October 29, 2025
Hello Dear Readers!
I'm back from sunny Texas, refreshed to get the last bit of work done on A Christmas in Port Chance before it makes its debut at the end of next month.
We had a fabulous time in San Antonio and Austin. Our two sons joined my husband at a conference in S.A. for half the week so a little family during this time was a bonus. We visited the Alamo one afternoon during a lunch break and strolled along the Riverwalk another. There was even a pumpkin-decorating contest taking place in the hotel lobby during our visit. Then, it was onto Austin for some pre-wedding planning for our youngest son's BIG event next June. Sampling the local food, of course, is always a travel highlight for us. Brisket, pecan pie, and Mengerita tacos - yum!
In today's newsletter you'll find a fun interview with my fabulous narrator for A Cafe Au Lait Kind of Love (available now!). Also, a new collection of fall books to shop from. I've also included an order form for my paperbacks in case you're thinking about holiday shopping for yourself or others.
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Christmas in Port Chance Comes Your Way November 30th!
Book #4 in the Port Chance series features Sadie Wendell, third oldest sister in the Wendell family, who's not looking forward to another Christmas. Ever since her divorce from her high school no-longer-a-sweetheart, she's found herself in a bit of a rut when it comes to celebrating the holidays.
Enter Hayes Kelley, brother to Sadie's new partner in the rescue business. He shows up in the knick of time to help with a squirrel catastrophe (you'll read about it in Chapter 1 soon!) and now Sadie can't get rid of him. It doesn't help that he's handsome and a reliable and charming guy to boot. But she needs a love interest like she needs coal in her stocking.
Preorder now so Christmas in Port Chance pops onto your Kindle the minute it's released.
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INTERVIEW WITH
NARRATOR EMMA FAYE
Today I'm thrilled to feature Emma Faye, the fabulous narrator for A Cafe Au Lait Kind of Love, my novel which is part of the Coffee Loft Fall Collection. It recently released in audio, so I'm thrilled to introduce you to the woman behind the voice!
What led you to becoming a book narrator?
I've been an actor my whole life, as well as an avid reader, but it wasn't until about 7 years ago that I realized audiobook narration was acting! I started taking voice-over and audiobook narration classes and did really well due to my acting background. I joined a website that lets you audition for audiobooks, booked my 3rd audition, and have been going strong ever since! Another thing I love about this form of acting, as opposed to film (which is where I started), is that I have control over my career and can choose the projects I do, and with my brand as The Clean Reads Queen, I get to do the books I love.
What’s the most challenging part of the narrating process?
Every book has its own challenges. Some authors write very differently from how my brain thinks, so I stumble over the words a lot (it's great writing, just different from what my brain would say). Others have a lot of words I have to figure out how to pronounce. Logistically, when my voice isn't cooperating, it's tired, or I get a cold, I can't record until my sinuses clear, which can be weeks!
The whole process, in general, is time-consuming and so much more than simply reading a book aloud. You are prepping it (reading it ahead of time to know the story, characters and do research on words or accents), you are narrating for hours on end, keeping track of characters, keeping your voice strong, staying away from foods that affect the voice (goodbye dairy), constantly stopping and starting when you mess up, then having to re-record all the mistakes that your editor sends you back and make sure they match. It's a lot! But I love it!
What genres do you narrate?
I narrate just about every genre as long as they are 'clean reads' or books free of explicit content and language, but my faves are YA Fantasy, middle-grade, and Rom Coms!
How many hours does it take to narrate a book?
On average, it is a 5:1 ratio for the entire process, so 5 hours of work to produce 1 hour of audio (that includes prep time, recording, fixing mistakes, etc.)
Do you read the book before you narrate it?
100%. I read the entire book, make lists of characters, words I need to look up, questions I have for the author, chapter lengths so I can schedule my days, and I take time to get to know the characters so I can bring them to life as authentically as possible.
Are you a writer too?
I want to be! One day! I'm so inspired by all of the authors that I narrate for that I would love to give it a go and publish something. I've tried, but it's not a skill I excel at. In time, I do have a goal of publishing something. Though I'm a simplifier by nature, so I might stick to kids or middle grade lengths. 
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
This past year has been absolutely incredible! I was nominated for two awards at the end of 2024 (SOVAS and Sultry Listeners). The SOVAS is a big award in the voice-over industry, and it was a huge honor to be nominated (though I did not win). I did, however, win a Sultry Listeners Award for Historical Romance, which was a delight! Then I was cast by Scholastic to record a Goosebumps book! What a treat to narrate a book I read as a kid! And then I was just recently hired by one of the Big 5 Publishers for a book in a well-known series. I've been so blessed this year!
I'd say the biggest blessing, though, is being known for my brand of clean reads and being able to stick to my values.
What is your dream project?
Ooh, so many amazing projects out there. My bucket list authors to narrate for are Kiera Cass and Terri Blackstock.
How many books have you narrated so far and how many years have you been working as a narrator?
I've been narrating for about 6 years, the last 3 being full-time. I have about 160 books on Audible. Now that I'm full-time, I average about 40 books a year.
Keep in touch with Emma here:
www.instagram.com/emmafayeactor
Thank you so much for that peek inside audiobook narrating, Emma! A CAFE AU LAIT KIND OF LOVE audiobook is LIVE! Download it here.
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Fall is the perfect time to snuggle into your favorite reading spot with a flannel throw and a mug of your favorite hot beverage and READ! This collection has all of the cozy autumn vibes. Check out the pretty covers here and find your next book for some weekend reading.
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ORDER PAPERBACKS FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Give the gift of reading to yourself or someone you know with the paperback versions of my books! Place your order now to get ahead of holiday shopping. Paperbacks are $10 each which includes a bookmark, holiday book sticker and shipping. Check out the order form here.
(Click on the image to go to the sales page)
One grumpy guy, one festive baker,
and one holiday bet that just might change everything.
A Very Chestnut Christmas is a heartwarming holiday romance filled with small-town charm, cozy treats, and the kind of love that shows up when you least expect it. Read more about it here.
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Readers Group
Port Chance Series (3 books)
New, small-town romance series! It's in Kindle Unlimited too.
That Woman on Thistledown Lane
Apple Blossom Dreams
Locked on Love's Landing (NEW BOOK!)
Hearts in Hendricks series (4 books):
Available on Amazon, and it just returned to Kindle Unlimited in September 2024 too! See the series page here.
Blueberry Point Romance series (7 books)
More small-town romance in Hendricks, MN with Darcy and Sean Stetman's romantic inn as the backdrop. Seven books plus a season-inspired, four-novella collection. Find the series here.
A Cafe Au Lait Kind of Love. Read this as a stand-alone romance or as part of the multi-author small-town Coffee Loft series featuring swoony romances set in charming coffee shop settings. They're in Kindle Unlimited, too!
Silver Leaf Falls series
Multi-author small-town romance series, all in Kindle Unlimited! Read my book as a stand alone or as part of the series. You can find A Forever Kiss in Silver Leaf Falls here as well as the rest of the Silver Leaf Falls books.
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