Right on the hills of the audio release of Orchard of Hope, here comes Summer of Joy. Some of you were kind enough to give Orchard of Hope a listen. I’m not sure how many of you have made it through the audio book yet as some of you also agreed to listen to Scent of Lilacs. I do think there have been a few reviews posted for both audio books. So far, nothing too cringe worthy about that new narrator, Ann H. Gabhart. 🙂 I did ask for mercy and I think those of you who have listened to Orchard of Hope have been kind.
I think I might have improved on my reading in Summer of Joy. At least I hope so, the same as I always hope whatever book I’m writing will be a bit better than the last in how I put the words together. Some readers are bound to like some stories more than others, but my writing ability can improve no matter the story I’m writing. I’m sure if I went back and reviewed that very first novel I wrote way many years ago, I’d see a lot of things I can now do better.
So with each book I try to narrate, I hope I’ll get better at reading. Next up this summer, I hope to narrate Love Comes Home. It is the only Rosey Corner book that didn’t get an audio contract through the publishers. I’ll have to come up with a whole new bunch of voices for those characters. Kate, Jay, Fern, Aunt Hattie, Graham, and many more. Probably more different characters in that story than in my Hollyhill books. So, if you would like to give Summer of Joy a listen, I do have some more free downloads. First come, first serve. Here’s a blurb to maybe get you interested in hearing the story.
The Brooke family isn’t sorry to see a stormy 1964 draw to a close in Hollyhill, Kentucky, but then the past comes calling, bringing new troubles their way. With true-to-life family drama, refreshing humor and loveable characters, Summer of Joy ends the Heart of Hollyhill series with a bang.
Can You Help?
I also need a few readers willing to help me get out the word about my upcoming release, Along a Storied Trail. If you would be willing to give the story a quick reading around the end of May or first of June and then share about the story with your reading friends, on social media or post a review, I can sign you up for a gift copy. The book is a gift. You aren’t required to do any of the above, but all of the above would be appreciated if you read the book and enjoy the story. And I do hope you will enjoy the story when you get a chance to read it. Again first come, first serve. I don’t have as many spots for this as I do the free downloads for Summer of Joy. But I thought I would offer the gift books to you here before I put out the request on my social media sites. (I’ve filled some of my spots, but if you are reading this and think you might like to help get the word out about my new book, please e-mail me at ann@annhgabhart.com.)
Winners
I picked the winners for my blog giveaway here and for my February newsletter giveaway today. Always fun to let somebody know they won something. Kathy S of Indiana won a book here on my blog giveaway this week. She chose An Appalachian Summer.
My newsletter winners were Karen W from Indiana. She won the box of candy and her choice of one of my books. She picked River to Redemption. Joan A from Missouri won a book and picked These Healing Hills because she enjoyed reading An Appalachian Summer. Michelle S of Canada has read some of my Hidden Springs mysteries, so she picked Murder is No Accident. I have one more winner, Lori S. but so far she hasn’t gotten in touch with her choice of a book.
Thanks to all of you who took part in my giveaway fun. More giveaways will be on the way soon. Plus a few guests might show up here on One Writer’s Journal in the next few weeks to give you a break from nothing but my words.
Some Last Words
For this week anyway. It’s been raining cats and dogs today. Well, really only raindrops, but plenty of them. The fields are muddy. The dog paws are muddy. The floors aren’t looking too good either. But the forecast has sunshine on the way and people are beginning to post pictures of crocus. That means spring will be springing soon. I hope the weather your way isn’t too bad and that a great spring awaits us all. Meanwhile the dogs and I went walking in the mud and the rain this afternoon. I had an aunt who loved to go shopping in the rain. She enjoyed walking under her umbrella from store to store. Me, I’d rather go walking in the rain than shopping.
Do you like walking in the rain? Or snow? Or sunshine? 🙂
As always thanks for reading. Let me know if you’re interested in the Summer of Joy downloads or if you’d like to be part of my book launch team or first readers for Along a Storied Trail.
P.S. Do you like the cover I came up with for the audio of Summer of Joy?
Comments 26
I would love to read “Along a storied Trail” and review it for you. I have loved all that I have read of your books, Ann. Thanks for the opportunity!
Taylor County Public Library just shared a post about Backpack Librarians so I committed and added your new book to the list they gave. If you still have copies available I would love to have a gift copy and be glad to help spread the word.
Author
Thank you for telling your library about my upcoming release, Janice. I do hope Kentucky libraries will want to put Along a Storied Trail on their shelves. I am fortunate that many libraries do have my books in their collections. I’ll e-mail you regarding my book launch team.
We walk in sunshine a lot here in Southeast Texas! Lots of summer sunshine, which is why our recent bout of freezing winter weather was such a big issue for us. I would love to help launch Along a Storied Trail and introduce it to my book club, and do all the things you mentioned to tell all my reading friends about your books. I have given some of my friends here in Texas and some cousins in Kentucky some of your books as gifts. We have a few in our church library. My husband gave me a signed copy of Along An Appalachian Trail for Christmas and I loved it.
