Carrie Anne Noble's Blog

The latest...

Just popping in quick to let you know that I will be signing books at Cupboard Maker Books in Enola, PA (near Harrisburg) on Sunday, August 18 from 2 to 4! There will be other fantasy authors there, too, including Quenby Olson (author of Miss Percy's Guide to the Care and Feeding of British Dragons & its 2 fantastic sequels). Be sure to stop in if you're in the area. The book store is AMAZING.

In other news...

I have a new book coming this fall from Oliver Heber Books! It's a YA fantasy about an 1800's coal town girl and the moth-winged boy who wants to give her the world. It's got found family, first love, coming of age, and my usual touch of wonder and whimsy. Watch for more about The Springborn in the coming weeks, especially over on Instagram (@carrieannenoble7). 

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Stay cozy! 🦔

Carrie

The Queen Invites You...

The countdown is on for the release of The Gingerbread Queen! June 11, 2024 is the big day! 

Meanwhile, some exciting news for you! 

The paperback is now available for ore-order here: THE GINGERBREAD QUEEN

 Now, if you cannot stand the wait, I will be giving away a few free e-copies through my newsletter. Sign up before May 16 if you want to find out more! NEWSLETTER SIGNUP

The Queen Shall Indulge in a Party...This image pretty much says it all... but there will be giveaways and maybe a reading and Q&A, if things get wild. 
 I will also be at the Realm Makers Conference in St. Louis in July, selling and signing books. They usually have a book fair open to the public on Saturday evening (July 20 would be this year's date). I will keep you posted! Go forth and read! ~Carrie

 Say hello to our brand new sovereign!

You may remember a little Kindle Vella story I posted last year by this name. Well, I'm very pleased to show you the brand new cover for the new and expanded version of The Gingerbread Queen! It's a fantasy inspired by the Grimm Brothers' Hansel and Gretel.

The book releases June 11, 2024 from Oliver Heber Books. 

The Kindle version is already up for pre-orders here:THE GINGERBREAD QUEEN

Here's the blurb:  

From the author of The Mermaid's Sister, an Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Winner for Young Adult Fiction and winner of the Realm Award for Book of the Year!

Once upon a time, Gretel defeated the witch of the gingerbread cottage and saved Hansel. Now, she must face what the witch left behind...

Germany, 1825. Thirteen years have passed since Gretel and her brother Hansel started new lives in a small town. She’s changed her name, lived quietly, and tried to forget her terrible past—yet gossiping neighbors accuse her of being the old witch’s protégé. When roguish Hansel stirs up the townsfolk’s wrath, she must return to the gingerbread cottage—a place both she and her enemies fear.

Deep within the forest, the white duck awaits Gretel’s return. He and the enchanted forest have plans to nudge her toward a dark, magical future—whether she likes it or not.

Could it be her fate to become the next cruel witch-queen to reign--and to forfeit any chance of a happily-ever-after with a kind and noble man? And what dangerous secrets does the white duck hide?

The Gingerbread Queen is book one in the Gingerbread Legacy duology from award-winning author Carrie Anne Noble.

"I’ve been a fan of Carrie’s work since I was entranced with The Mermaid’s Sister and have read everything else she’s published. Her fun spins on fairy tales and fairy tale creatures have a charm I’ll always enjoy. — Jeff Wheeler, Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author

I'm very excited, and I hope you are, too! 

Watch for more news about upcoming events, including the book launch which will happen June 7 in Williamsport, PA at The Lycoming Arts Gallery.

Stay cozy! 

Carrie

 Tidings of Comfort & Joy!Hello there, reader friends!  Just a quick note here to invite you to come and see me at Cupboard Maker Books on December 9. I'll be signing books from 12:30 to 2:30, along with several other authors--including fellow fantasy writer Laura L. Zimmerman.
Cupboard Makers is a spacious independent bookstore, full of wonderful new and used books, and also cats (some up for adoption!). They're located in Enola, PA, not far from Harrisburg.  Here's how to get there!
Books make fantastic Christmas gifts! Hope to see you soon--and if not, have a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

Greetings from my reading nook/writing lair!

