Happy October, readers, and a blessed Month of the Rosary!

What’s in this Edition:

• Life is Worth Living – My experience attending the Beatification of Archbishop Fulton Sheen
• IRL Authors – Finally meeting author Erin Lewis In Real Life
• Upcoming Events – Where to find me for the rest of 2026

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Life is Worth Living: The Beatification of Fulton Sheen

On September 24, my family, a few friends, and I attended the beatification celebration and Mass of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen in St. Louis. I cannot express how amazing and inspirational the experience was. For those unfamiliar, beatification is the step right before someone is declared a Saint. The USCCB (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops) has a great explanation of the process:

“All Christians are called to be saints. Saints are persons in heaven (officially canonized or not), who lived heroically virtuous lives, offered their life for others, or were martyred for the faith, and who are worthy of imitation. In official Church procedures there are three steps to sainthood: a candidate becomes ‘Venerable,’ then ‘Blessed’ and then ‘Saint.’ Venerable is the title given to a deceased person recognized formally by the pope as having lived a heroically virtuous life or offered their life. To be beatified and recognized as a Blessed, one miracle acquired through the candidate’s intercession is required in addition to recognition of heroic virtue or offering of life. Canonization requires a second miracle after beatification. The pope may waive these requirements. A miracle is not required prior to a martyr’s beatification, but one is required before canonization.” (https://www.usccb.org/offices/public-affairs/saints)

Canonizations always take place in the Vatican while beatifications usually happen at a place local to the saint. The number of American saints is still relatively low, however, which made this event possibly a once in a lifetime opportunity. I sadly didn’t know much about Fulton Sheen until I got my tickets about 6 months ago. When I started learning about his life, wow! This author, tv personality, radio host, and devout archbishop had quite the life. Here are a just a few facts I learned:

• He was born in 1895 just outside Peoria, Illinois in the same state Pope Leo XIV is from and only a few hours from my hometown of St. Louis.
• When he became a priest in 1919, he committed to praying a Holy Hour every day. He kept this promise for 60 years. When he died in 1979, they found him in his chapel, praying in front of the Blessed Sacrament. Every time he beheld the Eucharist, he would say, “My Lord and my God.” One of his most famous quotes is, “The greatest love story of all time is contained in a tiny white host.”
• His beatification miracle was for an infant boy who was stillborn and not breathing for 60 minutes, the same amount of time as a Holy Hour. After praying for Fulton Sheen’s intercession during that hour, on the 61st minute, the boy returned to life. What’s even cooler is that his family lived in Peoria, Fulton Sheen’s hometown. At the beatification, the now-15-year-old carried in Fulton Sheen’s relic.
• He used media to bring people to Jesus, winning an an Emmy Award for “Best Television Personality” against A-List celebrities like Lucille Ball and publishing 66 books. At its height, his show, “Life is Worth Living” reached 30 million viewers every week, including large numbers of non-Catholics. He concluded every episode by saying, “God love you.”
• On his show, he used a simple set and wore a purple cape like a superhero. (This cape is actually called a ferraiolo and is a part of traditional formal, but non-liturgical (not used for Mass) dress.)
• He has been nicknamed the “convert maker” with recent estimates of 42,000 people converting or returning to Catholicism because of his teachings. When Pope Pius XII, however, asked how many he thought he had converted, however, Fulton Sheen said he hadn’t counted, so he wouldn’t be tempted to think the conversions were his, rather than God’s.
• Two months before his death, he met now-Saint Pope John Paul II who told him, “You have written and spoken well of the Lord Jesus Christ. You are a loyal son of the Church.”

The beatification celebration took place in St. Louis’s Dome (where the Rams used to play) and the adjacent America’s Center Convention Center. Mass was at 2 p.m., but we arrived at 8:30 a.m. for the earlier activities. There were 50,000 people there, from 48 U.S. states and 22 countries, including over 2,000 clergy and religious. Even in that giant crowd, we saw people we knew everywhere we turned. Our parish’s current priests, former priests, our seminarian and religious sister friends were all there. Ladies from Bible study, men from church guys’ group, and people from our former parish who we hadn’t seen in years. The family who sits in front of us at Mass happened to be in the next section over with all five of their kids. And there were a LOT of kids there, including babies. Even with a 4 hour long Mass, I didn’t notice many children crying or arguing.

