September 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 might find inside:

• A very real short story from my own weird and unusual life
• Monthly updates on my comings and goings
• Links to my recent 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
• The occasional 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.

Two Felonies Before the Age of 7

I grew up in Kansas City, where, at the tender age of four, I attempted to rehome a neighborhood cat in what seemed to me like an obvious luxury condo: the big blue mailbox on the corner.

Somehow, I managed to pick up the cat and deposit it inside before it could object. Later, over dinner, I proudly informed my parents of my good deed. Unfortunately, this was the start of a three-day holiday weekend, so it took several increasingly frantic calls to the postal service before someone arrived to liberate my tenant, er, victim. My parents were not impressed by my early work in animal relocation—or my interference with the federal mail infrastructure.

A couple of years later, we lived in Flagstaff, Arizona, in a duplex. We had access to the front yard; the owners, who were elderly and not especially enchanted by children, occupied the back half and kept their yard fenced off.

I had an automatic batting machine and a supply of tiny white plastic whiffle balls. Mostly I just missed the balls. But when I did actually manage to hit them, they flew over the house and into the owners’ backyard with remarkable consistency. After one particularly ball-heavy afternoon, the old man announced he would no longer return them. My parents, citing the shocking mid-1970s price of more than a dollar for a three-pack, declined to replenish my inventory.

So there I was: a child with a batting machine, no balls, and a growing sense that justice had failed me.

The owners were also displeased when I began helpfully delivering their mail to them. Little six-year-old me thought it might help to give them something in exchange for my lost whiffle balls. Instead, they told me not to touch their mail. And I, lonely and bored out of my mind with nothing to do and no one to play with, well, I took it personally.

My retaliation was simple: whenever I noticed the postal worker arriving, I collected the mail, tore it into tiny pieces, and tucked it beneath the evergreen bushes. Bills. Rent checks. Possibly important documents. I was six and apparently running a one-child campaign of suburban postal sabotage.

Then, one windy October day, the evidence blew out all over the front lawn.

We were evicted. The couple told my dad, "We had a nurse apply, but we chose you because you were a lawyer." (Well, gee, you see where getting all elitist with your renters gets you.)

My parents also divorced. I cannot say for sure that these two events weren't connected.

Since then, I have tried to direct my energies toward less felonious pursuits: writing, publishing, storytelling, and occasionally rescuing things that do not involve felony charges.

And speaking of felonies - it seems like attempted murder should be a felony, and yet... (read all about that in my October newsletter!)

What I'm Up To

I recently returned from a glorious, yes, GLORIOUS, six days at The Writer's Colony in Eureka Springs, Arkansas! In the two weeks prior to departure, I held off from writing pretty much anything. Instead, I decluttered, cleaned my house, and improved my website.

And I bought this cool set of writing dice. I intended to use them for short writing stints. Eventually, those short stints could turn into stories already in progress, or entirely new ones - but mainly they served to get my creative juices flowing first thing in the morning.

I write about it in more detail on my blog, but in the weeks leading up to The Writer's Colony I had had an epiphany of sorts. Or maybe just a major decision. The question swirling around in my mind was, "Am I writing to make a living? Or writing because I love it?"

For me, writing is far more than a hobby. But it also is not quite a strictly entrepreneurial venture as the income I receive is superseded by the joy of creation. I actually had to reframe it and define it for my own comfort. Now I can summarize the idea fully...

And that definition feels right.

In any case, waiting for any writing of real consequence until I arrived in Arkansas felt a lot like fasting. The desire to write is a hunger, and I wanted to be plenty hungry by the time I arrived, because it felt like the start of something really big was waiting on the horizon.

As always when I find myself alone and without distraction, I discovered an interesting new book written by a brain surgeon on the subject of manifestation. I'm tackling it slowly. You'll find a link to it in my book recommendations below.

When I arrived, I realized that the journal I had packed did not fit my current headspace and another was desperately needed. I thought I had packed two, but after searching high and low, realized I would just have to buy another. (Really Christine? You just HAD to?) So I went shopping in downtown Eureka Springs. And found a few other delightful treasures before finally finding the perfect journal. I now have a book purse, book wallet, Yertle the Turtle notebook (!!!), and this gorgeous new notebook. And I guess I must have been in a green headspace as well!

