Happy October, readers! How has another month passed already? I feel like September was just here. The good news is that, unlike last month, I actually have news to share!

What I’m Writing

You know that part at the end of The Return of the King movie where Frodo is outside Mount Doom, covered in filth, lava flowing behind him, and gasps, “It’s done!”? That sums up my feelings as I’m finally nearing the end of drafting Dusk Shall Weep. As I prepare to send a draft to beta readers, I can’t help but think how every book is a difficult journey, but this one truly challenged my creativity and skill. There were days when the ideas wouldn’t come, the characters wouldn’t speak, and frankly, the entire plot seemed like rubbish. Thankfully, I have wonderful author friends who convinced me otherwise and showed me how to get back on track. As Frodo says to Sam, “I’m glad you are here with me. Here at the end of all things.” 

My Current Inspiration

This month, I also received news that made my history-and-genealogy-loving heart happy. I am now an official member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, a national service organization whose members are descended from American Revolutionary War veterans. Their projects are multi-faceted, but mainly focus on historical preservation, education, and patriotism within Christian fellowship. My revolutionary ancestor, John Brown III, has an interesting story too:

As soon as the revolution began, Captain Brown joined the New York continental army and fought from May to September 1776. Unfortunately, an epidemic struck the military camp, ending his life at only 47 years old. He left behind nine children, including five-year-old Owen Brown. Owen would later father John Brown, the famous/infamous abolitionist of the raid on Harper’s Ferry in 1859. Although the raid itself – and John’s subsequent execution for treason – has remained controversial, the event is nevertheless also considered a turning point in United States history.

What interesting stories does your family history hold? I would love to hear them!

Bookstagram Gratitude Giveaway

In October, I hit a major milestone on Instagram of 500 followers. As any author will tell you, marketing is hard and social media platforms are always changing. I don’t have a lot of time in my busy schedule, so I’ve been focusing most of my energy on my newsletter first, Instagram second, and Facebook third. My best book updates are found in that order too.

Interesting note: In addition to the 500, I also kept track of how many more followers I blocked as bots/bit coin girls/fake charity cases/con artists/creepy dudes and those “nice single dads just trying to find a Christian girl and settle down” (Uh, huh, sure.) In 27 days, there were 127. Isn’t that crazy?

To say thank you to my real followers, I’m hosting a Bookstagram Gratitude Giveaway on my Instagram page from November 1-15. See below for a sneak peek.

Items included:

3 Paperbacks – Until We All Find Home by Heather Wood (American Civil War), Broken Lines by Kelsey Gietl (World War I), & The One Who Got Away by Tara Grace Ericson (Contemporary)

4 Items from Just Love Prints – “Jesus Holds My Every Moment” note card, “Whatever God Wants” quote card, “To the Heights” temporary tattoos, & “God’s Plans” dishwasher safe sticker

Of course, if you can’t wait for the giveaway, copies of my books can also be purchased below or requested from your local library. 🙂

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Released in October

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

1. What Remains When Flowers Fade by B.R. Goodwin – Christian Dystopian Thriller
2. Keeping Christmas by Various Authors – An anthology filled with Christmas, castles, and happily ever afters.
3. The Heart of Everton Inn by Claire Kohler – Historical Scottish Fantasy
4. Markmaker by Mary Jessica Woods – Artistry meets political rebellion on an alien world
5. The Premonition at Withers Farm by Jamie Jo Wright – Dual-time murder mysteries with a creepy edge

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

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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!

You may have noticed recent price increases for many independently published paperbacks on Amazon, including For a Noble Purpose. No, authors are not suddenly raising their prices. Rather, Amazon’s customer service informed me that a “widespread technical issue” is causing these price increases and unfortunately, a resolution date is not available. I understand that this change may frustrate you. It frustrates me too. My standard pricing is based on your reader feedback as well as market research, and unexpected price increases affect the overall impression of my novels.

The good news is Amazon is also offering some great deals on my other books! See below for where to currently get the best price for each book. Ebook prices remain at $4.99 on all retailers.

• For a Noble Purpose (Larksong Legacy #1) – $14.99 through other retailers, $24.61 on Amazon. I am currently out of stock on my website.
• Unsettled Shores (War Across Waters #2) – $7.86 on Amazon, $14.99 through other retailers
• Broken Lines (War Across Waters #1) – $14.99 on all retailers and my website
• Twisted River (Over the Atlantic #2) – $9.99 through my website, $19.19 on Amazon
• Across Oceans (Over the Atlantic #1) – $6.01 on Amazon, $9.99 on my website

As always, thank you for your support and your understand as we work through these unexpected issues. Hope you have a fantastic week!

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 September, readers! There isn’t much in the way of updates this month as I recently accepted a new day job. It’s an exciting challenge, and I’m loving it, but it means that in the evenings, I will often rather binge watch tv or read rather than be creative. Give me a month or so, and I promise I’ll be back with fresh ideas flowing.

What to Watch

Having an exhausting week? Here’s what’s currently playing in my house:

Lego Masters and Domino Masters– Teams compete by creating over-the-top Lego and Domino builds. Need I say more?

Holey Moley – Extreme mini-golf hosted by Rob Riggle and Joe Tessitore. It’s so stupid, it’s funny, and our family LOVES it.

Full House – Our family has been enjoying some ’90s throwback lately. Previous choices were Boy Meets World and Sabrina, the Teenage Witch.

Doctor Who – This is the show with a little something for everyone. Time travel, history, sci-fi, aliens, romance, extremely convoluted family histories, and so many quotable episodes. I would recommend this for ages 10 and up.

Operation Christmas Drop – If you need recommendations on Christmas romances, I have a hundred, but this one stands out as even my husband enjoyed it. The story is a fictionalized account of the real-life mission, Operation Christmas Drop, where the U.S. Air Force provides humanitarian airdrops to countries in Microasia. It’s the longest running Department of Defense mission, in full operation since 1952.

*None of these shows have compensated me or promoted this post in any way. I would have included pictures, but well, lawsuits aren’t fun.

My Current Inspiration

How are your sewing skills? What about embroidery? Back in the 1800s and early 1900s, when my books take place, sewing and embroidery were must-have skills for young ladies. Lessons would begin early in childhood with girls stitching samplers, like the ones shown below, as their first formal creations. Samplers included common items like type and script lettering, flowers, household items, or Bible verses.

The samplers below were made by girls between 9 and 12 years old. How would your sampler compare? (Hint: I would need many more lessons.)

Photos from The Metropolitain Museum of Art, New York – Open Access Collection.

Released in September

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

1. Peak Dragon Uprising by Sarah Everest – Classical dragon lore meets contemporary Hong Kong
2. As Silent As the Night by Danielle Grandinetti – Even in the Great Depression, Christmas is the time for miracles.
3. Darkness Draws Near by Kristina Hall – Pro-Life Dystopian Suspense
4. The Unbroken Song by Jennifer Q. Hunt – Opposite worlds collide within a Victorian Christmas romance
5. A Gem of Truth by Kimberley Woodhouse – Legendary treasure hunts in the 1880s Grand Canyon

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

 

Over the Atlantic Sale

The overstock sale is still going! You can get paperback copies of my Over the Atlantic series in my direct store for $9.99 or both books for only $18. This deal does not apply at other retailers and is only available to U.S. residents.

Shop the Store

 

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 August, readers! The kids are back in school and I am spending my days listening to the soothing sound of silence (and the dog barking, but she’s cute, so I can overlook that.) The end of August also means that we’ve reached the deadline I mentioned in my last newsletter. I promised if I finished drafting Dusk Shall Weep by the end of August, I would set a release date. The question is, did I reach my goal?

The verdict is…

I am only 75% finished drafting, but I decided to pick a release day anyway. Having a set schedule provides motivation, especially now that we’re back in the swing of school activities. With that said, Dusk Shall Weep will be available on…

May 2, 2023

You may be asking, “But, Kelsey, that’s over eight months from now. Why so long?” The answer is that, even with indie publishing, there are many boxes to check before a book enters the world. Here’s a simplified version of the task list:

• Finish writing.
• Edit.
• Receive beta reader feedback.
• Edit again.
• Design the cover and the interior page layout.
• Create launch team information and shareable graphics.
• Post repeatedly on social media and wish there was an easier way to market.
• Take off most of December so I can enjoy Christmas and family time.
• Remember things I forgot and make more edits even though I’m supposed to be “off most of December.”
• Fight with the distribution sites over whether my margins are correct even though I used their templates.
• Print a proof and often realize that the colors are off. Make updates and try again.
• Edit one final time. (Eventually, you just have to stop yourself.)
• Distribute Advance Reader Copies (ARCs).
• Organize launch day reviews, book signings, and/or activities.
• Send your book baby out into the world and start the next one!

There you have it. The publication process in 15 easy steps! Did you know there was so much to it?

My Current Inspiration

Have you ever visited the Pacific Northwest? My Dusk Shall Weep characters  currently reside in Washington State, and seriously, how stunning are these scenes? It’s definitely on my list of places to visit someday.

Photos from Upstock. Top to Bottom: Johannes Pleino, Ryan Stone

 

 

Released in August

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

1. Blood Secrets by Morgan L. Busse – Steampunk Dystopian with Zombies
2. Complete by Kortney Keisel – Stuck in the Friend Zone Rom-Com
3. Meant to Bee by Storm Shultz – Single mom and Hunky Irishman fall in love over a rampant goat and a few thousand bees
4. Treacherous by Susan Laspe – Percy Jackson meets Narnia in 14th Century England
5. Welcome to the Hamilton by Tanya E. Williams – Desperate times call for desperate measures in an opulent 1920s hotel

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

 

Over the Atlantic Sale

The overstock sale is still going! You can get paperback copies of my Over the Atlantic series in my direct store for $9.99 or both books for only $18. This deal does not apply at other retailers and is only available to U.S. residents.

Shop the Store

 

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 July, readers! Yes, I did just quote The Spice Girls and had major flashbacks to my grade school days when my friends and I danced to their music in our talent show.  Thankfully, this was the pre-smart phone era (think bulky camcorders), so I don’t believe anyone has a recording of it. But the lyrics do make a great lead into the first newsletter section…

What exactly do you want, readers?

As is done in most of the business world, I complete regular reviews of my book marketing, social media, pricing etc. With so many options available to readers, it’s important to pinpoint what brings you back to my individual stories time and again. Obviously, you each signed up for this newsletter for a specific reason and there are reasons you continue with me month after month. There are reasons why you buy a book and reasons why you don’t. Why you click on an Instagram post and why you scroll right on past.

I want to know all those little details that help bring an ideal experience to my readers. Yes, I want you to buy my books, but I also want to provide additional engaging material. If something isn’t working, then it’s time to do it differently.

I would greatly appreciate it if you could take ten minutes of your time to complete the survey below. All the questions are optional, but I do hope you will consider completing them. Also, responses are anonymous, so please share all your thoughts! Thank you in advance!

Provide Your Reader Preferences

 

Dusk Shall Weep Writing Updates

I won’t lie, this month has been rough for writing. For some reason, my motivation severely lacked. I did, however, get a few important plot points figured out and am hopefully back on track. At about 50,000 words in out of 90,000, I hope to finish drafting by the end of August.

If I hit this goal, I will be announcing the release date in next month’s newsletter, so stay tuned! I appreciate any prayers to help keep the creativity and motivation going!

 

Shop the Sales

In January 2020, I purchased several copies of Across Oceans and Twisted River in anticipation for book signings during 2020 and into 2021. Well, we all know what happened after that.

Since then, I’ve published three more books and need to make room in my house for updated inventory. Therefore, good news! You can now get either paperback in my direct store for $9.99 or both books for only $18. This deal does not apply at other retailers and is only available to U.S. residents.

Also, there are still a few days left to get For A Noble Purpose at a discount. Simply use the code Noble5 at checkout from now until August 1, 2022.

Shop the Store

 

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