I’ve been reading lots during the cold weather, haven’t you? Such a pleasant way to pass the time. I'm grateful for the warmth of spring (not that it will stop me from reading!).
 

Confession: I’m a big Kindle reader. I know, it’s no replacement for the feeling of a book in your hands and the scent of ink and paper, but the thing lights up so I can read in bed, and it holds a LOT of books. Now that I’ve confessed, I’ll tell you that I recently read 13 books in a series. Michelle Vernal’s Guesthouse on the Green series is about a quirky Irish family who run an inn. I can’t remember ever laughing out loud so much while reading! I got the series from Kindle Unlimited—which is part of the reason I put up with punctuation and spelling errors that infested the first several books. The newer ones are better in that regard. BUT I totally recommend the series if you like family stories with romance, laughs, and a lot of heart.                                                                           

 

New book alert! I just finished Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson this morning. It was fantastic! It had a fun, Princess Bride tone, a steadfast heroine on a quest to save her love, piracy, a talking rat, magical spore seas, and a cast of unique/odd characters. You don’t want to miss this one!                                                                                 Finally, a Kindle Vella recommendation! It’s YA fairy tale/fantasy/romance—hence, my cup of tea—entitled A Forest of Stolen Memories, by Callie Thomas. Vella’s episodic format is perfect for a fast-paced, magical story like this one. Here’s the blurb:
A royal wedding turns to disaster when a curse goes awry. A victim of the Sorcerer's prophecy, Roselyn's memories are instantly erased, leaving her panicked at the altar. Confused, she flees to the place her prince fears most--the enchanted Mistbrooke Forest. Danger lurks closer than she can imagine, forcing her to seek help from a dark stranger who may be the key to recovering her lost memories. Can she break the curse without breaking her heart?

Click here to start reading A Forest of Stolen Memories for free!

What is this Kindle Vella thing, you may be wondering ...

Kindle Vella is a serialized reading platform where writers release stories in short episodes.

Each episode can range from 500–6,000 words. Thefirst three episodes of any story are free to access for all readers. After that, episodes are unlocked using paid tokens. (Amazon hands these out free pretty often.) You can access Vella using the Kindle app. Easy peasy and so fun!

If this sounds good to you, I invite you to check out my story, The Gingerbread Queen. It's 39 episodes long, and available from beginning to end now. Here's what it's about:  

HANSEL & GRETEL'S TALE CONTINUES. Years after fleeing the witch's gingerbread cottage, Gretel returns to hide from townsfolk who accuse her of being the witch's successor. Handsome baker Lukas offers the only recipe to repair the crumbling cottage.Soon, Gretel's innate magic ignites, as does the spark between her and Lukas. Could it be her fate to become the next cruel witch to reign over the forest--and to lose any chance of a happily-ever-after with Lukas?  

Click here to start reading The Gingerbread Queen! 

 

In other news ...I'm extremely excited to announce that I have a story featured in an upcoming anthology, The Sun Still Rises! This charity collection of YA fantasy stories celebrates the light found in dark places, just as late author Lani Forbes  embodied hope in difficult times during her fight against a rare form of cancer. Her spirit shines on through these beautiful, bittersweet tales full of fallen stars and fae princes, werewolves and magic wielders, samurai and smoky skies.
Other authors include Ronie Kendig, Jill Williamson, Julie Hall, S.D. Grimm, Laura L. Zimmerman, and more! The book will be released on June 20, 2023, and all proceeds will go to support Lani's husband and children. 

Find out more here  And if you're wondering what else I've been up to, I'm still working on my bridge troll novel. Check back for more about that soon! Stay cozy, reader friend! ~Carrie 

P.S. For all the latest news (and a free short story), subscribe to my email newsletter by visiting the newsletter tab of this site. 

 

 Hello there, reader friends! How's your January been so far?

Last year was pretty rough for me. I'm hopeful that 2023 will be a better year, full of good surprises (because who needs any more of the bad ones?) This year, I want to:

post all 39 episodes of The Gingerbread Queen on Kindle Vella by the end of Februaryfinish writing Trowbridge & Fye (the wrong number/bridge troll story)overhaul The Antler Girl novel
finish editing a short story that's going to be included in an upcoming anthology have fun at a couple of writers' conferences and book festivals
 What do you hope to do this year? Share in the comments if you like! 

According to Goodreads, I read over 50 books in 2022. Here are some of my favorite reads!

Favorite fantasy: Keeper of Enchanted Rooms by Charlie N. HolmbergFavorite hisorical fiction: The Fire and the Ore by Olivia Hawker and Hamnet by Maggie O'FarrellFavorite romance: Scrooge and the Girls Next Door by Melanie JacobsonFavorite YA: The Shadow Queen by C.J. Redwine
Favorite reread: Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt

Have you read any of these? What book did you most love reading in 2022?

This bookstore in Pennsylvania has BOOKS and FREELY ROAMING CATS. 


If you'd like to sign up for my newsletter (and get a free short story and other fun stuff), click here.If you'd like to read the first 3 episodes of The Gingerbread Queen for free, click here. Here's a little about the story:

 HANSEL & GRETEL'S TALE CONTINUES. Years after fleeing the witch's gingerbread cottage, Gretel returns to hide from townsfolk who accuse her of being the witch's successor. Handsome baker Lukas offers the only recipe to repair the crumbling cottage. Soon, Gretel's innate magic ignites, as does the spark between her and Lukas. Could it be her fate to become the next cruel witch to reign over the forest--and to lose any chance of a happily-ever-after with Lukas?

Hope to see you soon! Stay cozy & keep reading!~Carrie

 
 

 A Brand New Queen 👑Hello, reader friends!

It's been a while. Life has been full of pitfalls and trials, but I am still here, poking away at the keyboard and making up stories. And I have some exciting news to share! 

On November 15, 2022, I'll be launching a new novella for you on the Kindle Vella platform! If you're not familiar with Vella, it's a place where authors release stories in episode form (think of old Charles Dickens writing weekly episodes for the newspaper). The first couple chapters are free to read, and then there's a token system to get the next episodes (don't worry, it's easy!). I'll be posting 2 new chapters a week--just in time for winter's cozy reading season.

Here's a bit about The Gingerbread Queen: 

Hansel and Gretel's tale continues...

Thirteen years after fleeing the witch’s gingerbread cottage, Gretel must return to hide from townsfolk who accuse her of being the evil crone’s successor. When the walls start to crumble, Gretel seeks the aid of handsome baker Lukas, the only one who can repair the damage before winter—and the only one who’s ever tempted her heart.

Within the enchanted forest, Gretel’s innate powers ignite, as does the spark between her and Lukas.  Is it truly her fate to become the next cruel witch queen of the forest—and to lose any chance of a happily-ever-after with Lukas?

(Also, there's a bad duck, a lake full of tricksy nixes, and a magical mirror!)

I'm so excited to share this new story. I hope you'll give Vella a try--if you haven't already. It's fun! Check back here 11/15 for a link straight to the story. 

🦔

Happy reading! Stay cozy! -Carrie P.S. Newsletter subscribers get news like this first--and a free short story! Sign up here. P.P.S. Want to see a video teaser for The Gingerbread Queen? Click here! 

 

 Happy St. Patrick's Day! ☘

  Hello there!

 Are you excited about springtime's imminent arrival? I certainly am. 

 My yard is all a-twitter with little birds and soon there will be cheery daffodils and blossoming forsythia to bring color to the winter-dulled garden. 

As we're waiting for all that, here's a fun little video. Please share it with your leprechaun-loving friends. 

And...if you haven't signed up for my newsletter, please click on over to that section of the blog and pop your name in the box. You'll get a free short story, and every month I'll have some kind of unique giveaway. Also, it's the best way to keep up with my newest projects and to find out where I'll be. 

☘

Saol fada agus breac-shláinte chugat!

(Long life and fair health to you!)

~Carrie 

P.S. If you haven't read The Gold-Son, the Kindle edition is on sale for $.99 through 3/31/22.  Click here!

 

Hello there, reader friend! How's your February going?

Well, if you're a neat freak, you might want to skip this paragraph. I've been slowly reorganizing my office, so my desk is a tornado of books and papers. There's also a packet of gummi bears, a glass of water, various hedgehogs, and a tiny Lego Millennium Falcon, Han Solo, Chewbacca, R2D2, and leprechaun. One might think I was 12 instead of...somewhat older than 12. ;)

And on the desktop computer...I've been working on a YA fantasy about a girl in the 1980's who gets a "wrong number" phone call from a bridge troll with nefarious intentions. The first draft is ALMOST done. Look for more details and excerpts in upcoming newsletters--including how it was inspired by a wrong number call I got as a teen, and the odd friendship with an expat Brit that ensued. Life's pretty weird, right?

 

Of love and macaroni

One of my family's most treasured recipes is from my grandfather, a World War II vet with a mischievous sense of humor. I like to think that he showed his love for his bride by cooking for her, since she didn't like to cook. In honor of Valentine's Day, here's the recipe.

Pop Pop’s Macaroni & Cheese

Preheat oven to 350F. Prepare ½ lb. macaroni according to box, drain, and set aside.

Combine in 2 qt. baking dish:

2 cups milk

3 Tbsp. flour

1 tsp. yellow mustard

1/8 tsp. pepper

1 tsp. salt

Whisk these together, then add 3 Tbsp. butter.

Microwave on high 2 minutes, whisk. Repeat until mixture just begins to thicken. Stir in ½ lb. shredded sharp cheddar. (Hint: the better the cheese you use, the tastier the result!)

Add macaroni to the dish of sauce and stir. Sprinkle the top with additional shredded cheese if desired.Bake for about ½ hour, until bubbly.

Serve with love.

Very exciting newsletter newsGuess what! I've finally launched my official newsletter! If you subscribe, you'll get a free short story. After that, I'll send you issues of The Persnickety Hedgehog Gazette once a month. The newsletter is the best way to keep up with my book news--and there will be some fun giveaways!  Click here to sign up! Keep reading and stay cozy! See you soon! ~Carrie
 

 

P.S. The Peddler's Reward, a little e-book of two adventure-filled stories about O'Neill from The Mermaid's Sister, is free on Kindle from February 16th to 20th, 2022. Click here!

P.P.S. It's free all the time if you're a Kindle Unlimited subscriber. Yay!

P.P.P.S. I just love that O'Neill. Sigh...

 

 

 How's your summer going?

I recently enjoyed a trip to Missouri, and by enjoyed, I mean it was relaxing and rejuvenating and inspiring and exactly what my heart and soul needed! First, I spent a few days with dear friends--mostly hanging out, talking, eating, and playing the game What, and then I attended the Realm Makers Conference in St. Louis. The conference was exceptional! I'm so grateful it took place in person this year. There's nothing quite like being surrounded by a couple hundred fellow fantasy and science fiction writers! 

Some books in the conference bookstore


"Belle" ready for the costumed banquet

My dear author friends Laura Zimmerman, Sheri Yutzy, & Lani Forbes

 Here are a few things coming up, where I will be signing books and meeting readers!

First Friday at Otto's, August 6, 2021 from 6 to 8 pm, 107 West 4th Street, Williamsport, PA. 

Grand Opening event for Bookish in the King of Prussia Mall, Saturday, August 21, from 12 to 4. 

Festival of Books in the Alleghenies, September 18, 2021, in Ebensburg, PA.

Please come and visit me at one of these events if you get a chance! Enjoy the rest of your summer! Carrie 🦔