Erin from Still Life, With Cracker Crumbs came up with an awesome idea to offer a giveaway with our Comfy, Cozy Cinema this year and that giveaway is open! You have until Tuesday, Oct. 15 to enter it and the chance to win the items pictured here and a few more we are tossing in at the last minute!
Erin and I both have included books in the giveaway – a poetry collection put together by her and the first book in my cozy mystery series – Gladwynn Grant Gets Her Footing – from me.
We also have a journal in there, stickers, an autumn-themed mug, chocolate pumpkins (so cute!), tea, a booklight to read your cozy books with, and I’ll also be adding a cozy blanket for you to curl up under and these cute little corner bookmarks for you to mark the page of whatever book you are reading.
To enter you can follow this link (the embed feature won’t work on WordPress for some reason).
We’re asking you to follow our blogs, our Instagram, my Substack, and Erin’s Etsy to gain entries.
We are not going to use your email addresses for anything other than confirming you followed, etc. so don’t worry that you’re being added to a mailing list. You are not. The addresses will not be kept in any way on our end.
We are so excited to offer this comfort package so please take a chance to win it! This giveaway is for U.S. residents 18 years of age or older. It is in no way associated with WordPress or Meta or any of their affiliates.
Note: This is my monthly author newsletter because Substack kept freezing my posts and not letting me edit them after I had them completely written and ready to go. I am not sure what I am going to do for a newsletter right now, but for now I’ll place my updates on my blog. If you don’t care a bit about my writing, interviews with other authors or book and bookish things giveaways, please just ignore this post and return for my other mundane ramblings *wink*
I almost died on the Fourth of July.
This might not be completely true, but it’s how it felt to me. My family and I went to a local fireworks display, put on by professionals, but not a public show. It was fantastic but toward the end, my 16-year-old son and I realized we were way too close as several explosions and flash bangs went off while they lit the fireworks for the finale. My daughter and husband had already gone back to our van, but the problem was, I never heard them say that because the explosions at the end were so loud.
As the flashing and explosions continued, I looked for them frantically.
I started to worry that pieces of fireworks were going to fall on me and my family so I tried to stand, but now there was a strobe effect going on and the ground was moving and shaking for me. I tried to stand up, but couldn’t tell where the ground was part of the time so I kept falling back down to a kneeling position, all the while yelling at my son to stop looking at the lights because I was certain it was going to blind him.
Looking over my shoulder I caught him laughing at me but the lights were still moving all over and I was sure something was going to fall on us so I just sat and put my hands over my head and prayed. We finally managed to stand and make our way back to our van and later my son said he was watching me and wondering if I was eventually going to stop trying to stand up after the second time I fell over.
By the time we were walking to the van I was laughing pretty hard and even harder when he told me how silly I had looked trying to stand up over and over. For your amusement, I am attaching the video where you can hear me telling him not to look at the lights.
Gladwynn Grant Gets Her Footing Released
Luckily, I survived our fireworks display because last week, July 11th to be exact, I released Gladwynn Grant Gets Her Footing a week early. This is the first book in my Gladwynn Grant Mysteries series, which is a series of cozy mysteries.
Not sure what a cozy mystery is? Read on.
Cozy mysteries are usually fun reads with an amateur sleuth as the main character. That sleuth usually has no connection to law enforcement other than trying to tell the police about what she (or he, but it is often she) has discovered about a crime.
Cozy mysteries are not hard-hitting thrillers or mysteries. They are free of graphic descriptions of murder or death or sex. There is almost never sex, but if there is, it is always “closed door”, which means there may be suggestions that sex happened, but the reader doesn’t see it. My books won’t even discuss main characters having sex, just an FYI.
These types of mysteries usually take place in a small town or village, have lots of quirky characters, and are sometimes slowly-paced and sometimes fast-paced. It all depends on the author.
Here is what readers are saying about Gladwynn Grant Gets Her Footing:
“If you like mysteries with a slower pace, you’ll enjoy the small-town adventures awaiting Gladwynn, amateur journalist-sleuth.” – Alicia G.
“The characters are rich and full, just like in her other series. The small-town antics reminded me of the several small towns I’ve lived in. And her plot line kept me guessing all the way to the very end.” – Bettie G.
