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Ivan Kupala, Midsummer Celebrations, & THE FERN FLOWER

Kathleen Shoop — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 23:14:26 +0000

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Amazing Deals on Books You Love!!

Kathleen Shoop — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 15:46:41 +0000

Trust me, you’ll love this opportunity to scoop up new titles, classics, new to you books, and more! Follow me on BOOKBUB and you’ll not only be alerted when my books are offered at low and FREE promo prices, but you can select categories and follow your other favorite authors. You’ll always be in the know about great deals in the book world. And speaking of deals… if you haven’t started reading my Letter Series books yet, the boxed set of books 1-3 is FREE for a short time. Get yours now!

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The Christmas Coat is FREE!

Kathleen Shoop — Sat, 26 Nov 2022 23:59:00 +0000

The Christmas Coat is witty satire, a modern take on Scrooge and the meaning of Christmas. Right now it’s FREE on Kindle, Apple, Nook, Kobo, and Smashwords. But, you can also buy it in print and on Audible! Short, sweet, fun! Check it out.

http://kshoop.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Snaptik.app_7034155041850264878.mp4

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Inspired by a true Christmas tale…

Kathleen Shoop — Sat, 26 Nov 2022 23:46:41 +0000

1854

Jacob Gusky wakes up hoping Santa has arrived. And he has… but not for Jacob, one of two Jewish boys living at the Boys’ Home of Manhattan. When a friend gifts him a tin whistle, Jacob learns the power of giving, the joy in receiving, and hears what he considers to be the sound of happiness.

1881

Recently widowed and completely out of options, Frannie takes her daughter Molly to the Home for the Friendless. “You’ll be back before Christmas?” Molly asks. Frannie gives Molly half a quilt square and keeps the other, choking on her reply.

Now a happily married father of three, Jacob Gusky owns Gusky’s Grand Emporium, Pittsburgh’s first premier department store. After unearthing the tin whistle from the orphanage, he is reminded of what it felt like to have nothing, and decides to make a difference in the lives of others no matter their faith. But with so little time before Christmas morning, can he even begin to give the orphaned children of Pittsburgh what he knows they need?

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“The Christmas Coat comes across as a modern retelling of A Christmas Carol.”

Kathleen Shoop — Wed, 23 Nov 2022 13:17:51 +0000

Two days before Christmas, ornery Elliot Ebberts is tasked with school drop-off. Distracted by an important real estate transaction, he’s short on holiday happiness. Snarled by carpool chaos his extravagant, lucky coat goes missing. In a panic, he starts his search, tracing the coat’s path as it passes through the hands of good people in dire situations.

Meanwhile, his plan to WOW his wife Libby with an ostentatious gift reveals Elliot’s shallowness to the world and mortifies his entire family. Is it too late for him to rediscover the meaning of Christmas, to remember who he is without all the trappings of the job that defines him? Can Libby and their children ever forgive him?

Interested in a short, sweet Christmas story? The Christmas Coat is free, it’s fun, and available in ebook, audio, and print! Check it out.

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Christmas Past and Present

Kathleen Shoop — Sun, 22 Dec 2019 14:24:01 +0000

Along with Santa, the Christmas tree might be the most commercially recognizable symbol of the season. In our house we try to put our two trees up in mid November even if we don’t finish decorating them until closer to December. There’s something nice about slowly unveiling all the family decorations and the stories that go with them versus the all out rush we’ve had in certain years when we wait to start until well into December. It does make for a messier house as the bins of ornaments sit out for some time as we complete the process, but we have locked that in as “the way,” to do it.

I love the article linked here because it brings to life the past and also reflects reality over fantasy. There are ideal decors, decorations, trees and festivities we all associate with Christmas. In our minds we recall the highest fashion, the best of all that can be, but the photos below reflect real life way back when, when trees were spindly and only sometimes did they look like perfection.

But really, for the families involved, I’m sure each one was its own version of prefect.

(Black and white photo from article)

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The River Jewel–A Letter Series Prequel

Kathleen Shoop — Thu, 26 Sep 2019 21:00:06 +0000

Check it out! The Thief’s Heart will launch on January 14, 2020, but you have a chance to read a novella, THE RIVER JEWEL, that shows how Pearl becomes orphaned. It’s the story of her parents, how they met, and a hint at what Pearl’s true legacy may be. #FolktaleThursday is the perfect day to announce the preorder! More details on all the layers of intrigue involved in the story. Early buyers can get THE RIVER JEWEL at the promotional price of $0.99. Print copies will be available when it launches on December 3, 2019, but get your ebook now–perfect for reading anytime, anyplace.

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Strongman and the Mermaid–Dresses

Kathleen Shoop — Fri, 08 Mar 2019 15:26:59 +0000

Most of the characters in The Strongman and the Mermaid wear utilitarian clothing most of the time. But without giving away too much … there are times when women in the book have the opportunity to wear something special. Though this isn’t the dress in the book–its shiny, fabulous, body skimming shape could star in one role in the novel. Be sure to pick up The Strongman and the Mermaid to see how a gorgeous, unusual dress plays a part in the plot!

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Pink Moon–Strongman and the Mermaid

Kathleen Shoop — Thu, 07 Mar 2019 18:31:14 +0000

This gorgeous painting by Gigi Mills “Pink Moon,” inspired a couple threads in the novel The Strongman and the Mermaid. Gigi’s work often includes dark nights and water that reminds me of Pittsburgh and specifically Donora. I don’t get the idea that the artist knows about these places (to the degree she’d paint a night sky of one of them), but to me she captures something that always makes me think of whatever Donora novel I’m working on. In the early to mid 20th century, the mills that lined much of Donora’s shoreline emitted chemicals that played with light and often made for stunning night skies.

Visitors to the Pittsburgh/Donora area when steel was king saw the blast furnaces light the night, the unique and powerful spewing of fire and heat. Seeing the blast stopped first-timers in their tracks. A softer coloring of the sky happened less regularly but could be just as awe-inspiring. Those who lived in these towns up and down the three rivers would see the result of the particles that hung in the air, bending light, painting the atmosphere in colors that occasionally outdid the oppressive smoke and smog. Be sure to pick up your copy of THE STRONGMAN AND THE MERMAID to see how the pink moon figures into the life and times of Lukasz and Mary Musial. httpss://smile.amazon.com/Strongman-Mermaid-Donora-Story-Collection-ebook/dp/B07N6F166S

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The Strongman and the Mermaid–Shrove Tuesday

Kathleen Shoop — Tue, 05 Mar 2019 20:26:24 +0000

In the #strongmanandthemermaid I use Polish and Slavic traditions to give shape to both plot and character development. I do this for two reasons–one is because there are so many lovely, rich events to take advantage of. Need to bring two characters together in order to have them fall in love? How about Shrove Tuesday?

Need to show the inner workings of an established family unit and how their decisions impact newcomers? Invite them to Shrove Tuesday! Shrove Tuesday (also Shrove Thursday THROUGH Tuesday), Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday, and Pancake Day are all differently named traditions that mark the beginning of Lent–a time for quiet reflection and plain eating.

The second reason I am using traditions in my books is because when families moved to America from foreign lands they often flocked to areas of the country and cities where there were others from their homeland.

These clusters of Poles and Slavs, Italians and more were in search of the American Dream but they held tight to the rituals and beliefs that created an immediate sense of belonging in a new place.

I can’t imagine Strongman without these traditions as not only did they lend drama and weight to the book, they give it the authenticity that readers are looking for when they pick up historical fiction. Hope you’re having a wonderful day celebrating in whatever way you like! Fill us in on your traditions!

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