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Did you know this October marks the 150th anniversary of the Great Fire of Chicago? Since Veiled in Smoke takes place during and after the fire, I was inspired to honor this historic date by putting together a commemorative gift box for it. Shadows of the White City was not to be left out of the fun. After all, Shadows of the White City, which is set during the 1893 World’s Fair, shows just how quickly and amazingly the city rebuilt. I'm marketing these for Christmas but they work for birthdays, too. The gifts are about the story, not about Christmas. So what’s a Read-Along Gift Box? In one box, you get a personalized, signed copy of the paperback*, plus between six and eight other gifts to open as you read the book. The gifts are all wrapped and story-specific, which means they relate directly to what’s happening in the book. Each gift is marked with the page number you need to reach in order to unwrap that particular gift. *If you already have a copy of the book and would rather just get the gifts to go along with it, you may indicate that on the order form and reduce the cost by $10. What are the gifts? I’d hate to ruin the surprise by revealing that before people get the chance to open the presents for themselves. But I can tell you that I have spent weeks curating these items, custom-designing a few, and even hand-crafting one gift myself. You can’t get this combination of items anywhere else. It’s all designed to coordinate with the novels. If you genuinely can’t stand the suspense, I can give you some hints. All I will tell you, though, is the page number the gifts relate to, and the specific quotes from those pages that inspired the gifts. But be warned: if you haven’t read the novel yet, reading these hints may spoil the story for you, and I'd advise against that. Otherwise, find the hints for the Veiled in Smoke gifts here, and hints for Shadows of the White City gifts here. Limited Supply I’m only putting together 20 boxes of each kind, so place your order soon! The deadline for all orders to be received is Nov. 1, 2021. That way I’ll have enough time to compile the boxes and ship them out by early December, in plenty of time to reach you—or your friend—by Christmas. Ship to Yourself or to Your Gift Recipient If you are shipping the box directly to a loved one, and they might open it before Christmas, don’t worry. Everything inside the box will be wrapped, and when they open the box they will see a letter marked "Read Me First!" that will first say to wait until Christmas to continue, and then explain how the Read-Along Gift Box works. When you place your order, you’ll also have the chance to tell me what to write in a gift note to your recipient so they know it’s from you. To Order To place your order, please complete this Google Form. The cost is $49.99 per box (tax included) with FREE shipping in the U.S. (Shipping to U.S. addresses only.) Or, if you order a box without the book, the total is $39.99. Within 24 hours of your submitting the Google Form, you'll be emailed in invoice through Paypal. Your order will be complete once your payment is processed through Paypal. Details in the Google Form. Questions? Email me: Jocelyn[at]JocelynGreen[dot]com.

Did you know that suspense author Andrew Huff invites guests on his YouTube show to chat about books and drink the guest's favorite brew? For me, that's tea. So come along with us and see what this coffee afficionadeo thought of my favorite fruity tea (among the other things we chat about), Mama's Apple Pie from my local Tea Cellar. And be sure to check out Andrew's Web site and books, too!   

