News
Ranked in Top 1%
of all US Print Book Sales
for 494 Days to Date.
AUTHOR'S NOTE
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The Lacemaker's Secret - New Milestone |
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Thanks to Kathleen's many wonderful Chloe Ellefson fans, this week trade paperback sales of the The Lacemaker's Secret surpassed one hundred fifty days ranked in the Top 1% of all US Print Book Sales—out of over 8 million books tracked! (NPD BookScan.) Lacemaker's is also available for the Kindle and other e-readers. Posted February 16, 2019. |
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2 Weeks to Chloe 10 Deadline |
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Kathleen took this photo of her 'work space' at the coffee shop where she has been reviewing the manuscript of her tenth Chloe Ellefson mystery. She finished writing the story earlier this week, and is now busy smoothing rough prose, confirming historical details, and editing it down to about 95,000 words. Kathleen will remain at this until she sends the manuscript to Midnight Ink on February 28th. Another mocha, Kathleen? Posted February 14, 2019. |
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"A fellow librarian introduced me to..." |
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Taryn wrote about the Chloe Ellefson mysteries on Kathleen's Sites And Stories blog. "A fellow librarian introduced me to the Chloe series about 3 years ago. I read the first and was hooked. I thoroughly enjoy the characters, the stories and the way history is seamlessly woven into the plots." Posted February 9, 2019. |
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-13F Wind Chill Didn't Stop'em |
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This afternoon Kathleen switched from writing Chloe 10 to teaching her Food Traditions writing workshop at Write On Door County. It filled up in advance and almost everyone was able to get there—despite the frigid temps! Kathleen says it was a great (and hardy) group and that she had a wonderful time with them. Posted February 8, 2019. |
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"Interesting and well written" |
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This week's favorite reader review of the ninth Chloe mystery, The Lacemaker's Secret, was posted by T. DeGuelle of Wisconsin on Amazon.com. "This was an excellent representation of the local area and history of the Door/Brown County area. As a lifetime resident and being of Belgian heritage, I felt she did a fantastic job of representing the culture. It accurately represented the Belgian faith and customs. She tied a mystery of the missing Belgian lace into the story. The characters were strong, faithful, hard working and kind. The book accurately describes the struggles they endured." Posted February 7, 2019. |
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Writing Retreat - Update |
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Kathleen sent this wintery scene photo, taken on her Chloe 10 writing retreat this week. The snow proved too deep for the contemplative walk she attempted, but Kathleen says the peaceful setting is helping her get lots of writing done. Fly fingers, fly, Kathleen! Posted February 6, 2019. |
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Food Traditions Workshop - This Friday |
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This Friday Kathleen will take the afternoon off from writing the tenth Chloe Ellefson mystery . . . to teach a free writing workshop! Come learn how to recall, record, and celebrate the food traditions of your family or community. It's open to adults and teens—no writing or culinary experience needed. Participation is free, but prior registration is required. Seats are limited and will be filled on a first come basis. Join Kathleen from 1-4 PM, February 8th, at Write On Door County in Fish Creek, WI. more>>
Posted February 4, 2019. |
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Writing Retreat |
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Kathleen just departed for a week-long solo winter writing retreat. She will use the time for researching, writing, and editing the manuscript of her tenth Chloe Ellefson mystery. It is due into publisher Midnight Ink at the end of this month—for release on September 8th. Fly fingers, fly, Kathleen! Posted February 3, 2019. |
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9 Book Lacemaker's Giveaway - Winners |
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The winners of Kathleen's 9 Book Lacemakers Giveaway are JACKI BEDWORTH, SUE GALLAGHER, KAY JOHNSON, KAREN MAYERS, HOPE MCLEOD, CINDY PATTERSON, LINDA ROEHRIG, BETH ROGERS, and MARGARET WURTH. Congratulations! Each gets an author signed, personalized, trade paperback of The Lacemaker's Secret, the ninth and newest mystery in the award-winning Chloe Ellefson series. Each winner should immediately contact Kathleen with their signing, personalization, and postal mailing information by clicking HERE. Posted January 31, 2019. |
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9 Book Lacemaker's Giveaway - Starts Now |
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Kathleen is giving away nine trade paperback copies of her ninth Chloe Ellefson mystery: The Lacemaker's Secret. To enter, leave a comment on the giveaway post on her Facebook Author page or her Sites And Stories Blog before 11:59 PM (Central US time), Wednesday, January 30, 2019. Only one entry per person, please. The winners will be chosen at random and announced the next day, here and on her Facebook and blog! Posted January 29, 2019. |
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Chloe Ellefson Mysteries Update |
