August 2026 Newsletter

A Little Note from Me to You

You’re receiving this newsletter because you probably signed up to get a free book — and if that’s all you wanted, you can unsubscribe anytime, and I promise, you won’t hurt my feelings.

But if you’d like to hang out and spend a few minutes with me each month, here’s what you’ll find inside:

• Monthly updates on my comings and goings
• Links to any of my blog posts
• An organizing tip of the month (inspired by my first book, Get Organized, Stay Organized)
• A short-term rental tip of the month (yes, I wrote a book on that one too!) that expands on my book Short-Term Rental Success
• A free short story from one of my book series
• Book recommendations
• Links to free reads and special promos

Some of these will catch your interest, and some might not — and that’s okay! I’m a multi-genre author who loves sharing everything from book ideas and short stories to glimpses of my rentals and garden. I’ll leave it up to you to decide if you’d like to stick around for the fun.

That Felonious Massage Chair

After a stint of gardening in my rather massive yard, the massage chair is a welcome respite. But it started with a felony. Or, well, it should have been a felony. I'll explain...

I spent around two months in the summer of 2024 working 12-14 hours days on my first house. I'd owned it for 25 years, lived in it for 14 of them, rented it out when we moved into Kansas City proper, and knew it was time to let it go. The timing was excellent, the market was strong, and the property, initially purchased for $89k, sold for $250k. I knew exactly where I would be spending the money left over after all the fees.

• A (nearly) new truck.
• A trip to Europe for my son's 18th birthday.
• Most of the $6,500 it would cost to buy my son his first car - used of course

And one other little thing before I put the rest of the funds towards before all the rest was earmarked for renovations on our future 2nd short-term rental...

• A used massage chair for $350 I had found on Facebook Marketplace.

I'd been Jonesing for one for years, especially since age-related body pain was becoming more and more a daily reality for me. But there was no way I was forking over $2500 or more for one, not frugal little ole me.

So less than a week after I bought my pretty red Nissan Frontier truck, we were heading for a house over in Kansas City, Kansas to look at this massage chair. We had all the kids with us, because I knew we would need help from my adult son to lift it and that meant we had to bring the littles since there would be no one to watch them.

We arrived at a small little house that was full to the brim with at least three generations. And I asked, before I handed over the money, if it worked and whether there were any problems with it.

"Go ahead and try it."

So I sit down in it. All eyes are on me as the gal turned it on and pressed some buttons. And apparently she pressed the molestation button because the massage chair immediate grabs my butt and begins rubbing it with great... vigor. And me, introverted as hell as can be, I am oh so aware that everyone is staring at me while this thing goes after my butt like its on some perverse mission of humiliation. Somewhere between 'shiatsu' and 'what in the actual hell,' I realized this chair had an agenda.

I practically leaped out of the chair, which is no small feat if you've seen my arthritic hip and how these machines grab hold of you, and said, "Yep, it works," then shoved the money into the woman's hand, my face beet red.

Yes, I actually paid money for something that groped my ass like a horny bar patron. And while I've learned to scootch down a bit in the years since, the damn thing still goes after my rear like a drunken senator at a banquet.

Now, I know what you are going to say. "Christine, groping is a misdemeanor, not a felony."

Well, this could very well be true. But would that hold up in a court of law? Or would the judge take into account that the massage chair had not just grabbed my butt, but countless others? And if so, repeat offenses of this nature can be escalated to felonies.

I mean, you can ask the massage chair, but I'll bet it's completely unrepentant.

And speaking of felonies, next month's newsletter "Two Felonies Before the Age of 7" will arrive in your Inbox on September 1st. Stay tuned!

How Often Do You Want to Hear From Me?

I'm considering shaking things up a bit. Possibly going to a far shorter newsletter and sending twice a month, instead of just once. I might even go to weekly if folks want it.

I'd love to know what you think, so I've created a poll. Click on it and let me know how often you want to hear from me! https://canva.link/8hacuz99953l9fb​

What I'm Up To

The Ember Project Podcast

I was honored to speak with Susan Sutton, founder of The Ember Project. When I learned about her podcast, and the organization as a whole, I was so very excited to be a small part of it. The Ember Project is dedicated to helping teen moms in all aspects of their journey into motherhood and, wow, can I just say for a moment how NEEDED this is?

