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A River Between Us is now officially out into the world, and I couldn't be happier to finally deliver to you the full story of hope and home these characters deserve.  Many readers have asked how they can support the launch of the book. Thank you!! I'm so grateful that you asked. The most obvious way is to buy a copy of the book. (You can check with your local bookstore, order a signed copy from my Etsy shop here, or shop from other retailers here.)  But that's not the only way you can help. In fact, here are SEVEN things you can do that won't cost you a single cent. Most of these will only take a few moments. 1. Read the book and post an honest review on a book review/retail Web site. Readers are most comfortable buying books after seeing what their fellow readers thought, so this is really crucial! The goal is to reach 50 reviews on a given site as soon as possible after launch. This triggers an algorithm which will bump up exposure for the book. Reviews don't need to be long and they don't need to summarize the story. Simply share what you liked or what kind of reader you think would enjoy the book. Once you write one review, it's easy to copy and paste it into other sites. Here are the places accepting reviews for A River Between Us now: Amazon BarnesandNoble BookBub BooksaMillion ChristianBook Goodreads Kobo 2. "Like" a review. When you visit the book's page on one of the Web sites listed above, take a few seconds to click the "like" button on some of the positive reviews for the book. This is especially helpful on Goodreads, because every review "like" increases the book's exposure. 3. Ask your library to carry the book. Most libraries welcome patron suggestions and have a way for you to do this on their Web site. Be sure to mention that both paperback and ebook formats are available through their usual distribution channels. If they ask for the paperback ISBN, that is: 978-1625862556. 4. Add the book to your Goodreads shelf. If you have an account with Goodreads, mark A River Between Us as a book you want to read.  5. Share on social media. Create your own graphic or use one of several I've created in multiple formats. Dowload from this Dropbox folder. You could also "share" someone else's post when you see it on social media. 6. Like and comment on a post you see. Every "reaction" to a post on Facebook and Instagram will increase its visibility.  7. Tell a friend. There is absolutely nothing like good old fashioned word-of-mouth. If you know someone who might enjoy a Civil War story of finding hope and home, let them know about A River Between Us. If you're part of a book club, consider including the novel as one of your selections.  Thank you so much for supporting this independently published novel! By the way, the ideas above apply to any book at all, so please make use of them for all your favorite authors' releases!

Come celebrate the launch of my newest Civil War novel: A River Between Us Sunday, October 1, at 2pm! The Civil War-themed party will be held in the ballroom of the Cedar Falls Woman's Club at 304 Clay Street, Cedar Falls, IA, and will include: Live string trio provided by Cedar Valley Strings A program by the author, Jocelyn Green A Victorian dessert buffet with tea and coffee A Civil War fashion show, featuring dresses on loan from Gettysburg, and interpretation by Civil War fashion expert Ann Olsson An opportunity for book sales and signing will follow in the parlor. This is a ticketed event. Purchase your tickets in advance at Eventbrite here. *NOTE: If you cannot attend, you can get a signed paperback shipped directly to you by pre-ordering from the author at JocelynGreen.com/River. Our venue, the Cedar Falls Woman's Club, is shown below with pictures of the exterior and the parlor. This historic house was built in 1867 and features all Victorian decor, making it the perfect place for our event. The Launch Party begins at 2:00, but doors open at 1:30pm. There is on-street parking as well as a lot behind the house. If stairs are a problem, plan to enter through the rear entrance to use the ramps instead. If you arrive earlier than 1:30, add to your afternoon by visiting the Victorian House Museum directly across the street from the Cedar Falls Woman's Club. The Victorian House was built in 1863, during the Civil War. In A River Between Us, the Aldridge family would have styled their home similar to this one. Admission is free, donations welcome. The Victorian House Museum will open at 12:30pm on October 1 to allow you time to explore it before our event. OUT OF TOWN GUESTS: If you're in town for the weekend, check out Cedar Falls' Main Street for dining and shopping. For another Civil War Era point of interest, look for The Black Hawk Hotel is the second longest operating hotel in the country! Built in 1853, it operated during the Civil War, and has undergone several name changes and renovations since then. (Near the end of Jocelyn Green's novel Yankee in Atlanta, the characters Ruby and Edward Goodrich spend the night in this hotel.) The hotel is the large brick building in the photo below. Purchase your tickets in advance at Eventbrite here.   Frequently Asked Questions This sounds fancy. Do I have to dress up to attend? There is no dress code, so come in regular clothes if you like!  Is the venue handicap accessible? Yes. Plan to enter the Cedar Falls Woman's Club through the rear doors in order to use ramps and avoid steps. Will you be selling tickets at the door? Because we need to know how much food to prepare, please purchase your tickets through Eventbrite ahead of time. Thank you!

A River Between Us, a new full-length Civil War novel, will release October 3, 2023! Some of you may remember I'd written a novella by this title that was included in The Message in a Bottle Romance Collection, published in 2017. That collection has since gone out of print, so I was able to get the rights back to the story and give it the word count the story always deserved.  A River Between Us is based on the true story of events that happened in Roswell, Georgia, starting in July 1864. It's the story of ordinary people just trying to find their way home in a world they no longer recognize. Here's the blurb:  Cora Mae Stewart’s world collapses when Sherman destroys the Georgia cotton mill where she works and has her arrested for treason and sent North. Faced with impossible choices, she does what she must to keep a little girl safe in an unhospitable land. Convinced he won’t survive the war, Union Sergeant Ethan Howard determines to make his death count for something. But Cora Mae gives him a reason to live. Trouble is, he’s just arrested her on Sherman’s orders, and torn her from home and family.  Sergeant Howard is the last person Cora Mae wants to forgive, and the only man who can bring her all the way home. Pre-order now! Please add the book on Goodreads here, and pre-order paperback or ebook from the following places: My Etsy shop for a signed paperback Amazon  ChristianBook Barnes & Noble  Books-A-Million Kobo  Apple Books Thank you for your support of this new release!  What Others Are Saying Here are just a few snippets from what other authors are saying: “What an absolute gem! A River Between Us brought me on an emotional journey that produced both hope and tears. . . .one of Jocelyn Green’s best yet!” ~Heidi Chiavaroli, Carol Award-winning Author of The Orchard House and Hope Beyond the Waves  “. . .a tale both tender and strong; one that will fill your heart with the best of things, and linger there long.”  ~Amanda Dykes, bestselling author of All the Lost Places  “A moving story of bravery, hope, and love that outlasts the pages.” ~Laura Frantz, author of The Rose and the Thistle  "A River Between Us shares hope in the desperation of the Civil War. . . . Green's historicals are an experience not to be missed." ~Heather Day Gilbert, 2-time ECPA Christy Award finalist and author of the Tavland Vikings series "Green does a phenomenal job weaving together the nuances of the complicated issues of the Civil War with beautifully developed characters. . . .You won’t want to put this one down!” ~Stephenia H. McGee, FLH award-winning author of In His Eyes “Jocelyn Green pens a tender story of redemption and love in A River Between Us. Jocelyn is fast becoming one of my favorite authors to read.” ~Tracie Peterson, bestselling, award winning author of more than 100 books  “A River Between Us kept me enthralled to the very end. . .I highly recommend both A River Between Us and Jocelyn Green.” ~Lauraine Snelling, author of The Red River of the North series, and more than 100 others

Join us on Saturday, September 2, at Chicago’s historic Palmer House Hilton Hotel for a tasteful evening with tea and talk of books, writing, history, and the power of story. Emceed by Chris Jager of Baker Book House, seven novelists will share what inspires them, tales from the research files, what they’ve learned on the journey, and their hope for readers. Meet and hear from bestselling and award-winning authors: LYNN AUSTIN, whose titles include Long Way Home, Chasing Shadows, and If I Were You. Connect with her at LynnAustin.org. AMANDA BARRATT, whose titles include Within These Walls of Sorrow, The White Rose Resists, and My Dearest Dietrich. Connect with her at AmandaBarratt.net. KATE BRESLIN, whose titles include In Love’s Time, As Dawn Breaks, and Far Side of the Sea. Connect with her at KateBreslin.com. SUSIE FINKBEINER, whose titles include The All-American, The Nature of Small Birds, and All Manner of Things. Connect with her at SusieFinkbeiner.com. LAURA FRANTZ, whose titles include The Rose and the Thistle, A Heart Adrift, and Tidewater Bride. Connect with her at LauraFrantz.net. JOCELYN GREEN, whose titles include The Metropolitan Affair, The Windy City Saga series, and The Mark of the King. Connect with her at JocelynGreen.com. JOANNA DAVIDSON POLITANO, whose titles include The Lost Melody, A Midnight Dance, and The Love Note. Connect with her at JDPStories.com. Doors open at 6:30pm for tea, mingling, and book shopping! The evening will include small group time with each author, a panel discussion with all seven, and the opportunity to purchase books from Baker Book House. Have your books signed by the authors before you go! Every reader will receive a swag bag with a retail value of more than $30. *The Palmer House Hotel lobby is pictured below.  To see how last year's Novel-Tea Evening went, visit this blog post. The photo below is from that event, which was held in the same location. Tickets Limited number of tickets available. If you register for the Windy City Saga Tour, indicate that you'd like a ticket on that form. Otherwise, tickets to the Novel-Tea Evening with the Authors are available to the public for purchase through Eventbrite here. If you were to attend this event, what question would you like to ask these authors? *Please note that I moderate comments to keep spam out. If you don't see your comment appear right away, never fear. I'll approve it as soon as I can. Thanks!

Happy Christmas shopping season! Some of you may remember that last year for Christmas, I offered Read-Along Gift Boxes for Veiled in Smoke and Shadows of the White City. What fun! Each box had between six and eight gifts related to the stories, which I personally wrapped and packaged. I had a blast curating those boxes and pulling them together! But it was pretty time-consuming, and you all had no idea what you were getting when you purchased them, so it wouldn’t ruin the surprises. You had trust me, and you did. I sold out of those boxes. Amazing! This year, I’m taking a different approach to bookish holiday gift ideas. You see what you get, and you order a la carte from my new Etsy shop. I’ve partnered with Storiarts to custom-create four different products related to all three books in The Windy City Saga. And just like last year, these are limited edition. That means I only ordered 50 of each item, and once they are gone, they’re gone. I do not plan to re-order them. So don’t wait! I’m also offering a few other gifts, all of which are available to browse in my Etsy shop. Everything in the shop is 20% off for the month of November when you use the promo code EARLYBIRD20, or when you just shop directly from this link. Plus, everyone who orders this month will receive a free bookstack sticker, pictured at right. Here’s is a gift guide to give you some ideas of how to put together your own bookish gift bundles inspired by this award-winning series. Every item is in the Etsy shop unless linked elsewhere. Shop for your loved one or for yourself! Veiled in Smoke: A Novel of the Great Fire of Chicago The book. The book is available in ebook, paperback, and audiobook formats. For the paperback, try your local bookstore first. If you don’t have one, consider BakerBookHouse.com for 30% off and free shipping. Also available at BarnesandNoble.com, ChristianBook.com, Amazon, and Kobo. Personalization. If you have the paperback, add a personalized, signed bookplate. (Pretty please, when you order, let me know who you want the bookplate to be signed to. If you're ordering from a computer, you'll see a personalization field you can fill in. If you're ordering from a phone, you may not see that field, so you'd have to send me a message with that info.) Or, if you really want to have the book itself signed, you can order that from Etsy, too. The Veiled in Smoke tote bag. Oh, you guys, I love this bag so much! It has text from Chapter One on one side, text from Chapter Six (when the Great Fire is raging) on the other side, original artwork on both sides, and the side panels are designed to look like a book spine. It’s really sturdy and versatile. Check out dimensions and details on Etsy. Water bottle/laptop decal stickers. The main characters of Veiled in Smoke are bookstore owners, and they love classic literature. So choose from a couple of stickers featuring quotes from Charlotte Bronte or Louisa May Alcott. Shadows of the White City: A Novel of the 1893 World’s Fair The book. Again, try your local bookstore first. If you don’t have one, try BakerBookHouse.com for 30% off and free shipping. Also available at BarnesandNoble.com, ChristianBook.com, Amazon, and Kobo. Personalization. If you have the paperback, add a personalized, signed bookplate. (Just let me know who you want the bookplate to be signed to.) Or, order the signed book from my Etsy shop. Shadows of the White City writing/reading gloves. Keep hands warm and cozy while writing or reading this winter! Features text from the novel and original artwork of Kristof’s violin. Stickers! In honor of the protagonist, Sylvie, who is an introvert who loves to read and facilitate book clubs in her bookstore, we have two water bottle/laptop decal stickers to choose from. Which one describes you best? Drawn by the Current: A Novel of the Eastland Disaster The book. I’ve saved the best deal for last because right now, and until Nov. 28, BakerBookHouse.com is offering the paperback for 50% off and free shipping while supplies last. This novel is a Christy Award finalist in historical fiction this year. (Also available at BarnesandNoble, ChristianBook, Amazon, and Kobo, but not with this deal.) Personalization. A signed bookplate for a paperback makes it even more special. Be sure to let me know who to sign it for. Again, you can order a signed copy directly from the Etsy shop, but it’s cheaper to take advantage of the BakerBookHouse.com deal. Drawn by the Current writing/reading gloves! Featuring original text from the moment the Eastland starts tipping, along with original artwork of the steamship itself. Drawn by the Current infinity scarf with the same pattern as the gloves. Handmade in the USA, fantastic quality, super soft and sure to keep you warm. Stickers. In this novel, the protagonist and her friend see their friendship as similar to that of Anne Shirley and Diana Barry, and they develop an Anne of Green Gables Fan Club for the family bookstore. In honor of that, choose from the Fan Club Member sticker, or the sticker featuring a quote from Anne Shirley. Or, mix and match your favorites together from all the books. See all the listings from the Etsy shop home page here. (Check out the bundles in the lefthand sidebar of the Etsy shop for extra savings!) If you visit the store and don’t see the sticker you were hoping to get, that means they sold out already. Email me (jocelyn@jocelyngreen.com) and let me know which one you wanted, and I’ll re-order that kind of sticker and let you know when it comes in. (It usually takes about 12 days to replenish the sticker stock, so if you like to get your shopping done early, don’t wait. I do have more Anne stickers already ordered, which should be back in the shop Nov. 8.) Last but not least, I still have copies of the out-of-print nonfiction book for women, Free to Lean: Making Peace with Your Lopsided Life. It’s no longer available to purchase anywhere else, but you can order the book for $5 each in the Etsy shop. Happy shopping, and thank you for your support! I have the best readers ever. Oh! Man. Just when I thought I was done sharing all my deals... did you know that my next novel, The Metropolitan Affair, is 40% off with free shipping when you pre-order the paperback from Baker Book House? Yep! So when you're there to order Drawn by the Current for 50% off or any of my other Bethany House titles for 30% off, pop this in the cart too! And now I'm done, I promise.