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"The 10th Chloe Ellefson Mystery, scheduled for release in September, 2019, will be the last one released by publisher Midnight Ink—which is shutting down. While that isn’t good news, since the announcement I’ve been overwhelmed by the support from wonderful Chloe and Roelke fans. Thank you all! I do want to continue the series. My upbeat and savvy literary agent has already sent a proposal to a press which has..." more>> Posted January 25, 2019 on the Sites And Stories blog. |
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"I normally don't read mysteries..." |
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This arrived recently from Ginny Nelson in Wisconsin. She wrote about how her great-great-grandparents escaped the Great Fire of 1871 by hiding in a field as flames surrounded their farm and consumed their home. "As far as I know, none of my Belgian ancestors made lace, but otherwise the early settlers [in The Lacemaker's Secret] could have been my relatives. ...you nailed the Belgian history in Wisconsin!" Posted January 25, 2019. |
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Foodways Writing Workshop - Register Now! |
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JUST ANNOUNCED. Kathleen will be teaching how to recall, record, and celebrate the food traditions of your family or community. This half-day workshop is open to adults and teens—no writing or culinary experience needed. Participation is free, but prior registration is required. Seats are limited and will be filled on a first come basis. Join Kathleen from 1-4 PM, February 8th, at Write On, Door County in Fish Creek, WI. more>>
Posted January 24, 2019. |
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"Eagerly awaited..." |
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This week's favorite reader review of The Lacemaker's Secret was posted by D. Zendel of New Mexico on Amazon.com. "I have worked alongside people like Chloe, smart, dedicated people who should be making way more money than they are for protecting and preserving a state’s natural and cultural resources, but who stay for the love of history and the properties they are charged with caring for. She is very real to me..." more>> Posted January 23, 2019. |
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Libby's Legendary Banana Bread Pudding |
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"Sometimes you just need some comfort food—something steaming and fragrant and utterly delicious. The 9th Chloe Ellefson Mystery, The Lacemaker’s Secret, begins at just such a moment. ". . . Libby turned and cracked the oven door. A rich wave of banana, vanilla, and cinnamon swirled into the room. “Please tell me that’s Libby’s Legendary Banana Bread Pudding." more>>
Posted January 22, 2019 on the Sites And Stories blog. |
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Discussion Guide - Now Available |
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Good news for mystery book discussion groups! Kathleen just posted a Discussion Guide for her newest Chloe mystery. Download a free copy from The Lacemaker’s Secret page—or by clicking HERE.
Posted January 15, 2019. |
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Belgian Spice Cookies |
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"The latest Chloe Ellefson Mystery, The Lacemaker’s Secret, celebrates Belgian heritage, so of course my research included foodways. I quickly came across references to Belgian Spice Cookies, also called Speculoos. These crisp spiced shortbread cookies..." more>>
Posted January 8, 2019 on the Sites And Stories blog. |
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"Kept me guessing!" |
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This arrived yesterday from Ann Thomas in Massachusetts. "Just finished Lacemaker's Secret and loved it. You bring so much history into your books that I am always learning about fascinating characters. This recent book really kept me guessing! I will be 86 in a few weeks, and have read your previous Chloe adventures. Looking forward to the next!" Posted January 7, 2019. |
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Messages Lost |
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Each page on this website has a Contact link leading to a form that can be used to sent Kathleen a message. Yesterday she was shocked to learn that during the last six weeks all those messages sent to her were lost—before she received them—and cannot be recovered.
One of the joys of being an author is hearing from readers, and Kathleen is very conscientious about replying to the messages she gets. If you sent her a message anytime between 11/24/2018 and 1/5/2019, she asks that you please resend it using her now repaired message form. Thank you. |
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"Fabulous author" |
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From reader Paul Bunyan comes this review of The Lacemaker's Secret. "Kathleen Ernst is a fabulous author. Her stories make me want to jump in the car and visit the historical sites." Posted January 3, 2019. |
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133 Days in Top 1% |
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The newest Chloe Ellefson mystery, The Lacemaker's Secret, was released on October 8th. Based on pre- and post-release sales, it has spent one hundred thirty-three days in the Top 1% of all US Print Book Sales—out of over 8 million books tracked. (NPD BookScan.)
Lacemaker's is also available for the Kindle and other e-readers. Posted January 1, 2019. |
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