“Intrigue, mystery, cold case, attempted murder all with a side of humor, new relationships and letting go of the past…..this author has a way with words, literally!! I love her style, her creativity in not just writing an incredible story but in the depiction of each wonderfully devised character so easily brought to life! A treasure for the TBR list for any and every reader!” – Evelyn F.
In case you’d like to know what you can expect from Gladwynn Grant Gets Her Footing, here is a small list:
A slightly introverted, sometimes extroverted main character
For a little change of pace for this newsletter, I’m featuring an interview with an author I am familiar with and whose work I have read and enjoyed.
An interview with Danielle Grandinetti, Christian Historical Romance Author
Read on to learn more about Danielle and for a chance to win a copy of her latest book!
1. When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
I wrote my first story in third grade and never looked back. I love telling stories as much as I love reading them, and it is a delight to share mine with such amazing readers.
2. Tell us a little about your already completed/published projects.
Refuge for the Archaeologist is my fifth historical romance, second in the Harbored in Crow’s Nest series. My first series, Strike to the Heart, centers around the 1930 Wisconsin Dairy strikes. In August, my debut Love Inspired contemporary sweet romance releases. I’m thrilled!
3. What are the main themes of your novels or stories?
I love telling stories about finding home in hard times. Whether historical or contemporary, with or without suspense, life can be hard … but there is hope and home to be found.
4. What advice would you give to other writers who hope to someday write and publish a book?
Keep reading in your genre, especially new releases. Learn all you can from those who’ve been there. Keep learning by studying books on writing to find the system that works for you. And most of all, keep writing. The more you apply what you read and learn, the better your writing will become.
5. What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
Read! But I also love to tinker in my veggie/herb garden or take nature pictures, especially of Lake Michigan. Being a mom of young boys, I don’t have all that much free time, but I love the opportunity to introduce my boys to the joys of creativity – whether through my writing, reading, or God’s creation.
6. What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?
Surprised isn’t quite the right word, but I’m not sure I was fully prepared for how blessed I’d feel by my readers. Their encouragement, kindness, and excitement over my books is both humbling and inestimable.
7. As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?
I wanted to be a missionary, or a better way to say it was that I wanted to share the story of hope with those who desired to hear it. And guess what? I may not travel to other countries anymore to do so, but I still get to share that hope within the pages of my stories. And I pray they are a blessing to those who read them.
8. For fun, what’s your favorite snack when you’re writing?
There’s nothing like writing beside a big teapot filled with Chai.
9. Share a little more about yourself outside of your writing.
Though originally from the Chicagoland area, I now live along Lake Michigan’s Wisconsin shoreline with my husband and our two young sons (and Penny our Labrador). I have a Master of Arts degree in Communication and Culture, and spent twenty years in various educational fields, including as a middle school writing coach and an adjunct professor, teaching intercultural communication. I love learning about other people and their cultures and am privileged to have visited a handful of countries on four different continents.
10. Where can people learn more about your work and connect with you?
I’d love to keep in touch! The best way is to join my Fireside News email community. I send out weekly emails with all sorts of bookish fun. New subscribers receive a complimentary ebook. Sign up here.
Thank you for visiting with me today!
Giveaways
Danielle has graciously agreed to give one commenter here one paperback copy of her latest book, Refuge for the Archaeologist. Simply subscribe to my newsletter and leave a comment about one thing you remember about Danielle’s answers above and you’re entered.
Here is a description of the book:
Will uncovering the truth set them free or destroy what they hold most dear?
Wisconsin, 1930—With her health in shambles and her archaeological career on the line, Cora Davis retreats to Crow’s Nest and the home of her great aunt to heal. She doesn’t think much of the missing memories from between the earthquake that caused her dizzy spells and her trip home. Until she begins remembering the danger that sent her fleeing her last dig and the person responsible.
After a decade as a ranch hand, Silas Ward returned to Crow’s Nest to provide for the women in his life. That same protective instinct propels him to Cora’s aid. But when finances dwindle, the lies and greed of others threaten to ruin his family. Unless Silas can walk the thin line of compromise. A choice that might cost him Cora’s affection.
As winter’s chill threatens, will Crow’s Nest prove a refuge, or will both Cora and Silas have no choice but to sacrifice their chance at happiness to save those they love?
Welcome to Crow’s Nest, where danger and romance meet at the water’s edge.
