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Kara O’Neal is an award-winning author of over thirty historical romances.
Humor, family, love, and romance take center stage in her novels, and her characters have been touted as “real, complex, and down-to-earth”. Her books are available in print and ebook. When not writing, she’s a teacher, a mother to three talented children, and the wife of a man quite worthy of being called “hero”. Telling stories is her passion, and she does so with memorable characters and stories with all sorts of twists and turns guaranteed to keep you reading late into the night! |
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Kara's Favorite Part About Writing Books
While the happy endings, the frantic race of the hero to save his love, the courage of the heroine as she defeats her foe, and the sweet words and passionate kisses are beautiful and fill my heart to almost bursting, my favorite part of a book is the dedication. I love that part. I love reading them, and I love writing them. The dedications I have written are important to me, and usually mean something. Often, the story tells me to whom the book belongs.
And here are mine....
Saving Sarah -- For Mom and Dad…because y’all light up my life.
Welcome Home -- Kendra, my brave heroine...welcome home.
The Sheriff's Gift -- For Kristen…your might moves mountains.
The Cowboy's Charms -- For Catie…whose will outshines her beauty.
The Miller Brides -- For Eric…who manages three sisters quite well.
The Soldier's Love -- For Emmly Jane and Jenn Langston…true writers and authors. My books wouldn’t be possible without y’all. Thank you.
Love's Promise -- For my ladies who do lunch…and dessert, and wine, and cheese and fudge. Who have “Big Ideas” and create masterpieces out of ric rac. Who made me who I am…Trish, Susan, Mary Anne and Mom. And for my mom a second time…because “I was a hooker once.” will live forever.
Love's Redemption -- For Annie…Shakespeare wrote you best…though you are little, you are fierce. For my husband…my love, my life. You make Lonnie a hero worth writing.
The Editor's Kisses -- For my editors...Ms. Paulin, the first, who gave me courage. Ms. Bennett, the current, who makes me better and keeps me going. (And don’t you just love her name, my fellow Janeites?) And Ms. Green, who gives me confidence and loves Lonnie as I do.
The Ranger's Vow -- For Becky, Catie, Annie, Mary Kay, Jen, Alice, Kathleen, Stefani, Shannon, Leigh, Rebecca, Jean, Shelli, Mandy and Amanda…Your friendship means the world to me.
The Cowboy's Embrace -- For the first responders, the sandwich-makers, the drywall-hangers, the country-boy navigators, the laundry-doers, the all-night-prayers…those Harvey fighters…Be still and He will raise you up on eagle’s wings. And for Cecily and Crystal. Thank you for your support, your insight, and for being women who inspire future generations.
Destiny's Secrets -- For my boys who make mischief and hold the world on their shoulders…Mick, Eric, Scott, Mitch, Patrick, and Eddie, Frankie, Thomas, Barry, Gary, Brian, Ben, Marc and Scott. And for the 2017 Houston Astros…I wrote this book while I watched y’all earn history.
Mr. Pierce's Hero -- This one’s for Becky, my brave and steady and smart sister-friend.
The Christmas Bride -- For Bill, Tudy, Al and Sammy. I miss y'all.
Maggie's Song -- For Mandy…whose strength is quiet but fierce.
The Inventor's Heart -- This one is for Judy...the queen. And also to whomever decided that Mr. Darcy ought to walk across a field at dawn in a great coat. You sir, or madam, are a genius.
The Deputy's Damsel -- For Rachel, Jake and Noah...blessings from God.
An Unacceptable Wife -- For Leigh
The Cowboy's Bride -- For G.G., Grandma, Mom, Aunt Michelle, and Aunt Debby...Y'all are good cookers.
The Princess's Knight -- For Mary Kay...whose quiet strength upholds and inspires many.
Katie's Gamble -- For my dad.
Sunshine's Welcome -- For Charles and Janet...your support, care and belief in me has meant so much.
Felicity's Fortune -- For Rachel, Audrey, Emma, Kaitlyn and Abby. My baby girls.
Cora Lee's Wager -- For Audrey, Emma, Luke, and Annabelle...my godchildren. And for Addison, my honorary godchild. Y'all will always have a home.
Olivia's Treasure -- For Janice and Karen. Your support and suggestions are invaluable.
Joetta's Legacy -- For Sharen, Kristi, Farhat, Brittany, Jelise, Allison, and Baely...ladies who work miracles.
Evaline's Grit -- For Stephanie...my "grit and guts" friend.
Everleigh's Game -- This one's for Amanda. A toast to all her sass and rule-breaking ways.
Forever Home -- This book belongs to every Texas Country and Red Dirt writer, singer, or band. Thank you for the music. (Especially Roger Creager.)
Miss Green Eyes -- A salute to those who are good at small talk...and those who are masters at avoiding it.
The Rain Lily -- For Jean...whose laugh lights up the world.
Prickly Poppy -- For the "General" aunts and the etiquette enforcers...You try my patience, but y'all are still the dadgum best.
Sunflowers For Her -- For Marian...who always puts others first.
His Feisty Firewheel -- For Baely...four feet ten inches of pure feistiness!
The Rose Of Sharon -- For Momma.
While the happy endings, the frantic race of the hero to save his love, the courage of the heroine as she defeats her foe, and the sweet words and passionate kisses are beautiful and fill my heart to almost bursting, my favorite part of a book is the dedication. I love that part. I love reading them, and I love writing them. The dedications I have written are important to me, and usually mean something. Often, the story tells me to whom the book belongs.
And here are mine....
Saving Sarah -- For Mom and Dad…because y’all light up my life.
Welcome Home -- Kendra, my brave heroine...welcome home.
The Sheriff's Gift -- For Kristen…your might moves mountains.
The Cowboy's Charms -- For Catie…whose will outshines her beauty.
The Miller Brides -- For Eric…who manages three sisters quite well.
The Soldier's Love -- For Emmly Jane and Jenn Langston…true writers and authors. My books wouldn’t be possible without y’all. Thank you.
Love's Promise -- For my ladies who do lunch…and dessert, and wine, and cheese and fudge. Who have “Big Ideas” and create masterpieces out of ric rac. Who made me who I am…Trish, Susan, Mary Anne and Mom. And for my mom a second time…because “I was a hooker once.” will live forever.
Love's Redemption -- For Annie…Shakespeare wrote you best…though you are little, you are fierce. For my husband…my love, my life. You make Lonnie a hero worth writing.
The Editor's Kisses -- For my editors...Ms. Paulin, the first, who gave me courage. Ms. Bennett, the current, who makes me better and keeps me going. (And don’t you just love her name, my fellow Janeites?) And Ms. Green, who gives me confidence and loves Lonnie as I do.
The Ranger's Vow -- For Becky, Catie, Annie, Mary Kay, Jen, Alice, Kathleen, Stefani, Shannon, Leigh, Rebecca, Jean, Shelli, Mandy and Amanda…Your friendship means the world to me.
The Cowboy's Embrace -- For the first responders, the sandwich-makers, the drywall-hangers, the country-boy navigators, the laundry-doers, the all-night-prayers…those Harvey fighters…Be still and He will raise you up on eagle’s wings. And for Cecily and Crystal. Thank you for your support, your insight, and for being women who inspire future generations.
Destiny's Secrets -- For my boys who make mischief and hold the world on their shoulders…Mick, Eric, Scott, Mitch, Patrick, and Eddie, Frankie, Thomas, Barry, Gary, Brian, Ben, Marc and Scott. And for the 2017 Houston Astros…I wrote this book while I watched y’all earn history.
Mr. Pierce's Hero -- This one’s for Becky, my brave and steady and smart sister-friend.
The Christmas Bride -- For Bill, Tudy, Al and Sammy. I miss y'all.
Maggie's Song -- For Mandy…whose strength is quiet but fierce.
The Inventor's Heart -- This one is for Judy...the queen. And also to whomever decided that Mr. Darcy ought to walk across a field at dawn in a great coat. You sir, or madam, are a genius.
The Deputy's Damsel -- For Rachel, Jake and Noah...blessings from God.
An Unacceptable Wife -- For Leigh
The Cowboy's Bride -- For G.G., Grandma, Mom, Aunt Michelle, and Aunt Debby...Y'all are good cookers.
The Princess's Knight -- For Mary Kay...whose quiet strength upholds and inspires many.
Katie's Gamble -- For my dad.
Sunshine's Welcome -- For Charles and Janet...your support, care and belief in me has meant so much.
Felicity's Fortune -- For Rachel, Audrey, Emma, Kaitlyn and Abby. My baby girls.
Cora Lee's Wager -- For Audrey, Emma, Luke, and Annabelle...my godchildren. And for Addison, my honorary godchild. Y'all will always have a home.
Olivia's Treasure -- For Janice and Karen. Your support and suggestions are invaluable.
Joetta's Legacy -- For Sharen, Kristi, Farhat, Brittany, Jelise, Allison, and Baely...ladies who work miracles.
Evaline's Grit -- For Stephanie...my "grit and guts" friend.
Everleigh's Game -- This one's for Amanda. A toast to all her sass and rule-breaking ways.
Forever Home -- This book belongs to every Texas Country and Red Dirt writer, singer, or band. Thank you for the music. (Especially Roger Creager.)
Miss Green Eyes -- A salute to those who are good at small talk...and those who are masters at avoiding it.
The Rain Lily -- For Jean...whose laugh lights up the world.
Prickly Poppy -- For the "General" aunts and the etiquette enforcers...You try my patience, but y'all are still the dadgum best.
Sunflowers For Her -- For Marian...who always puts others first.
His Feisty Firewheel -- For Baely...four feet ten inches of pure feistiness!
The Rose Of Sharon -- For Momma.