Yes, Mass was 4 hours long, but every minute was worth attending. It was cool to see so many clergy that it took 40 minutes for them to process in. Every priest received a chasuble with “JMJ” (for Jesus, Mary and Joseph) written on the back just like Fulton Sheen would write on the chalkboard of his show. This is based on a Catholic tradition begun in the 19th century where people would put “JMJ” at the top of the page when they began writing, asking the Holy Family to be with them in their work. It’s a practice I discovered only a few years ago and have incorporated into my own work. You can find “JMJ” written on the copyright page of Sparks Fly Upward, Stars in the Storm, and Astonished.

Before and after Mass, the day also included:

• A huge Eucharistic Adoration Chapel (it probably fit several thousand)
• The sacrament of Confession (there were 30 priests and the line was still out the door and down the hall)
• A short concert by Matt Maher and Sarah Kroger
• Several speakers (unfortunately, we missed many of them since it took a long time to weave back and forth between rooms)
• Special exhibits on the life of Fulton Sheen and the Shroud of Turin
• An Expo room with so many vendors it was impossible to go around to all of them. I wish there’d been a second day just for that. Special shout out to some of my favorites I did see, including Abundance of Grace Prints, Ave Maria Press, Tiny Saints, and Pauline Books and Media.

The recorded live stream of the Beatification Mass can be found on EWTN. If you’re interested in listening to or watching Fulton Sheen’s show, YouTube has many episodes as does The Hallow app. He has an incredible speaking voice that’s hard to describe in words, but once you’ve heard it, you can understand why people were drawn to him. His talks and his books have one thought-provoking line after another that you just need to sit with for awhile. That’s why it took me several weeks to get through his 150-page Victory over Vice. It isn’t one to rush through. There’s too much to underline and think about. I suspect his other books will be the same way.

I know I’ve written a lot, and could write more, but since I am a writer, I’ll just end this section with one last Fulton Sheen quote: “Any book which inspires us to lead a better life is a good book.”

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IRL Authors

The night before Fulton Sheen’s beatification, I had the chance to meet up with fellow Catholic Writers Guild author, Erin Lewis, and her family who drove in all the way from Georgia. While we’ve spoken for a few years online, we’ve never met in person, and it was so fun to finally do so. As authors must, we signed each other’s books and took photos with them.

If you haven’t read Erin’s books, they are perfect for celebrating a beatification. Her fictional Chalice series follows a young man through his vocations journey from prison to the priesthood. This series is compelling, convicting, at times gut-wrenching, and the type of Catholic fiction the world needs more of. You can read my full review of Firetender on Goodreads.

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Upcoming Events

Mark your calendars! Here’s where you can find me and my books in 2026. As additional events are scheduled, I’ll add details on my website. All events are in partnership with historical fantasy author, Susan Laspe.

• St. Joseph Catholic School Craft Fair – October 10, 2026 – Cottleville, MO
• Fall Into Books Fair at The Quarry – October 11, 2026 – Wentzville, MO
• Duchesne High School Craft Fair – November 21, 2026 – St. Charles, MO
• Francis Howell High School Craft Fair – December 5, 2026 – Weldon Springs, MO

Purchase signed copies of my books: kelseygietl.com

Follow me on:

COPYRIGHT © KELSEY GIETL 2026

Purple Mask Publishing

2025 Zumbehl Rd, Ste. 33

St. Charles, MO 63303

Happy September, readers, and a blessed Month of the Seven Sorrows of Mary! School is back in session for my kids which means the house is too quiet during the day and we’re busier at night with PSR, the kids’ extracurriculars, and new sessions of Bible study.

What’s in this Edition:

• One Month In – Astonished Post-Launch
• Encountering Christ at Encounter School of Ministry – Including my favorite photo of the summer
• Recent Reads I Recommend – My favorite books from last month.
• Upcoming Events – Where to find me for the rest of 2026

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One Month In

Astonished has been out in the world for over one month! How the time has flown! Thank you to all my readers for making the launch such a great experience and congratulations to the winner of our release day giveaway, Jessika. I’ve been especially surprised to hear how many people purchased the book solely because it’s inspired by St. Christina the Astonishing. For a lesser known saint, she’s made a big impact, and I’m glad I can help share her story.

So, what’s next?

After creating multiple story outlines, getting frustrated, and (far too late in the process) finally taking them to prayer, I’m on a break from writing until the beginning of 2027. Hopefully, at that point, I’ll have a better idea of which direction I should take my writing and what my next project will be. In the meantime, I’m still working with cover design and interior formatting clients and have recently completed projects for several books that will be published soon. New covers are posted on my website portfolio as they become available.

If you’re an author in need of a cover and/or interior layout, I still have 1 open spot in October, 3 in November, and 1 in December. Contact me to find out how I can make your path to indie publishing a little easier.

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Encountering Christ at Encounter School of Ministry

On July 27-30, I was invited to sell my books at the Encounter School of Ministry – St. Louis’ Summer Intensive. The intensive provided a preview of the first-year classes the school offers over their two year program: Your Identity in Christ, Hearing God’s Voice, Power & Healing, and Inner Freedom and Healing. While it was wonderful to meet readers and chat about books, I also enjoyed listening to the talks, participating in praise and worship, and praying during Eucharistic Adoration on the final evening. I especially LOVED the experience of being before Jesus’ real presence in the Eucharist with the image of His crucifixion directly behind. It was such a powerful visual of the Christian life, and I’m glad the school captured the image. It’s moments like these, too, that remind me why I write and Who I’m truly writing for.

If you’re interested in learning more, the Encounter School of Ministry has satellite locations around the world. For more information visit: https://encounterschool.org/

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Recent Reads I Recommend

Need another book for your TBR? Of course you do. Here are the books I’ve recently read and loved. (Note: I receive no compensation for featuring the books below.)

Like most dystopian novels, Reverence by Raena Rood makes you think about the world we currently live in and how we’re not too far from ending up in this book’s scary world. With themes reminiscent of The Giver and Hunger Games, this Christian dystopian series shows how easily – and how quickly – people can be convinced that what they’re doing is for “the good of all” while blindly casting human dignity aside. We can’t close our eyes to the atrocities happening around us, those that we may be condoning without even realizing we are. At one point, a character asks the FMC why a single life matters so much to her and she replies, “Everyone matters.” I really enjoyed her subtle journey throughout the first novel and the progression of her character arc throughout the series.

Lost in Time by A.J. Riddle was a fantastic time twist murder mystery adventure between present day, the Cretaceous period, and one other time period you’ll have to read to find out about. I blazed through this book in two days as the last 200 pages were just one cliffhanger chapter after another. I was constantly guessing as to who the villain was, then changing my guess, and definitely didn’t predict what actually happened. I also want to applaud the author for being traditionally published without any profanity, gore, or sex scenes. There was not a single curse word in almost 500 pages and the book is less than 5 years old. From my experience, this is an extreme rarity for mainstream books nowadays and I loved it.

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!

Want to know what I’m reading as I’m reading it? Follow me on GoodReads.

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Upcoming Events

Mark your calendars! Here’s where you can find me and my books in 2026. As additional events are scheduled, I’ll add details on my website. All events are in partnership with historical fantasy author, Susan Laspe.

