Carolyn Astfalk's Blog, page 26

An Open Book: All of the Linkup Details

[image error]

If you been following An Open Book or linking your reading posts, you’ll notice I’ve updated our images. They are fresh, crisp, and blend well with CatholicMom.com, which co-hosts the linkup!

An Open Book is a forum for you to share what you and/or your family has been reading. I include what every member of the family has been reading or listening to in my monthly post, but you can include only  what YOU are reading, book reviews you’ve written, an Instagram post, a YouTube video, or whatever link-able content you’d like.

What is linking up? 

It’s simple. In my monthly post (published the first Wednesday of the month at both my website and CatholicMom.com):

Click on the little blue frog button at the end of the post. It looks like this: [image error]
Add the URL to your blog POST (not your blog) or your video, social media post, etc.  It should look something like this: http://www.carolynastfalk.com/2018/08...
Add your name and your email (which will remain hidden).

That’s it. Easy peasy.

Some An Open Book linkups have been viewed more than 700 times! Those are potential readers of your post or subscribers to your blog.

Want to know more?

I’m thrilled to have new bloggers join us! To keep things orderly, here are all of the details:

→  My post for linking will go up at 5:30 a.m. and remain open until midnight the following Tuesday. So, say life happens and your kids get sick, crunch time hits at work, or a deadline prevents you from finishing your post until Friday – no problem. Link when you can.

→  Post every month, every other month, or whenever you feel like. No commitment or regularity is required, although I’d love it if you’d join us each month.

→  Content is flexible. Simply write about what you’re reading. Your post can be as simple as a few lines about the book or as in-depth as a 700-word review. That’s entirely up to you. You can even forego writing all together and record a video or simply post cover photos.

→  Please keep posts family friendly, including covers. If any books include content that would go beyond a PG-13 rating, please note that in your comments. (This includes excessive profanity and graphic sex or violence.)

→  Include a link back to this blog and/or CatholicMom.com somewhere in your post. (http://carolynastfalk.com/category/my... and http://catholicmom.com/) Better yet, link to the week’s post.

→  You can use this button, if you’d like: [image error]

Here’s the HTML code for that button:

[image error]

→  Use the hashtag #OpenBook on social media.

→  Visit other linked sites and see what others are reading. Visit at least one other blogger’s link, comment on their post or suggest they visit your link. Let’s build a community and expand our reading horizons.

Link up what you're reading each month with An Open Book! It's fun and easy.
Click To Tweet

If like I do, you have a tendency to forget things, sign up to receive a reminder email one week in advance of each 1st Wednesday of the month.









First Name












Last Name












Email Address



















Submit

 THANKS FOR STOPPING BY! STAY A WHILE AND LOOK AROUND. LEAVE A COMMENT. SHARE WITH A FRIEND. IF YOU LIKE WHAT YOU SEE, PLEASE SIGN UP FOR MY AUTHOR NEWSLETTER TO KEEP UP-TO-DATE ON NEW RELEASES, EXTRAS, AND HOT DEALS!

[image error]

The post An Open Book: All of the Linkup Details appeared first on Carolyn Astfalk, Author.

Where You Lead by Leslea Wahl Blog Tour

[image error]

Where You Lead
by Leslea Wahl

Sixteen-year-old Eve Donahue’s lonely existence changes in an instant when visions of a mysterious stranger haunt her. Certain God is calling her for a mission, she bravely says yes and begins her quest to meet this young man.

​

Thousands of miles away, Nick Hammond has been dealing with his own unusual experience, an unwavering certainness to convince his father to run for political office.

When these two unlikely teens finally meet, their belief that God has called them to work together sets them on a journey of faith to untangle a web of deception involving international trade agreements, lost confederate gold, and a blossoming romance. As they follow century old clues, they realize God can call us all in big and small ways. We just need to listen and say “Yes Lord, I will go where You lead.”

My Review

Where You Lead is a fun mystery/adventure for tweens and teens. Eve is a breath of fresh air, and Nick is a class act. Their adventure and sweet romance along with a virtual tour of historic landmarks in and around the nation’s capital make for a fun, fast-paced ride.

Woven into the story is the theme of following God’s lead (which you may gather from the title). Nick and Eve are called in big, exciting ways befitting a fictional story, but Leslea Wahl points out the small ways in which most of us are called – not with visions or certain conviction but with subtle opportunities placed in our path and people in need of friendship.

My almost-tween recently enjoyed watching National Treasure and is an American history buff with a growing appreciation of innocent romance. This is one she’s sure to love!

Giveaway

[image error]

To celebrate the launch of Where You Lead, go on a treasure hunt for a chance to win from @Leslea Wahl!
Click To Tweet

Buy Now

On Kindle or in paperback on Amazon

Book Trailer

About the Author

[image error]

I’m Leslea Wahl. For as long as I can remember I have been a creator of stories with ideas swirling through my head. I am thrilled now to be able to share some of them with others. For many years I have been driven by a belief that our purpose in life is to use our gifts to glorify God and lead others to Him. I am blessed to have found a way to intertwine my two passions by creating adventurous stories with positive Christian messages for today’s youth. Not only do I hope to entertain with my writing, but also to inspire others to find their gifts as well.

Website: www.LesleaWahl.com
Facebook: facebook.com/LesleaWahlbooks
Twitter: LesleaWahl
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14178590.Leslea_Wahl 

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY! STAY A WHILE AND LOOK AROUND. LEAVE A COMMENT. SHARE WITH A FRIEND. IF YOU LIKE WHAT YOU SEE, PLEASE SIGN UP FOR MY AUTHOR NEWSLETTER TO KEEP UP-TO-DATE ON NEW RELEASES, EXTRAS, AND HOT DEALS![image error]

The post Where You Lead by Leslea Wahl Blog Tour appeared first on Carolyn Astfalk, Author.

Relevant Fiction Reviews: Classics (II)

[image error]

Classics The Scarlet Pimpernel, Jane Eyre & The Moviegoer: My takes in Relevant Fiction Reviews.
Click To Tweet

The Scarlet Pimpernel by Emmuska Orczy

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

While I was familiar with the book’s title, I had absolutely no idea what to expect from The Scarlet Pimpernel. I found the first few chapters slow, but once the narrative concentrated on Sir Percy and Lady Marguerite, I was hooked.

The Scarlet Pimpernel’s daring and courageous rescue of French aristocrats during the French Revolution made for exciting adventure. Coupled with the self-discovery made by the Blakeneys, I thoroughly enjoyed the tale. Their eventual humiliation (in the true sense of being humbled) and sacrifice for one another made for a satisfying ending.

Probably the most fun I’ve had with a classic!

The Moviegoer by Walker Percy

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I’d been wanting to read one of Walker Percy’s books for a long time. I guess the most indicting thing I can say about this book is that I found it very easy to put down and forget about.

I normally tear through books in a couple of days, and this relatively short book took weeks to get through.

The last two sections held my attention much better than the beginning and middle, but, overall, the meandering style, however expertly written, couldn’t hold my interest.

That said, there are some interesting philosophical questions raised and some beautifully written passages. I’m willing to give Percy’s work another shot before I write him off as one of those authors I don’t quite “get.”

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I first read Jane Eyre in high school. Of all the required reading I did in high school, it was one of my favorites. Flash forward a couple of decades, and I thought it was time for a re-read. Charlotte Bronte’s novel hadn’t lost its luster.

I recently read Erin McCole Cupp’s sci-fi retelling of Jane Eyre, The Memoirs of Jane E, Friendless Orphan. (It’s available as a series of e-books – Unclaimed, Nameless, and Vanished – which I HIGHLY RECOMMEND.) After reading the modernized adaption, I was eager to re-read the original.

Here’s where having a horrible memory pays off: I was able to enjoy details on the third go-round that I’d missed before or long forgotten. Additionally, reading Cupp’s adaption brought new insights into the characters, circumstances, and salient points of Bronte’s classic.

To me, Jane Eyre has what it takes to keep me re-reading. A strong heroine whose self-deprecation and poverty (not necessarily monetary poverty) make her relatable. A firm moral backbone. A bit of mystery with some surprising twists. And enough of the weird and eccentric to spark curiosity and interest.

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY! STAY A WHILE AND LOOK AROUND. LEAVE A COMMENT. SHARE WITH A FRIEND. IF YOU LIKE WHAT YOU SEE, PLEASE SIGN UP FOR MY AUTHOR NEWSLETTER TO KEEP UP-TO-DATE ON NEW RELEASES, EXTRAS, AND HOT DEALS![image error]

The post Relevant Fiction Reviews: Classics (II) appeared first on Carolyn Astfalk, Author.

How My Mom Changed Lives One Chocolate Chip at a Time

By most standards, my mother didn’t accomplish anything noteworthy in her 91 years.

She came from a Depression-era household, a row home filled by her parents and 10 siblings. They spoke one language.

She didn’t finish high school.

Once she had her first child at age 28, she was never employed again.

My mother was married only once, for 50 years. She bore four children, and buried one.

Ten miles was about the limit of how far she’d drive from her home. I don’t recall her ever driving in the city. The farthest west she traveled was Illinois, and she never left the lower 48 states.

She never posted a single thing on social media. In fact, she never owned a cell phone or used a computer.

Her home was decorated simply; the only wall decorations I recall are a crucifix and a mirror. At Christmas, we added matching Styrofoam Santa heads and a beer can wreath. At least until Home Interiors and Gifts found her in the 1980s.

Over a few days greeting her friends and family at the funeral home this summer, her legacy become clear:

She baked.

[image error]There were three things she baked a lot of. For many, many years.

Nut rolls
Chocolate fudge
Chocolate-chip cookies

Mum’s cookies were not fancy. She readily admitted they weren’t pretty cookies. We didn’t own a cookie press, and for my wedding, she asked friends to bake whatever were not drop cookies (like lady locks or pizzelles) for the cookie table.

And while her baked goods were loved by many – and they were delicious! – there wasn’t anything special about them. The chocolate chips were made with a Betty Crocker recipe. The fudge was a recipe from the back of the Kraft Marshmallow Creme jar. She tweaked them over the years, but they were not original.

And yet, I think everyone that walked through those funeral home doors mentioned the same thing: her chocolate chip cookies. In fact, in the flower arrangement my cousin and his wife sent, they included a chocolate chip cookie pillow. It was perfect!

For decades, Mum baked those cookies. For bake sales, card parties, rummage sales, fish frys, festivals, and family gatherings. After Dad died, she baked even more, taking packages of cookies to hair dressers, doctor’s offices, and funeral homes. She shipped them to priests who had been assigned in distant parishes and family members far away. She baked them for any reason and for no reason at all.

Stocked by my brother’s trips to a wholesale club, she baked multiple times a week. Her freezers were filled with both small and large bags of chocolate chip cookies. You couldn’t leave her house without her reaching into the freezer and producing a bag or bags for your to eat on the spot or take with you as you left.

Oh, you might protest that you were watching your weight, but in the end, you left with cookies.

Not to diminish my mom’s skill or how yummy her cookies were, but I don’t think it was about the cookies.

Baking was her hobby. It filled many empty hours when she lived alone. And, yes, she took pride in her homemade, delicious cookies.

But there was more.

At the funeral home, a man I’d never met before told me something I’ll never forget. Because she lived atop my brother’s business, Mum often saw customers coming and going. She would wave this man upstairs to come get a bag of cookies. He said that my mom and her cookies made him think he was somebody.

A simple bag of homemade cookies.

Yet, her attention and generosity made this man feel worthy. And Mum did this thousands of times over, delivering cookies (or enlisting another for the delivery) to help raise money for her church, to celebrate a special occasion, or to comfort the grieving. Or because you did a small service for her. Or merely crossed her path.

So simple. So small. And, yet, it was everything.

The little thing my mom did that made all of the difference.
Click To Tweet

Another person at the funeral home told me that when Mum learned she liked her lime pear Jell-O salad, she’d set aside a slice to make sure she got some.

Mum’s talent was a small one. She baked a few specialties.

But she baked them and gave them in charity. In love.

[image error]If I can take only one lesson from my mother’s long, beautiful life, it is this:

Don’t fall into the trap of thinking you must do something big, or be someone important to make a difference. You can live your life in obscurity being “only” a mother or a housewife or whatever role it is you are called to. You don’t need money, fame, or education to do what matters most.

“So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
– 1Corinthians 13:13

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY! STAY A WHILE AND LOOK AROUND. LEAVE A COMMENT. SHARE WITH A FRIEND. IF YOU LIKE WHAT YOU SEE, PLEASE SIGN UP FOR MY AUTHOR NEWSLETTER TO KEEP UP-TO-DATE ON NEW RELEASES, EXTRAS, AND HOT DEALS![image error]

The post How My Mom Changed Lives One Chocolate Chip at a Time appeared first on Carolyn Astfalk, Author.

An Open Book

[image error]

Welcome to the September 2018 edition of An Open Book, hosted both at My Scribbler’s Heart AND CatholicMom.com!

[image error]My husband and I have been trying to get a BINGO (or two or three) to complete our local library’s summer reading program. We are both ending with a mystery. He chose to listen to The Man Who Knew Too Much by G.K. Chesterton. (I’ll be reading The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle). He’s been listening to the series of short detective stories in the car. While he’s enjoying them, the narrator’s British accent is requiring more concentration than he’s able to muster while driving. He might do better with an American narrator or a book.

[image error]I am thoroughly enjoying the second book in the Flowers of Eden series by Myra Johnson. Castles in the Clouds is set in drought-ridden Arkansas during the Great Depression. A sweet romance blooms between a reticent young woman studying to be a teacher and a nearly blind missionary who has returned to the United States from Kenya.

[image error]I thoroughly enjoyed this simple yet instructive new book by Lindsay Schlegel: Don’t Forget to Say Thank You: And Other Parenting Lessons That Brought Me Closer to God. With lessons built around the phrases we parents often repeat to our children, this personal, reflective book is a great way for moms to re-focus on their vocation and their faith life as we embark on a new season. (Read along with the Don’t Forget to Say Thank You Book Club at Catholicmom.com!)

[image error]I thought I was doing my son a favor by picking up a graphic novel for him to read in order to complete his library summer challenge. But I’m the one that ended up reading it! I’d heard good things about Dean Koontz’s Frankenstein books, so I thought we’d give the comic book treatment a try. In the Introduction to Frankenstein: Prodigal Son, Koontz writes, “We live in a hubristic age, when politicians imagine themselves to be messiahs and when many in the sciences frankly discuss their dreams of creating a ‘post-human’ civilization of genetically engineered supermen, ignorant of the fact that like minds have often come before them and have left no legacy but death, destruction, and despair.” (Take note: This likely marks the first and last time you’ll see a bare-chested man cover in An Open Book.)

[image error]The kids each got to choose a book to keep upon completing the summer reading program, and my teenager grabbed Newbery Medal winner The Westing Game, by Ellen Raskin. I’m only familiar with this book because I know A. J. Cattapan’s 7 Riddles to Nowhere operates on a similar premise. In both books, a wealthy man has chosen a virtual stranger to inherit his fortune – provided he can solve a challenge.

[image error]Having discovered the inter-library loan program, my fifth grader has jumped back into the Childhood of Famous Americans series. She most recently read Abraham Lincoln: The Great Emancipator by Augusta Stevenson. Although she was disappointed that the book didn’t extend to his assassination, she enjoyed the book. (Most of the biographies extend into the subject’s adulthood.) So far, she’s only set aside one book in the entire series: a biography of Jim Henson, and that was because of the writing.

[image error]I’ve been reading Grandmama’s Pride by Becky Birtha and Colin Bootman to my little children. (It will be featured in this month’s Sabbath Rest Book Talk.) This picture book that does what fiction does best: puts you into the shoes of someone different. A different time. A different place. A different race. The book follows Sarah Marie’s 1956 summer trip from Pennsylvania to the South to visit her grandmother. While there, she experiences racial segregation for the first time (although her grandmother does a great job of operating as if the  discrimination is irrelevant.)

[image error]My five-year-old picked out a simple, brightly illustrated easy reader for his free book from the library.  Monster Munchies by Laura Numeroff and Nate Evans is the kind of book that holds only passing interest for me but which the little kids love. It’s ideal for young learners in its simplicity, emphasizing both rhyming words and counting, all couched in a context that leaves the kids giggling at its silliness.

What are you reading? Share it at An Open Book and find new book recommendations too! #openbook
Click To Tweet

[image error] Loading InLinkz ...

Want more details on An Open Book? You can also sign up for An Open Book reminder email, which goes out one week before the link-up. No blog? That’s okay. Just tell us what you’re reading in the comment box.

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY! STAY A WHILE AND LOOK AROUND. LEAVE A COMMENT. SHARE WITH A FRIEND. IF YOU LIKE WHAT YOU SEE, PLEASE SIGN UP FOR MY AUTHOR NEWSLETTER TO KEEP UP-TO-DATE ON NEW RELEASES, EXTRAS, AND HOT DEALS![image error]

The post An Open Book appeared first on Carolyn Astfalk, Author.

Book Clubs: How to Start One, Where to Find Books

As the temperatures cool and the days shorten, the prospect of cozying up with a good book is more and more appealing. (That is, if you need an excuse to enjoy a good book.)

The back-to-school season is marked by new routines and new ventures, and if you’re looking to read more books or make new friends, a book club may be just what you’re looking for.

Find a Group

You may be able to find an active group at your local library, church, or by asking friends. If you have no luck with in-person groups, search for some online options on Goodreads or Facebook.

Start a Group

Google book clubs, and you’ll find a wealth of resources. Here’s an article I found thorough and helpful:

How to Start a Book Club You’ll Actually Enjoy

Stymied by book selection? Seek recommendations from others, search lists, or, again, Goodreads – a great source for searching for books, especially its lists section. (Under “Browse.”)

[image error]

Photo by Pexels. (pixabay)

Tips from an Author

Authors love to talk about their books! Check an author’s website. Some post discussion questions for their books designed for clubs or classrooms.
Inquire whether an author would like to join your group in person (if local) or by computer using Skype or another app.
Inquire with publishers about discounts for book clubs. The worst answer you’ll get it is: “Sorry. No discount.” But you may discover that an independent author or one with a small publisher can offer you a discount on a purchase of say, a dozen books or more.

Resources

The authors (me included) at Catholic Teen Books have included contact information for bulk purchases, author interviews, and discussion and/or study guides. (It may say “Teachers,” but there is good stuff for everyone here.)
For teen girls, check out The Totally Feminine Genius Generations Book Club.
For teen guys, check out Man to Man Generations Media Club.
40 Book Recommendations for Catholic Book Club Selections
The Catholic Book Club on Goodreads

Find discussion questions for my books here:

Rightfully Ours

Stay With Me

Do you have any tips for starting or maintaining a successful book club?

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY! STAY A WHILE AND LOOK AROUND. LEAVE A COMMENT. SHARE WITH A FRIEND. IF YOU LIKE WHAT YOU SEE, PLEASE SIGN UP FOR MY AUTHOR NEWSLETTER TO KEEP UP-TO-DATE ON NEW RELEASES, EXTRAS, AND HOT DEALS![image error]

The post Book Clubs: How to Start One, Where to Find Books appeared first on Carolyn Astfalk, Author.

Top Catholic Back-to-School Reads for Boys, Girls, & Parents

Here comes the school year and with it, required reading assignments. Get back into the groove by supplementing those dry textbooks with some fiction. Need a reminder of why fiction is so good for you? Find it here.

The selections below start at middle grade (Rosa, Sola) and up. The last two selections are intended for mom and dad, because you need good books too. And an escape. Maybe more than the kids!

