By now one of my fellow authors probably informed you of today's Witchy Bookworms event. But if not, here's your chance to browse over 100 witch-themed eBooks that are FREE today. It might be October 27th when this email hits your inbox, but make sure to check out all the books anyway. Most of us authors set multiple free days for these events since we don't spend our entire lives hovering around our inboxes. 😉

The Witchy Bookworms event includes books in multiple genres, so not every single book has romance front and center. Some are fantasy-focused, while others involve mystery or a dash of sci-fi. There are books available only on Kindle and others available on all retailers, so don't forget to browse all the options and add some new stories to your TBR.

Now I know this month has been unusually quiet on the C.L. Carhart front. 🕵️ I'll give relevant and not-so-relevant updates in the next 3 sections of this email. After that comes October's book fairs and a couple books I recently came across that might catch your attention. Buckle in, 'cause here we go....

Hurricane Helene Update

One month ago today, Hurricane Helene tore its way up from the Gulf coast of Florida and parked itself over an unusual and wholly unprepared place: the Appalachian towns of western North Carolina (WNC) and eastern Tennessee.

My husband and I live near the top western corner of South Carolina, so our hometown took a lesser hit from the storm. Downed trees literally everywhere on the sides of every road to this day. Power out for a full week, and the internet didn't return for us until Monday the 21st. Some people in our area are still without internet, but life is inching its way back to normal around here.

Unfortunately many of our beloved hiking areas in western North Carolina got devastated by the hurricane. 😔 Countless rivers and streams flow down from the Appalachians, and an unusual amount of rain had swollen the streams even before Helene came through. While people living in states like Florida tend to be prepared for hurricanes, people living in the mountains generally are not.

You might have heard news reports about the devastation in Asheville, NC. Many nonprofits and individuals are volunteering their services to help clean up, rebuild, and serve the needs of the people living in Asheville and the small towns surrounding that area. I recently did a deep dive into legit places accepting donations, so I'd like to share a few with you today.

(And yes. I'm very, very hesitant about donating to any nonprofit. We know most of the larger, well-known ones funnel donations to CEOs' salaries and other nefarious places under the guise of "charity," so I've checked to be sure every place listed below is actively helping in WNC right now. 💖)

If you feel inspired and able to donate, here's my short list:

• Samaritan's Purse - supporting massive clean-up efforts in WNC
• Crisis Response International - providing truckloads of needed items from a temporary hub in Arden, NC
• Western Carolina Emergency Network - links to a variety of ways to help, including deliveries of fuel and Starlink internet service
• Chimney Rock, Lake Lure, Bat Cave Hurricane Help - links to GoFundMes and donation pages for small businesses in a particularly shattered area
• Help Haus Heidelberg - this one is very dear to me, because my husband and I visit Helge's German restaurant often when we hike in WNC. In fact, the first chapter of Gift of Wind takes place at Haus Heidelberg. Helge needs our help to rebuild and replace essential equipment in his restaurant, so please donate if you are able.

Obviously there's no pressure to donate. Many of us are struggling financially, but we can all send positive vibes and prayers to all the people affected by an unprecedented storm. May better days dawn soon for all of us. 💕

Road Trip Update

If you read my last (rather short) email, you might remember my husband and I were in the midst of a lengthy and long-planned road trip. Which had to happen a week after Hurricane Helene dropped its load all over us. 🤷‍♀️ But plans move forward even with I-40 closed at the border of NC and TN.

So my husband and I took a short detour and then headed out to Las Vegas!

No, we didn't go out there to gamble. 🤑 That's not our thing. We mainly went to eat, in all honesty. And learn more about Vegas and the areas surrounding it.

Miiiiight have had something to do with a series or two in the early planning stages deep within C.L. Carhart's brain....

It'll probably be a couple years before those series see the light of day. In the meantime, here are a few pictures from our super lengthy trip out west. Yes, we did drive the entire way; and yes, it was a LOT longer than our Great Western Road Trip from 2 years ago. Pretty sure I'm not a desert girl. 🥵

Camping in the middle of nowhere: Fourche Mountain Recreation Area, Arkansas. Visited by a poacher and his dogs overnight. 👀 But other than that, the stars were spectacular, and the pit toilet was recently cleaned.

Checking out the Hoover Dam at the border of Nevada and Arizona. If you've read Winter Flame, you might know why we checked this out. 😉

A lovely yellow rose we found in the El Paso Municipal Rose Garden. 💛

I've got loads more pictures in my archives, so should I keep sharing a photo or two with you in my upcoming emails? Send me a reply and let me know!

Writing Update

Now for the update you actually care about. Of course I put this one last. 🤣

You might remember that by the time I finished my second complete series, Elemental Bloodlines, I burned out my creativity. Though I decided many of the side characters in Elemental Bloodlines deserve novellas of their own, at this point I've managed to actually write only one.

Magical Gift.

And there are six more on deck. Finally got cover art for all six. 🎉

There's also another Teutonic fantasy series creeping up my spine. One that will resemble my debut series, His Name Was Augustin. This forthcoming series will follow the same witch—and surprisingly enough, the same Black Priest 🖤—as they face a variety of trials and develop their relationship throughout the course of six or seven decades.

Decades?!?!?!

Yeah, this forthcoming series isn't exactly your typical "1-book-takes-place-over-the-course-of-1-week" type of series. Sorry, not sorry.

Because for real, HOW can we really get to know a pair of main characters when we follow their actions, thoughts, and adventures for just one week???

I can't begin to describe how excited I am to finally write another series that I actually WANT to write. 🎊 Big chonky books. A hero and heroine that grow and mature over time. Deep, dark secrets unveiled about the hidden parts of Teutonic culture and how it intertwines with the world of non-magical outsiders.

A Black Priest who wants to take a stand for goodness and light instead of blindly obeying the orders of his wicked demon lord, Wuotan.

And a Teuton witch who just recently found out what it means to be a Teuton. She wants to help our recently-cursed hero claw his way out of eternal exile and damnation.

I think my creative burnout might be budging a bit. 🙂 Are you ready to see where this is going to lead us all? Pre-orders for the first book will start up in a few weeks, so keep an eye out for updates!

Books & Book Fairs

Got two witchy books to share with you today. One's available in KU, and the other is a limited edition collection of novellas that's FREE on all retailers until the end of October. Get it now or wave it farewell forever! Then at the bottom you can find the book fairs where various C.L. Carhart books are lurking this month, along with a couple intriguing freebies from LoveBite books.

Carina

All I wanted was to get away from my coven and its archaic rules. My dream is to live a regular human life, but when my wish is to leave the coven is granted, of course there’s strings attached. Given to the shifter pack near us, freedom is even further away. The only good thing about my new life is the sexy, new alpha of the pack, Ryder. But submitting to this life still means captivity.

Ryder

I needed magic to save my dying father, and what I got instead was a witch who wants out of the supernatural life. She gives me more than I bargained for when I realize she’s my future. We reach an understanding, but she’s bound and determined to leave the pack and coven life behind. But I won’t let her go, as even if she’s chosen to fight me on this, she belongs with me.

✨ Kindle Only ✨

This Halloween, get enchanted by Secrets & Spells, a collection of 12 witchy novellas and short stories from a talented group of authors. Dive into thrilling worlds where magic, romance, and danger intertwine. Whether it's forbidden love between witches and warlocks or heart-stopping battles against dark forces, each tale is filled with paranormal passion and adventure.

From dark and sexy to light and magical, these stories offer something for every fan of paranormal romance and urban fantasy. Available exclusively during October, don't miss your chance to get swept away by the magic before it disappears!

✨ FREE On All Retailers ✨

I hope you've been able to find a few stories to tide you over while we wait for the next Teutonic fantasy series to begin. There'll be a novella or two dropping along the way, so stick with me as I make every effort to claw my way out of the creative burnout pit once and for all. 💪

I hope you have a wonderfully weird weekend, and happy reading!

Talk to you soon,

C.L. Carhart

Witchy Bookworms FREE books:

http://www.witchybookworms.com/

Secrets & Spells FREE anthology:

https://books2read.com/secretsspells/

Elemental Bloodlines series:

https://clcarhart.com/collections/elemental-bloodlines-series-ebooks

His Name Was Augustin series:

https://clcarhart.com/collections/hnwa-series-ebooks