Bookmark Giveaway
This month I am also giving away a bookmark designed by Sara The Book Lady who is @her.novel.opinion on Instagram.
She offers up very honest, but polite book reviews on Instagram, and, obviously, also designs bookmarks.
To win a bookmark comment that you are interested in the bookmark and please subscribe to my blog for more writing updates (or just sometimes silly posts!).
Learn about a contemporary author’s new book series and get a free novella.
I recently read a book by author Maryanne Landers that I will be endorsing. Maryanne has a Kickstarter for the book that you can learn about HERE.
Here is a quick description of the book:
“She’s detached in a stormy marriage because of both of their unfaithfulness. Now she faces the aftermath of her compromise with an unwanted pregnancy. Will fleeing bring her the freedom she yearns for?
Emily Corentin wants to escape the jagged edges of her brokenness. She believes the only option she has is to take her young daughter, leave her husband, and end the unintended pregnancy with an abortion. But her plans take an unexpected turn when the homeless shelter she finds is not the type of help she wanted. She’d buried religion years ago with the death of her Gran. Any God-fearing place will only confirm how much God abandoned her.
An offer from a shelter volunteer may be the lifeline she and her daughter need, but Emily only sees it as a means to an end. The unlikely friendship that follows, draws her closer to the answers she may have carried with her all along. But rash decisions bring new challenges that drag her further into a sea of helplessness.
When all hope is lost in despair will she be washed away by the patterns of her past? Or will she answer the call to embrace the mercy of the cross and in turn bring reconciliation to her marriage?”
If you would like to receive a free short story that kicks off the series you can scroll down to the bottom of the above linked page.
And finally, Thank You!
Thank you to all of you who keep up with my writing adventures and for anyone who subscribed to my newsletter on substack. I hope you will look around my blog and hang out and then subscribe so you will receive my monthly writing updates here.
You can also find me on the following social media sites:
There will be bonus entries for each follow on Instagram as well. See my Instagram (www.instagram.com/lisarhoweler) for the list of authors and their accounts.
✅Third Place Prize Winner will receive 1 e-book of their choosing from the list below.
✅Second Place Prize Winner will receive 2 e-books of their choosing from the list below.
✅Grand Prize Winner – (all the e-books below – yup that’s all 19 e-books) AND Gift Cards to The Flourished Mustard Seed ($35) (@theflourishedmustardseed )and Sweet Sequels ($55) (@sweetsequels)
The books you could win: In the Midst of the Storm by Latisha Sexton,
In the Night Season by Jennifer Q. Hunt,
Confessions to a Stranger by Danielle Grandinetti,
The One Who Got Away by Tara Grace Ericson,
Last Wish by Valerie Howard,
Some Through the Fire by Jennifer Q. Hunt,
A Battle Worth Fighting by Sarah Hanks,
The Farmer’s Daughter by Lisa R. Howeler,
The Uncertainty of Fire by Stephanie Daniels,
Halos by Amber Lambda,
A Summer in Shady Springs by Sarah Anne Crouch,
Shores of Mercy by Lisa Howeler,
The Prodigal Sons by Aubrey Taylor,
Until We All Run Free by Heather Wood,
The Secret of Drulea Cottage by Claire Kholer,
The Darkening Dragons by Sarah Everest,
For a Noble Purpose by Kelsey Gietl,
In the Midst of the Darkest Storm by Latisha Sexton,
Trina Potter, Nashville country music star, buys a ranch near her hometown in Brenham, Texas, to help her niece open a rescue facility for dogs. Her presence in town stirs up some old high school rivalries—and romance. Finding property to buy is a challenge, convincing her mother to move there with her is daunting, and navigating a string of strange accidents is perplexing. Sometimes Trina feels like she’s purchased her own three ring circus instead of a beautiful piece of land. But her first priority will be figuring out who wants Second Chance Ranch shut down before they even have the grand opening.
If you are looking for a cozy mystery with entertaining characters, then Dog Days of Summer is a good choice.
The book starts off pulling you into the story with characters who are downhome, even though one is a famous country singer.
This is the second book in the series, but you don’t have to read the first one to know what is happening in this one.
Y’Barbo writes characters who are very relatable.
