Ash Is Improving Every Day 😻
Mar 29, 2023 3:01 pm
So what's new in C.L. Carhart's weird authorly world this week? I suppose first I ought to admit that I'm crawling my way out of the usual "post-release burnout." Every time I release a new book (or box set) into the wide reader world, I tend to turn into a pumpkin 🎃 for about a week afterward, due to the innumerable hassles publishing a book entails.
It might look easy from the outside, but trust me. It's not.
Even when you're publishing only on your personal bookshop.
But it looks like there's light at the end of the tunnel. I've finally started writing Book 3 in my Elemental Bloodlines series, and tensions are simmering already amongst a diverse cast of characters. The two adopted sisters mentioned at the end of Gift of Stone are struggling to find a Teuton priest willing to perform the blood-transfer ritual for them. And it's starting to look like they might have to make a deal with death to achieve their goals. 💀
🐱 Update On Ash 🐱
If you happened to send positive vibes, thoughts, or prayers for the teeny gray kitty named Ash these past couple weeks, he offers his deepest thanks. Ash has been adjusting to indoor life after a harsh beginning outside, and he's decided his daddy's beard is the perfect replacement for his mama (he's been trying to nurse the beard! 😻). Ash is determined to thrive despite his tough start, and his mommy can't get any good pictures of him anymore because he's always running & bouncing around. He also likes to sleep under her hair.
Here's one fuzzy photo from a week ago, before he turned into a blur. 💖
HNWA Giant Box Set Stats
You might remember that last Monday, I released the HNWA Giant Box Set into the world on my personal bookshop. Just how many copies did we manage to sell? And how much $$ did we bring in?
Truth to be told, we didn't sell "a huge amount" of box sets, likely due to the hefty price tag. After all, the HNWA Giant Box Set includes 6 full-length novels ($4.99 each) and 2 short stories ($2.99 each), which would make the collection $35.92 if I charged the market price. (Or $30.93 since Arcane Gateway is free.)
Luckily, I do NOT charge the market price. 😉 And it's still possible to get an extra 10% off of the box set if you enter the code TORSTEIN at checkout.
So how many did we sell? Did we make more than we've made on Gift of Fire and Gift of Stone's release?
To answer the first question: Just a handful.
And to answer the second: YES!
We made a total of $124.40 from the HNWA Giant Box Set and the secret bonus story titled Hidden Passions! That is seriously HUGE! And the best part is that it's in my bank account right this very moment, since with my bookshop I don't have to wait several months for retailers to pay royalties. 🥳
Again, I'd like to thank YOU for your support as I've started my own bookshop, even if all you've done is cheer from the sidelines. All that positive energy means a lot to me, since I haven't reached the "financially successful author" level quite yet. But we're going to get there! I'm sure of it.
And I'm so glad to have you along for the ride. 💖
If you haven't gotten your copy of the box set yet, you can grab one at the link below. Don't forget to enter TORSTEIN at checkout for 10% off. And keep your eyes peeled for the bonus story offer after you've bought the box set!
https://clcarhart.com/products/his-name-was-augustin-complete-collection-ebook
Gift of Darkness Blurb
So what's going on in this new book I'm currently writing, Gift of Darkness? What's the deal with these two "sisters," and how exactly can they be sisters when one is a Teuton witch and one is a non-magical human?
Glad you asked! 😉 How about a sneak peek at the cover art, followed by the current blurb (that I'll likely tweak before release day)?
They say a Teuton witch shouldn’t desire an outsider. But love never follows the rules.
Doro, a Teuton witch of darkness, longs to offer her adopted sister, Amira, the same magical gifts she claims. But the Teuton priests in her Alpine village staunchly refuse to perform the ritual that would transform Amira into a witch. And Doro is certain there’s some age-old prejudice involved. When a secretive, undead priest offers to conduct the ritual—at a terrible price—will Doro dance with demons for Amira’s sake?
While Amira would risk her life to seize Teutonic magic, there’s something else she wants even more. For years, she and Doro have resisted the romantic pull between them, for fear of social repercussions. Once her magic awakens, Amira longs to marry Doro and bind their elements forever. But if the local priests won’t let Amira become a witch, none will agree to perform her wedding. Right?
***
This book is already shaping up to be pretty spicy, and I'm only on Chapter 3 thus far! Best part is that Gift of Darkness is written from dual perspectives, so we'll get to look inside both Doro and Amira's brains as we join them in their quest for magic, love, and acceptance.
Want to reserve your copy of Gift of Darkness? Find it at your favorite retailer today, or pre-order at my bookshop! It'll be out everywhere on May 10th.
(And if you happen to take a look at its page on my bookshop, you'll get to see the entirety of the cover art in all its glory!)
🍀 A Romantic Giveaway 🍀
Yep, I realize I should have shared this particular book fair a couple weeks ago, since St. Patrick's Day has come and gone. But luckily, you've got until Friday to sift through the over 300 FREE romance books hanging out in this book fair! Find every genre of romance within—paranormal, fantasy, contemporary, small town, billionaire, historical, why choose, and even something that seems to resemble hockey. 🏒 Check it out!
Other Books You Might Like
Today I've got 2 books from my fellow indie authors that might interest you. Surprisingly enough, both seem to be FREE right now! (And yes, that's a surprise. Night Fury was full priced on Melissa's store last week, but now it's free. You might want to grab it quick before that changes. 😲)
“Stay with me.”
Life has not been easy for Luke, especially as a vampire. He has experienced tremendous hardship over the last seven hundred years, from loss, to war, to inexplicable heartbreak. But nothing could have prepared him for the day his enemy dragged away his fated mate, right before his very eyes.
Luke will not rest until he finds her, saves her, and claims her as his own, but what if Johanna doesn’t deserve to be saved? What if she’s the villain of this story?
Johanna’s betrayed Luke in more ways than he will ever know. For months, his enemy has held her captive; tortured and forced her to spy on Luke and his family. People have lost their lives because of her, and the choices she’s had to make have left her scarred and broken in more ways than one.
She’s protected Luke from the shadows, but the enemy is on to her, and his punishment knows no mercy. Can Luke find her in time, and even if he does, will he want her once he finds out the truth?
One bear. One human. One big, fat lie.
Justin
You'd think that with a backstory like mine, the idea of taking a mate is unbelievable. You'd be right. The only reason I'm agreeing to this entire "mates" thing is so that my mother gets off my back, my shareholders are happy, and I continue moving forward in my career. I'm the face of a multi-billion dollar company. I don't need any scandals in my midst.
Rebecca
The offer is for one year. One year of pretending to be this guy's mate, and then we can have a quiet divorce. He just needs his shareholders off of his back, and me? Well, I'd like to not starve to death. Only, there's more than meets the eye when it comes to Justin. He might have money and brains and incredibly good looks, but there's a secret that lurks behind those beautiful eyes.
And I intend to find out what it is.
Welp, that's all for me, because I've got a tale of two sisters to write, while clawing my way out of the post-release burnout abyss. Wish me luck, and don't forget to check out my bookshop! Remember, you can get 10% off the HNWA Giant Box Set if you use the code TORSTEIN at checkout.
Have a wonderfully weird week!
Talk to you soon,
C.L. Carhart
HNWA Giant Box Set (enter code TORSTEIN at checkout for 10% off):
https://clcarhart.com/products/his-name-was-augustin-complete-collection-ebook
Pre-order Gift of Darkness:
https://clcarhart.com/products/gift-of-darkness-ebook
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This week's book fair: