Happy April, readers! I hope you all had a joyous and blessed Easter! I purposely sent this on April 2, so you wouldn’t think I was spamming you with April Fool’s jokes. Ironically, our first order of business sounds like a joke, but isn’t.
Beware the Cicada Invasion
What I’m about to tell you isn’t book related, but it is history related. Between mid-May and late June of 2024, many Midwest and Southern U.S. states will experience not one cicada brood, but two at the exact same time. Which means that trillions of insects could be heading to an area near you. The last time this happened was in 1803 and it won’t happen again until 2245.
According to this map, my home state of Missouri is right in the epicenter of the invasion. If you’ve never seen a cicada, these insects are huge – 1-2 inches long with a wingspan of 3-4 inches – and are super loud. They release this buzzing screech that is hard to describe but super distinct (IYKYK). Honestly, I can pretty much tune them out now; I’m so used to it. The good news is that they aren’t dangerous to people, pets, or animals. They don’t bite or sting. They just fly around, make a lot of noise, and leave their dead husks everywhere.
Thank you to my husband for sending this warning. Because of him, we have ample time to board up the windows and stockpile the dry goods.
Off Social Discovery #4 – I’m not trapped.
Did you know that the average person spends two hours on social media every day? If you’re using social media for business purposes, that amount likely increases as you need to add time for planning and creating posts and interacting more purposefully with your customers. You also need to account time for manipulating the ever changing algorithm which means adjusting your approach to post creation whether you want to or not.
For the last year, most of the time, I dreaded having to make social media posts. I’ve never particularly cared for marketing, but I truly started to dread it. As a result, I didn’t want to write my newsletter either. Everything promotional just turned kind of sour. I was trapped in a place I didn’t want to be, but couldn’t get out of. The funny thing is that I didn’t even realize how trapped I felt until I left and suddenly, I wasn’t trapped anymore.
Here’s what else I’ve discovered: When it comes to book marketing, I don’t have to do any one thing, but I can do anything. By realizing there is nothing I have to do to market my books (aka social media), I discovered all the things I can choose to do. It allows me to sit down, truly recognize my strengths and weaknesses, and find new ways to be creative. It’s like a blast of refreshing air in a stagnant room. For example, I know podcasts probably aren’t for me, but I love interacting with readers at in person events. I don’t care for writing non-fiction books, but I still love sharing advice with other authors and readers. There is a world full of open possibilities and I’m excited to see where God takes me next.
Are you feeling trapped by social media, either personally and/or professionally? Is there at least one small way you can change your social media presence to allow yourself more freedom?
As a reminder, in lieu of social media posts, I have created an “Extra Edition” newsletter which includes special behind the scenes book content just for subscribers. Simply, complete the form at the link below to receive all the inside info. The next edition releases on April 15. If you’ve signed up in the past, you’re already on the list!
Join the Journey – Get Bonus Content
Sparks Fly Upward Out With Beta Readers
Sparks Fly Upward is officially out for review with my awesome beta reader team. These readers perform the last stage of editing before I do my own final edit. They review the book primarily for plot and character continuity, proofreading, and anything else that just doesn’t make sense. They’re a rock star team and I’m so grateful to have them.
Here’s what one of my beta readers had to say: “This book’s content was not what I ‘expected’ of historical fiction. Because of that, I think it makes it unique and a very desirable read! In my opinion, it’s your best book to date!”
Pre-Order Sparks Fly Upward – Direct from Author (eBook & Paperback)
Pre-Order Sparks Fly Upward – Other Retailers (eBook Only)
Spring Books and Boutiques
Do you live in the St. Louis area and want to support a good cause? Come out to Incarnate Word Academy’s annual Spring Boutique event on Thursday, April 25 from 5-9 p.m. Fellow author, Susan Laspe, and I will have a table alongside many other alumnae vendors. Registration is required with registration fees going toward student scholarship funds. More information, including registration is available on their website.
Get your Spring Boutique tickets.
Releasing in April
Need another read? Here are the new releases I’m excited about:
- Perilous by Susan Laspe – Roman mythology meets medieval knights in an epic adventure to beat the Labyrinth and save the world…again. I beta read this one and it is the best of the series so far!
- These Tangled Threads by Sarah Loudin Thomas – 1920s tale of friendship, art, mystery, and love set amid the Blue Ridge Mountains’ Biltmore Estate.
- The British Booksellers by Kristy Cambron – Books and battle scars frame one family’s legacy, inspired by the Forgotten Blitz bombings of WWII.
- Walking on Hidden Wings by Rachel Scott McDaniel – A 1920s wingwalking barnstorming widow searches for clues into the murder of her husband
- Until the Last Note by B.M. Baker – Dual-timeline about a mysterious antique diary and the Titanic‘s lost musicians
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
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Purple Mask Publishing
2025 Zumbehl Rd, Ste. 33
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