The one night I would have had to fend for myself, Sunday, I walked the seven-tenths of a mile to Ermilio's for a wonderful Italian dinner. Believe me, I needed that walk after all I ate! I fear I missed my opportunity, however, when the waiter asked if I would like to know about the fish of the day. I said "no" and decided on a chicken and pasta dish, only to learn later that the fish of the day was red snapper - something I hadn't had in nearly 30 years since trading the west coast for the Midwest. I guess I'll just keep it in mind for next time I'm here!

And of course, there was plenty of writing, journaling, walking, and thinking while there at The Writer's Colony. And did I mention they also feed you gourmet dinners six nights a week? I've already booked a return visit for late April/early May 2027 for nine days!

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:

Last month, I mentioned Notion. I got started with it a few months ago and quickly realized how powerful and convenient it is. At my desk I have two large monitors, and Notion, with multiple tabs open at a time, is kept open at all times to add to, or find info and copy & paste it elsewhere.

All of the information on my books is listed in Notion now. From ISBN #'s, to individual store links, hashtags, foreign language metadata, everything.

My book ideas, newsletter ideas, links to my Kickstarter campaigns - all on Notion.

It's rather amazing!

Keep organized on your goals (financial, home, personal, whatever) and access core information you need easily. There's even a Notion AI available, which I've heard is quite powerful. It's very limited through the free version I have, and I already subscribe to Perplexity and probably will continue, but it's still worth checking out in order to keep all of your research and information in one place. Here is a screen shot of my series page for my romantic thrillers. I have over a dozen books planned in this series and I keep my notes, ideas, outlines and more here in Notion.

There are plenty of business applications, tables and databases you can create, and so much more to keep you organized!

Even if you aren't running two businesses, and maintaining a busy household, Notion can still help in many ways: it can keep your to-do lists in one place, give you a simple home for notes and ideas, help you plan meals or trips, track goals and habits, organize school or family schedules, and store important links, passwords, and reference info in a system you can actually find later. It can also be a flexible workspace for projects, journaling, content planning, and templates that save time when you repeat the same tasks often.

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:

You may have heard the saying “Every warning sign is there because some idiot ignored common sense.”

And this is absolutely true. I get a lot of compliments on my helpful signs in our STRs, but apparently, there is always room for one more!

A few weeks ago, a guest booked one of the bedrooms in our shared rental. They were there for a medical conference and wanted to know if the door was lockable.

I assured her that it was. Each room has an Ultraloq keyless entry deadbolt in it. You input the code on the outside, press the Ultraloq button, and it unlocks. Easy peasy. On the inside, you simply flip the switch and it engages the deadbolt. And in seven years of hosting, I had never had anyone have an issue with this... until this guest.

She didn't reach out or ask me again, and I assumed all was well, until I received a call from Airbnb two days later, stating that the guest left early, around 1 a.m. in the morning, after staying for two nights, due to a "safety issue." I was astounded to hear that the reason for this is that while there were locks on every door, the guest had told Airbnb there was no way to lock the bedroom door from the inside. I assured the Airbnb rep that there most certainly was, and that I was happy to send photos if they needed proof. They assured me that there was no need and that they would inform the guest that there was no refund.

Half an hour later, the guest contacted me asking for either a partial or full refund as they "couldn't lock the door and had to find other accommodations in the middle of the night and it was incredibly stressful."

I held myself back from saying that I was incredibly flabbergasted that she could manage to unlock the front door, lock it behind her, then unlock her room door (both use the same exact type of lock) and somehow NOT be able to lock her bedroom door.

I walked over to the house, took a picture of the lock from the inside of the room, and sent it to her. A few minutes later, a return message, "thank you for the clarification."

I swear, I can't make this craziness up!

In any case, between that and another guest asking how to lock the door of their room after they went out of it, I realized it made sense to post the following message:

Dear Guest – To lock the door from the inside, simply turn

the black switch clockwise to the right

To lock door from the outside, simply press the

Ultraloq button and push or pull the door

toward you if the deadbolt catches on the frame

Don't forget your code!

Never underestimate basic common sense, how little people will read or notice, what exactly they will pay attention to, and how often they need those many little notes! Or as one guest's review recently read:

...Just as you think “where is the…” or “how do I use the…” you’ll notice a note nearby telling you where said item is or how it functions! It was great...