A few sections dragged a little bit for me, but that’s merely my opinion. Other readers may not mind a little meandering. I felt that there could have been a bit more information about the main character’s singing career but that’s because I was interested, not because there was anything wrong with how it was written. I wasn’t a huge fan of how the love story was tossed in there as a plot point. It didn’t feel flushed out to me. The love story and the ending felt rushed to me but other readers may feel the pacing was just fine. Overall, this was a clean, cozy story that left me with a happy feeling at the end.
About the Author
Kathleen Y’Barbo is a multiple Carol Award and RITA nominee and bestselling author of more than one hundred books with over two million copies of her books in print in the US and abroad. A tenth-generation Texan and certified paralegal, she is a member of the Texas Bar Association Paralegal Division, Texas A&M Association of Former Students and the Texas A&M Women Former Students (Aggie Women), Texas Historical Society, Novelists Inc., and American Christian Fiction Writers. She would also be a member of the Daughters of the American Republic, Daughters of the Republic of Texas and a few others if she would just remember to fill out the paperwork that Great Aunt Mary Beth has sent her more than once.
When she’s not spinning modern day tales about her wacky Southern relatives, Kathleen inserts an ancestor or two into her historical and mystery novels as well. Recent book releases include bestselling The Pirate Bride set in 1700s New Orleans and Galveston, its sequel The Alamo Bride set in 1836 Texas, which feature a few well-placed folks from history and a family tale of adventure on the high seas and on the coast of Texas. She also writes (mostly) relative-free cozy mystery novels for Guideposts Books.
Kathleen and her hero in combat boots husband have their own surprise love story that unfolded on social media a few years back. They make their home just north of Houston, Texas and are the parents and in-laws of a blended family of Texans, Okies, and one very adorable Londoner.
More from Kathleen
Do you love dogs…or cats…or both…? I’m firmly in the “both” category. Since childhood I’ve always lived in homes that had at least one or the other, usually several of each. With every dog or cat comes at least one good story. One of my favorites is the tale of Bandit, the inspiration for the cover of my cozy mystery DOG DAYS OF SUMMER.
Once upon a time there was a black and white dog named Bandit. He was an English Springer Spaniel by birth but was completely convinced he was human. Bandit loved his people—three growing boys and a baby girl—even more than he loved popcorn and playing keep away (his version of catch). After many years, Bandit’s people grew up and he grew old. Toward the end of his very long and pampered life, he was plagued by the unwanted and yet much appreciated friendship of an ornery orange-striped cat named Baby and a snooty pedigreed feline named Fifi.
Everyone loved Bandit…except the territorial squirrel who lived in a tree in our backyard in Southeast Texas. From the moment Bandit joined the family, the furry fellow was determined to rid himself and his backyard of the trespassing canine. The squirrel’s favorite tactic was to tease Bandit until the dog chased him up a tree. Once treed, the crafty critter would run around the trunk just out of Bandit’s reach. Once the squirrel tired of this, it would retreat to a limb. There, the battle of the backyard beasts would commence again but with the squirrel lobbing pinecones and the dog trying to catch them.
While every good story has a beginning, middle and end, unfortunately at the end of this one there was no winner in the dog vs. squirrel wars. A job transfer led us to Houston where squirrels were in abundance in our new neighborhood but none of them were nearly as much fun as the one Bandit left behind. The last time I spoke with the owners of our old house, they told the funniest story: they loved their new home, but there was this squirrel in the backyard that kept throwing pinecones at everyone.
In DOG DAYS OF SUMMER, I tell the story of another Texas backyard. This one is located in Brenham, Texas, and it is about to become a very special place for some very special dogs named Patsy and Cline. Have I mentioned these dogs belong to a country singer named Trina who has a mother named Mama Peach who happens to own a cat named Hector that dislikes almost everyone and can open doors? Then there’s the problem of the next door neighbor and his penchant to forget to close the lid on his grill when he’s cooking? Did I mention that Patsy and Cline enjoy nothing more than whatever they happen to find on an unguarded grill? While the two furry scoundrels are rounding up trouble next door, there is even more trouble happening at the building site for Second Chance Ranch Dog Rescue on the other side of the property. Apparently not everyone is happy about the new neighbors. The mystery is who that person might be. While you’ve got to read DOG DAYS OF SUMMER to find out, I can give you one hint: it’s not the squirrel!
I’ve told you mine; now tell me your favorite dog or cat story. I can’t wait to read them.
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Kathleen is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon e-gift card and a print copy of the book!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
Can their hearts overcome the darkness of the mountains?
To escape a forced marriage, Cora Taylor travels from England to the Blue Ridge Mountains in search of her brother, who is working as a teacher in a mission school. She hopes to find a place where her nursing skills and independent ideas will be accepted and appreciated, but nothing prepares her for the wild mixture of isolation, community, brokenness, and hope within these mountains…or in the person of Jeb McAdams.
Returning from the devastation of World War 1 emotionally damaged, Jeb McAdams struggles against the rampant mountain alcoholism to soothe his nightmares. It’s easy to hide within the mountains, or it was, before Cora Taylor arrived. Now, she seems to show up at every turn, bringing her modern ideas, curiosity, and beautiful eyes with her.
Bound by their shared war history, the pair develop an unlikely friendship, which unexpectedly hints to something more. But when Cora’s desire to help the women of the mountains crosses an unspoken line, will Jeb be able to protect this feisty flatlander from the wrath of the mountain men or will he end up losing much more than his heart?
If you are a fiction of historical fiction and historical romance, then Pepper Basham is the author for you, and her latest, The Heart of the Mountains, will have you hooked from the beginning.
I connected with the two main characters early on and felt like I needed their lives to turn out okay after all they had been through before the book even started and then went through during the book.
There was non-stop action and a variety of interesting characters which transformed what could have been a simple run-of-the-mill, cookie-cutter inspirational romance book into a novel with depth, complexity, and heartfelt tenderness.
There were quite a few side characters in this two-person point of view book. Crisis after crisis popped up involving each of the side characters, which could have been a bit confusing at times but wasn’t because it kept the booking moving along at a speed just fast enough to hold my interest but not too fast to make my head spin in confusion. Basham kept the characters straight for the readers like a true professional, balancing subplots like a well-trained literary juggler.
About the Author
Pepper Basham is an award-winning author who writes romance peppered with grace and humor with southern Appalachian flair. Both her historical and contemporary novels have garnered recognition in the Grace Awards, Inspys, and ACFW Carol Awards. Her historical romance, The Thorn Healer, was a finalist in the 2018 RT Awards. Her historical romance novels, My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge and The Red Ribbon, and her contemporary novels, the Mitchell’s Crossroads and Pleasant Gap series, showcase her Appalachian heritage, as well as her love for humor and family. She currently resides in the lovely mountains of Asheville, NC where she is the mom of five great kids, a speech-language pathologist to about fifty more, and a lover of chocolate, jazz, hats, and Jesus.
You can learn more about Pepper at her website http://www.pepperdbasham.com or connect with her on FB, IG, or Twitter.
More from Pepper
It’s so interesting how one idea can influence an entire series, or…how one person’s story can.
The idea for The Heart of the Mountains started in Laurel’s Dream with a hint of a family history story about a girl named Kizzie. (Someday, I hope to bring Kizzie’s story to the pages of a book). From there, the idea began to grow out of a love for my Appalachian culture into a series of books which highlighted (and fictionalized) stories from my family history.
The main story in The Heart of the Mountains is about Jeb and Cora, two different people with similar servant hearts, but the secondary story that touched me so much was the one based on my great grandfather’s life. I write about it in the Author’s Note at the end of the novel, so I won’t go into detail about it. However, what I loved getting to do is bring the truth of God’s redemption in my great grandfather’s life…to life again.
I never knew “Papa Rat”. I only knew the stories handed down to me by my granny and my mama, but in writing this story, I feel as though I had a tiny opportunity to “meet” him in these pages. He was a gruff mountain man with a broken past which led him to make a whole lot of broken choices, but his story is incredibly encouraging, because it points to the God of broken people. My great grandpa wasn’t left in his brokenness, but, after years of running away from God, he would later recount that God pursued him. The beauty of Sam McAdams’ journey in The Heart of the Mountains is only a little glimpse into what I imagine my great grandpa’s redemption story looked like.
Because my great grandpa was forever changed when Jesus saved him (as any of us should be).
I think that’s what my granny and her siblings (and even “Papa Rat” himself) would want most -that his story would point to Jesus. I hope that’s what you see when you read about Sam McAdams in The Heart of the Mountains.
Have you ever read a book based on family history? One of my favorites is Catherine Marshall’s Christy.