Well, it's official. My nonfiction book for women, Free to Lean, Making Peace with Your Lopsided Life, is going out of print. In fact, after August, all the extra copies in the publisher's warehouse will be destroyed. In July I posted about this on my Facebook page and sold two entire cases of books in almost two days. Thank you! So I've ordered four more cases at a discount, so I can pass that discount on to you. That means I'm selling signed, personalized paperbacks of Free to Lean: Making Peace with Your Lopsided Life for just $4.99 plus shipping.  The retail price of this book is $15, so hopefully this savings will allow you, and perhaps even your small group or book club to have your own copy.  “If your shoulders ache from carrying too heavy a load, or if you’re just plain tired of trying to be all things to all people, you’ve come to the right place. Free to Lean is an invitation to a deeper, more settled life.” ~Susie Larson, talk radio host, national speaker, and author of Your Sacred Yes (Susie Larson wrote the forward for Free to Lean, too!) Here's what the book is all about: "Are you tired of always feeling like you don’t quite measure up? Do you wish you had more hours in the day to complete your to-do list? You are not alone! We all want a well-balanced life where we have time for everything we want to accomplish. But a “balanced life” should not be our goal—our goal should be to follow after Jesus. Then He will show us our priorities.   "Jocelyn Green writes from her own lopsided life, and she understands the struggles of trying to do all things well. She came to the conclusion in her own life that “balance is bunk.” Although we can and should work hard at whatever is on our plate, we need to admit that it’s not possible to do everything with equal zest. We all go through seasons of life, and God gives us certain responsibilities for certain times. We need to embrace those seasons and live in harmony with them."   Free to Lean will help  you to:           > Stop feeling “less than” for not being able to do more > Shed the burden of other people’s expectations > Find ways to prioritize and order your life > Learn to recognize the various seasons in each of our lives > Develop the five pillars even the unbalanced woman must lean upon > Grow in your confidence of God’s plans for your life So grab your cup of coffee and copy of Free to Lean. Stop feeling guilty about not “doing it all,” and refocus your thoughts on leaning into Jesus. Allow Him to make your lopsided life complete. Below, I read the introduction from the book to give you an even better sense of what you'll find within these pages. To Order Just email me (jocelyn[at]jocelyngreen[dot]com) or message me through my Author Jocelyn Green Facebook page. Let me know how many copies you'd like, where to send them, and if you want me to personalize them. I'll reply with your total, and you'll be able to pay via PayPal. I'll ship the books once payment has been received!   *If you email me and have not heard a response within 24 hours, please check your junk mail folder. I've heard that sometimes my emails go there. Shipping Rates To give you some idea of the shipping costs, I use media mail unless you want to pay for priority. With media mail rates, shipping one book costs $2.89, two to three books to the same address is $3.45, four books to the same address would be $4.01, etc. Please note that these rates are for shipping within the United States. I can ship to Canada, too, but the rates would be higher. Email me for details. Thanks! Don't Just Take My Word For It  

Last week I went to my first ever writers retreat! If you’re not familiar with this type of event, stick around, and I’ll tell you all about it. This particular retreat was hosted by author Gabrielle Meyer in a historic mansion in her hometown of Little Falls, Minnesota. But before we reached Little Falls, the Bethany House authors stopped in Minneapolis to visit the Bethany House Publishers office. We spent a good chunk of a day there, dividing our time between meetings with our editors, the marketing and publicity team, and of course shared breakfast and lunch. My editor, Jessica Sharpe, and me, and all the pretty books! Photobombing Jaime Jo Wright and Kimberley Woodhouse!  Clockwise from top left: Amy Lynn Green, Gabrielle Meyer, Jaime Jo Wright, Julie Klassen, Lauraine Snelling, Kimberley Woodhouse, Regina Jennings, Jocelyn Green, and Karen Witemeyer. Once our time at the BHP office concluded, most of us headed north to check in for the writers retreat! A writers retreat can serve different purposes for different writers, but the general idea is that it’s time away from our routine responsibilities to focus on writing. Or brainstorming with other authors. And also just visiting to various degrees, because writing is such a solitary job that even the introverts among us love connecting with our fellow writers. The mansion we stayed in is called Linden Hill, and it sleeps 26 individuals. This was the room I stayed in. Isn’t it so cute? Photo courtesy of Amy Lynn Green Most rooms sleep two, but I was doubly blessed to have not one but two amazing roommates! Fellow authors Amy Lynn Green (also the senior fiction publicist for Bethany House) and Karen Witemeyer! Amy Lynn Green, Jocelyn