For some, this part of the year is called the holidays. For book retailers, it's called the fourth quarter. This is the biggest time of year for all kinds of sales, which of course means books, too! Whether you're a reader or a writer (or both, of course!) we have some suggestions for you below. We are also offering some gifts to you this season. Thank you for supporting Gold Leaf Literary and may you have a bright, and lovely season ahead!
Lauren, Caroline, Carolyn, Aya, Bri, and Johanna
For the writer:
Paper Hearts series, Beth Revis
Three volumes of writing and publishing advice from one of Gold Leaf's incredible literary community.
The Storyteller’s Workbook, Adrienne Young and Isabel Ibañez (out December 13!)
Two talented YA authors with very different processes have created a workbook that will take anyone from drafting to publication.
For the romantic:
Belladonna, Adalyn Grace
This "darkly twisted and deliciously gothic" (Renée Ahdieh) story is the "novel of your 'Bridgerton' and 'Jane Eyre' dreams." (Teen Vogue)
The Other Side of Certain, Amy Willoughby-Burle
A Depression-era Pack Horse Librarian finds her place and a challenge from the compelling town pariah in Certain, KY.
For the lover of all things witchy:
Spells for Forgetting, Adrienne Young
This adult debut from the author of Fable "is so atmospheric it will leave you breathless." (Sarah Addison Allen)
The Night School, Maia Toll
"A delightful program with magic to spare" (Publishers Weekly), this is a book for anyone who ever wanted to attend magic school.
For the action fanatic:
Middle Grade
Two Degrees, Alan Gratz
This NYT bestseller offers "pulse-pounding ecological tales and high-stakes calamity with the brisk pacing of a thriller" (Publishers Weekly)
Island of Spies, Sheila Turnage
From the Newbery Honor winning author, the Dime Novel Kids bring their antics and keen observations to bear in 1942 Hatteras Island.
The gift that keeps on giving:
Picture Books
Giving Thanks, Denise Kiernan
The NYT bestselling author takes the history from We Gather Together and "helps to rewrite harmful narratives in an age-appropriate way for a new generation" (Kirkus)
Give This Book Away, Darren Farrell
The author of Thank You, Octopus creates a journey into the joy of sharing. Hand it to a friend or friend-to-be!
Women’s Journeys:
Wild is the Witch, Rachel Griffin
From the author of The Nature of Witches, "a deeply atmospheric and emotionally raw story about forgiveness, vulnerability, and learning to move forward through pain." (Adalyn Grace)
Traces, Patricia L. Hudson
This novel focusing on Daniel Boone's wife and daughters "dramatizes conflicts and tragedies, as well as desire, loyalty, and abiding love." (Robert Morgan)
For inspiration in 2023:
Bushwhacking: How to Get Lost in the Woods and Write Your Way Out, Jennifer McGaha (2/7/23)
Part writing memoir, part nature memoir, and part meditation on a life well lived, this book helps writers see a way out of the blank page or messy draft.
Letting Magic In: A Memoir of Becoming, Maia Toll (6/20/23)
"A path forward for any and all of us who are willing to step out of our ordinary (and often disconnected) lives and into the web that is magical living." (Steph Jagger)
For Writers
Dear writers, your local bookstore(s) love having signed copies of your books to offer for sale during the holidays. Reach out and see if there's a good time for you to come by and sign stock. Have signed bookplates? Offer those to stores as well, or directly to readers who purchase your books, if you don't mind covering the stamp to mail them out. (Make sure your website lets readers know where they can buy signed copies of your books.)
Other ways you can get involved with your local stores is to offer to be a bookseller for a day or do holiday wrapping. Small Business Saturday is right around the corner and is a great time to offer help or just shop at your local store.
In addition, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving is Giving Tuesday. It's the perfect time to shout out an organization that you support! Share it on social media with the hashtag #GivingTuesday and let your readers know what's important to you. If you don't already have a favorite, Reading is Fundamental and World Literacy Foundation are great larger organizations that support childhood literacy. Your local literacy council would love your support, too!
For You
We're offering any one of our Writer as Human sessions from the summer and fall for $10 each! Get one for you, or a friend, or a family member, and hear what writers and experts know about getting published, pushing back against imposter syndrome, and staying the course when it comes to the writing life.
Maia Toll discusses how looking at things unconventionally can be helpful; Adrienne Young shares how to show up and pay attention in your writing and publishing path; Spiritual writing coach Monica Hay delves into ways to support yourself as a writer; Ideas on how to be "drawn not driven" from workaholism expert Bryan E. Robinson; Beth Revis on persistence and how to build community for book promotion; Debut author Emily Varga on creating, and finding your own path, in the midst of a full life.
Coming in 2023
We're looking ahead to the New Year and will be sharing new classes, fabulous new clients, and more! Have a topic you'd like us to cover in the newsletter or in a class? Drop us a line at theteam@goldleafliterary.com. We love hearing from you!