A Temporary Normal (update: All ebooks still .99! Happy Reading!)

Have you found it yet? A temporary normal amid all this change? I haven't either, but I don't think it's our fault. Something seems to change every. single. day. We don't have time to get ouIt started with my husband's business trip canceling and it's been a steady slope of change ever since. As it sits now, we have school work for one child and will pick up another child's tomorrow. Our third is homeschooled so he's out of luck on much change! He doesn't seem to mind. Our church has been focusing on a home-centered-church-supported theme the past year and a half or so. We are really putting that to the test with all meetings canceled which certainly changes a lot for this family.

For the most part, I've really not minded these changes. In fact, with each new change I breathe a little easier. I guess I'm in that "training-for-this-all-my-life," camp. Still, late at night when the kids are asleep and the house is quiet, my mind begins to spin and worry creeps in. Worry for my mother, my Aunt who is battling cancer, my friend also battling cancer, and more, along with irrational fears that I won't give a voice to. At least not until you tell me yours!

I have seen a bright side to all this. Our community has pulled together so quickly providing meals for kiddos who may go hungry without school meals, teachers and administrators working so quickly and efficiently preparing school work for our kiddos, and businesses donating money so packets of school work can be printed for those who can't print them at home, just to name a few. It's all been awe-inspiring to say the least. We feel so blessed to be a part of this small, tight-knit community.

I wish I had a brilliant idea to change the world and send my own piece of love and help out in a totally helpful, non-threatening nor covid-19 spreading way! I don't. But, turns out I have a TINY thing I CAN do. I've lowered the price of all three books in the Ordinary Series to 99 cents. That's the lowest Amazon will let me go and retain my copyright. So, if you're looking for an action-packed, love story, young adult fantasy novel for you or someone you love, head on over to amazon by clicking the links on my sidebar. I plan on keeping them at that price for at least two weeks (probably longer. Seems like we are in this for a while). Feel free to spread the word!

I hope you all find and settle in quickly to a temporary normal and find peace and comfort during this crazy time. I hope you feel my love and prayers. And I hope you enjoy The Ordinary Series!

Karen

Quick reminder of series order:
The Ordinary, book one
The Heir, book two
The Time Between, book three

In Case You Forgot...

It's done! The Ordinary is .99 for a limited time! Perfect time to give it a try. I'd love to hear what you think! 

And, in case you forgot...

Facelift

I gave The Ordinary a tiny facelift. 

I really love it. I changed the font. It doesn't look like a horror book now. I actually never thought of it as a horror-looking book, but my teenager sure did. After he mentioned it did, that's all I could see. I was hesitant to change it since copies had been sold, but I decided it was time. What do you think?

I also added a sneak peek of THE HEIR at the end of the ebook version. I may include it in the paperback version as well. Do authors do that in paperback? I'm having a hard time remembering now that I mainly read ebook!

The Time Between UPDATE

I've been neglecting the blog! I feel like I've had a newborn in the house demanding all my attention. Instead of bottles and diapers, I've been up to my ears in edits and decisions. It's not really demanding to give attention to a newborn...sign me up for the sleepy little bundle on my chest. Yes, please. The decisions and editing didn't really feel demanding to me either. Putting the final touches on a cover I so painstakingly worried over for MONTHS...yes please! Crying while reading my own book...um yes again! See the pic above? Tears! It's been so fun and rewarding to feel it all come together. AND I cannot tell you how excited I am for all of you to have it in your hot little hands. Please comment here, message me, send a pigeon carrier, whatever, and let me know what you think. I can't wait to hear from you!

I've been editing like crazy wondering why I gave myself a deadline. And then I hear from a reader telling me they cannot wait to read it and wondering if I knew when it would be out yet and I remember why. I've had to get creative juggling my sweet family and editing. Good times!