Green (are we related? I wish!), and Karen Witemeyer All the meals were provided on site where about twenty of us gathered around two large tables in adjoining dining rooms. It’s amazing how much more time there is in the day when I don’t have to cook or clean up after meals. (Can I get an amen?) Plus there were snacks, and a never ending supply of tea and coffee. Bliss! One of the dining rooms. Photo courtesy Gabrielle Meyer Between meals, we had a choice whether to brainstorm in a group, chat, find a corner to work in, or work downstairs in the conference room. This is the window seat Amy Lynn Green found to hide away in with her laptop. So charming! Photo courtesy Amy Lynn Green In the morning, I joined the brainstorm group with Lorna Seilstad, Julie Fisk, Lauraine Snelling, Kimberley Woodhouse, and Gabrielle Meyer. We each had a turn posing a specific question or plot point we wanted feedback for. It was a fruitful time, and great fun to throw out ideas for other people’s stories. Brainstorming! Photo courtesy Gabrielle Meyer Jenny Snow also came to do a few interviews for her YouTube channel, The Book Club Life. Here she is with the brilliant Michelle Griep. I encourage you to check out Jenny's YouTube channel, it's packed with author interviews and reviews! Find her first interview with me here, and her review of Veiled in Smoke here. Jenny Snow and Michelle Griep. Photo courtesy of Jenny Snow After lunch, I headed down to the conference room to write. That's me in the foreground on the right, looking very thoughtful, and surrounded by greatness. I spy Julie Klassen and Lindsay Harrel in the photo. I was a little distracted, wondering what stories they were penning in my very presence. Want to know what I was working on? An email. The conference room. Photo courtesy Gabrielle Meyer That’s right, I went to a writers retreat and wrote an email. Ha! But I wanted to share with my editors some ideas that had come from the morning brainstorming session. So I consider the day a win, because coming up with ideas takes me longer than you’d think. (I usually have to slog through a number of bad ideas before coming up with something that actually works.) The evening offered group discussion and games that people could opt in or out of. So ended the writers retreat, because the next day was spent at the Mississippi River Readers Retreat—so named because Little Falls is right at the headwaters of the river. What’s a readers retreat, you ask? Hop on over to the next blog post and I’ll tell you. But before you go—If you're writer, have you been to a writers retreat before? What was the experience like for you? If you're a reader, tell me in which setting you'd love to curl up and read a book if you had to choose from the photos in this post: the window seat pictured by Amy Lynn Green, the music room where we had our brainstorming session, the cozy bedroom, or the gazebo outside?  *Note: Comments require moderation, so when yours doesn't appear right away, never fear, it's just waiting for me to approve it.

At the beginning of this summer, I made a list of the books I wanted to read, including older titles I've missed as well as newer releases. I may have been a little too ambitious, especially since my reading time will soon be turned into research time for the next novel I need to write. But I've gotten through about half of my hopefuls, and they have all been excellent in different ways! I'll share that list below, along with a few links where you can find these books, too. (This list does not include the books I've read for endorsement, which I'll be happy to gush about closer to their release dates.)   1. Kindred by Octavia E. Butler. General Market Time Travel Fiction "I never realized how easily people could be trained to accept slavery.” ~Kindred.  This, I think, is the main theme of this time-traveling book which brings an African-American woman living in 1976 into the lives of her ancestors living in Maryland in the early 1800s. As for genre, the time-travel aspect is fantasy rather than science fiction, because there's no explanation for it, and readers are asked to suspend their disbelief about how such a phenomenon takes place. The point isn't how Dana travels back in time, but what she experiences when she does. It's a powerful story which makes painfully clear how a person would come to accept slavery, whether that person is the enslaved or the master. The immediacy of that history makes for an unsettling read, which I'm sure the author intended. *There is some language in this novel, including repeated use of a racial epithet that was extremely common in the early 1800s. Find it at Goodreads and Amazon.   2. A Rumored Fortune by Joanna Davidson Politano. Christian Historical Romance. A lonely young heiress becomes the poorest wealthy woman in Victorian England when her father dies without telling anyone where he hid his fortune. Can Tressa and the no-nonsense estate manager find the fortune before the greedy relatives get to it first?  This book is absolutely beautiful! Every scene carefully woven, every line stitched with care into a seamless tapestry. A Rumored Fortune is full of the most natural and profound metaphors, I was practically cheering as I listened to this on audiobook. Wonderful story, charming characters, an absolute joy to read.  