Author
Looks like I’m going to be able to walk in some sunshine this week here in Kentucky. Finally. We had a very cloudy February. For sure, you Texans weren’t ready for all that bad weather. I hope you weathered the storm okay. I’ll send you an e-mail about Along a Storied Trail. I do appreciate you telling your friends about my books and sharing them with your book club. I do love book clubs. If they do decide to pick one of my books, I’d be glad to do a phone or zoom visit with them. Watch for my e-mail. Thanks for reading my words here too.
Hi Ann,
I just read where your governor has declared a state of emergency fir all of KY. I pray that your area has not mean affected and for for those who have been. God watch over and protect all of you. 🙏🏻
Today we, in MS, are getting a copious amount of rain and temperatures have dropped from 70’s into the 50’s.
Author
Thank you for your concern, Karen. We got a ton of rain on Sunday and Sunday night. Not too bad here where I live. Only 2.8 inches, but in other parts of the state they got up to 7 or 8 inches in some places. Any town close to a river was flooded. Some of the rivers are at historic flood stages. I’m out in the country away from streams and up on a hill. So no worries here other than the mud, but many people in Kentucky do need your prayers and mine. Thank you for praying for those in need who have lost their homes and possessions in the floods.
If Along A Storied Trail is paper I would be interested, as I don’t use an ereader. Thank you.
Author
I’ll send you an e-mail, Lucy, so watch for that. I do appreciate your support of my books and me. Always fun to see your comments here.
I missed the question concerning the audio cover for Summer of Joy. Absolutely beautiful!!! Sunflowers are one of my very favorite flowers! They’re so very bright and cheerful! They bring a smile to my face when I see one. Growing up we lived in Kansas for three years-3rd thru 6th grade and saw quite a few. After Katrina we had a couple pop up in our yard from seeds washed up from somewhere. 😊🌼😊
Would love a free audio version of Summer of Joy.
Congratulations to the lucky winners!!!
If there are any spots left I would enjoy being a reader for you. I love to walk in the rain as long as it’s not a torrential downpour. 😊
Author
Torrential downpours aren’t much fun to walk around it, Karen. I once bought a book of stamps at the Post Office and then ran through a deluge to my car. That was back when the stamps had to be licked. The rain licked those stamps and I couldn’t pull them apart to use. The post office guy reluctantly replaced them. 🙂
Thanks for your willingness to help spread the news about my upcoming release.
I would spread the word about Along a Storied Trail. Thank you.
Author
Thank you so much, Margaret. I appreciate your help.
I would love to be considered as one of your book launch team/first readers for “Along a Storied Trail”! I’ve never had the privilege of doing anything like this before and it would be so fun.
Author
Thank you, Jan. It will be fun having Pastor Jan on my team. I do hope you’ll enjoy my new story.
I have no doubts in my mind about enjoying your new story – I know I will – can’t wait!!
I am in the middle of reading Orchard of Hope. I am loving this series so far! I would also love to read Along a Storied Trail. All of your stories that I have read so far have been great. The Rosey Corners series may be my favorite-but I am really getting attached to the characters in the Hollyhill and looking forward finishing the series and see what happens with them all.
For the question of when to take a walk-I think walking in the sunshine is nice, but that everyone should take a walk in the rain once in a while–more so during the summer though, because the rain we had here in Pennsylvania today was a bit too cold, with all the snow still on the ground. 🙂
Author
Sunshine on our shoulders is certainly good, Hope, especially after the cloudy weeks we’ve had in February. But now, here we are in March with spring weeks away. But I’m sure I’ll be doing some more walks in the rain. Frankie is insistent on those walks, no matter the weather.
I do so appreciate you reading my books and I always smile when readers say they’ve enjoyed visiting Rosey Corner. I liked being there as writer in residence for a while. 🙂 But Hollyhill was a fun place to hang out too. You didn’t want the audio link for Summer of Joy,
did you? I sent you an e-mail regarding the Book Launch team.
I would LOVE to read Along A Storied Trail and listen to Summer of Joy! I’m listening to Orchard of Hope now, and, I love your voice! I actually prefer it to the Scent of Lilacs reader. Your Kentucky accent makes it seem more authentic, in my opinion! Hope you choose me, Ann. You know I’m a big fan!
Author
Thank you for your encouraging words about my narration of Orchard of Hope. I appreciate that and it could be I knew the characters a little better than the reader of Scent of Lilacs although she did a good job too. I definitely have that Kentucky accent. I’ll e-mail you a link for Summer of Joy. I’ve already e-mailed you regarding being a first reader to Along a Storied Trail. Thanks so much, Judi.
I indicated earlier to you that I’d like to be a reader for Along a Storied Trail. Also, I love your cover for Summer of Joy since the sunflower is bright and cheerful looking. I don’t do well with trying to download audio books unless the book is on a CD or MP3 CD. If it is, I’d love to listen to Summer of Joy. If not, share that with someone who is better at downloading things.
Author
I’ve got you down on my first reader list, Suzanne. I’m glad you like my Summer of Joy cover. I love sunflowers. They do seem to shout joy to me. But the book is a download and not on CD. I have had others able to download it without problems, so if you want to give it a try, I can still send you a link. But otherwise, we’re out of luck. No CDs. 🙁
I would love to read Along a Storied Trail.
Author
I sent you an e-mail about being on my first readers’ team, Una. I’ll watch for your answer.