Did you know my husband is a budding artist? He began to really draw (he's doodled his entire life!) a few years ago and it's been so fun to watch him grow his talent. He drew the above picture and it can be found in The Time Between! It looks so great. It wasn't easy getting it there though! Here's what it would look like in my document. Great, right!

Here's how it would look when it uploaded to kindle. What?

I'm almost ashamed to say how long it took me to fix. But, eventually I got it! Ta-da!

I discovered Chik-fil-a was my favorite place to edit. It feels like winter in there!  I couldn't feel my toes by the time I left. It was awesome!

My husband not only took the kids countless times so I could edit, but he brought me home flowers too. Love him!

If you follow me on facebook or instagram you know I agonized over the cover for The Time Between. 

I was so relieved when my proof copy came and I LOVED it! It was all I had hoped it would be.  

 

It soon disappeared, though.

This is where I found it! My twelve year old had swiped it. She finished it in a day and a half. It doesn't get better than that! Although, there was one point where she threatened to stop speaking to me. Ha!

The Time Between is now out and available in paperback or ebook! For some reason, it won't let me link it here yet, but I will as soon as it's available. In the meantime, you can search The Time Between Karen Richardson on Amazon or click The Ordinary or The Heir links on the right side of the blog. Once it takes you to Amazon you can click on my name and find it. If you're still having trouble after all that, comment and I'll see what I can do.

And lastly, THANK YOU, and HAPPY READING!

The Time Between - COMING AUGUST 6, 2018

Finally! I was extra indecisive when choosing the name and cover for the LAST book in THE ORDINARY SERIES. Each book has a level of expectations to meet (or hopefully exceed!). Maybe I got in my head a bit this time, but with each book, the level gets a bit bigger. This was no exception. I mean come on! It's the last book. You want to LOVE the last book. It needs to leave you feeling like reading the series was totally worth it! I've wanted each and every part of it to be just what I envisioned it to be...especially the cover and the title. I'm so happy with both!

Drumroll, please! Ok, we don't really need a drumroll. I mean it's right there!

AND did you notice the title? Love it! I think it fits the book so well.

I have more news! The release date is set! (Should I have a release date party??)

AUGUST 6, 2018!!

You can preorder an ebook copy now if you'd like. It will be delivered on August 6th. Paperback will be available on August 6th. Also, if you'd like BOTH versions, wait to order until the 6th. You will then be able to order a paperback at regular price and an ebook version for .99! If this doesn't make sense, let me know! I'll add a handy-dandy link to the side of my page when Amazon will let me. In the meantime, you can click on The Ordinary and then my name and you can find it.

Thank you all for all your support and excitement. I LOVE to write. You all loving what I write is beyond a dream for me. THANK YOU!

Perk or Curse?

I'm not sure the kids have figured it out yet, but I have learned if you want a "yes" from my husband,  wait for him to be huddled over a pile of papers to grade and go in for the kill. Do you want to go_______? He will drop that pen so fast you will wonder if he ever had it in his hand. Anything to get out of grading. It's pretty awesome. Want to go to the park? Yep. Want to clean the bathroom? Yep. He loves his job. He loves lecturing. He loves working with the students. He loves it all. All except the grading. I tell him every job has to have at least one downside--this is his.

A few weeks ago, he was deep in the end-of-semester-crazy, as we like to call it. He was up to his ears in papers to grade, worried students to console and diet coke. Okay, he's always up to his ears in diet coke. This time of the semester may be the exception to the above rule. Deadlines loom and have to be met. He keeps his head down and sometimes doesn't even hear our want to requests (noise canceling headphones in place!). So, when he asked for my manuscript I was kind of surprised. I thought he'd want to wait until his plate cleared a smidgen...even though he'd do just about anything to get out of grading. "Are you sure?" I questioned at least a dozen times. He was sure. He sent me this picture. He was hiding out at Hardee's reading and enjoying some non-grading time.

I worry though, is being married to the author and getting first dibs at the manuscript a perk or a curse? I guess we'll have to ask him. Either way, I'm super grateful for his excitement, enthusiasm, and expertise. I'm one lucky girl. Thanks Kim!

