New Year, New Teutonic Stories 🔮
Jan 26, 2025 10:31 pm
Now that the first month of 2025 is breezing its way toward the sunset, I figured it's about time for a real update. We all know 2024 wasn't the easiest year for some people—C.L. Carhart included. I frantically wrote my way into creative burnout at the outset of last year, and afterward spent over half a year learning why that happened and how I can try to avoid doing it again.
Whether you've dabbled in the writing community or not, you might have seen that age-old "advice" tossed around: "You're not a real author if you don't write every day! Just plop yourself in front of the computer and type mindlessly! Get words out and edit later! It's what Stephen King does so you KNOW it's right!"
Well.
As it turns out.
I ain't no Stephen King. 😬
And with the way my brain is wired, it makes zero sense for me to "write every day" when I have literally nothing new to write about. No new stories, no new characters, no new complex plots. Those three necessary parts of a good novel or novella all begin deep inside the brain; and when my brain has crashed into creative burnout, it literally can't create something brand new.
Not until it's had sufficient time to ruminate on what really needs to happen in the as-yet-unwritten sagas set in the Teutonic Fantasy Realm.
Now at the start of 2025, I'm relieved to report that there are new stories in the works. Quite a few of them actually. If the creeks don't rise, it looks like there will be 3 new novels and 3 new novellas dropping onto the retailers and my shop by the end of this year. 🎊
What's Coming Next
If you've poked around on my shop or on my retailer pages lately, you might have noticed that there are two eBook pre-orders waiting patiently for their moments in the sun. Since I've got some other news to share with you in this email, I'm going to drop a quick note about each one and save the lengthy explanations for later this week and next. Suffice it to say we've got Novella #2 in the Elemental Gifts series rearing to go, along with a brand new Book #1.
If you've read Gift of Snow and wondered just what was going on in that breeding brothel managed by Herr and Frau Groh of the Teuton Council of Wels, prepare to find out all the gory details in Forbidden Gift. 🌹
If your introduction to the Teutonic Fantasy Realm began with my debut series, His Name Was Augustin—and you've silently wished I'd quit writing standalone books and delve into another twisted saga about a Black Priest and his consort—get ready to join Konstantin and Helena in Claimed by the Undead. 🖤
Pre-orders would mean the world to me, and I can hardly wait to share many more enchanting stories of Teuton witches and the awesome dudes who love them with you in the months ahead!
Inflation Hits Authors Too
Now that the good news is out of the way, it's time to confront the stark reality. With the direction the economy has been going since I began this author journey in 2021, I've realized I have no choice but to raise the prices of my eBooks.
No. I'm not happy about it. In my heart of hearts, I wish this world of ours was set up differently and I could just give all my books away for free. Then food and shelter and all life necessities would be free too, and we could all live in peace and harmony. But unfortunately that's not how things work. 😔
So here's the deal.
- On February 1st, the prices of my full-length eBooks will be going up on my shop and on all the retailers.
- I will NOT be raising the prices of bonus novellas connected to novel series (Elemental Bloodlines/His Name Was Augustin) or of my boxed sets.
- I plan to keep 2 freebies available on the retailers at all times (except for when Amazon decides otherwise). My current retailer freebies are Gift of Snow and Winter Flame.
- I will run a variety of sales on my eBooks from time to time to help out those of us who refuse to buy anything at full price (yep...that's me).
Here are how my eBook prices look right now:
(dark romantic fantasy/time travel, complete saga of novels)
Book 1: $3.99
Books 2-6: $4.99 each
2 bonus novellas: one is free, one is $2.99
2 3-book boxed sets: $9.99 each
Complete series boxed set (not available on Amazon): $24.99
(paranormal romance, complete series of standalone novels)
Book 1: free
Book 2: $3.99
Books 3-6: $4.99
2 bonus novellas: $2.99 each
Beginning February 1st, these will be the updated prices for my eBooks. I will be following a similar pricing strategy for all of my series going forward.
Book 1: $3.99
Book 2: $4.99
Books 3-4: $5.99 each
Books 5-6: $6.99 each
*Bonus novella & boxed set pricing remains the same
Book 1: free
Book 2: $3.99
Book 3: $4.99
Books 4-6: $5.99 each
*Bonus novella pricing remains the same
Are you a rich person who has dreamed of handing me a big fat batch of 💰💰 every time you buy one of my books? Now is your chance to shine! While our society in general likes to "hate the rich," I don't hate you. My goal is to join you. And every time someone buys one of my eBooks at full price, my author heart sings with joy.
Now if you're someone like me who is constantly looking for a deal, I'd advise you to grab all the books in both of my complete series right now before prices go up on February 1st. 👌
Book Fairs & Intriguing Stories
Got three book fairs for you to check out today, plus two books by other indie authors that might interest you. Click on each graphic below to browse the book fairs. Be sure not to miss Raccoon Literary's one day event.
Other Books You Might Like
Recently ran across a couple newsletter freebies that might interest you. Have to admit the first one caught my attention. Baba Yaga + Narnia? 🤩
In this enchanting fairytale adventure, a pair of estranged siblings, a tsarina, and a woodsman must band together to outwit a crooked duke who wants them all—and isn't particular as to "dead" or "alive." Here be dragons and sirens, magical gifts and dread debts, deeds noble and foolhardy.
With a touch of Narnia and a dash of Baba Yaga, it's a tale that reads like balm for the weary in soul.
When I was sixteen, my life was completely altered. One minute, I’m making out with a hot guy. The next, I’m covered in blood and running through the woods – on four paws.
And it didn’t get any better from there.
Now, I’m on the run from Hunters with only the clothes on my back and whatever loot I was able to snag from my last job. I need a miracle.
When a witch shows up offering me a way out, I’m hesitant to trust her. But it’s either her way or dead. Seems like a no-brainer.
Suddenly, I’ve got an entire family I knew nothing about. And with that family comes a friend, who happens to be my mate.
Even knowing what I am, he accepts me. But after the repeated disaster my life has proven to be, can I accept him?
😻 Cat Pix 😻
I seem to remember promising cat pix in my last newsletter. Since my two older cats don't exactly change much or create chaos in their daily existence, let's take a peek at how the youngin's are doing.
Here's Panther, who is now about a year and a half old. He's my sweet, respectful boy who refuses to step on a person and spends the afternoons sleeping in the sun in front of the living room window.
And here's Mango, who will be one year old in May. He's a lover with a thunderous purr who enjoys having conversations with his humans. My husband has nicknamed him the "Furnado" since he has the tendency to get hyper and dump stuff all over the house. Panther also joins him in these moments. 😏
That's all for me this weekend, and I hope you have yourself a wonderfully weird week to come. Don't forget to pile all of my books onto your e-reader before the prices go up on February 1st. And keep an eye on your inbox for a big freebie event coming up on Tuesday. That's when I'll share more about the first Teutonic story heading your way: Forbidden Gift.
Talk to you soon,
C.L. Carhart
Raccoon Literary Free Books:
https://raccoonliterary.com/free-books/
Elemental Bloodlines series:
https://clcarhart.com/collections/elemental-bloodlines-series-ebooks
His Name Was Augustin series: