Anyone Else Stuck In Limbo Right Now? 😵
Aug 28, 2024 7:01 pm
By now you probably thought C.L. Carhart vanished into the ether never to resurface. After all, doesn't she usually send an email at least once a week? Why the radio silence for almost the entire month of August?
Since honesty has always been very important to me (or is it blunt weirdness?), there's no point in beating around the bush. Let's get to it!
Bookish Updates: The Good Stuff
If you haven't nabbed your copy of Magical Gift yet, now's the time to dive into a fresh new series set in the Teutonic Fantasy Realm. Magical Gift is the first book in Elemental Gifts, a series of standalone paranormal romances and romantic fantasies. Each novella in Elemental Gifts stars separate couples, most of whom might be familiar to you as side characters in the related series, Elemental Bloodlines. Here are some reviews that recently dropped for Magical Gift. Looks like readers are enjoying Sylvia's story! 💖
I'm currently crafting the second novella in Elemental Gifts, and this one's shaping up to be just as wild as Sylvia's story. It's set in the 1950s like Magical Gift, and its main characters also appear in Gift of Snow. Which Teuton couple stars in the next book? Send me a reply and let me know your guesses!
We've also got some rather intriguing developments regarding my recently-complete Elemental Bloodlines series. 😉 As mentioned last month, I'm working on improving Gift of Snow before sticking it in the front of the series as a brand new entry point...at which point it will become free on all retailers.
Best part? Gift of Snow's cover art is getting updated before that! There will also be a brand new chapter rounding out Nelke's story. 🤩
There are hints at boxed sets along the horizon....
Plus ideas simmering of a brand new series focused on a Black Priest we might have met (briefly) in Elemental Bloodlines. A darker series with heartrending twists and turns as we all get a deeper look into the world of undead Teuton priests in forced servitude to the demon Wuotan.
A lot more Teutonic Fantasy content will be heading your way soon!
Bookish Updates: Uncertainties
Now let's tackle the unexpected issues that have cropped up in my author world during the month of August. All of which narrow down to a single problem.
The Elemental Gifts series came into existence for the purpose of giving homes to at least seven premade covers I've collected since I started this "author thing" three years ago. Like many newbie indie authors, I tended to fall into the alluring trap of beautiful premade covers, even though I didn't have stories for them!
The problem?
The artist who crafted the cover arts I'm using for Books 2-4 has vanished into the ether. My emails requesting title updates have gone unanswered for several weeks. Word on the street says the artist is on vacation, but I'll admit I'm getting a bit anxious about the resounding silence. Especially since I've already got the covers fantastically finished for Books 5-7.
The initial plan was to have Book 2 of Elemental Gifts published for you to grab by August 30th.
Obviously that's not going to happen since the book has no cover! 😔
Please send all your hopeful vibes that my artist is all right and will return soon so we can dive into Book 2 by the end of September. And that I won't sink any deeper into this worried rut in which I've found myself. As always, your support is greatly appreciated!
Still Hiking The Forest
Despite the anxious rut where my creative brain has made its home throughout this month, my husband and I managed to escape into the woods last weekend to visit yet another waterfall in western North Carolina. This particular hike was a bit more impossible than most—I determined I couldn't safely make my way to the base of the waterfall due to a harrowing drop over rocks and a stagnant pool of uncertain depth! In spite of this, I nabbed some fun photos of various portions of the waterfall. Here's the best I could get of the bottom section:
With giant rhododendron leaves in the foreground of course!
And here's the fascinating swirled designs we found at the rocky midpoint of the waterfall. Without doubt the loveliest patterns I've seen yet during any hike. (And yes, that's my foot. No, I don't care how dirty my toenails look! 🤪)
Paranormal Fiction Giveaway
Today's book fair is a collection of enchanting books you can download for free by subscribing to each author's newsletter. I'd expect you're likely subscribed to most of them already (like mine!), so very few strings attached. Two novellas from Elemental Bloodlines are available to download, so click the graphic below and browse the entire collection to bulk up your TBR. Then check out the other bookish events happening right now.
Romantic Sci-fi, Fantasy, and Paranormal - ends 9/30
LoveBite Books - two monthly freebies
Other Books You Might Like
Got three books by other authors for you to check out today. All three are available on most retailers, and the bottom one is free everywhere but our friendly neighborhood Amazon. 🙃 Whether you'd rather read about undead monsters, pixies, or witches, indie authors have got you covered.
Belladonna
He’s my new obsession and the key to avenging my people. René is the only one who cares about the dead, because he knows deep loss. We’re kindred spirits. I’ll give him relief from his pain, and he’ll give me everything – including his life.
René
Three years of being steeped in death, booze, and pills have finally caught up with me. I think I might be cracking apart. Who is the otherworldly woman that visits me in the darkness? She’s the new addiction I can’t give up; and she’s left her mark on me – literally.
Vlad accompanied by siblings Lucien and Alessandra embark on a dangerous journey to the infamous Roslyn Academy, the Order’s crown jewel.
As he ventures further into the unknown, hidden feelings of attraction towards the beautiful Alessandra make Vlad question his sanity and his choices. But there is no time to dwell on these emotions—the Order has launched a large-scale supernatural attack.
Knowing they didn’t stand a chance without assistance, Vlad dives into the depths of the academy’s hidden passages to find a weapon powerful enough to defeat the Order. He stumbles upon a sarcophagus containing a mysterious force; a power so immense that it steals Vlad away to a different world.
Will Vlad find his salvation in this otherworldly realm, or will it be too late?
Destiny isn't too far away...
They have one last chance to find their lost mate. One last chance before they fall apart completely. Will they learn to work together to find her, or will they forever be alone?
That's all for me until Friday, when I've got another bookish event to share. Maybe by then I'll have some positive updates about my three absent cover arts! If nothing else, the weekend will be on its way, so that means reading time for everyone. 📚
For now, have a wonderfully weird week, and we'll catch up more in a few days!
Talk to you soon,
C.L. Carhart
Get Magical Gift:
https://clcarhart.com/products/magical-gift-ebook
Elemental Bloodlines complete series:
https://clcarhart.com/collections/elemental-bloodlines-series-ebooks
His Name Was Augustin complete series:
https://clcarhart.com/collections/hnwa-series-ebooks
Paranormal Fiction Giveaway: