Happy March, readers! Also, welcome to my new subscribers from the Spring into Love Giveaway event! I’m so glad to have you join us. Although tomorrow is April Fool’s Day, there are no jokes here. Only more fantastic news!

Paperback Readers Rejoice!

If you’re like me and prefer paperbacks, I have great news. Paperback copies of Dusk Shall Weep are now available for purchase online! This includes major retailers such as Amazon and Barnes and Noble, ordering through your favorite independent bookseller, or requesting a purchase through your local library. Signed copies are also available through my online store.

Order Signed Paperbacks – Direct from the Author

Order Paperbacks – Other Retailers

Remember, if you prefer eBooks, Dusk Shall Weep is 40% off on my website through release day, May 2. eBooks will be emailed directly to you on release day.

Whichever way you decide to read, I would be grateful if you could post a review on your favorite retailer and/or social media site. Reviews help authors find new readers, and they help readers find new books they’ll love.

Current Inspiration

In between preparations for the release of Dusk Shall Weep, I’ve been working on the outline for Sparks Fly Upward. I am pleased to say that it is about 80% complete with just the final climactic scenes and the resolution left. That may not seem like a lot, but the ending can be one of the hardest parts to figure out. As usual, my characters have gone in some extremely unexpected directions, and I’ve had to reign in my antagonist when he decided to be particularly evil.

To find inspiration, I’ve been reading San Francisco city directories from 1855-1859. Historical city directories were like the phone book today, containing addresses for individuals and advertising businesses. Unlike today, they also sometimes included a timeline of key events in the prior year and historical information. These directories have been invaluable for learning the details of a city with a very different atmosphere from the one we know today.

The photograph above is from the National Gallery of Art and shows San Francisco Bay looking toward Alcatraz Island.

Giveaway – In a Far-Off Land

Thank you to everyone who joined Faithful Fiction Book Club’s live Q&A with Stephanie Landsem on March 21. We had a great time discussing Stephanie’s novel, In a Far-Off Land and spoiler-free tidbits about her latest release, Code Name Edelweiss. 

I am giving away one paperback copy of In a Far-Off Land to one newsletter subscriber. To enter, complete the form at the link below by April 21. Winner will be contacted directly and announced in next month’s newsletter. U.S. residents only.

Enter the Giveaway

Released in March

Need another read? Here are the March releases I’m excited about:

1. The One She Can’t Forget by Tara Grace Ericson – sweet second-chance-amnesia-romance. The first one in the series was fantastic!
2. The Divided Kingdom by Allison Ramirez – clean dystopian inspired by the Divided Kingdom of the Old Testament
3. 12 Days of Courting Miss Thomas by Dani Renee – 1850s historical romance novella for which I designed the cover. This one is only available to her newsletter subscribers.
4. The Metropolitain Affair by Jocelyn Green – romance and betrayal in the world of 1920s art and Egyptian archeology
5. Confessions to a Stranger by Danielle Grandinetti – Depression-era romantic suspense about secrets, lies, and attempted murder

Follow me on Instagram, Goodreads, or Bookbub for my full book reviews.

Did you know that reviews help both readers and authors? Even one sentence is enough, and every word greatly appreciated. Please 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.

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COPYRIGHT © KELSEY GIETL 2022

 

Hello, readers! I apologize for the extra email, but I’m participating in a multi-author giveaway this weekend (3/11-3/13) that you do not want to miss!

Spring Into Love Giveaway

For the past year, I have been part of an amazing group of authors online called Christian Mommy Writers. We have gotten together to provide a massive giveaway featuring 19 different authors. Each author will be giving away an e-book of their choosing, plus there’s the chance to win some extra special prizes.

Third Place Prize – winner receives 1 e-book of their choosing from the list below. Second Place Prize – winner receives 2 e-books of their choosing from the list below. Grand Prize – winner receives ALL the e-books below (yup that’s all 19 e-books) AND Gift Cards to The Flourished Mustard Seed ($35) and Sweet Sequels ($55)

Books Included

How to Enter

Click the link below and fill in your email address. For bonus entries, head over to my Instagram page, find the Spring Into Love post, and follow the author profiles I’ve tagged. Each of these authors are committed to clean and/or Christian content.

 

 

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.

Read past newsletters here: NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE.

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COPYRIGHT © KELSEY GIETL 2023

 

Happy February, readers! It may have been a short month, but the writing life was surprisingly busy.

Checking Off the Boxes

• Completed final edits for Dusk Shall Weep! Watch my awkward celebratory video here.
• Created launch team graphics. Sign up here to join the team and receive an e-ARC. Application open until March 1.
• Attended the Catholic Writers Guild Online Conference, February 24-26
• Started to turn my chaotic notes into an outline for Larksong Legacy #3, Sparks Fly Upward
• Started to brainstorm on launch day features and budget-friendly giveaways. What would you like to see?

Triple Cover Reveal!

