E.E. Burke's Best of the West: American Indian Romance from Karen Kay

Seneca warrior White Thunder discovers a near-drowned beautiful white woman by The-Lake-That-Turns-to-Rapids. In the safety of a nearby cave, he revives her and cares for her, but she has no memory of past events—nor even her own name.

Gradually, Sarah’s memory returns, and she knows that another young woman, Marisa, whom she once traveled with, is in grave danger. Only Sarah holds the key to saving them from an evil man who holds the power of life and death over both women.

Honor-bound by his oath to his wife, Wild Mint, who was murdered fifteen years earlier, White Thunder is torn. How can he help Sarah when he must finish his sworn mission to find Wild Mint’s killer?

With the French and Indian War raging around them, White Thunder and Sarah fall in love against all odds—but will they survive to share the life they’ve hoped for together?

Here's an excerpt:
 
Her touch was as cold as a blizzard in the dead of winter. He reached out for her, but she giggled and moved out of his grasp.
   He followed her. “Wait for me,” he called, but she had the advantage of floating over the grasses and tree trunks.
   She stopped suddenly, allowing him to catch up to her. She gazed up at him and smiled, her round and pretty face mirroring her delight. Then she pointed to the plant that grew directly beneath her feet.
   He recognized that plant. It was one his grandmother had often collected. Its root was used for…
He awoke from his sleep suddenly. Where was he?
   Glancing around him, he realized he had never left the cave. It had been a dream, of course. Looking up, he took note of Little Autumn in the foreground, working over the fire, and he sighed.
   Ah, she was beautiful..
   She was stoking the flames of the blaze in an effort to cook something, which smelled very much like a stew. The aroma of it was intoxicating and rich with the scents of bone broth, wild spices and fresh herbs, and as he inhaled deeply, his stomach growled.
   Narrowing his gaze on her, he studied this woman more closely. Her beauty was, indeed, without comparison, and remembering all she had told him earlier, he found it singularly odd that, indentured servitude or not, she had never married.
    Her hair had escaped the knot she’d used to tie it back, and golden-blonde tendrils fell in loose ringlets around her face. Her dress was simple, a casual affair consisting of a tight-laced structure that made her waist look as if he might span it with his hands. Petticoats that were stiff and hooped on the side brought her a measure of dignity, though the front of her gown was dangerously low at her chest, beneath which her nipples played an enticing game of peek-a-boo with him.


Meet Karen 
Author of seventeen American Indian Historical Romances, KAREN KAY has been praised by reviewers and fans alike for bringing insights into the everyday life of the American Indian culture of the past. As Reviewer, Suzanne Tucker, once wrote, “Ms. Kay never fails to capture the pride, the passion and the spirit of the American Indian…  As in each and every one of her mesmerizing Indian stories, we’re moved beyond words.  We feel more, we understand better, we love deeper.  They are healing stories of hope, of tenderness, of forgiveness, of great beauty and awe.”

KAREN KAY, whose great-grandmother was a Choctaw Indian, is honored to be able to write about the American Indian culture.

“With the power of romance, I hope to bring about an awareness of the American Indian’s concept of honor, and what it meant to them to live as free men and free women.  There are some things that should never be forgotten.”

Website:  http://www.novels-by-KarenKay.com

Blog:  http://www.petticoatsandpistols.com

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/karenkay.author

email:  karenkay.author@earthlink.net

Let's get to know Karen better...

E.E.: What dreams have been realized as a result of your writing?

Karen: When I first started writing Native American Historical Romance, I didn't know that I had American Indian heritage.  As a result of writing what I was, one of my neighbors from down the street told me the story of my own heritage -- because her mother had been best friends with my Grandmothers on my Father's side.  Without writing and publishing what I was, I might never have known that...and it has been a blessing to me.

E.E.: What drew you to write in the genre(s) you do?

Karen: When my children were young -- really no more than babies -- my husband was often gone, but because he was interning, he wasn't making any money, and so the entire running of the household, including earning the money, doing the shopping, raising the children, fixing the meals, etc., etc., fell to me.  It was a tough time for me, and often I was in tears.  It was at this time that I started reading romance books.  They took me places, they became as precious to me as a dear friend, and mostly they helped me through this very tough time period in my life.  They always ended well and were never scary or graphic.  I fell in love with this genre.

And this memory of what drew me to romance has helped me, I think, in my own writing.  I've never forgotten this very important lesson:  We as Romance Authors bring joy and happiness to our readers.  At least it is my hope that I accomplish this with my writing.  It's what the genre of romance did for me, and so I'd like to pass that along to others.

E.E.: Do you write while listening to music?  If so, what do you listen to:

Karen" Well, I do and I don't.  LOL  When I am creatively writing, I listen to music.  When I'm editing, I seldom listen to music, mostly because my attention, when I'm editing my work, is sometimes distracted by the music.  This almost never is the case when I'm creatively writing.

Music soothes the soul, I think.  When I was young, I had to practice the piano and clarinet 1/2 hour a day, every day.  After I became a better piano player, I soon found myself making up stories to the music I was playing.  I still do this today, although it's no longer the music I'm playing that is the setting, it is music that I buy that provides the setting.

I listen to almost any genre of music.  The only thing I require is that the music inspires me.  The kinds of music I listen to most often is country, classical, opera -- like the music of Jeannette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy.  I seldom listen to pop when I'm writing, mostly because it simply doesn't inspire creativity for me.  Also, American Indian music, vocals often inspire me.

I'd love to hear what inspires you musically.  Music has always been a big part of my life, and I can't even imagine a world without music in it.  Can you?

E.E.: What does it mean to love someone?

Karen: I love this question.  Gee, what does it mean to love someone?  Well, I think -- if I were to define it for me -- it would have to be an intense feeling of admiration directed toward another person -- given without expecting anything back, and given freely.  It might also mean, wouldn't it, to allow that person to be who he is, not having to change him to suit yourself, and to grant him the right to become the best that he can be and to help him do that.

That's what I think it might be?  You might define it differently, and I would love to hear your thoughts on what it means to love someone.

Thank you so much, for having me here today, and for giving me the opportunity to share my thoughts with you.  I would so love to hear your thoughts on these same subjects.

I will give away one paperback copy of the book, SENECA SURRENDER and one e-book of SENECA SURRENDER.

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