Happy September!

News from Down on the Farm

Have you noticed how the days seem to zoom by faster and faster at the end of summer? I'm sort of noticing how the years have zoomed by as September brings that time of the year when I have to add a new number to my age. Did I say "have to." I should have said "get to." After all, a new year coming my way is a blessing and gift.

Birthdays are a great time to share some old pictures. The first one is my favorite little girl picture as I shadow my beautiful mother. Mom was probably thirty in that picture and I might have been going on two or maybe three. I'm going on more than that now, but what a ride it's been.

The other picture is me at about the age I was when I first picked up pen and had the crazy idea to write a mystery book. I wrote page after page getting my characters in all sorts of dilemmas. I know you won't be surprised that I'm hugging a dog. That's Ollie, my first dog. Oh, and I loved that black jacket. We called them windbreakers back then. I thought it made me look extra cool.

When the Meadow Blooms went on a blog tour. Calla and Sienna found readers ready to take them into their hearts as they followed them to Meadowland. The bloggers liked the healing my characters found on that Kentucky farm that appeared so peaceful but had been the site of some dramatic and sad times too. But isn't that true of any place, any life, any story?

My next newsletter I hope to share the cover for next year's release, In the Shadow of the River. It's a beautiful cover and I can't wait to see if you like it too.

While that story is undergoing edits at the publishers, I'm getting to know the characters for my next book. They've been walking with me. At least I'm imagining them along with me as I consider the answers to questions about their story. Do I have their names right? Where is the best place to jump into the story? What year did their story start? What problems do they have? What are the desires of their hearts? So many questions at this point. Hope I can find the right answers.

A Cuddly Blanket & A Book Go Together

A newsletter means a new giveaway, and in September, it's fun to switch the idea of birthday gifts around and give away something to my readers. September also is the beginning of autumn with cooler nights when a blanket in your favorite reading chair might be just the thing. It's fun to imagine you in your reading chair holding one of my books!

So, first place winner will win the soft blanket and his or her choice of one of my autographed books. Two other winners will get their choice of one of my autographed books. To enter just respond to this email or contact me from the contact page on my website. Lots of info about my books and me along with my blog posts on that website. The deadline to enter is midnight EST September 30, 2022. You must be 18 or older to enter. First prize winner has to have a USA address, but the two second prizes are open to all.

I do love hearing from all of you and always enjoy the stories some of you share. No story is necessary to enter the giveaway - any email will get you an entry - but if you want to share a story with me and perhaps my readers on my blog, One Writer's Journal, you can tell me about a birthday you'll never forget. If you do share a story, please let me know if the story is for my eyes only. I do sometimes share a few of the stories forward on my blog posts. I never share your full name, where you live, or your email address. Your privacy is important to me.

Giveaway #2 - A Free Audio Book

I enjoyed sending some of you a free download of Murder at the Courthouse after I sent out my last newsletter. If I did, I hope you enjoyed listening to the story. I still have some free downloads. So, if you didn't get one then or if you have never tried an audio book, but think it might be fun, here's your chance. I'm giving them away until they're gone.

I love audio books and I enjoyed doing the narration on a few of my stories. Six now that I just finished narrating the second Hidden Springs mystery, Murder Comes by Mail. It should be available for readers/listeners soon. Meanwhile I designed a new cover for the audio version of the book. How do you like it?

Murder Comes by Mail is a little more suspenseful than my other Hidden Springs mysteries. That made it extra fun to narrate. Here's an Amazon review of the print book.

"5.0 out of 5 stars. WOW! Even better than the first one! Thank you, A.H.Gabhart! A Christian crime mystery so scary and so well written, it had me thinking about whether I had locked all of the doors in my house. Seriously - bravo!!!!" (Gracie)

You can find almost all my books on audio (most with professional narrators and those few with me narrating) on Audible, AudioBooks.com, Chirp, and other audio book sites. Murder Comes by Mail should be available along with them online soon.

Hope those gave you some smiles.

As always thanks for reading my newsletter and for reading my books. If you post reviews online, I hope you will share your thoughts about any of my books you may have read or listened to on audio. Reviews are a wonderful way to help out your favorite writers. But if you don't like to do written reviews, telling your friends about books you enjoy is even better. Word of mouth is the best advertising a book can get.