Over the past months, I’ve worked on several cover designs and can finally share details for three of them. I have absolutely loved working with these amazing authors and helping to make their inspirational stories shine. Make sure to check out their work, available soon!

12 Days of Courting Miss Thomas by Dani Renee – 1850s Historical Romance, standalone novella – Available in March for free to subscribers of Dani’s newsletter

Cathey’s Creek Road by Hannah Hood Lucero – Young Adult Contemporary Romance, standalone – available May 16, 2023

Through Thorny Ways by Jennifer Q. Hunt – 1920s Historical Fiction, Book 1 of Wisteria House – available June 20, 2023

Current Inspiration

In Dusk Shall Weep, one of the central storylines involves the Chinook tribe in Washington State. Much of my research of the Chinook came from James Gilchrist Swan’s 1857 book, The Northwest Coast; or, Three Years’ Residence in Washington Territory. He discusses the area around the Querquelin stream, or Mouse River, where a Chinook village had been abandoned due to the chief’s death and fear of evil spirits, whom only “Boston men” (aka white men) could tame. Once the settlers moved into the village, the natives quickly returned to trade with them. This story is one of many I incorporated into Dusk Shall Weep. Chinook customs of head flattening, slavery, spirit quests, funeral customs, howqua shells, and salmon fishing are also included, as are authentic Native American names.

Faithful Fiction Book Club

Over on Instagram, I co-host the Faithful Fiction Book Club with historical fantasy author, Susan Laspe. For our first quarter book, we’re reading In a Far-Off Land by Stephanie Landsem and will be chatting live with the author on March 21 at 7 CST/8 EST (note the date change from 3/14). Thank you to Stephanie for taking time out of her March 7 release of Code Name Edelweiss to join us!

Released in February

Need another read? Here are the February releases I’m excited about:

1. In Spotlight and Shadow by Rachel Scott McDaniel – brings to life classic Hollywood, the symphony, and the stage
2. The Weight of Air by Kimberly Duffy – life, love, and family ties in the 1910s circus
3. A New Day Dawning by Sara Whitley – inspirational pro-life fiction
4. The Cairo Curse by Pepper Basham – “Clue meets Indiana Jones with a fiction-loving twist”
5. The Desolate World by Kortney Keisel – a prequel novella to her witty and romantic dystopian series

Follow me on Instagram, Goodreads, or Bookbub for my full book reviews.

Did you know that reviews help both readers and authors? Even one sentence is enough, and every word greatly appreciated. Please 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.

Read past newsletters here: NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE.

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COPYRIGHT © KELSEY GIETL 2022

 

Happy January, readers! I don’t know about you, but my post-Christmas to-be-read list is much larger and I may have pre-ordered one too many books. I find pre-orders to be fun as you have to actually wait for them, and it makes delivery day more special. It’s kind of like Christmas all over again.

And the honor goes to…

Every year, the Daughters of the American Revolution present the Women in American History award to a woman who has provided a substantial contribution to preserving and promoting American history. Therefore, it was a great honor to be presented with this year’s award based on the incorporation of American history into my novels and character inspiration based on my family history. I’d like to thank the wonderful women of the Caroline Close Stuart chapter for this recognition!

3 Months and Counting

“When the threat of darkness loomed like a dragon perched on the castle keep, it made you do things you might not otherwise do and things you would do, you did with careful precision.”

That’s the first line of my upcoming novel, Dusk Shall Weep, which releases in only a little over three months. If you’re able to read and review prior to release day, May 2, why not join my Launch Team?

Those selected for the launch team will be provided an e-ARC of the novel with the request that an honest review be posted on social media and retail sites within one week of release day, May 2. The Launch Team will also be asked to post on social media leading up to release day. Paperbacks will also be available to purchase.

For those with limited time available, the Influencer Team will post on social media promoting the release but are not required to read the novel. (Although reading and reviewing is certainly appreciated!)

Sign up for Launch/Influencer Teams

If you’re interested in reading, but can’t commit to read by May 2, you can still order the eBook direct from my online store and receive a 40% discount over any other retailer! No coupon code needed. 

Pre-Order Dusk Shall Weep – Direct from Author

Pre-Order Dusk Shall Weep – Other Retailers

Current Inspiration

In Dusk Shall Weep, my characters find themselves caught in the middle of the Battle for Seattle, one of several important battles between the Native Americans and the U.S. government during the Puget Sound War. Located in the Pacific Northwest of the United States, Seattle is currently the home to over 750 thousand people, but during the war in 1856, its population totaled fewer than 150. Much of the current downtown area was also covered with marshland and expansive forests, containing some of the largest trees in the world. The harbor was primarily used for sending lumber south to California and the two-day shipping of a future Seattle giant was still over a hundred years away. In fact, after the Battle for Seattle, the town’s population decreased, with some believing that the little city would amount to nothing. 

