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Welcome to your exclusive deep dive into the world of Shepherd’s Grove!
DeAnna Kaye Fields is currently having a whirlwind summer with back-to-back releases. Below, she opens up about the emotional weight behind her newest characters, her "pantser" writing habits, and the incredible indie community that helped her bring these stories to life.
1. A Car with Personality
Q: In Golden Hour, Bellamy gives her heart to her patients, her friends, and her beloved Kia Soul named Colonel Mustard. Do you also give your cars dramatic names?
DeAnna: "My cars absolutely DO have dramatic names! In fact, Colonel Mustard was MY yellow Kia Soul, and I loved her! Had to feature her in my first book! My current car, an orange Nissan Rogue, is named Orange Crush!"
2. Real-Life Small Town Charm
Q: What is your absolute favorite thing about Kentucky small-town life that you knew you had to capture in your novels?
DeAnna: "In small-town Kentucky, you will inevitably run into someone you know at Walmart. And if you don’t, you’ll make small talk with someone in line. Or the cashier. Don’t even get me started on the church connections! I absolutely love that part of small-town life!"
3. The Ultimate Writing Fuel
Q: You describe yourself as "hopelessly addicted to Coca-Cola." Is it your ultimate writing fuel?
DeAnna: "Listen, Coca-Cola is now, and forever will be, my go-to drink. I have Coke Hey Dudes (so does Rowena in Grass Is Greener), and when Carnival Cruises switched from Coke to Pepsi about 8 years ago, I sent them a Facebook Message. Now, they have switched back to Coke. You’re welcome Carnival Cruisers!"
4. The Gateway Book
Q: What was the first book you remember reading that made you fall in love with reading?
DeAnna: "The Outsiders. Hands down. I loved that book so much that to this day, some 30 years later, I still cannot eat bologna because Ponyboy could no longer eat it."
5. The Comfort Read
Q: What is the one book you can re-read over and over again?
DeAnna: "This is going to sound odd, but it's Gone With the Wind. I like to escape back into Tara with Scarlett. I mean, Rhett Butler? Hello!"
6. The To-Be-Read Pile
Q: What exciting books are currently hiding in your own TBR pile?
DeAnna: "Valicity Elaine’s Withered Rose series, JB Juke’s Wen Rising... there’s honestly so many! I just went to Indy Lit Con ‘26 and found so many Indie authors I'm wanting to dig into!"
7. Building the Grove
Q: Golden Hour focuses on Edison and Bellamy, while Grass Is Greener shifts to Rowena and Luther. How do these two couples interact within the broader community?
DeAnna: "One of my favorite things about Shepherd's Grove is watching side characters grow into main characters. While Bellamy and Edison aren't front and center in Grass Is Greener, readers will still see familiar faces. Characters pop in and out of each other's lives just like they would in a real small town."
8. Balancing Light and Shadow
Q: In Grass Is Greener, you tackle heavy themes like grief and addiction recovery. How do you balance the cozy safety of a closed-door romance with these emotional struggles?
DeAnna: "No life is perfect, and I want to show that. There are happy, joyous moments in the midst of grief, addiction recovery, or other heavy elements. Love still blooms even if there’s fog or obstacles."
9. Pursuing the Dream
Q: What was the exact spark that made you say, 'It's time to sit down and write these stories'?
DeAnna: "My youngest daughter graduated and got a job and a boyfriend. She wasn’t around much, so I suddenly had more time on my hands. I decided to put that time to good use!"
10. Plotter vs. Pantser
Q: Do you outline everything or fly by the seat of your pants?
DeAnna: "Oh, I’m a pantser who sorta kinda knows the plot. Just today, I completely rewrote book 5 (including the title) while washing my hair! Sometimes the characters take over, but I try to reign them in!"
11. The Writing Setup & Routine
Q: Are you a desk-and-computer writer or a couch-and-laptop writer? Morning bird or night owl?
DeAnna: "I sit in the living room at a TV tray in a chair we got from my mother-in-law. I like being in the living room with my hubby. During the week, I write in the evenings as I still have a full-time job. Saturdays I tend to get started in the afternoons after my husband and I have finished our dilly-dallying."
12. The Hardest Part
Q: What comes easiest atmosphere, banter, or breakthroughs? And what makes you want to pull your hair out?
