Title Reveal, Awards, & More Summer Reads than you’ll know what to do with

Happy July, readers, and Happy recent Independence Day to those in the United States!

What’s in this Edition:

  • Catholic Media Association Awards – 3 of my books recognized
  • Title Reveal for my Next Novel
  • Need Even More Summer Reads? – Writing Off Social Reading Lists
  • Releasing in July– Other authors’ new releases I’m most excited about

Catholic Media Association Awards

I am triple-honored to have had three of my books acknowledged in this year’s Catholic Media Awards. Broken Lines received 2nd Place for Christian Romance, Unsettled Shores received an Honorable Mention for Faith-based Novels, and Sparks Fly Upward also received an Honorable Mention for Catholic Novels.

Several of my fellow Catholic Writers Guild fiction authors also received awards including The Divided Kingdom by Allison Ramirez (1st place), Misshelved Magic by S.R. Crickard (2nd place), A Cloud of Witnesses by Emily Hanlon (2nd place), Markmaker by Mary Jessica Woods (3rd place), and A Very Chapel Falls Christmas by Amanda Lauer (3rd place). Congratulations to all!

Browse the full list of winners.

Title Reveal!

Read on for the first official back cover blurb and the title of my next book.

How fine the line between inspiration and insanity… 

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?

This description is subject to change as I get further into drafting. I never know when one of my characters will throw a curve ball that changes everything. But for now, I feel safe saying that the main elements will remain the same.

Ready for the title? Let me know what you think!

Need Even More Summer Reads?

Looking for some summer reads? Writing off Social’s Ultimate Summer Reading List highlights books from listeners of the Writing Off Social podcast, including my War Across Waters and Larksong Legacy series. If you haven’t heard of this podcast, it’s specifically for Christian authors who are looking for ways to promote their books without relying as much (or at all) on social media. It was the encouragement I needed to finally step away from my social media pages a year and a half ago, and I haven’t regretted it at all. My one exception is Goodreads; follow me there to find out what I’m currently reading! Thank you to Writing Off Social for including my books in their list.

Get the Summer reading List for Fiction and Non-Fiction.

Releasing in July

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

  1. The Highland Heist by Pepper Basham – the fourth book in the Freddie and Grace historical mysteries series
  2. An Uncharted Dream by Abbey Downey – An early 1900s explorer in search of answers, a determined protector, and an expedition that could cost them everything.
  3. The Collector of Burned Books by Roseanna M. White – World War II historical about the power of words where two people form an unlikely friendship amid the Nazi occupation in Paris and fight to preserve the truth that enemies of freedom long to destroy.
  4. These Blue Mountains by Sarah Loudin Thomas – The story of a German pianist and local deputy set in the mountains of North Carolina in the tumultuous years before World War II.
  5. Buried Wilderness Secrets by Jaime Jo Wright – a Montana park ranger must solve a murder before the killer finds her

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

St. Charles, MO 63303

Top Ten Tuesday – American Revolution Fiction

Happy Tuesday, readers! Today’s Top Ten topic was a “Freebie/Throwback.” Since the U.S.A. is celebrating Independence Day in just a few days, I thought it would be fitting to share some fiction about the American Revolution.

  • Perpetual Rainbows by Jessika Caruso
  • Spark of the Revolution by Megan Soja
  • The Love Letter by Rachel Hauck
  • Keturah by Lisa T. Bergren
  • Ring of Secrets by Roseanna M. White
  • When the Day Comes by Gabrielle Meyer
  • Freedom’s Ring by Heidi Chiavaroli
  • In Pieces by Rhonda Ortiz
  • Revolutionary War on Wednesday by Mary Pope Osborne
  • Felicity American Girl series by Valerie Tripp

Have you read any of these? Are there any American Revolution books you would recommend?

*Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly blog challenge hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl.*

COPYRIGHT © KELSEY GIETL 2025

Travel the Oregon Trail: Landmarks from For a Noble Purpose

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.

On Location

We’ve been talking a lot lately about my next book, so for today, let’s go back to Larksong as we travel the Oregon Trail in For a Noble Purpose.

Oregon Trail Map
Created with Google Maps

In 1852, pioneers rarely rode in their wagons as the space was needed for supplies. This meant that they walked between 15-25 miles per day on open prairie, fewer if they were traveling through a town such as between Charleston, South Carolina and St. Louis, Missouri. This 3,110 mile journey took the Larks about a year to travel. While they would have seen many areas throughout their journey, here are the main historical landmarks included in the book:

Starting Point – Larksong Plantation, Charleston, SC
Photo from visit-historic-charleston.com

Larksong Rice Plantation was inspired by many South Carolina plantations, the most notable being McLeod (cotton) and Hampton (rice). Although these plantations farmed different products, their basic layout was similar. The Spanish-moss-draped-live oaks of McLeod’s front drive (above) is the closest to what I pictured for Larksong Plantation.

Stop #1 – Walcott Plantation, Hawthorn Ridge, MO
Photo from theclio.com

If Hawthorn Ridge, Missouri was a real city, it would be located in Little Dixie, an area which encompassed several counties across Mid-Missouri. Walcott Hemp Plantation was inspired by Missouri’s real plantations, all of which were smaller than either McLeod or Hampton plantations, and most of which have been torn down. One exception is Prairie Park, originally known as William B. Sappington Plantation, which is currently a private residence. Prairie Park’s house (above) is similar to what I pictured for the Walcotts, except with a white exterior.

Stop #2 – Oregon Trail Trailhead, Independence, MO
Photo from The Historical Marker Database

In 1852, Independence, Missouri was the jumping off point for three westward trails: the Oregon, the Santa Fe, and the California. The Oregon Trail alone saw one of its busiest summers that year with 70,000 people traveling, sometimes 12 wagons across. As Sarah describes it in For a Noble Purpose, Independence was both a “small town grand in diversity” and also “near pandemonium.”

Stop #3 – Fort Kearney, Nebraska
Photo from The National Park Service

Just one of several forts along the trail, Fort Kearney was established in 1848 to protect travelers, provide a spot for purchasing supplies and posting letters, serve as a station for Pony Express riders and Native American scouts, and act as a post for military troops and railroad crews. It is now maintained as a Nebraska state park.

Stop #4 – Platte River, Nebraska
Photo from shutupandtakemethere.com

The Platte River followed much of the trail in Nebraska with high grass or trees on one side and flowing water on the other, running over 300 miles to Wyoming. It would have been important not to let children or animals wander off into the grass for fear of never finding them again. The river was also a prime location for washing clothes and dumping waste, leading to an increase in cholera cases along its banks.

Stop #5- Fort Laramie, Wyoming
Photo from The National Park Service

Originally established as a fur trading fort in 1830, Fort Laramie was another spot along the trail where travelers could rest and resupply. It was used as a military post until 1890 with a wide variety of buildings, almost like a small town. It welcomed a variety of people including trappers, traders, Native Americans, missionaries, emigrants, soldiers, miners, ranchers and homesteaders. It is now maintained by the National Park Service as a historic site. The photo above shows a reconstruction of the Post Traders Store, originally built in 1849. This is where the Larks would have purchased supplies.

Stop #6 – Independence Rock, Wyoming
Photo from The National Park Service

Due to its size at 1,900 feet long by 850 feet wide by 136 feet tall, Independence Rock was said to have been the most notable site along the westward trail. Thousands of travelers camped along its base and many of those climbed to its top to appreciate the view and carve their names into The Great Registry of the Desert. As Martha says in For a Noble Purpose, “Nothing in Missouri is like this.” Independence Rock is now maintained by the National Park Service, although visitors can still climb to the top.

Stop #7 – Fort Hall, Idaho
Photo from Wikipedia Commons

Built in 1834 and demolished in 1863, Fort Hall was a trading post along the Snake River, the final fort before reaching Oregon. Since the Larks were continuing on to Washington Territory, they would have had two more opportunities for supplies at Fort Astoria and Fort Vancouver, although neither are visited in the story. A second Fort Hall was constructed after destruction of the first and included within the Shoshone-Bannock Indian Reservation under the treaty of 1867. A replica of the first fort was built in the 1960s and can be visited to this day.

Final Destination – Larksong, Washington
Photo by Zac Gudakov on Unsplash

After Fort Hall, the Larks would have continued northwest through Oregon until they reached what is now Washington State. The area that I placed their town in was just north of the Columbia River, overlooking Shoalwater Bay (now Willapa Bay) and near the Chinook Native American tribe. It is still part of The Chinook Indian Nation to this day. Without paved roads or modern buildings, the area was a vast wilderness and an amazing site to behold. The photo above is from a town closer to Seattle, but I think it still shows the beauty of the area. As one of the characters describes it in For a Noble Purpose, “The pioneers continued northward until they arrived at the promised claim, the azure ocean at their faces and evergreen forests at their backs. Breathtaking. There would be much to accomplish in order to make the space habitable, trees to fell and buildings to raise before it could be considered a town. Still, what a vision to surround them while they built their dreams.”

To view an interactive map of all the Oregon Trail sites, visit: https://www.nps.gov/oreg/planyourvisit/places-to-go.htm

Until next time, happy reading!
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam
Kelsey

Purchase signed copies of my books: kelseygietl.com

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St. Charles, MO 63303

Top Ten Tuesday – Summer Books

Happy Tuesday, readers! Today’s Top Ten topic is “Summer Freebie” which means that we can choose anything related to summer. While their stories may or may not be set in summer, the covers of these books just say “summer” to me.

Things that to me scream “Summer”:

  • Fireflies – All in Good Time by Carolyn Astfalk
  • Honeybees – Meant to Bee by Storm Shultz
  • Campfires – Dereliction of the Heart by Hannah Hood Lucero
  • Flowers – Just Let Go by Courtney Walsh
  • Jean shorts and sunshine – Growing into Greatness by Tanya E. Williams (Note: This is an older version of this book’s cover.)
  • The Beach, Tropics, Palm Trees – Once Upon a Caribbean Summer by Lisa T. Bergren and Complex by Kortney Keisel
  • Florida – At Home in Persimmon Hollow by Gerri Bauer
  • Golf – Summer Ever After by Kortney Keisel
  • Sailing – If All Else Sails by Emma St. Clair

Have you read any of these? Which books say “summer” to you?

*Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly blog challenge hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl.*

COPYRIGHT © KELSEY GIETL 2025

June Updates: New Audiobook Release and WIP Insights

Happy June, readers! I hope you are all having a good start to summer! Or winter for my southern hemisphere readers 🙂 Here in Missouri, my family is finishing out the last few days of school and preparing for summer retreats, vacations, and lots of good craziness with everyone being home again.

What’s in this Edition:

WIP Updates – More details on my Work in Progress

New Audiobooks – Stars in the Storm and Coming Up Next

New Photo Community – My photos on Unsplash.com

Releasing in June – Other authors’ new releases I’m most excited about

WIP Updates

woman writing with a coffee/tea mug that says "be happy"
Photo by Lisa from Pexels on Pexels.com

This month, I finished the main bulk of research for my next novel and am now diving into drafting. I would much rather edit than write, so please pray for me as I slog through the first draft. Here are a few more details of what I can share so far about the story:

  • Set in the 1910s, specifically 1913
  • Set in a fictional town, but one you may be familiar with. If you’ve read For a Noble Purpose, this book is set in the same town of Hawthorn Ridge, Missouri with a new cast of characters.
  • Much of the book takes place in Hawthorn Asylum. While originally founded by the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, the institution is now overseen by a superintendent and a board of directors. The sisters continue to serve the patients as nurses and spiritual advisors.
  • Avila Kohlfeld and Matthias Ward are the Female MC and Male MC respectively. Avila’s father leads the asylum as Superintendent and Matthias works in the asylum’s morgue.
  • The villain is…wait, I’m not going to tell you that.
  • Unlike Larksong Legacy, this novel doesn’t contain a speculative/ light fantasy element; however, it does include a touch of the religious supernatural. It is inspired by the near-death experiences of St. Christina the Astonishing and St. Teresa of Avila among others.
  • Bonus – There’s a cameo appearance from one of the characters who appears in Over the Atlantic and War Across Waters. Send me your best guess!

New Audiobooks!

Good news, everyone! Stars in the Storm, the final book in the Larksong Legacy series is now available in audiobook, which means you can now listen to the entire series start to finish. More good news, I’ve signed a contract with my narrator, Tawnya Rollingson, to begin production of the War Across Waters duology in August with release scheduled for early 2026.

Check out the trailer below for Stars in the Storm. I love the music Tawnya chose and the rolling background waves.

Ready to listen? You can find links to purchase all four books on Tawnya’s website as well as a select number of free promo codes.

Get your Larksong Legacy audiobooks.

New Photo Community

As a cover designer, I love that there are sites where I can source free photos for my clients – and do so legally. (Note: You should never save a photo from a random web search and use it on a book cover. That’s illegal and in bad taste. Always check the licensing agreement and copyright rules before using a photo, even on Canva.)

Unsplash.com is my absolute favorite of these free photo sites. Unsplash provides a place for photographers to gain visibility of their work, get hired for future work, and has a huge database of excellent photography for anyone else to choose from. Meaning I can keep my cover design fees at a manageable cost for the average indie author. The one exception to this is photos of people for commercial projects. These must always be purchased to ensure that each model has given consent related to use of his or her image. (Another note: If you purchase a stock photo, especially for a book cover, I highly recommend buying the Expanded License. It is more expensive, but will cover all your legal bases.)

Between cover designs, newsletters, and marketing projects, I’ve sourced countless photos from Unsplash, and it only seemed right to give back to others. Therefore, you can now find many of my own photos on my Unsplash profile. These are all completely free for use, although a note of credit in your project(s) is greatly appreciated. My thanks in advance!

Visit My Unsplash Page

Releasing in June

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

  1. Perpetual Rainbows by Jessika Caruso – A young woman must navigate disease, death, first love, and friendship as she decides how much she is willing to risk for the Continental cause.
  2. A Name to Remember by Hannah Hood Lucero – YA romantic military suspense about a gold star daughter and the misunderstood bad boy in town. He’s hiding from the disgrace of his name. She’s running from the legacy of hers.
  3. Secrets of the Revolution by Megan Soja – A young woman will do whatever it takes to preserve her family’s legacy, including joining a dangerous ring of patriot spies…and falling for a revolutionary printer with a brave heart.
  4. A Class Liberated by Susie Murphy – The seventh book in the Irish historical romance fiction series, A Matter of Class. Please note that this series has more mature content than most of the books I recommend, but is extremely well-written.
  5. Awakened by Roseanna M. White – In a world on the brink of war between the mer and the land-dwellers, friendship, faith, and love demand the ultimate sacrifice as both kingdoms seek to unlock the prophesied magic waiting to spring the magic of wind and sky.

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

Follow me on:
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COPYRIGHT © KELSEY GIETL 2025

Purple Mask Publishing

2025 Zumbehl Rd, Ste. 33

St. Charles, MO 63303

Kelsey Gietl - Author

Historical Fiction with a Dose of Romance and a Dash of Intrigue

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