 | First, let me say welcome to those of you who are new subscribers to my newsletter. Some of you signed up through my website. Others of you took part in a book promotion Summer Kickoff Bookie Giveaway. I'm happy you were willing to give my newsletter a try. However, if you need to unsubscribe, I understand. You can do so by scrolling to the bottom of the newsletter and clicking on the unsubscribe button there. Now on to my news! | Happy Birthday to Me! "How old would you be if you didn't know how old you are?" ~Satchel Paige I'm not sure what my answer to that would be, but I don't think it would match the reality were I to do the math necessary to figure out exactly how old I am. Have you ever noticed that when you start adding on a few years people start asking how old you are again? We love asking little kids their age and watching them hold up fingers to show us two, three, four or five. Once we hit twenty-one, we slide through the adult years with nobody asking our age. Then suddenly you get gray hair and wrinkles and folks think you want to brag about adding on the years. Maybe some do, but as happy as I am to have the gift of a new year, I see no need in getting numbers involved. LOL Mom was one who was anxiously counting toward 100. She always wanted to live to be 100, but she only made it to 94. I miss her every day but somehow especially on my birthday. | Since one of my favorite things to do is hike down a creek or two and take pictures of trees, flowers, rippling water and kids, I had fun using a couple of the pictures I took down the creek to share some graphics about my book, Along a Storied Trail. Plus, most of the review graphics my publishers made were mountain scenes. That worked since my packhorse librarian rides those mountain trails in Along a Storied Trail, If you were part of the JustReadTour on Instagram, I appreciate it so much. I tried to upload some of the lovely images posted of my book on Instagram but my computer wouldn't cooperate. No doubt, operator error. But I do thank you for each one. Several new readers said the lovely book cover enticed them to give my story a read. I also thank all of you who may have blogged about my story or written a review. In our online world, reviews are so important in helping readers notice books. Unfortunately, I don't have any big book sales going on although some of my e-books are reasonably priced. Soon, I will have a cover reveal for my next year's book, When the Meadow Blooms, as I've seen a preliminary cover. So maybe next newsletter. Maybe some other surprises too. | I love giving books for gifts and I have a lot of books I can give. These are just a few of them. I picked books with covers that had fall colors. Well, except for Along a Storied Trail, but you have to love that blue. So, since it's my birthday and since I love giving away books, I'm giving you a chance to get your choice of one of my books. Plus, the 1st prize winner will get a little extra, a tea towel almost too pretty to use and a bag of my favorite Blue Monday candy bars. The "Love Grows Here" sort of fits there nestled in my books where love grows in the stories. To enter, all you have to do is answer this e-mail or if you'd rather, you can send a message from my Contact Page. To find out more about the choice of books you might win, you can check them out here. Of course I'd love it if you would follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, BookBub or Pinterest. But sending an e-mail is all you need to do to enter besides being at least 18 years old. Besides the 1st place winner, I'll pick five other winners to get a choice of one of my books. Deadline to enter is midnight EST October 1, 2021. I do enjoy getting to know all of you better so for fun you can tell me something you would like for your birthday. Let's think out of the box, literally, and not come up with anything that could be wrapped in a gift box or stuffed in a gift bag. What might be something you'd like to do on your birthday or what you might silently wish while ready to blow out birthday candles? I'll start. I often do gift myself a long walk down that creek where I took those pictures, or what a pleasure it would be to have a whole day to read a book from cover to cover with nothing else to do. Then there's always time with family. Maybe I'll add on a big slice of pie - cherry or apple sounds good - and a cup of tea. That would be even better if all of you were here to join me. Somebody would have to make a few pies! Share something like that or any kind of birthday story if you want. Remember to tell me if it's for my eyes only since I sometimes share readers' stories or comments forward on my blogOne Writer's Journal. But a simple yes message is good enough for your entry in the drawing. | I have an overabundance of bookmarks since all the book events were closed down last year and most of this year. So if you'd like a few or a bunch if you want to share them with your library, church library or book clubs, send your mailing address and I'll get some out to you. I have some for Along a Storied Trail, An Appalachian Summer, The Refuge, my Hidden Springs mysteries and a few others if you want to name a favorite. I can also send signed book plates if you would like them for any of my books you own. A couple of book events are still a go this year. If you are in these areas, I'd love to see you. Saturday, October 2, 2021 – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Fleming County Book Fair – Fleming County Public Library, 202 Bypass Blvd, Flemingsburg, KY 41041, 606-845-7851 Saturday, November 6, 2021 – Kentucky Book Festival, Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Lexington KY |  "She's not heavy. She's my sister!" | Love the young smiling faces of my grandkids, but we can keep on smiling no matter how old we get. So here's some smiles for you. ~Old age is always fifteen years older than I am. - Oliver Wendell Holmes
~Wrinkles should merely indicate where smiles have been. - Mark Twain
~Of course, I know how old I am. Well, I know when I was born. I don’t like doing the math, so I usually just ballpark it.
~We’re all brave in our own way. For example, I’m not afraid of raw cookie dough.
~The important thing to remember is that I’m probably going to forget.
~Time may be a great healer, but it's a lousy beautician. - Anonymous
~Don't let aging get you down. It's too hard to get back up. - John Wagner
~Those who love deeply never grow old; they may die of old age, but they die young. - Dorothy Canfield Fisher I used to keep this quote from Nicholas Chamfort on my desk calendar. "Of all days, the day on which one has not laughed is the one most surely wasted." So laugh it up and we'll stay young while we're getting older together. Wishing you a beautiful autumn season and many good stories to read. Happy Reading! Ann
www.annhgabhart.com | | |
