Karen L. Haws's Storefront

This hit counter has been in place since August 20, 2008.  It only records unique visitors, not those who have revisited my webpage from the same computer more than once.  Thank you so much for visiting my website and adding to the count and for every return visit you make.  It makes me very happy to see the number of new readers finding my page grow. Enjoy downloading your free e-books, and have a wonderful day!  Love, Laurel

Ron Koslow's late 1980s television series, Beauty and the Beast, is my absolute favorite.  The high moral standards intrinsic in this classic series are a tribute to Mr. Koslow's lofty vision of life.  The strong male characters, in particular, are a stark contrast to the unflattering male caricatures being fed to the public in current sitcom entertainment.  Mr. Koslow's vision was much grander and sweeter than that.  I don't want his vision to die.  So I have added my efforts to those of many other fan-fiction writers before me in that pursuit.  I am firmly convinced that we who love this series are not just a "narrow cult-niche!"  It is my idealistic belief that TV series sequel books are wanted and needed.

It is essential that you watch all three seasons of Beauty and the Beast before reading my book.  Even if you saw them when they first aired twenty years ago, you really need to review and watch them again in order to fully understand and appreciate my book.  I never get tired of watching them, and I hope that you will enjoy seeing these characters come back to life with a new story line.

The questions from the series that my novel answers are:
1. Is Catherine Chandler (Beauty) really dead?
2. Where did Vincent (the Beast) really come from?
3. Can there be an happy ending to a modern day fairytale that starts out, “Once Upon a Time in the City of New York”?

Please buy all three seasons of Beauty and the Beast, and watch them first.  Then read my book, Love's Journey to Awakening.  The timeline and characters are very important to me, and I have been very careful with them.  I hope that you will enjoy reading my book as much as I enjoyed writing it.  

Thank you for visiting my site.  Laurel  

One of my youngest book fans was kind enough to take time out of her busy schedule to read my book in order to provide another opinion of my story.  She wishes to remain anonymous, but she forwarded the following charming book review and gave me permission to post it here for the benefit of other potential readers of Love's Journey to Awakening.  This is what she has to say:

    When I learned that a new novel was being published, continuing the story of Vincent and Catherine, I was excited, having just finished viewing the last episode of the third season of Beauty and the Beast and thinking to myself, “That’s it? They killed Catherine?!  That’s not the fairytale ending I was expecting!”

 I first started watching the 1980s TV show, Beauty and the Beast, just last year when I picked up the season one DVD on a whim.  I saw the cover, and being who I am, someone who absolutely loves the ancient story of "Beauty and the Beast," I was interested.  I was hooked before the end of the first episode!  The story is unique, and the characters are lovable.  (I mean, come on, what woman doesn’t melt every time Ron Perlman speaks?)
 
 Imagine my surprise when I looked on the Internet, interested in buying the second season, and I found out that this show I had never heard of before had a pretty huge fan base!   Unlike most of those fans, I don’t remember when the show first aired in 1987, because, well, I wasn’t born quite yet.  But that doesn’t change the fact that I now truly love the series too!

 I was thrilled when Karen Haws asked me if I would like to read her novel, Love’s Journey to Awakening, and write a book review for it from the perspective of a “new generation fan.”  And what I found, upon reading her book, was an exciting, romantic story which turned a tragedy back into a fairytale, complete with its “Happily Ever After!”

 You don’t have to be afraid of being left with any gaps; the story takes off right where the series ended, with Vincent and Dianna holding baby Jacob, and the story unfolds from there.  You’re given a seamless adventure that seems to continue straight out of the original series involving original characters whose personalities remain true as originally written by the creators.

 In Love’s Journey to Awakening, you’re given insight into all of those nagging questions left unanswered by the sudden end of the show, and the result is imaginative and entertaining.  Haws’ portrayal of the characters and their story is well written and engaging, and you can sit and imagine it as if it were being played out on the screen.  (Now wouldn’t that be nice?)

 The most important part of all is that this story is set and centered around everyone’s favorite couple, Vincent and Catherine.   From grieving to rejoicing, the romance between them is as sweet, magical, and poetic as ever.  Fans of the show finally get to see the way it should have ended, with the “Beast” finding his “Beauty” at last, and proving that love really does conquer all!

This is what Philip Ward, a very gallant British screen writer, posted in reply to the campaign of persecution carried out against me, which resulted in the discontinuation of the manufacturing of my novel in book form for worldwide distribution in bookstores. Philip has now read my book, and his review of it appears right below the free download link in the left column. 

To: BBTV members: 
 
I must admit that I have not read all of the postings regarding the BATB book Love's Journey to Awakening, which has been written and published by Karen Haws, mainly because the numerous posts are quite repetitive. Like the majority of you, I also have not had the chance yet to read the book and form my own opinion regarding the story, although I am being sent a free copy by the Author. This is just one of the numerous free copies that have been kindly donated to fandom so far by the Author. I note that one BBTV member, who has already been sent several free copies of the book, stated that she only read the character list and didn't even begin to read the story because of spelling errors in the character names!
 
It is obvious from what I have read in e-mails about this book that Karen Haws has spent a lot of time and effort writing her BATB story and it was done with love. From what I understand she has also paid her own money up-front to the Lulu self-publishing web-site to get this story published for the benefit of fandom. I realize the amount of effort and time involved in such a project as this, because I too spent a long time researching, writing and refining a script for a BATB television movie about 7 years ago, which as with Karen's book, would have given a happy ending to the original story. Sadly, despite his initial interest and assistance back in 2001 at the Nottingham BATB Convention, I never got any further response from Christopher Toyne after he was sent the finished script. But that's another story!
 
Regarding the postings about Karen's book, Karen did write to Ron Koslow regarding the copyright issues over this publication, and as far as I am aware she did not receive a reply from him. She has however granted all rights to him in the copyright citation in the published books. There are two words that have appeared repeatedly in the postings which in my opinion have stood out; they are "merchandise" and "profit," the main point apparently being that someone should not be allowed to make a profit from selling BATB merchandise. If there are objections now to Karen producing this book, which is BATB related merchandise, and possibly making a profit from any book sales, then why have so many artists, tee-shirt producers, fan-zine writers, etc. been permitted to produce and sell their items at conventions, as well as online, over the past twenty years presumably to make a profit from the sales thereof. And whilst on the subject, what about the numerous fans who sell their collectibles and memorabilia on the eBay auction web-site, some items selling for ridiculous amounts, so the fan can make a large profit? Why have I never heard of any action being taken against these people, in line with the apparent campaign of "harassment" which is currently being carried out by the BBTV fandom against Karen Haws?
 
There is obviously a very large fan base around the world, not just the several hundred people on the BBTV members list in the US. The release of all three seasons of BATB on DVD, and the soon to be released boxed set, shows that there is still a big demand for merchandise relating to this show. Fans have in the past purchased, and still can purchase, pirate copies of the show on VHS and DVD which have been produced and sold by fans and BATB fan clubs. This is most definitely in breach of any copyright laws relating to the show, as well as Federal and International laws. Fans are now able to purchase official copies of BATB on DVD, but in my opinion this is only putting a large profit back into the coffers of the Entertainment Production companies who cancelled your favourite show in the first place. Have there been any objections to any of this merchandise and profiteering, or any boycott organized to stop fans producing the illegal pirate copies or from buying the officially released DVDs? Not that I know! So why is there such a bitter campaign against a woman and fellow fan who has only tried to help the Beauty and the Beast show live on by writing and publishing her own personal idea for giving the show a happier ending!
 
I would think that the comments, ongoing action and bitterness shown towards a fellow member is almost certainly in breach of Yahoo guidelines and might also be in breach of some Federal or International laws relating to victimization and harassment. I am aware that the postings furor has caused a great deal of stress to Karen and as a result of your action she is no longer a member of the BBTV fan site. I would imagine that Yahoo would take a grim view of this should any complaint be made. I would imagine that this "person," as you have called her in your postings, who has been so badly treated by you in the World Above would be welcomed with open arms by Father, Vincent, et al if she entered the Tunnel World community to escape your persecution. I feel that you have all so badly let down the thoughts and ideals of the Tunnel World community by your recent actions against Karen Haws.
 
There you are, I have had my say about this subject, and now I am sure you will all start kicking up a fuss and attacking me because of my opinions. Hopefully though the subject will come to an immediate halt and the postings might get back to normality. By the way, Rosemarie, if you are not going to make use of the 6 free copies of the book which were so generously donated to you by Karen for your Renaissance Convention in New Jersey, then perhaps you could send them to me and I will make use of them at the Caves and Candles Beauty and the Beast Convention in England later this year.
 
Beast wishes,
 
 
Philip Ward

In spite of all of the adversities and the unpleasant behavior of some, writing my novel has been a very positive experience for me.  Here are 10 blessings I have derived from my decision to publish Love's Journey to Awakening:

1. Before the manufacturing of my book was discontinued, I was able to obtain copies for all of my family and close friends, including my children, my elderly parents, my in-laws, my former employees, my editor, and others.
2. My children are thrilled to have a book written by their mother and dedicated to their late father.  My parents are thrilled to have a book written by their daughter.  My editor is thrilled to have the book he helped to create.  Everyone else is also very thrilled with my book, and I am happy to have something very tangible and personal to leave with each of them.
3. All of my book friends all over the world, who encouraged me with loving support for months before I had even completed my book, also now have their copies of it.
4. As a result of the unexpected attack on my efforts, I was rescued by Sir Philip.  That is every woman’s little-girl fantasy.  When a girl is being rescued by an handsome knight-in-shining-armor, it is very difficult to regret the actions, whether foolish or justified, that made it necessary for her to be rescued.  (giggle)
5. Amy Hazzard, the coordinator for the BATB convention in England, tucked me under her protective wing and has been baring teeth daring anyone to bother me.
6. The above mentioned book friends have been e-mailing me and calling me, completely shocked and outraged over recent events, thanking me for publishing against the odds, and expressing gratitude for their books.  They are also promising support for any future literary efforts on my part.  In short, I have been carefully wrapped up in a warm protective bubble of love, and it is a wonderful place to be.
7. I have always been a maverick, a loner, very strange and very eccentric.  I am comfortable in isolation and silence, and that makes very little sense to most people.  Amy and Philip have been able to look beyond the strange eccentric who hides in obscurity and see the woman.  They have coaxed this little black sheep into their fold, and I am now comfortable there too.
8. I gleaned an inference from Philip's recent comments on my behalf.  It gave me great comfort to understand, from what he said, that no one group is the definitive authority on what Beauty and the Beast fans are looking for in sequel literature.  I was fine before his comments because of all of the positive reports I had received from my book friends all over the world in my fat e-mail folder.  However, it strengthened me to read his comments as one who had not even read my book yet.  This series has inspired a great deal of creative writing.  It has been fun to participate in that.
9. Another blessing I have derived from this experience was completely unexpected.  Thanks to the positive energy that has been pumped into me by Amy, Philip, and all of my book friends and family, my heart condition is better.  I can’t explain it, but I don’t feel as if I am right at death’s door any longer.  I haven’t had an episode of my heart slowing down until the room is spinning, so I’m wondering if it is finally going to stop beating, since this incident began.  That is truly a miracle.  Maybe I have another half century left in me after all.  My family on both sides lives to be 100, but I was sure I would never make it that far with the heart damage resulting from stress I have suffered over the last 30 plus years.  Thank you, Amy and Philip, for your swift intervention.  I had prayed very hard, as I was writing my book, that I would live long enough to complete it, and I was sure it would be the last thing I would be able to do for my family.  Thanks to you, I think my heart is going to keep beating for quite some time longer.
10.  Last, but not least, because of all of this loving attention, my mind is alive with new ideas.  Creativity and inspiration flourish in an atmosphere of love and acceptance, and I can feel that from this group.  I am overjoyed to be adopted into this family of Beauty and the Beast fans.