And for more recommendations for middle grades and teens, visit Catholic Teen Books.

[image error]

  Elfling by Corinna Turner

Leave the classroom behind for historical fantasy on the streets of London.

Secrets : Visible & Invisible by Catholic Teen Books authors

Ease into academics with short stories in varying genres to whet your literary appetite.

The King’s Prey by Susan Peek

Stressed out? Anxious? Learn why St. Dymphna is your go-to saint in this fast-paced adventure.

Rosa, Sola by Carmela Martino

For anyone who’s longed for a baby brother or sister. (Isn’t that all of us?)

Standing Strong by Theresa Linden

Where are you headed? Don’t drift through the school year; discover your purpose.

Angelhood by A.J. Cattapan

Think it would be better if you’d never been born? Think again.

Don’t You Forget About Me by Erin McCole Cupp

Take a little musical trip through the 1980s with this mystery/suspense with a side of romance.

Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather

Don’t forget the classics with this (much-needed) visit to a time and place where being an archbishop wasn’t about pushing papers across the chancery desk.

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY! STAY A WHILE AND LOOK AROUND. LEAVE A COMMENT. SHARE WITH A FRIEND. IF YOU LIKE WHAT YOU SEE, PLEASE SIGN UP FOR MY AUTHOR NEWSLETTER TO KEEP UP-TO-DATE ON NEW RELEASES, EXTRAS, AND HOT DEALS![image error]

The post Top Catholic Back-to-School Reads for Boys, Girls, & Parents appeared first on Carolyn Astfalk, Author.

Author Interview with Georgiana Daniels

[image error]In your most recent novel, Shadows of Hope, the reader knows from the first pages the heartbreaking conflict bound to be revealed: Marissa counsels Kaitlyn throughout her unplanned pregnancy and unbeknownst to both women, Marissa’s husband Colin is the father. You gave not only Marissa and Kaitlyn a voice, but Colin, too. Was it challenging to write from his point of view?

First, thank you so much for inviting me to your corner of cyberspace, Carolyn! 

As for Colin, writing from his point of view wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be. I tried to dig in and really think like someone who’s created a horrible situation but now wants to do the right thing, only he has no idea what that is.

And that’s the thing, when you’re not walking with God and you’re in an impossible situation, life can be a total mess! I really wanted to bring that complexity to his character—a man who truly doesn’t see how his sin is impacting those around him since he’s trying to do the right thing now.

Who was it that said everyone is a hero in their own story? That’s what I tried to keep in mind as I wrote Colin.

One of the things I enjoyed about Shadows of Hope is that the novel is underpinned by the belief that every human life is precious and valuable. Marissa lived that belief day in and day out at the pregnancy center she ran and Kaitlyn lived it in a very tangible way through her unplanned pregnancy. And yet there’s not a preachy moment in the book. What role do you think fiction can play  in building a culture of life?

I think fiction can play a huge role when it comes organically through the story. When I set out to write Shadows of Hope, it wasn’t done intentionally, per se, but the story grew as I considered how Marissa would have to face her worst fears and what would happen to her faith. 

The fact that Marissa ran the pregnancy center would make her confront what she really believed. She championed for life every day, so would she be able to do any less in the situation with Kaitlyn? She had to face that as part of her journey.

I really believe fiction can give a voice to all sorts of issues that matter to people, as long as they are woven into the story in a way that speaks to the heart. 

I really believe fiction can give a voice to all sorts of issues that matter to people, as long as they are woven into the story in a way that speaks to the heart.
Click To Tweet

[image error]I just downloaded Table for One, which is a contemporary romance laced with humor. Do you have to work hard at humor or does it flow naturally once you’re inside the story, so to speak?

Humor probably comes more naturally to me than anything else. I’m a hoot at parties, if you can convince my introverted self to come out and play. Well, I’m a hoot in my own mind, at least. I’ve been told I have a really big laugh, the kind that fills a room. That means I have to watch myself out in public. Not everyone gets my warped sense of humor.

The three books I’ve had published are so very different from one another because they were written in completely different seasons of life. In addition to different voices, so to speak, the three novels are different genres: chick lit, romance, and women’s fiction. And my unpublished novels cover an even wider range.

You share writerly advice regularly on your blog. What do you recommend writers do to hone their craft?

You’re going to love this—READ. Seriously, read everything you can in the genre you’re interested writing. Also, reading outside your chosen genre can boost creativity. 

And of course you have to just dig in and write. Write a lot, write about anything and everything. That’s the best way to discover your voice, the critical piece that makes your writing distinct.

Every writer also needs a trusted writing partner, maybe two. A writing partner is so much more than someone who critiques your work, although that’s an important part. A true partner can help you improve your craft, but also propel you forward when your own motivation is lacking. 

Like so many authors I talk to you, you juggle your duties as mom with your writing. Do you have any tips on integrating your family life and your writing life?

[image error]Our two youngest girls probably don’t remember a time when I wasn’t writing, so it’s always been part of life as they know it. For my husband and oldest daughter, it was a little bit of an adjustment when I started and they saw how seriously I was taking it. Carving time out of an existing schedule can be difficult, even under the best of circumstances.

It’s important, I think, to let the family know what’s in it for them—especially younger children. When the family can see the benefits of your writing, such as you being a happier and more well-rounded person, they have more understanding. It’s also healthy for children to see their mom pursuing a goal and how she handles it with learning, doing, trying, failing, and trying again. Modeling how to pursue a goal will imprint more strongly on them than telling them they should pursue a goal ever could. 

Then there’s the practical side of how to spin one more plate when you already have so many duties as a mom. The single most important tip on that is to outsource absolutely everything that doesn’t have to be done by you. You do the things that only you can do, like write!

What project(s) are you working on now?

I regret to say that I’ll probably never be one of those writers that has a gazillion contracts lined up. Since I don’t have a book under contract now, I’m working on a few different ideas, one romance and one women’s fiction. 

The romance is fun and a little quirky, while the women’s fiction contains another (different) moral dilemma in the way Shadows of Hope did. I guess we’ll have to wait and see what happens!

Thank you so much for inviting me to your blog today. I really enjoyed chatting with you!

[image error]Georgiana Daniels resides in the beautiful mountains of Arizona with her super-generous husband and three talented daughters. She graduated from Northern Arizona University with a bachelor’s degree in public relations and now has the privilege of homeschooling by day and wrestling with the keyboard by night. She enjoys sharing God’s love through fiction and is exceedingly thankful for her own happily ever after.

Facebook: facebook.com/authorgeorgianadaniels
Instagram: instagram.com/authorgeorgianadaniels
Twitter: twitter.com/GeorgianaD

Website: georgianadaniels.com

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY! STAY A WHILE AND LOOK AROUND. LEAVE A COMMENT. SHARE WITH A FRIEND. IF YOU LIKE WHAT YOU SEE, PLEASE SIGN UP FOR MY AUTHOR NEWSLETTER TO KEEP UP-TO-DATE ON NEW RELEASES, EXTRAS, AND HOT DEALS![image error]

The post Author Interview with Georgiana Daniels appeared first on Carolyn Astfalk, Author.

First Line Friday

I’ve been wanting to read a Charles Martin book for a long time now, and I picked this one up from the library this week. I can’t wait to get started on it!

Send Down the Rain
by Charles Martin

[image error]

Witnesses say the phone call occurred around seven p.m. and the exchange was heated.

This first line hints at so much. “Witnesses.” Something happened. The kind of thing, a crime or an accident, in which a witness’s report is required. The time is noted, indicating that something big happened at that time and possibly after as well. And a heated exchange indicates dissension or antagonism. A possible motive? A cause?  I can’t wait to dive in and find out more.

What’s the first line of the book you’re reading? Or the book nearest to you?

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY! STAY A WHILE AND LOOK AROUND. LEAVE A COMMENT. SHARE WITH A FRIEND. IF YOU LIKE WHAT YOU SEE, PLEASE SIGN UP FOR MY AUTHOR NEWSLETTER TO KEEP UP-TO-DATE ON NEW RELEASES, EXTRAS, AND HOT DEALS![image error]

The post First Line Friday appeared first on Carolyn Astfalk, Author.

Tips for Marketing Your Audiobook

So, you’ve had your books made into audiobooks using ACX. (You haven’t? Then you should read Part I:Tips for Turning Your Novel into an Audiobook Using ACX and learn why and how.) Now what? How do you market your audiobooks(s)?

[image error]

Image by sik-life (pixabay)

Update Your Links

Commonsense, right? But sometimes we forget to do the obvious. Wherever you list your books, particularly your website, make sure your audiobook cover(s) and links (to Audible, Amazon, and iTunes) are included.

Tip: Include an audio sample so that listeners can hear what the audiobook sounds like. You can embed or share samples, such as the 5-minute retail sample created by your producer/narrator, using SoundCloud. Simply create an account (for free) and upload. It looks like this:

Tips for marketing your audiobook. #audiobooks
Click To Tweet

Increase Your Exposure

Tip: When posting about your book on social media or speaking in interviews, be sure to mention the availability of your audiobook along with the traditional and e-book formats.

Tip: Give away review copies. ACX will provide you (and the narrator/producer) with 25 US codes and 25 UK codes redeemable for your audiobook, upon request. Use these codes to increase listeners and gain reviews. You can also use them as contest prizes.

Tip: Plenty of Facebook groups exist for you to share your free audio codes. Look for groups that are interactive, not spammy.  A word of caution: Most groups operate on the honor system. You may offer your code with the expectation (and agreement) that the recipient will download, listen, and review  your audiobook. Be prepared for those who may take your code and download a book of their choosing, never to be heard from again.

Because I’ve been burned too many times in giving away codes, I recommend using Audiobook Boom.  For $10.00, you can list your audiobook by genre for publication in their weekly email newsletter. (Think Bookbub, but for audiobooks.) Subscribers may then request a code for your book. Audiobook Boom notifies you of the requests, providing you with a spreadsheet that includes listener profiles. You choose to whom you’d like to send a download code based on their listening habits; no obligation.

Or, try listing your book(s) with the Solid Gold Reviewer Program at Audiobook Jukebox. Potential reviewers can select your audiobook for review and request a review code from Audible.

You could also try running an ad with AudaVoxx, an audiobook marketing site.

Tip: If your book is a romance , consider adding it to the Audible Romance Package. You can choose to enroll your completed book from your ACX dashboard. The program operates in a manner similar to Kindle Unlimited. For a monthly subscription fee, users have access to a wide variety of titles, including sweet romances (i.e., no graphic sexual content).

Tip: Make sure your book is Whispersync ready. Using Whispersync, if a reader owns both the e-book and audiobook versions of a book, they can bounce between the two, never losing their place. Amazon often offers the audiobook version of a book at reduced price when the Kindle version is purchased (even at a sale price).

Helpful Links


Audiobooks: Tips for Distribution with ACX and Marketing Ideas


How to Use Audio as an Author for Book Sales and Marketing


How to Make an Audiobook: Publishing on ACX and Audiobook Marketing


25+ Ways to Market Your Audiobook: A Quick Guide

I Made an ACX Audiobook – Now What Do I Do?
A New Way to Promote Your Audiobook: Audible’s “Clips” (This article promotes Audible’s clip-sharing, which debuted in 2016. While you can still create clips in the Audible iOS app, there is no longer a way to share them with other users.)

[image error] [image error]

 

 

 

Do you have any tips for marketing any audiobook?

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY! STAY A WHILE AND LOOK AROUND. LEAVE A COMMENT. SHARE WITH A FRIEND. IF YOU LIKE WHAT YOU SEE, PLEASE SIGN UP FOR MY AUTHOR NEWSLETTER TO KEEP UP-TO-DATE ON NEW RELEASES, EXTRAS, AND HOT DEALS![image error]

The post Tips for Marketing Your Audiobook appeared first on Carolyn Astfalk, Author.