Find it at Goodreads, Baker Book House, or Amazon.   3. Lost Roses by Martha Hall Kelly. General Market Historical Fiction. This novel of the Russian Revolution is extremely moving, especially the portrayals of grief and healing from the loss of a spouse. I appreciate that the author gives us perspectives of Russian aristocrats and peasants. The plight of Russian refugees in New York and Paris is fascinating, too. I also loved that the story doesn't end when the war ends. Similar to Lilac Girls, we get to see the aftermath of it. (Speaking of which, Lost Roses has some difficult parts to read, but not nearly so excruciating as what we encounter in Lilac Girls.) Recommended for those who love historical fiction, especially those interested in World War 1 and/or the Russian Revolution. Find it at Goodreads or Amazon.   4. Colors of Truth by Tamera Alexander. Christian Historical Fiction. One year after the end of the Civil War, in Franklin, Tennessee, a town battered and bruised by war, one woman embarks upon an impossible search—and one man must face the past in the very place that almost destroyed him. Tamera Alexander is one of the authors I most admire, and this book is yet another example of why. Her characters are layered and endearing, the plot is full of believable conflict and tension, the pacing is perfect, and the themes are significant and meaningful. There is power in Tamera's writing. Her stories shine light in dark places, offering a beacon of truth and hope. Find it at Goodreads, Baker Book House, or Amazon.   5. John Eyre by Mimi Matthews. General Market Historical Fiction (Classic Retelling). Warning: Once you start this Jane Eyre remix, you won't want to stop. Dripping with moody atmosphere, John Eyre pulls the reader along with just the right amount of tension until the very end. The novel is named for John, but Bertha is the real star of the story, and watching her grow and develop is a fascinating delight. With John Eyre, Mimi Matthews proves she has an impressive range. She delivered a solid gothic retelling just as expertly as she has penned Victorian and Regency romances. Releases July 20. Find it at Goodreads or Amazon.   6. On the Cliffs of Foxglove Manor by Jaime Jo Wright. Christian Time-Slip Fiction. In search of her father's lost goods, Adria encounters an eccentric old woman who has filled Foxglove Manor with dangerous secrets that may cost Adria her life. Centuries later, when the senior residents of Foxglove under her care start sharing chilling stories of the past, Kailey will have to risk it all to banish the past's demons, including her own. Set on the turbulent shores of Lake Superior, this novel has the perfect creepy setting, secrets galore, a Civil War legacy, and enough spookiness to satisfy without being unbelievable. Another masterful tineslip from Jaime Jo Wright. Find it at Goodreads, Baker Book House, or Amazon.   7. The Traitor's Wife by Allison Pataki. General Market Historical Fiction. The fascinating story about the wife of Benedict Arnold. The title's namesake, Peggy Shippen Arnold, seems to have no redeeming qualities whatsoever. I disliked her immensely, but the character of her maid, Clara, helped balance her out in this reading experience. The book offers a better understanding of the man who was ready to betray Washington. In fact, Peggy may not be sympathetic, but the novel helps us at least understand where Benedict was coming from. Find it at Goodreads or Amazon.   8. The Heart's Charge by Karen Witemeyer. Christian Western Historical Romance. On a mission to deliver a baby to a nearby foundling home, Mark Wallace and Jonah Brooks encounter two women who capture their attention. When a handful of urchin children from the area go missing, a pair of Horsemen are exactly what the women need. As they work together to find the children, will these two couples find love as well? This book is so well-written, with a diverse cast of characters who take their faith seriously. A delight to read. Find it at Goodreads, Baker Book House, or Amazon.     Remaining Summer Reads The following titles are on my summer wishlist, meaning I hope I get to read or listen to these stories still. I'm linking each title to the Goodreads page so you can look it up if you're intrigued.  Sunflower Sisters by Martha Hall Kelly. General Market Historical Fiction. (I'm currently listening to this one.) The Glovemaker by Ann Weisgarber. General Market Western Historical Fiction. (Just started this one.) The Weight of Memory by Shawn Smucker. Christian Contemporary Magical Realism. Just released July 6! And so did The Nature of Small Birds by Susie Finkbeiner (Christian Historical Fiction), by the way, which I read months ago and endorsed! Under the Tulip Tree by Michelle Shocklee. Christian Historical Fiction. A Piece of the Moon by Chris Fabry. Christian Contemporary Fiction. Yours is the Night by Amanda Dykes. Christian Historical Fiction. Releases Aug. 3. Fragments of Light by Michele Phoenix. Christian Time-Slip Fiction.  I can think of at least three more summer releases I want to read! But I'll stop here.  To keep up with what I'm reading, follow my reviews at Goodreads or follow me on Instagram and/or BookBub. What are you reading this summer?