• St. Joseph Catholic School Craft Fair – October 10, 2026 – Cottleville, MO
• Duchesne High School Craft Fair – November 21, 2026 – St. Charles, MO
• Francis Howell High School Craft Fair – December 5, 2026 – Weldon Springs, MO

Purchase signed copies of my books: kelseygietl.com

Follow me on:

COPYRIGHT © KELSEY GIETL 2026

Purple Mask Publishing

2025 Zumbehl Rd, Ste. 33

St. Charles, MO 63303

Happy release day to Astonished! Today, July 24, is the feast day of little-known medieval saint, St. Christina the Astonishing, and the inspiration for Astonished‘s store. St. Christina had a wild life to say the least and is appropriately named the patron of mental health disorders and mental healthcare workers. I spent time sifting through her near-death experience story to determine what was true and what was legend, exaggeration, or flat-out fabrication. In the end, I decided to retain certain aspects of St. Christina’s life while giving Astonished a story all its own. Was she inspired or was she insane? That’s what our characters are trying to discover.

Read on for a release day giveaway, launch team graphics, and details on how to purchase.

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What’s it all about?

Opposites Attract Romance * Mental Health Awareness * Dyslexic MMC * Family and Sibling Bonds * A Touch of the Supernatural * Authentic Catholic Christian Faith

How fine the line between inspired and insane…

1914 – Avila Kohlfeld has spent most of her life in the shadow of Hawthorn Asylum. As the superintendent’s daughter, she grew up outside the institution’s inner workings, yet never quite apart from them. Then one night, a reckless visit to its walls claims the life of her sister—or does it? Avila doesn’t know what to make of the altered girl who is restored to their family. Is Callie truly inspired by God from her experience or is she as insane as the patients at the asylum? As whispers and speculation circulate, the community questions the superintendent’s suitability for his position. With her entire family’s future in jeopardy, Avila works on a desperate plan to prove that Hawthorn Asylum is caring for its patients, body and soul.

Abandoned by his parents due to his inability to read or write, Matthias Ward was diagnosed as “backward” and given a job where he can’t cause any harm—asylum mortician. He resolves to treat each body with the same dignity as he would if they were living. When the superintendent’s daughter ends up in his mortuary, the resulting whirlwind tosses his basement-dwelling days upside down. Avila encourages him to consider a different path, despite her own tenuous future. Is it possible that God has more for him outside of Hawthorn’s walls?

In a place where many enter but few leave, could the halls of Hawthorn Asylum still hold room for another miracle? Inspired by the incredible near-death experience of St. Christina the Astonishing, Astonished is a story of second chances and authentically Catholic Christian faith.

Now available in eBook and paperback.

Get Your Copy

Those who pre-ordered or signed up as advance readers, your signed copies went out in the mail last week. I’m hoping they’ve already reached you. If you still need a copy, here’s how to grab one:

Order Signed Paperback – Direct from Author

Paperback – All other retail sites

eBook – Direct from Author

eBook – All other retail sites

Have a book club? I love meeting with groups both virtually and in person (St. Louis/St. Charles, MO counties only). I don’t charge any appearance fees; your group just purchases the books. Contact me for more information.

Want to help spread the word? I’ve created pre-made graphics for anyone to use:

Launch Team Graphics

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! Thank you in advance!

Astonished Extras

In case you missed last month’s newsletter, here are a few fun extras to help immerse you into the world of Astonished:

Music: For those who enjoy book soundtracks, I’ve created a Spotify playlist of songs that either fit different scenes in the story or the book’s general mood. Songs are in no particular order. Enjoy!

Aesthetic Photos: If you’re interested to see the many photos I used as aesthetic inspiration while writing Astonished, check out my Unsplash collection. Here are a few of my favorites:

Giveaway Time!

Because you can never have too many good books, here’s your chance to win three more. All of these Christian Historical Fiction novels are excellent reads focusing on asylums and mental health. I’m honored to have Astonished stand beside them.

Enter the Giveaway

Giveaway runs through 11:59 p.m. CT on August 1, 2026. Open to US Residents ages 18+. Winner will be contacted directly. Not affiliated with any other company or organization or promoted by the authors listed above. Only one entry per person.

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Purchase signed copies of my books: kelseygietl.com

Follow me on:

COPYRIGHT © KELSEY GIETL 2026

Purple Mask Publishing

2025 Zumbehl Rd, Ste. 33

St. Charles, MO 63303