but I need to explore that some more, because we weren't thrilled with the first batch. It didn't seem to get the clothes very clean, so I need to find a better recipe. But I have been making my own shampoo (from the Wellness Mama - great resource for lots of things!) for a couple of years, and still love it. The kind I make right now uses coconut milk but I am also considering using goat milk in the future.

What about woodcarving or leather crafting? Tim has started woodcarving the last couple of years and he loves it. My family gave him some woodcarving tools for Christmas and he's been working on replacing some kitchen knife handles for my sister.

Learn first aid. How to splint broken bones, stop blood from flowing, and so much more. These kinds of skills could come in handy.

Now is a great time to set up a new exercise routine. Go back to the basics - calisthenics like we did in school. Lift weights.

Journaling is also a good, and helpful, practice. Not only will you be recording history as it unfolds before us, but writing down everything going will help you remember later, and will help you process everything as it happens. (Shameless plug: I have several prayer journals and a Bible reading journal that might be of use. You'll find them on my Amazon author page.)

Don't forget art - oil, acrylic, or watercolor painting, sketching, photography, dancing, music, writing, pottery, sculpture. I'll do a separate post on that later, because this one is long enough, and the subject of art is massive.

There are so many sources available in books and online to learn about everything under the sun. YouTube can be your friend, and so can Kindle. Some libraries are offering whole collections of books online now. If you can't find something, ask me. I'd love to help you find something you want to learn about.

My whole point is - use this time wisely. Think of the coming months and how life could change for all of us. Everything I've mentioned above could be used to provide for your family in some way, either through sales, services, or bartering. Learning new skills provides you with skills others may not have. Teaching your kids skills will prepare them better for life.

My friend Gina wrote a comment on a Facebook post just as I was finishing up this article, and it summed everything up so well, I asked for permission to share. Gina wrote: "Great good will come at the end of this. Although it will not be easy. Many people will die. There will be years of hardship. But adversity is what the greatest generation was made from. At the end of this, manufacturing jobs will come back to our country. We will be growing our own food again. Parents will be raising their own kids because they can now. We will realize our own potential and self sufficiency . And hopefully, most importantly, we will come back to God. He desperately wants us to."

Indeed. Thanks, Gina.

Let's dig in and do this, and come out on the other side better than ever before.











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