DeAnna: "It all drifts between easy and difficult. Sometimes I crack myself up with the banter; other times I’m stuck. The emotional breakthroughs can be tough. Book 3, Signed in Red, has some emotional elements that actually made me cry while writing them. That was… difficult."
13. The Cast
Q: If you could spend one day hanging out with any character from your upcoming books, who would it be?
DeAnna: "Grass Is Greener has a dog named Ivy she’s named after a dog we lost, IV. Honestly, I’d love to hang out with Luther’s girl and give her all the pets and cuddles."
14. Double Summer Celebrations
Q: With Golden Hour out July 1st and Grass Is Greener out September 1st, do you have any release-day traditions?
DeAnna: "Well, Golden Hour is my first, so no traditions yet! I am having a launch party at my favorite local bookstore, Main Book Hook, and I hope to make that a tradition! With signings and writing and editing, I may not see much sun this summer!"
A Final Word from DeAnna: "The indie author community is like none other. I've needed help from recommendations to KDP hiccups to joining lives, and multiple people from across all genres and continents have stepped up. They get nothing for it either, just my eternal gratitude. I'm blessed to be a part of this community!"
🔗 Connect with DeAnna Kaye Fields
Official Website: www.dkfwrites.com
Socials: @dkfwrites (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads)
Goodreads: Follow DeAnna's Reviews
Add the Shepherd's Grove Stories to your shelf:
Read Golden Hour: Amazon Link
Pre-order Grass Is Greener: Amazon Link
Today, we are featuring the delightful DeAnna Kaye Fields, an author who masterfully captures the warmth and quirkiness of Kentucky life in her romance novels.
If you have ever picked up Golden Hour or Grass Is Greener, you know her stories are packed with heart, humor, and characters that feel like old friends. We sat down with DeAnna to chat about everything from car names to the legendary Coke vs. Pepsi battle on the high seas.
Enjoy part one of our interview below!
1. A Car with Personality
Q: In Golden Hour, Bellamy gives her heart to her patients, her friends, and her beloved Kia Soul named Colonel Mustard. We have to know: do you also give your cars dramatic names, or did the inspiration for Colonel Mustard come from somewhere else?
DeAnna: "My cars absolutely DO have dramatic names! In fact, Colonel Mustard was MY yellow Kia Soul, and I loved her! Had to feature her in my first book! My current car, an orange Nissan Rogue, is named Orange Crush!"
2. Real-Life Small Town Charm
Q: Your bio mentions that Shepherd’s Grove is inspired by beautiful real-world Kentucky towns like Shepherdsville and Hillview. What is your absolute favorite thing about Kentucky small-town life that you knew you had to capture in your romance novels?
DeAnna: "In small-town Kentucky, you will inevitably run into someone you know at Walmart. And if you don’t, you’ll make small talk with someone in line. Or the cashier. Don’t even get me started on the church connections! I absolutely love that part of small-town life!"
3. The Ultimate Writing Fuel
Q: You describe yourself as hopelessly addicted to Coca-Cola, and a shared Coke even pops up as a sweet connection point in Grass Is Greener. Is an ice-cold Coke your ultimate writing fuel, or do you have a specific snack that helps you hit your daily word count?
DeAnna: "Listen, Coca-Cola is now, and forever will be, my go-to drink. I have Coke Hey Dudes (so does Rowena in Grass Is Greener), and when Carnival Cruises switched from Coke to Pepsi about 8 years ago, I sent them a Facebook Message. Now, they have switched back to Coke. You’re welcome Carnival Cruisers!"
4. The Gateway Book
Q: What was the first book you remember reading that made you absolutely fall in love with reading?
DeAnna: "The Outsiders. Hands down. I loved that book so much that to this day, some 30 years later, I still cannot eat bologna because Ponyboy could no longer eat it. That book has stayed with me all these years."
5. The Comfort Read
Q: What is the one book you can re-read over and over again and never get tired of?
DeAnna: "This is going to sound odd, but it's Gone With the Wind. I like to escape back into Tara with Scarlett. I mean, Rhett Butler? Hello!"
6. The To-Be-Read Pile
Q: As someone who loves blind dates with a book and mystery bags, what exciting books are currently hiding in your own TBR pile?
DeAnna: "Oh man… So many! Valicity Elaine’s Withered Rose series, JB Juke’s Wen Rising, there’s honestly so many! I just went to Indy Lit Con ‘26 and found so many Indie authors and their books that I’m wanting to dig into!"
Want Deeper Access? 💎
This is just a small preview of our wonderful conversation with DeAnna Kaye Fields! Premium members of The First Editions can log in now to unlock the complete, unedited Q&A.
Inside the Premium Tier, DeAnna dishes on:
A deeper look into the inspiration behind Cody's psychological journey.
Why second-chance romances resonate so deeply with her.
Her absolute favorite writing routines, snacks, and release-day traditions.
Her dream day hanging out with one of her own characters in real life.
Connect with DeAnna Kaye Fields
Don't miss out on DeAnna's heartwarming stories! Be sure to grab your copies and follow her journey online:
Official Website: dkfwrites.com
Follow on Socials: @dkfwrites (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, & Threads)
Goodreads: DeAnna Kaye Fields Author Page
Shop Golden Hour: Amazon Link
Pre-Order Grass Is Greener (eBook): Amazon Link
This is the full-access edition of our Q&A for The First Editions paid members. Thank you for supporting our community! 💎
So I noticed that Rachel Harrison was asking about podcast interviews on her IG and was like "might as well shoot my shot" and see if I could get a short interview with her. And she responded! So please read below for a quick little interview in promotion of her upcoming September release Kiss Slay Replay.
· Without spoiling too much for future readers, what inspired you to write a time loop novel? Time loops actually really stress me out! I have bad anxiety, and the idea of being stuck causes me to panic. I wanted to confront that fear in a novel, working through it on the page in a way that was fun and cathartic.
· When it came to the time loop, how did you come up
with the ideas to make each loop distinct enough for Willa and the reader? Without giving too much away, it was a certainly a challenge to find the balance of having those classic nods to a time loop, repeating some dialogue, anticipating things happening, but in all my novels, it’s always more about the human thing than the supernatural thing. By focusing on Willa and her emotional journey, it (hopefully) helped me avoid getting too repetitive.
· You seem to have found a niche as a horror writer
who injects a lot of heart and humor into your books. What tips do you have for
writers who are looking to write horror with a bit of heart? It raises the stakes if your readers care about your characters. I don’t think it’s necessary to shy away from humor or heart just because of the horror label, I think those things enhance the horror. Write from the heart, be vulnerable on the page, and you’ll connect with readers on a whole other level. Terror and heart are not mutually exclusive.
· Who are your biggest inspirations when it comes to
writing, whether they be fellow horror writers, or directors, or authors of any
genre? Paul Tremblay is a big one, I really admire Paul. He stays true to himself in a way that’s really punk rock. He does something different every time, he doesn’t rest on his laurels, and I try to do the same.
· If you could sum up Kiss Slay Replay with one song, what song would that be and why? It’s too hard to pick just one! Help I’m Alive by Metric (which is the epigraph), Fleeting by Sarah Kinsley, Love Love Kiss Kiss by Alkaline Trio, and of course, Tubthumping by Chumbawamba. Lyrically, and vibes-wise, they're all perfect fits.
Many thanks to Rachel for taking the time to answer my questions! Please consider ordering her upcoming book Kiss Slay Replay from our bookshop, Two Stories Bookshop, on Bookshop.org or on Libro.fm!
Till next time!
Hello nerds,
Coming in hot with a busy July!
In Person Events
Thursday, July 2nd at 6:00 PM
Join us at Sunny's for Yuma County Abolition's monthly book club. This month they are meeting to discuss the last half of Let This Radicalize You. RSVP HERE.
About the book: What fuels and sustains activism and organizing when it feels like our worlds are collapsing? Let This Radicalize You is a practical and imaginative resource for activists and organizers building power in an era of destabilization and catastrophe.
About Yuma County Abolition: Yuma County Abolition is a grassroots, volunteer-run network dedicated to providing immediate support to our community while building long-term, self-sustaining resilience. We ground our work in solidarity, intersectionality, abolition, accountability, mutual aid, and autonomous direct action.
Friday, July 3rd at 5:00 PM
First Friday is back! Come beat the heat and spend some time downtown after the sun goes down. RSVP HERE.