I became a mom at 18. I wish, desperately wish, I had had the support, acceptance, resources, and assurance this organization seeks to provide. How different my life could have been! And maybe, just maybe a tad easier and full of less heartache, struggle, and self-doubt.

I urge you to check the organization out, consider donating time or money to it or one like it in your area.

We talked for over an hour, and you can learn about my journey through young motherhood, as well as many others, by visiting the episode The Door is Open, Walk Through It on Spotify or on Apple Podcasts.

Compass of Creation

I've put the finishing touches on the Compass of Creation and included four more cards in the deck - the suit cards - Planning, Creation, Obstacles, and Completion. I've also expanded the relevant chapters in the Workbook and Guidebook to dig into those concepts as deeply as the other 54. The Kickstarter is in progress! If you are a creative, want to be more creative, know someone who is creative, or just loves oracle cards, then check it out here. I've added several cool Add-Ons you might find interesting. The Kickstarter officially ends on August 16th, so if you are interested, please head over there and show your support!

G581 Audio Edits

I'm back at work on this. I know, I know, you've heard that before from me, haven't you?! That said, I just finished the edit of one of the stories in G581: Plague Tales II and it gave me all the feels. Wrong Place, Wrong Time details one mother's vain attempt to find food during the ESH outbreak in the Mars colony. I might have written it, but it still gave me the chills! I should be done with this book by the 2nd week of August at the latest. Once I'm done, I'll be uploading it right away!

As For the Rest

I've been re-sorting priorities and asking myself just what I want to focus on for the remainder of 2026 and beyond.

I sat down and asked myself the simple question: "What do I want to write, right now?"

The answer is, at least for now, thrillers. More specifically, a toss up between:

• The Retirement Home - a thriller that includes medical experiments on the elderly, the murder of a disgraced journalist's beloved uncle, and a high-stakes investigation that just might kill the only person left in the world he still loves.
• The Family - an adoptive mom makes contact with her son's biological family and finds herself in mortal danger
• The Return of Winter's Child - It's been ten years since Nichole tried to kill herself and her adoptive daughter. Now she's been released from prison, and she and her family are picking up the pieces and in far more danger then ever before

They are all demanding I finish them.

So here is what I'm planning on doing. I'm going to finish my audio edits of G581: Plague Tales II, and then dive in to one of them. Which one? I'm not sure yet. Which sounds most interesting to you? Drop me an email at christine@christineshuck.com and tell me which of the three above captured your interest most.

Organizing Tip of the Month

If you weren't aware, the first book I ever wrote was Get Organized, Stay Organized.

Since 2008, I've updated it regularly to include the latest updates in technology and also expanded it to include financial budgeting and time management. You can find Get Organized, Stay Organized on my website as well as at your favorite online bookseller.

Organizing Tip of the Month:

I always have my best ideas when I'm driving or cleaning. And this is inopportune only in that, if I wait to get where I'm going, or be done cleaning my short-term rental, the idea will have flown away like a feather on the wind.

I bought a Plaud and found it completely useless. It didn't seem to automatically update, And my Luddite self couldn't figure out how to create an automation in Zapier that would take a Plaud entry and turn it into a Task on my calendar.

So I just stopped trying to be so fancy. When I have an idea, or task, that I want to remember, I create a Task on my Google Calendar. It takes seconds to take my phone, open Google Calendar, hit the '+' sign and create a new task. And I usually touch the microphone so I can record. Later, I go back and review my tasks. I currently have around 26 tasks of varying importance in that list. So when I'm in between projects, and turning toward social media or circling the drain by reading the news, I choose instead to work on my Task list and knock them out.

Sometimes it's a note that one of the short-term rentals needs more paper towels, other times it might be a book idea. If it is complicated enough, I'll record the details into the Description section of the Task and then just copy and paste it into Notion, my new "be all, end all" for organizing my business and home life.

More on Notion next month...

Short-Term Rental Tip of the Month

I wrote Short-Term Rental Success in order to help future and current hosts create the best short-term rental a guest ever stays in. It goes beyond the basics and dives into the meaning behind true hospitality that makes Airbnb and other STR platforms a preferable form of travel for guests who want more than just a simple hotel room.

Short-Term Rental Tip of the Month:

It's easy to be hyper-vigilant when you first start out. Everything is new, it's a learning curve, and as time goes by you might relax and think there's nothing new to be learned.