Released in January

Need another read? Here are the January releases I’m excited about:

1. Yesterday’s Tides by Roseanna M. White – dual timeline where “intelligence and counterintelligence, prejudice, and self-sacrifice collide across two generations.”
2. Azure Blaze by Elizabeth C. Natalia – a contemporary Christian superhero battles the forces of darkness…and also falls in love.
3. The Rose and the Thistle by Laura Frantz – Scottish romance amid the Jacobite uprising of 1715
4. A Mark of Grace by Kimberley Woodhouse – suspense, secrets, and romance in the beautiful Grand Canyon
5. In the Midst of the Storm by Latisha Sexton – edge-of-your-seat contemporary romantic suspense & the sequel comes out March 7

Follow me on Instagram, Goodreads, or Bookbub for my full book reviews.

Did you know that reviews help both readers and authors? Even one sentence is enough, and every word greatly appreciated. Please 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.

Read past newsletters here: NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE.

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COPYRIGHT © KELSEY GIETL 2022

 

Happy December, readers! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas holiday. I enjoyed some much-needed time with family, eating good food, playing games, and celebrating the birth of our Lord. Like much of the country it seems, we were also surprised with snow and -25 wind chill temps shortly before Christmas day. This weekend, it’s forecasted to be in the 50s. Missouri always keeps you guessing!

Bring out the red pen…again.

After a month off from Dusk Shall Weep, I’m diving into edits from my beta readers. It always amazes me how after five rounds of self-edits, all 8 beta readers managed to find at least one thing the others didn’t. As much work as it is to comb through their changes, I always know their creative insights will make the story better.

As you know from my previous newsletters, this book has been challenging to write, so I was deeply moved when I received the following comment from one of my non-author, non-family-member beta readers: “This book hit me in a very deep way concerning faith, the power of prayer, and ultimately walking in trust with Jesus. Whew! What an experience you have given me in the characters of Jamison and Coraline.”

It may not always seem like it, but all authors need this kind of affirmation from time to time. If you read a book that inspires you, please email that author to let them know. Reviews are even better!

Covers, Covers, Everywhere

In between edits, I’m beta reading Jennifer Q. Hunt’s Through Thorny Ways, the first in a brand-new series set in the 1920s. I just finished designing the cover for this one and am so excited to read the story behind it.

Speaking of covers, I’m also working on designs for a contemporary YA romance, an 1850s romance, and a Regency romance series. The photos below are not the final products but have provided thematic inspiration and the designs are looking great. I hope to share more information on these lovely authors and their work in the coming months. 

If you’re an author in need of a future cover design or marketing collateral, I’m currently building my schedule for 2023 and 2024. Even if you don’t have all the details yet, I provide no-obligation consultations. Discounts are also available for members of the Christian Mommy Writers Group, Catholic Writers Guild, and Daughters of the American Revolution.

The Best Books of 2022

Need another read? Here are my favorites from 2022, in no particular order, although I’m happy to say that I met my goal of reading (and enjoying!) at least 12 independently published books. * = indie author

What was your favorite read of 2022? Reply and let me know! You might see it on my To-Be-Read in 2023.

1. For a Noble Purpose by Kelsey Gietl * – I’m biased, but I really do enjoy this story!
2. A Class Reunited by Susie Murphy * (Note: includes some mature content)
3. A Heart Adrift by Laura Frantz
4. The Unbroken Song by Jennifer Q. Hunt *
5. Games in a Ballroom by Jentry Flint
6. Welcome to the Hamilton by Tanya E. Williams *
7. The Souls of Lost Lake by Jamie Jo Wright
8. The Curse of Misty Wayfair by Jamie Jo Wright

1. The Mobster’s Daughter by Rachel Scott McDaniel
2. A Tapestry of Light by Kimberly Duffy
3. Drawn by the Current by Jocelyn Green
4. When the Last Rose Blooms by Ashley Clark
5. A Brilliant Night of Stars and Ice by Rebecca Connolly
6. The Golden Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse
7. Many Sparrows by Lori Benton
8. The Uncertainty of Fire by Stephanie Daniels *

1. The Musician’s Dream by B.M. Baker *
2. The Trumpeter’s Forever Promise by B.M. Baker *
3. The One Who Got Away by Tara Grace Ericson *
4. Meant to Bee by Storm Shultz *
5. Picking Daisy by Valerie Howard *
6. Complex by Kortney Keisel *
7. Complete by Kortney Keisel *
8. Later On We’ll Conspire by Kortney Keisel *

1. Treacherous by Susan Laspe *
2. The Darkening Dragons by Sarah Everest *
3. Unbetrothed by Candice Pedraza Yamnitz
4. Oathbound by Victoria McCombs

Follow me on Instagram, Goodreads, or Bookbub for my full book reviews.

Did you know that reviews help both readers and authors? Even one sentence is enough, and every word greatly appreciated. Please 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.

Read past newsletters here: NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE.

Follow me on:

        

COPYRIGHT © KELSEY GIETL 2022