About the event: In partnership with the 261 Shops, we will be participating in First Friday. Creation Coffee will be on-site with speciality brews for paying customers to ANY participating business. No minimum purchase required. Sunny's entire store will be 10% off from 5-7 and 20% off for card holding members.
Thursday, July 16th at 6:00 PM
Join us at Sunny's for our monthly in-person event, Sunny's Salon. This months edition we will be playing literary trivia! RSVP HERE.
About the event: Think you know books? Put it to the test. Join us for literary trivia night at Sunny's. 6 rounds covering everything from classic lit to contemporary reads. Form a team of 2–5 on the spot, no registration required. One winning team takes the prize. Ties broken by a sudden-death tiebreaker round. Free to play. One night only. May the best readers win.
Friday, July 30th at 6:00 PM
Join us for an author event with L.L. Madrid, a Tucson novelist, to discuss her book My Lips, Her Voice. My Lips, Her Voice is a possession murder mystery with a haunted sapphic love triangle at its heart. L.L. will be reading from her novel and books will be for sale to be signed by the author. This is a FREE event to attend, but we ask that you RSVP so we have a good headcount and can prepare the space. RSVP HERE.
About the book:
Copper City’s bloody history is steeped in ghost stories and whispers of serial killers, but three girls have caught the attention of something far more sinister.
A grandmother tormented by visions tried to warn the town, but no one listened. Now, a haunted inheritance has passed to her granddaughters, Audrey and Mara. When Mara’s body is discovered in the old mine, Audrey fears her grandmother’s premonition is manifesting.
The nightmare begins as Mara’s spirit returns—lurking under Audrey’s skin, hellbent on vengeance and desperate to rekindle things with her former girlfriend, Zadie. Willing to hijack Audrey’s body to get what she wants, Mara drags them both into a deadly pursuit.
When another girl in town goes missing, Audrey, Mara, and Zadie know the killer has struck again. In a fight to solve Mara’s death and uncover the mystery of disappearances in Copper City, the girls soon find themselves at war with each other. How do you survive long enough to hunt a murderer on the loose if the person inside you might kill you first?
Online Events:
Sunday, July 26th at 11:00 AM
Join us online for our monthly book club Zoom meeting. The July book is Sourland by Ariel Delgado Dixon. RSVP HERE. Ariel will be joining us for the last 30 minutes of this book club discussion!
About the book: A gripping, propulsive novel about succession, sex, and revenge on a California marijuana farm. A brilliantly constructed novel of desire and betrayal, Sourland sparkles with the beauty and grime of the California woods. Dixon’s novel warns that our true nature catches up to us all—no matter how far we run.
About Sunny's Book Club: Sunny’s Book Club is a monthly book club highlighting both new releases and backlist titles we love. A virtual discussion is hosted over Zoom on the last Sunday of the month. You can check out our selections each month and sign up here. You do not have to buy the book from Sunny's to participate, but we love when you do!
Thank you all for your support as always and hope to see you in person this month.
CJ
Upgrade to a paid membership today here for just $5 a month.
One of my goals this year is to help you spend less time wondering what to read next and more time actually reading.
This week's releases couldn't have been more different. I traveled through space with a sentient patch of moss, spent time with professional hockey players, uncovered small-town serial killer secrets, wandered the halls of a gothic mansion, and stayed up far too late unraveling one incredibly dysfunctional family's secrets.
As always, these are simply my personal reactions. A book that didn't work for me may become your next five-star read, and one I couldn't stop recommending might not be the right fit for someone else.
Let's get into it.
🛸 Moss'd in Space
Read or Skip: READ
Rating: 4.75 stars
I knew this premise was unusual going in, but I was completely unprepared for how attached I'd become to a sentient spaceship made of moss.
At its core, Moss'd in Space is a cozy science fiction adventure about hope, healing, and finding where you belong. While Torian is searching for a way to save her chronically ill sister, Moss is simply looking for someone willing to believe it's worth another chance. Together, they form one of my favorite duos I've read all year.
The real magic of this book is its balance. It's funny without becoming silly, heartfelt without becoming overly sentimental, and cozy without sacrificing meaningful stakes. Every member of the crew adds something memorable, creating the kind of found family that makes you wish the adventure would never end.
Final thought: If you've been looking for a cozy sci-fi that delivers just as much heart as humor, this is an easy recommendation. Needless to say, I'll be first in line for book two.