Guess What I Just Did?

The third and final book in The Ordinary Series is DONE! Well, except for the editing. For now, I've traded my laptop for THIS. The editing has begun!

Coming this summer! Check back for updates.

And, just because you've all been on my mind lately...thank you! Thank you for supporting and encouraging me. Thank you for taking this journey with me. I appreciate you!

With love,

Karen

Riverbed Road

My mother grew up in a little town in southern Utah. Right next to her little town was an even tinier town, Greenville. I talked about it and shared some pictures here. When we would visit my grandmother, we would always take a trip to Greenville. There were two ways to get there but our favorite was by far the riverbed road.

First of all, to get to the riverbed road you got to drive past the coolest nursery ever. A nursery in the front and a small farm in the back. Sometimes we would get really lucky and the peacocks would have their feathers out for us. As we followed the gentle curves of the road and we would listen to mom and grandma share their memories. The pictures they painted were so vivid I could imagine I was there with them.

I love that place and the area around it. So many memories are wrapped up in the smells, sites and sounds of that place. So. many. I still can't drive on gravel and not think of my grandmother.

I've shared a bit about my husband and his newfound love of art. The past year or so he's been nurturing that hidden talent and growing so much! I've been trying to get him to sketch my memories and he did! He's awesome like that.

To say I love it is an understatement. I mean, come on. My greatest love created one of my fondest memories! Does it get any better than that?

The Time Between UPDATE

I've been neglecting the blog! I feel like I've had a newborn in the house demanding all my attention. Instead of bottles and diapers, I've been up to my ears in edits and decisions. It's not really demanding to give attention to a newborn...sign me up for the sleepy little bundle on my chest. Yes, please. The decisions and editing didn't really feel demanding to me either. Putting the final touches on a cover I so painstakingly worried over for MONTHS...yes, please! Crying while reading my own book...um yes again! See the pic above? Tears! It's been so fun and rewarding to feel it all come together. AND I cannot tell you how excited I am for all of you to have it in your hot little hands. Please comment here, message me, send a pigeon carrier, whatever, and let me know what you think. I can't wait to hear from you!

I've been editing like crazy wondering why I gave myself a deadline. And then I hear from a reader telling me they cannot wait to read it and wondering if I knew when it would be out yet, and I remember why. I've had to get creative juggling my sweet family and editing. Good times!

Did you know my husband is a budding artist? He began to really draw (he's doodled his entire life!) a few years ago and it's been so fun to watch him grow his talent. He drew the picture above and it can be found in The Time Between! It looks so great. It wasn't easy getting it there though! Here's what it would look like in my document. Great, right?

Here's how it would look when it uploaded to kindle. What?

I'm almost ashamed to say how long it took me to fix. But, eventually, I got it! Ta-da!

I discovered Chik-fil-a was my favorite place to edit. It's July...in the SOUTH. It's HOT and HUMID. Not at CFA! It feels like winter in there!  I couldn't feel my toes by the time I left. It was awesome!

My husband not only took the kids countless times so I could edit, but he brought me flowers too. Love him!

If you follow me on Facebook or Instagram you know I agonized over the cover for The Time Between...

I was so relieved when my proof copy came. I LOVE it! It was all I had hoped it would be. 

It soon disappeared, though.

This is where I found it! My twelve year old had swiped it. She finished it in a day and a half. It doesn't get better than that! Although, there was one point where she threatened to stop speaking to me. Ha! Luckily she kept reading. 

The Time Between is now out and available in paperback or ebook! For some reason, it won't let me link it here yet, but I will as soon as it's available. In the meantime, you can search The Time Between Karen Richardson on Amazon or click The Ordinary or The Heir links on the right side of the blog. Once it takes you to Amazon you can click on my name and find it. If you're still having trouble after all that, comment and I'll see what I can do.

And lastly, THANK YOU and happy reading!