Happy January, readers! I am now one month into my six-month social media sabbatical, and I will be completely honest – I’m loving it. It’s freeing to be away from the constant bustle of what to post, when to post, and if I’m posting enough to make true connections. I never thought social media had that much of an impact on my day-to-day, but now that I’m gone, I can see how much time I was truly spending. This is in no way to say, “Quick, abandon social media right now and never look back!” There is a lot of good that can be found there, too. It’s all about finding the right balance.
This month, I also started listening to a podcast called Writing Off Social for authors looking to connect with readers without using social media. I’m only a few episodes in, but am hearing some great advice. In turn, over the next six months, I would like to share some of my own “off social” discoveries. My experiences may not apply to everyone, but I hope they give you something to consider on your own reading and/or writing journey.
Off Social Discovery #1 – I love to read.
I love to read. For most of you, this may not (or rather should not) seem like a discovery. “You’re an author, Kelsey. Of course, you love to read.” Yes, that’s true. I have always enjoyed reading and I read a lot. But I didn’t realize that somewhere along the way, I lost the true joy of reading just for the sake of reading. Of getting lost in a story without thinking about how I would describe it in a post or what graphics to use. Of choosing anything off the shelf at any time without considering if I had a good balance of historical fiction that month. Sometimes you just feel like reading ten contemporaries or a bunch of dystopian in a row. Sometimes you just can’t take another WWII novel, even though all the popular books are set in 1944. Maybe you just want to read a slew of backlist books rather than anything new. And that’s ok. Read what you love and love what you read.
In a typical month, I do not finish at least 2-3 books, not because they’re poorly written, but because they don’t hold my interest. In the last month, however, I have finished and enjoyed every single book I’ve started, read more than my monthly average, and finished a range of genres (historical, dystopian, and contemporary). Will the trend continue? I suppose we’ll see.
How about you? Do you struggle to find stories that are truly engaging or have you found the perfect balance? I would love to hear your thoughts!
As a reminder, in lieu of social media posts, I have created an “Extra Edition” newsletter which includes special behind the scenes bonus content just for subscribers. Simply, complete the form at the link below to get all the inside info. The next edition releases on January 16.
Join the Journey – Get Bonus Content
Sparks Fly Upward Update
Yes, that is a Storm Trooper. No, my next book doesn’t suddenly involve the Galactic Empire. Like this photo, however, Sparks Fly Upward does take place in San Francisco, and I couldn’t resist including it. As a historical fiction author, I have few reasons to share my love of Star Wars, so thank you to John Moeses Bauan on Unsplash for making this mashup happen.
Drafting for Sparks Fly Upward is right on track. This month has seen the addition of more unexpected scenes (because why not?), the removal/combination of a couple others, and everything in this perfect disaster of a novel is (more or less) falling together nicely.
Across Oceans Now Available in Audio
Audiobook listeners, rejoice! In addition to paperback and eBook, Across Oceans (Over the Atlantic Book 1) is now available on Audible and iTunes. As someone who rarely listens to audiobooks, I expected my review of the production files to be long and painful. Imagine my surprise when I loved listening to all 11 hours. Holly James does a fantastic job with the narration, making the characters come to life. I laughed and cried and truly enjoyed every minute. Yes, I’m biased, but I think you will enjoy it, too.
Get your copy of Across Oceans.
If you would be interested in listening to a complementary audiobook in exchange for an honest review, please reply to this email. I have a limited number of Audible codes, first come, first served. Production for Book 2, Twisted River, will begin soon and be available for purchase by early May. Audiobook release dates for my other novels are TBD.
Note for my Christian Fiction readers: While Across Oceans is considered clean, it is not directly written as Christian fiction.
Behind the Design – All Now Mysterious
In October, I shared my cover design on Instagram for Jennifer Q. Hunt’s upcoming 1920s Christian historical, All Now Mysterious, which releases on January 26. This was one of my favorite designs so far as we were able to include so much of the story’s deep emotions. I had fun sneaking little pieces of the characters into the overall design. If you’ve read the first book, Through Thorny Ways, you may be able to spot them:
- Authentic 1920s stained glass window taken from one of the Vanderbilts’ houses (photo from The Metropolitan Museum of Art)
- Pilot Davis Rutledge’s plane (photo from Unsplash)
- Journalist Margaret Rose Woodhouse’s typewriter and Arilee Rutledge’s books (photos from Unsplash)
As with all of Jennifer’s books, I love this series. It’ll makes you think about life and faith a little differently. Historical Fiction Author, Heather Wood’s review perfectly sums up this series: “The stuff of legends. Ten stars. Everything Christian fiction should be.”
Releasing in January
Need another read? Here are the new releases I’m excited about:
- All Now Mysterious by Jennifer Q. Hunt – the second book in her 1920s Wisteria House series surrounding family secrets, the KKK, and the Scopes Monkey trial.
- Of Love and Treason by Jamie Ogle – a fictional account of St. Valentine, Christian persecution, and faith during the Roman empire
- A Season of Harvest by Lauraine Snelling – the fourth book in the Nielson family saga set along the 1800s westward trail
- The Seamstress of Acadia by Laura Frantz – 1750s historical romance set on Canada’s Acadian shore and Colonial America at the beginning of the French and Indian War
- Calling on the Matchmaker by Jody Hedlund – arranged marriage set during the 1849 St. Louis cholera epidemic
Want to know what I’m currently reading? Follow me on GoodReads.
Did you know reviews help both readers and authors? Even one sentence is enough, and every word greatly appreciated. Consider leaving a rating on Amazon, Goodreads, BookBub, and/or your favorite retailer!
Until next month, happy reading!
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam
Kelsey
Purchase signed copies of my books: kelseygietl.com
Due to variability in social media algorithms, the best way to receive this newsletter is through e-mail. If you were directed to this site via social media or a search engine, you can subscribe to updates by entering your e-mail on the Contact page. E-mail addresses are never sold or distributed. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Follow me on:
COPYRIGHT © KELSEY GIETL 2024
Purple Mask Publishing
2025 Zumbehl Rd, Ste. 33
St. Charles, MO 63303