🔪 Keep Them Close
Read or Skip: READ
Rating: 5 stars
David Ellis has done it again.
He's one of the only thriller authors who consistently convinces me I've solved the mystery...right before revealing I haven't figured out anything at all.
What starts as a murder investigation quickly spirals into a story about family loyalty, betrayal, old secrets, and just how complicated sibling relationships can become. Every time I crossed someone off my suspect list, Ellis gave me another reason to put them right back on it.
Despite all of its twists, the novel never sacrifices character development. The family drama feels just as compelling as the mystery itself, making the reveals land even harder.
Final thought: I stayed up until two in the morning because I couldn't stop reading. If you're looking for a thriller to binge in one sitting, make it this one.
🌲 Thornbird
Read or Skip: READ
Rating: 4.5 stars
Whenever an author jumps into a completely different genre, I'm always curious to see how it turns out. Thankfully, Elle Kennedy's first YA thriller absolutely delivers.
The mystery unfolds in a small town obsessed with the legacy of a notorious serial killer, and while the investigation takes a little time to fully get moving, Kennedy's character work easily carries the slower opening.
Once the suspense ramps up, though, the story becomes incredibly difficult to put down. The final act delivers exactly the kind of unsettling payoff I was hoping for, leaving behind that lingering sense of unease every good thriller should have.
Final thought: Whether you normally read YA or not, this is worth picking up if you enjoy character-driven mysteries with creepy small-town atmosphere.
🏒 Big Stick Energy
Read or Skip: READ
Rating: 4 stars
I enjoyed the first book in this series, but this one easily became my favorite.
Between fake dating, workplace tension, a family wedding, and two genuinely lovable main characters, this romance simply worked from beginning to end.
What impressed me most was how emotionally mature the relationship felt. Darcy and Eric continually show up for one another without trying to rescue or change each other, creating a romance that feels both supportive and believable.
Final thought: If hockey romances are your comfort reads, this is an easy recommendation. It's funny, sweet, steamy, and full of heart.
🕯️ Songbird in the Gallows
Read or Skip: SKIP (for me)
Rating: 3 stars
This was one of my most anticipated releases because the premise sounded tailor-made for me: a Bluebeard retelling, a gothic mansion, morally gray characters, forbidden romance, and a murder-sober serial killer.
There were definitely things I enjoyed. Blue was easily my favorite character, Grimlock was wonderfully atmospheric, and the quirky supporting cast gave the town a lot of personality.
Ultimately, though, I struggled with the romance. It developed much faster than I personally prefer, and I never fully connected with Saylor, making it difficult for me to become emotionally invested.
Final thought: This is much more a matter of personal taste than quality. Readers who love spicy dark romance with gothic aesthetics, taboo elements, and immediate chemistry may have a very different experience than I did.
Also Hitting Shelves This Week
Didn't see your next read above? Here are a few other releases arriving this week that caught my attention.
🎭 Main Characters
A literary romance told entirely through the perspectives of everyone except the couple at its center. Spanning two decades, it explores how one relationship shapes the people living it AND everyone watching from the sidelines.
Pick this up if you enjoy: Sally Rooney, David Nicholls, literary romance, relationship-driven stories, and unconventional narrative structures.
🎰 The Kings of Vegas
Imagine Succession set inside a Las Vegas casino empire. After her father's death, one woman returns home to battle her siblings, the FBI, organized crime, and rival casino owners for control of the family business.
Pick this up if you enjoy: family dynasties, crime thrillers, corporate power struggles, glamorous settings, and messy family drama.
🏡 The Housewife
A psychological suspense novel about a newlywed who slowly realizes her seemingly perfect husband may know far more about his first wife's death than anyone suspects.
Pick this up if you enjoy: domestic thrillers, controlling husbands, unreliable appearances, dark family secrets, and books by Freida McFadden or B.A. Paris.
We’re reading The Unicorn Hunters by Katherine Arden in July! I’ve heard so many wonderful things about this book, and I’ve really enjoyed Arden’s past work (see: The Bear and the Nightingale). I also looooove historical fiction + fantasy so I have really high hopes for this ☺️
Don’t forget to check the Discord for this month’s giveaway winner 📱One of you will receive a hard copy of our July pick!!
