What’s Happening In Narelle’s World?

Dear Friends,

It's mid-October already, and the end of the year is fast approaching. Christmas decorations are out in the stores. The last term of our school year has commenced. An October highlight where I live is always the beautiful tulip festivals in and around Canberra. The photo below is from Tulip Top Gardens in Sutton, NSW. It's only a short drive from Canberra and a great place to relax and escape the busyness of life. My husband and I spent a lovely morning there and walked around the gorgeous gardens.

FaithBooks Giveaway ends on OCTOBER 20, 2023. A copy of my paperback - Her Cowboy Blind Date - is in a paperback prize bundle.

 Dive into the world of Christian romance with FaithBooks' Ultimate Christian Romance Giveaway! We're giving away over $200 in gift cards, 35 paperback books, and more. Don't miss your chance to win big!

Enter here: www.faithbooksromance.com/giveaway

StoryChats @ InspyRomance Podcast/YouTube 

Valerie Comer, Elizabeth Maddrey, and I have so much fun recording our StoryChats @ InspyRomance episodes for the Podcast and YouTube. Here's the list of our recent episodes.

Episode 144: October Recent CCR Reads

Episode 143: Julia Monroe Begins Again by Rebekah Millet

Episode 142: No Matter How Far by Sara Beth Williams

Episode 141: CCR set in Washington and Oregon

Book Recommendations

I’ve shared a few book recommendations on my blog since I sent out my last newsletter.

Book Recommendation – All’s Fair in Love and Christmas by Sarah Monzon

Book Recommendation – Guarding His Secret by Jill Kemerer

Book Recommendation – You Make It Feel Like Christmas by Toni Shiloh

Book Recommendation – Persian Blue Puzzle by Susan Page Davis

For those interested in learning about Christian fiction new releases, I also compile a monthly new releases post on my blog — Christian Fiction New Releases - October 2023

Paperback Giveaway - Positively Penelope or Until Then

My CCR selection is Positively Penelope by Pepper Basham. Penelope is a delightful character who radiates positivity and optimism. She travels to a fictional island in Northern Europe to help the Gray family save their family theatre. I recommend Positively Penelope to contemporary romance readers who like epistolary stories with grumpy sunshine themes and a relevant faith element in the story. Read me book recommendation here:

https://www.narelleatkins.com/book-recommendation-positively-penelope-by-pepper-basham/

My alternative selection is Until Then, an Amish time-slip novel by Cindy Woodsmall and Erin Woodsmall. I don't read a lot of Amish fiction, but I've enjoyed the previous Cindy Woodsmall novels I've read, and I was intrigued by the premise for Until Then. Vin is a married Amish man with two young sons who accidentally time travels from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, in 1985, back to 1822 in Ohio. I recommend Until Then to Amish fiction readers who like time-slip novels with strong redemption and reconciliation themes, and romantic elements in the story. Read my book recommendation here:

https://www.narelleatkins.com/until-then-by-cindy-woodsmall-and-erin-woodsmall/

The paperback giveaway is open to readers with USA and Australian mailing addresses who can receive paperback books from Amazon USA or Amazon Australia, The choice of book is subject to availability from Amazon.

I’m happy to substitute an ebook for readers who live outside USA and Australia, as long as they have digital access to ebooks at either Amazon USA or Amazon Australia and can redeem an Amazon gift card for the equivalent US or Australian ebook price at the US or Australian store.

To enter the giveaway, please reply to this email by OCTOBER 26, 2023 (USA Pacific West Coast Time Zone) and include your first name and the name of the country where you live and include the book title (Positively Penelope or Until Then) that you'd like to win. 

The winner will be contacted by OCTOBER 29, 2023 to arrange the delivery of their paperback book. 

Our September winner, Debra P from USA, chose my book, Never Find Another You.

Questions for You

Are you a fan of Amish fiction and/or time-slip novels? Do you like epistolary novels (stories told via letters, emails, text messages, etc.)?

I look forward to hearing your thoughts, and I will do my best to reply to your emails within 7 days. If I receive an undelivered email message, I’ll try again and send a second reply. If you don’t receive a reply from me, please let me know because emails can go astray. I can be contacted via my website.

My author friend, Milla Holt, has an ebook on sale. Check out Into the Flood here: https://books2read.com/IntoTheFlood

Final Thoughts

Thank you for journeying with me on my often crazy and challenging book publishing journey. If you’re a praying person, I’d love continued prayers for my family and my writing. I'm struggling with migraines again, which is frustrating and probably caused by stress. My daughter has been unwell with acute tonsillitus, and I'm thankful the meds have worked and she avoided being admitted to hospital last weekend. I appreciate all your prayers, good thoughts, and support. 

Blessings and love to you,

Narelle xo