I'm here to tell you that there is always something new to be learned. Assuming you know it all, have seen it all, is a surefire way to lose sight of what's important - your guests' general satisfaction. I think that's why I don't consider running a short-term rental to ever be passive income. And while my two short-term rentals only take around 40 hours per month of my time, I'm constantly looking for ways to improve. It's never a fix it and forget it kind of thing.

Look at the properties with a critical eye. Is the paint or the furniture looking worn? Do the bushes need trimming? Is it time to replace the bed or bath linens? Maybe switch up some of the art on the walls?

And while it should go without saying, keep all parts of the house in good repair. Replace poorly functioning appliances, replace burned out lightbulbs, schedule service for pest control.

And beyond all of that, keep a sharp eye on those reviews. What do guests love? What makes them unhappy? What can you do to keep the 5-star reviews rolling in?

There's no time to rest on your laurels, you have a business to run!

Specials, Giveaways, etc.

Whether you are waiting for my next book, want to dig into a new series or genre I write in, or simply meet new authors, consider some of the sales promos and giveaways below. You will find my first in series here... Hired Gun, G581: The Departure, War's End: The Storm, Winter's Child and occasionally one of my non-fiction books. It's a great way to dip your toes into a different genre and see if you like it. Or share the link with a friend or family member! No matter what, I know you will find something interesting in the links below! Click on the images below to learn more.

Need Something to Read While You Wait for My Next Book?

And if the promos listed above weren't enough, here is what I've read and enjoyed recently...

I just finished reading The Grave. And I have to admit, it was not what I expected. It was still quite interesting, though, just a departure than what a story like that normally takes. Which is refreshing in its own right, actually.

I recently noticed that I have over 700 books in my Kindle reader! This book was downloaded over 11 years ago and I just got around to reading it. That's just nuts. I've told myself quite sternly that I cannot download any more books until I finish at least five books. Get one book, read five more, get another book... you get the drift. As it is, I think I read around 50 books per year, maybe 60 in a good year, and that means I've got the next 14 years of my life filled with books to read (not counting any DNFs). Crazy!

I also found myself digging into the Emily trilogy by L.M. Montgomery. I read the series several times in my teens, and I loved the name Emily so much I named my second child Emily. Everyone remembers L.M. Montgomery for her Anne of Green Gables series, but I really think the Emily of New Moon trilogy was better. That said, my reading tastes have changed significantly in the nearly 50 years since I read the series.

And now I'm diving into Primordia: In Search of the Lost World - a take on what if Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World was actually real?

How about you? What are you reading? Drop me an email at christine@christineshuck.com and share what you are reading right now!

All of My Books

Below you will find all of my currently published books as well as a short synopsis. Happy reading!

Non-Fiction

​Get Organized, Stay Organized - Get your life, home, paperwork, finances, time, and more organized in just 15 minutes a day. Tips on time management, financial balance, and even cleaning efficiently are included.

​The War on Drugs, An Old Wives Tale - A memoir of one family's experiences caught up in the drug war from the perspective of a wife and mother.

​Short-Term Rental Success - Thinking of starting a short-term rental and unsure where to begin? Or perhaps looking for tips on how to improve reviews, earn more money, and communicate better with your guests? All of this and more is inside - along with links to handy spreadsheets and buying tips.

Dystopian

It is the day after tomorrow and the United States has suffered an socioeconomic collapse and civil war. Two siblings, separated by war and loss, must find a way to survive in a harsh new world. The three books in the War's End series are:

​The Storm A Brave New World Tales of the Collapse​

Science Fiction

If you love space opera, colonization, post-apoc, exploration of new worlds, and alien contact - this series has it all!

​G581: The Departure G581: Mars G581: Earth G581: Plague Tales​

​G581: Zarmina's World G581: Plague Tales II​

Romantic Suspense

​Hired Gun - Lila is being hunted by a hired killer and she has no idea why. Will she find the answers before the killer catches up with her?

​Smoke & Steel - A mysterious woman is found unconscious in a storm. Why is she running for her life? And who else will she put in danger?

​Broken Code - Lila and Shane reunite in order to help a young woman in desperate trouble. And as a storm closes in, Lila's life is on the line. Will Shane save her in time?

Thriller/Horror/Paranormal

​Winter's Child - What if you adopted the perfect child and realized her entire personality changes with each season? And when winter comes... hide your knives!