Hello Cozy Family!
It's been a long time since I thought about creating an official top 10 ranking, so I figured I would give it a shot. It was much harder than I expected!! And I'm currently reading a book that I know will be high in my top 10 after finishing, but the idea of removing any of the mentioned books below from the ranking physically hurts aha.
I might have to start doing re-rankings every other month if my reading keeps being as top tier as it has been so far this year! A brilliant struggle to have!
What would be in your top 10 list? Please do share all the incredible books that could very well uproot all of our rankings!
Without further ado, here is my (current) official top 10 books:
For Whom the Belle Tolls
A Court of Silver Flames
Judgement Road
House of Earth and Blood
Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands
Project Hail Mary
On the Same Page
Heir of Fire
The Phoenix Keeper
The Unmaking of June Farrow
Honourable mentions (because I couldn't just list 10 when these were so close to making the cut):
The Atlas Six
Broken Bonds
A Discovery of Witches
Heroes of Olympus
Uprooted
Wisteria
The book I'm currently reading that I KNOW will disrupt my current top 10 is Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid! Just wow! But as I haven't finished it yet, it feels wrong to add it to my official ranking just yet.
The same goes for The Women by Kristin Hannah, which I always tell everyone is one of my favourite books of all time, and yet I haven't technically finished it... It was destroying me too much and I had to pause due to personal circumstances at the time. That was 2 years ago lol. I do plan to finish it, and I know it will then rule over my top 10 list, but until I'm ready to be emotionally destroyed by the ending, I'm putting it off. I want to finish it this year though, so it should be in my ranking by the end of 2026, fingers crossed!
I'm volunteering to help organise and run a Youth Group (11-18 years old) in my local village this summer! I will be in charge of everything book related and I cannot wait!
Any ideas for further things I could do, or things I should change up to make eve better, please do share all your thoughts!!
My current ideas and plans are below:
Prompt jar to pick from every time you finish a book to help decide your next read in a more fun and engaging way
Scrapbook for reviews. There will be review cards you can fill out and then stick in, or you can get artsy and design your own review page directly in the scrapbook
A box full of books to choose from (for free!!), collected from charity shops and local donations. Add books in and take them out as you like
Flyers with library app details so you can download ebooks and audiobooks with more ease and accessibility
Headphones provided, but must be packed up at the end of the night so as not to wonder off. Immersive read your audiobook and physical book, listen to the audiobook whilst doing a creative activity, or listen to music whilst you scrapbook
Notebooks and pens for creative writing, with a jar of creative writing prompts to inspire you. Plus take your notebook home at the end of the night!
Colouring books and puzzle books will be available to use whilst listening to audiobooks or music, or just chatting with your friends
A box of scrapbooking supplies will be provided, including: card (white and coloured), coloured pencils and pens, stencils, washy tapes, and stickers
I'm so excited to get started and kick off the Youth Group in the summer!!
Happy Tuesday, mis internet amigxs!!!
I wanted start this week's newsletter by sending sending my heart out to the people of Venezuela and all they are experiencing after the earthquakes last week. I can not imagine the horror and desperation. I've never been one to be hopeless, so I found this document as a wonderful resource for assistance and donations. Please share, as recovery will be long and the people of Venezuela need all the help we can provide right now in this moment. My post yesterday also included some local Tampa donation drop-off spots and I'll be sharing in IG stories as well. If you have reputable links, please provide them in the comments of this post as well. I'm happy to amplify.
JULY BOOK CLUB REMINDER
Tomorrow we GO BACK TO SCHOOL! Both our July book club picks are nonfiction!
Our regular book club pick for the month of July is P FKN R: How Bad Bunny Became The Global Voice Of Puerto Rican Resistance by Venessa Diaz and Petra R. Rivera-Rideau (Audiobook)
Our nonfiction sidequest (you get 2 months to read) is Cuba: An American History by Ada Ferrer (Audiobook)
Both books are linked below--I suspect discussions will start on Cuban time after July 4th weekend, so you have plenty of time to get your books.
SUPPORT MY WORK
You can support the work I do to bring these lists together by becoming a Libritos or Lectores member. It's through those financially supportive memberships that I can show Bindery that we want to publish Latine literature and also how I make ends meet as a full-time creator. One of the benefits of a paid subscription is that they already have all of July Latine releases in their hands along with some pretty exciting news. I appreciate you all being here at whatever level you can support.
And without further ado, today's Latine releases...
Translated Horror
The Summer of the Serpent by Cecilia Eudave and translated by Robin Myers (Audiobook)
Romantasy
Cursed Ever After by Andy C. Naranjo (Audiobook)
Anthology (featuring Latine contributors)
These Kindred Hearts: A YA Romantasy Anthology edited by Shari B. Pennants (Audiobook) features Zoraida Cordova, Vanessa Montalban and Angela Montoya
xo,
Carmen
Hi there book buddies!
You thought I forgot about the weekly reading update, didn't you? Nope! I just took the day off to celebrate my birthday. I'm 46 & fabulous, thank you for asking. 😜
We slipped away to Sequoia National Park to tent camp for the weekend, and though I had every intention of enjoying my book whilst in the hammock the entire weekend, I barely finished a page. Instead we did a driving tour and a few short hikes, plus lots of time tending the campfire (it was cold, yo).
Now we're back home and back to reality, though I'm finding it hard to focus on anything other than my current reads! Y'all suggested The Calamity Club as my next read, and, boy, I'm glad you did. The hype is REAL. It's SO good that I don't want to put it down, though I've been told to savor it if I can. I'm reading the physical book and listening to the audiobook, and, if I'm being honest, the audiobook is much better. But regardless how you read it, get your hands on this book asap! Now's a good time to tap into Audible (get 3 months free) since Libby holds on this book are going to be miles long!
I've also started the new Kate Thompson, The Secret Society of Librarians, and, as I expected, I'm loving it, too. If you've read her other work, then I guarantee you'll enjoy this book. I'm only 15% of the way into my advanced reader copy and already there are SO many Easter eggs from The Little Wartime Library and The Little Wartime Book Club. Her WWII books are all full of great characters, found family, and tight-knit communities. 10/10 recommend
Since my last update I finished A Great Act of Love and really, really enjoyed it. As I said in my most recent Last/Now/Next, it's a good one for adventure seekers. I especially loved the father/daughter connection in this book, along with the woman-reinventing-herself theme. Lately, I'm feeling the pull to be somebody completely new, so that really spoke to me. 4.5⭐️
I finally got the chance to read The Original, my most anticipated Spring release, and, y'all, it had me wondering WHY I WAITED SO LONG!? If you love Katharine Hepburn or Cary Grant films, this is a MUST read. It was like watching a film, with the terse, quick exchanges and abrupt scene shifts between chapters. It was seriously good reading, but I have a feeling it will not be for everyone. 5⭐️
Lastly, I decided to DNF The Correspondent for now. I tried reading on my Kindle and then tried audio, and neither format was speaking to me. It's a fan favorite, so I may try it again, but the dry narrative was a struggle.
ICYMI:
Paid subscribers got first dibs on the August Historical Fiction Heads Up! Otherwise, be sure to subscribe (and confirm) to my newsletter for access on July 1.
Hear It Here First:
I'll be sharing a bunch of stuff on Youtube very soon, including my book haul from the Great Bookstore Tour (very overdue). Be sure & follow me there if you like long form content.
Thanks, as always, for being here! Until next time, happy reading. 🤩
xoxo
c
Charlotte's Cozy Corner
Charlotte Bonner
Welcome to Charlotte's Cozy Corner! I'm so glad to have you join us! Welcome to the Cozy Family!
Unabridged Bodies
Katrina @flirtingwithfiction
Welcome to Unabridged Bodies— a community focused on stories celebrating fat bodies & other marginalized identities in fiction.
Bee's Books
Bailee Russo
Speculative fiction reader, writer, and reviewer | Anthropology & history scholar | Lover of delightfully weird books
Allen Not Ellen Reads
Ellen (allennotellen)
welcome y'all!! join me as we chat about westerns, romance, horror, and literally anything else that strikes my fancy
Tattooed Library
Emily
Welcome to the Tattooed Library! I'm Emily (ems.book.shelff), a bookish content creator on Youtube, Instagram, and Tiktok who quite literally lives, laughs, loves the library
Tastemaker-curated publishing imprints
We partner with select tastemakers to discover resonant new voices and publish to readers everywhere.
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