🎊 Bookish New Year, Anyone? 🎊
Jan 03, 2024 7:00 pm
I don't know about you, but I have to admit. I'm glad to see the tail end of 2023. It was a wild year both at home and around the world, and it's been a relief to explore the Teutonic Fantasy Realm in an effort to escape reality.
Yep, it's not just a "reader thing." Authors do that too! 😉
My husband and I spent the Christmas holidays in New Jersey with my family. While we didn't take a lot of pictures since the weather was iffy the whole time, we sure ATE a lot of Italian food! No, I'm not Italian—but yes, if you grow up in New Jersey, you tend to become intimately acquainted with savory dishes like spaghetti & sausage, strombolis, pepperoni pizza, and Italian subs. None of which you can get in "suitable" format in South Carolina.
Sorry to all my southern reader friends. I'm just not into boiled peanuts, fried chicken, grits, or soul food. You can keep all that to yourself. ❣️
But I think my Italian-loving heart is satisfied for a little while now....
So how did 2023 go for C.L. Carhart, Author? Let's find out.
2023: Year In Review
When I look back at how things went for my author career—or rather, "author fantasy" since I've yet to make a profit 💰—in 2023, I'm truly surprised at how far the Teutonic Fantasy Realm has expanded. My alternate reality dropped its weirdly elemental witchy self onto the reader public in 2021, and back then I couldn't have imagined crafting so many triumphant stories of love and magic.
In 2023, the Teutonic Fantasy Realm expanded by 8 books!
I've finally closed off the stray plot lines in my first series, His Name Was Augustin, and I'll likely hold a sale on the complete box set later this year. So if you haven't read the entirety of a modern day ice witch's harrowing journey into the Middle Ages—fated mates, forbidden romance, and super DARK themes included—keep your eyes open for news on that sale!
Elemental Bloodlines expanded from 1 full-length and 1 prequel into a chonky series of 7 standalone paranormal romances, each of which stars a different Teuton witch and her muse. The primary plot lines in Elemental Bloodlines will conclude in February 2024 with the last full-length in the series, Gift of Snow. I can hardly wait to share that final book with you, because it's shaping up to be stuffed with twisted romantic tensions, political intrigue, aaaaand a Boxer.
Yep.
That would be the dog. 🐶
Along with the privilege of exploring a variety of romantic enchantments while crafting Elemental Bloodlines, I had a few other authorly victories in 2023.
1) Opened my very own online book shop for my eBooks
2) Got a BookBub Featured Deal on Gift of Fire back in July
3) Worked with other indie authors on promotion
4) And welcomed so many new readers into my weirdly witchy world!
That final point is my favorite thing that happened in 2023. Whether you're able to buy my books or not, you're here to follow my crazy muses, and that alone is more valuable than ever. Being an indie author is a lonely road overall, so I'm incredibly grateful to have you here with me. 💖
If you haven't read either of my 2 freebies yet, feel free to download them at the links below.
Gift of Air (Elemental Bloodlines series prequel)
https://books2read.com/ebgiftofair
Veiled Magic (His Name Was Augustin bonus story)
Remember, one of the best FREE ways to support indie authors like me is to leave a review or a rating if you happen to like one of my books. Gift of Air and Veiled Magic could both use some "love" on Amazon and the other retailers. I'd be deeply thankful if you could take a minute to share your opinion, even if it's just a star rating. Every little bit helps with "social proof!" 😍
Panther: New Carhart Kitty
If you've been hanging out on my newsletter for a while, you might remember that my husband and I had to say goodbye to Nightfall, our most loyal and intelligent black cat, in spring of last year. Right on the cusp of the New Year, we got the opportunity to bring home a tiny little boy named Panther, and so far he's positively amazing. While our 3 adult cats are adjusting slowly, Panther has introduced a much-needed youthful spark into our household.
That's him sitting on my husband's lap, his teeny purr motor chugging along. The last time we had a kitten in our house was 7 years ago with Spooky, so it's been a lot of fun dealing with that zoomy energy all over again! 🖤
Book Fairs & Other Goodies
This week's featured book fair is loaded with a batch eBooks that are free with newsletter signup. You can find all sorts of steamy tales within, from holiday-themed magical romances to alien mates and stories of the why choose variety. Be sure to unearth all the diamonds in the rough by clicking the graphic above. Then check out the Kobo Plus book fair & info below, along with the giveaway!
Kobo Plus Sci-fi and Fantasy book fair - ends January 31st
Download the Kobo app to your phone, tablet, or PC
Michelle Bailey's Fated Mates Giveaway - ends January 14th
Other Books You Might Like
Found two stories for you to check out today that are free with newsletter signup. The first one is for the urban fantasy lovers among us, while the other should tick the boxes for romantic readers. Especially those who like to fantasize about being a princess. 👑 (I'm not alone there, right?)
Time lost. A world gained. Dormant magic awakens. And the first battle of many begins.
Chase awakes in a New York hospital to find he has been in a coma for a year. He’s the sole survivor of a devastating fire, the echoes of which still linger in his nightmares. His life seems to be back on track—until a night of celebration plunges him into chaos.
Violence erupts, unearthing secrets that launch Chase into a treacherous world he never knew existed.
With vengeance coursing through his veins and dormant magic awakening, Chase must navigate the dangerous world of magic and monsters. As each answer unveils more questions, he realizes everything comes at a price.
She wants the throne. He wants her.
Charlie always thought that being the younger sibling, the throne was out of reach. When her brother gives up on his birthright, she finally gets a chance. The only problem is that for her to get what she wants, Charlie must marry someone she doesn't know.
Nick always had a crush on the Princess. When her family approaches him, he can't refuse their offer. But how can he make Charlie see he wants more than what they first agreed?
That's all I've got for you this week, because I've got some outlining and blurbing to do for Gift of Snow. Plus I have to finish figuring out my goals for the first quarter of 2024.
(Yep, that might be why I shared a "year in review" instead of laying out the results of last quarter's goals. Haven't finished working out what I need to strive for at the beginning of 2024. Looks like I'm behind as usual. 😜)
Don't forget to drop a review or a rating if you happen to like one (or all) of my books. And I hope you find lots of fantasy realms to lose yourself into as 2024 progresses, because we all know imaginary worlds are better than this one!
Wishing you a wonderfully weird year. 💖
Talk to you soon,
C.L. Carhart
Elemental Bloodlines series:
https://clcarhart.com/collections/elemental-bloodlines-series-ebooks
His Name Was Augustin series:
https://clcarhart.com/collections/hnwa-series-ebooks
This week's book fair: