Happy Tuesday, readers! Welcome back to Top Ten Tuesday, a weekly blog challenge hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl. Every Tuesday, multiple bloggers share their favorite books from a selected topic. Today’s topic is “Books That Provide a Much Needed Escape”. To me, nothing says escape like a contemporary romance! Bonus points if it’s set in a small town.
Maple Falls Romance series by Kathleen Fuller
Restoring Heritage series by Tari Faris
The Great Date Experiment by Ashley Mays
Meant to Bee by Storm Shultz
Second Chance Fire Station series by Tara Grace Ericson
Blackmail Boyfriend by Chris Cannon
This Wandering Heart by Janine Rosche
Never the Bride by Cheryl McKay and Rene Gutteridge
Once Upon a Summer series by Lisa T. Bergren
The Sweet Rom Com series by Kortney Keisel
Have you read any of these? Which books are your escapist reads?
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Happy September, readers! It’s back to school here in the Gietl house and back to homework, after-school activities, and church events. It makes for a busy but exciting time.
What’s in this Edition:
Get Ready to Read – Release Date for Larksong Book 4
October Book Signings – Two Upcoming Events
New AudioBook from Narrator Tawnya Rollingson
Fight Piracy at a Discount – 10% off + A Giveaway For Just Love Prints
Releasing in September – Other authors’ new releases I’m most excited about.
Get Ready to Read Stars in the Storm
There’s an ugly truth about writing – sometimes, you just don’t want to. I’ve been lacking motivation lately, readers. Like, it’s really bad. As in, I want to do anything but work on this final Larksong book. It isn’t that the ideas aren’t there. I have the entire story outlined and quite a bit of the details fleshed out. 30% of the book is completely drafted. Does this mean the characters are cooperating? Of course not, but that’s nothing new. Characters are notorious for being mean to their authors. I actually love the two main characters and am excited to share their story, so then why am I lacking motivation?Part of me thinks maybe I’m burning out. A greater part thinks that maybe there’s someone who doesn’t want the story to be told.
Many Christian Fiction authors (several of whom subscribe to this newsletter) have told me that the deeper they get into a story, the more they feel spiritually attacked to never finish it. This can take many forms, from major publishing problems to negative reviews, but often it’s all these little things that try to distract you and discourage you. Some of these can even be good things when taken out of the context of publishing. This is particularly evident the closer a Christian author gets to release day. After all, the father of lies wouldn’t want you to share God’s truth, now would he?
To counteract this, I’m doing two things:
I ask you for your prayers to not only finish this book, but to write the words that readers need to hear.
I’m announcing a release date and it’s way sooner than I expected. Drumroll, please…
Sunday, February 9, 2025
February 9 is World Marriage Sunday which makes it the perfect release date for a book that focuses on marriage reconciliation. Yes, it’s also exactly 5 months away. Am I insane? Could be. But what’s the point of being an indie author if you can’t make a few crazy decisions every now and again?
Right now, I don’t know what the launch team will look like. Advance Reader Copies might be available the month before or the week before or they may turn into Post-Publication Review Copies. We shall see!
If you live near St. Louis, Missouri, there are two events in October where I will be selling and signing books with fellow author, Susan Laspe. If you already have copies of our books, feel free to bring them by for signing and to pick up some swag. Hope to see you there!
St. Joseph Cottleville School Craft Fair
October 12, 2024 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
1355 Motherhead Rd, Saint Charles, MO 63304
Ursuline Academy Holiday Boutique
October 13, 2024 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
341 S. Sappington Road, Saint Louis, MO 63122
New Audiobook from My Narrator
This past month, my Larksong Legacy narrator, Tawnya Rollingson, released a new audiobook for Christian author, Sarah Beran entitled Callie and the Pumpkin Seed. Not only does this fairy tale look fun and has a great cover, but it also debuted as a #1 New Release on Amazon! Congratulations to Sarah and Tawnya. I look forward to reading this one!
If you’ve followed me for awhile, you’re probably familiar with one of my favorite online Catholic shops, Just Love Prints. They sell amazing Christian prints, waterproof stickers, cards, magnets, and much more. Last week, they sent out an email stating that one of their sticker designs had been stolen by a Chinese company who was mass producing a cheaper quality version on Amazon. This listing has since been reported, but it’s an excellent example of the damage piracy can cause and the importance of buying from reputable companies. Just because it’s free or cheap, doesn’t mean it’s good or legal.
However, in this case free is also good! To help support Just Love Prints, I am hosting an impromptu giveaway featuring some of their items including a “Thank God ahead of time” 5×7 print, a “Thank God ahead of time” sticker, and a St. Josephine Bakhita sticker (also the patron saint of Sparks Fly Upward!). You can also receive a 10% discount at Just Love Prints right now with the code HELLO10.
Legal Stuff: No purchase necessary. 18+ to enter. U.S. residents only. Not promoted or endorsed by Just Love Prints.
Releasing in September
Need another read? Here are the new releases I’m excited about:
Purest Joys Restored by Jennifer Q. Hunt – Inspirational and action-packed third book in this 1920s series. I was a beta reader and this one was the best yet.
A Boy Named Rindy by Olivia Talbott – Based on the inspirational true story of a survivor of the Cambodian Genocide
Hope Unburied by Kimberley Woodhouse – The third book in her historical fiction series about paleontologists
Christmas as Sugar Plum Manor by Roseanna M. White – The Nutcracker and Edwardian England combine at Christmas
Of Gold and Shadows by Michelle Griep – Egyptian treasure hunts and black market dealings in Victorian England
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!
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.
Happy Tuesday, readers! Welcome back to Top Ten Tuesday, a weekly blog challenge hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl. Every Tuesday, multiple bloggers share their favorite books from a selected topic. Today’s topic is “Best Books Involving Food (That are not Cookbooks)”, which was more challenging that I expected. It turns out that my personal disdain for cooking means I haven’t read many books with foodie characters. But I have read lots of kids books about food.
Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin & illustrated by Daniel Salmieri – If you only ever buy one kids book, make it this one.
Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Suess
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Joffe Numeroff & illustrated by Felicia Bond
James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett & illustrated by Ron Barrett
Dragons Love Tacos2 by Adam Rubin & illustrated by Daniel Salmieri
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Jamberry by Bruce Degen
It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown by Charles M. Schulz
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault & illustrated by Lois Ehlert
Have you read any of these? Which of your favorite books also feature food?
If you enjoyed this post, I encourage you to subscribe to my monthly newsletter, which includes updates on my books, behind the scenes information, and upcoming promotions. You can subscribe to updates by entering your e-mail on the Newsletter page. E-mail addresses are never sold or distributed. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Happy Tuesday, readers! Welcome back to Top Ten Tuesday, a weekly blog challenge hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl. Every Tuesday, multiple bloggers share their favorite books from a selected topic. Today’s topic was a Relationship Freebie which meant we could choose books related to any type of relationship, romantic or family. Since I write family sagas and have a pretty great brother in real life, I decided to share my favorite books featuring brothers.
Broken Lines by Kelsey Gietl – The first book in my War Across Waters series features a complicated dynamic between three brothers (Charles, Emil, and Fred) and their friend-who’s-like-a-brother, Reuben, during World War I.
Larksong Legacy series by Kelsey Gietl – My 1850s Westward Expansion series deals with five brothers (Daniel, Tobias, Garrett, Jamison, and Cade) and the unique gifts they possess.
Sons of Vigilance series by Hannah Hood Lucero – Romantic Suspense about 4 Irish red-headed military brothers
All These Threads of Time by Sarah Crowne – 1980s Time Travel with a spunky 11-year-old genius brother, Sebastian
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis – Fantasy with two brothers who would be kings of a mythical land
Two to Tango by Kathleen Fuller – Contemporary Romance where a librarian falls for her best friend’s brother
Wisteria House series by Jennifer Q. Hunt – 1920s Historical Fiction with two pilot brothers
The Hardy Boys series by Franklin W. Dixon – a classic brothers mystery series
Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling – The Weasleys! Do we really need to say more than this?
Avatar: The Last Airbender graphic novels by Various Authors – Fantasy series (and tv show) that includes a wonderful comic relief brother
Have you read any of these? Which of your favorite books also feature brothers?
If you enjoyed this post, I encourage you to subscribe to my monthly newsletter, which includes updates on my books, behind the scenes information, and upcoming promotions. You can subscribe to updates by entering your e-mail on the Newsletter page. E-mail addresses are never sold or distributed. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Welcome back to the Extra Edition newsletter! I’m excited to bring you bonus content each month with a special inside look at my novels and the history behind them.
What’s in this Edition:
Sing it Loud– Book-Inspired Playlists on Spotify
Is that my Samovar? – Adventures in Thrift Store Shopping
What would you like to see next? – Share your thoughts!
Sing It Loud
Do you enjoy listening to music? How about playlists inspired by your favorite books? I recently joined Spotify (yes, I know I’m behind with the times) and have added playlists for each of my 7 published novels and my work in progress. These are the songs I feel fit the mood of the story or brought me inspiration while writing different scenes. Most of them are Christian-based and would also make for good praylists. In the future, I also plan to move several of my personal playlists over and create new ones to share. If this sounds like something you’d enjoy, I invite you to follow me and share your favorite playlists, too.
Legal Disclaimer: Please note that none of the music artists or their production companies have endorsed my books or paid me to promote their songs.
Is That My Samovar?
Last week, my kids and I went thrift store shopping. Originally intending to find some clothes, we came across a very different, yet spectacular find – a samovar. What the heck is a samovar, you ask? It’s a metal urn, used by Russians for heating water and making tea. According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, its origins are in the 1830s.
So, why were we so excited to find one? Why not just buy a teapot? A few years ago, my children’s school put on a performance of Baba Yaga, based on the Russian fairy tale of a witch who lives in a house with chicken feet and kidnaps and eats little children. Happy stuff, right? Well, their version was surprisingly comical and involved one line where Baba Yaga asks, “Is that my samovar?” Not only did this provide an occasion to learn a new word, but became an inside joke in our house. The kids spent their own $10 to purchase their new treasure.
For health reasons, we’re not going to actually drink out of it, but it goes nicely with our other antique china, such as the teacup and saucer in the photo above. Those are my great-grandparents’ from Czechoslovakia, which was as close as I had to Russia.
What would you like to see next?
In June, I concluded my series on social media discoveries. Due to the positive feedback received, I would like to continue offering serialized (3-6 month) newsletter articles on topics of interest. At this time, I am planning to include these articles within the Extra Edition newsletter, rather than the main monthly newsletter, and would love to hear your feedback. I’ve included several suggested topics in the form below, along with an area to write in your own ideas. All responses are anonymous. Thank you in advance!
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.