So make it easy... on you, and on them, and keep the notes positive and non-judgmental.

Oracle Card of the Month

In the fall of 2025, I visited the Writer's Colony in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. The town is beautiful and it has quickly become one of my "must do" annual trips. While there, I found my focus not on writing per se, but on the act of creation and what it takes to live a creative life.

And with that came a series of images and concepts that quickly accumulated into a unique set of 58 oracle cards I call The Compass of Creation.

I went on to create not one, but two companion books that I use regularly. The Compass of Creation Workbook contains not only the basic interpretations of each card, but also multiple exercises designed to get you back into the creative spirit. The second companion book is the Compass of Creation Soul Companion for those moments that need to be less formulaic and more heartfelt, dream-oriented and magical.

If you are a creative...

If you enjoy oracle and tarot...

If you are feeling blocked or drained...

I believe that the answers are inside you, and these cards simply help you access your own inner knowing and provide a safe space for you to follow those answers with action and purpose.

Card of the Month: Gift

There is a belief that creativity has to be profitable to be valid.

And there is a belief that creatives will always be poor.

Both are true and untrue at the same time. It depends on where you are as a creative and where you feel most comfortable.

I spent years chasing the money, mainly because I remembered far too well what life was like without any of it. Poverty is destructive (emotionally, physically, even psychically) in and of itself. And I've certainly seen hard times in my life. That trauma has lingered, and followed me through the decades since. That said, I recently realized that I needed to stop chasing the money. At least where my writing was concerned.

For some writers, following trends, writing to market, it makes sense. They have their cake and they get to eat it too. After all, they are creating something they know people will consume voraciously.

For others, thinking of the creative work as an end product creates all manner of disruption. The question of "will this make me money?" interrupts their flow.

Either way you approach it, your work is a gift. It is the reminder that the creation itself is an act of generosity. When you pull this card, you are reminded to release your creation into the world, not to hoard or hide. Not to fear that it is imperfect or that it might be rejected. Simply to release it.

What would it mean to offer this work without the expectation of perfection?

You can find the Compass of Creation Oracle deck, as well as its companion books, exclusively through my website.

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 links and images below to learn more.

​Autumn Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror Sales Promo​

​Change Your Life One Book at a Time Sales Promo​

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...

​Mind Magic - Think manifestation is a bunch of hooey? Mind Magic by Dr. James Doty, a brain surgeon, might change your mind. The scientific explanations of brain functions had me reading and re-reading sections, but I'm about halfway through and really enjoying it.

​Primordia II & Primordia III - I enjoyed the first Primordia book so much

that I had to go and read the 2nd and 3rd book in the series. I'm still making my way through Primordia III and it's good. Bloody and violent, but good.

​The Listening Path - From the author of The Artist's Wayby Julia Cameron, comes a new book that focuses on the creative art of attention. It immediately made me think about all of the sounds around me. The hum of the a/c in the window, the "meditation music" I have Alexa play me each night, and the many sounds my phone makes throughout the day, pulling me away from my work for some stupid email or other notification.

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

Buy Direct

"How can I buy from you so that you get the most out of the sale?" I get the question a lot and I really appreciate it. The answer is you purchasing my books on my website pays the most. There you will find ebooks and audiobooks, and I will soon be rolling out paperback copies as well.

By far, this makes me the most money per book than anywhere else. And because of that, I can pass on better prices as well. I think it's a win-win!

And if you prefer Amazon or KOBO, this is not a problem! I just wanted to give you all the options. No matter where you go, I'm happy you are reading my books. Buying direct on my website just happens to be the bigger cut for me, and a savings to you, simultaneously. I'm also on Google, Payhip, and Curios - all good destinations for your bookshopping needs.

Shop where you want, and I'll see you there.

Help an Author Out at Zero Cost to You!

I am an Amazon affiliate. That means that when anyone who shops through my Amazon affiliate portal, I earn a percentage of the sale, which is all paid to me directly from Amazon. You don't pay a single penny more for the product!

I get a little bonus check once a year or so from this and it buoys my spirits as I write away on my many projects. So if you order from Amazon, I hope you will consider adding my Amazon affiliate portal. You can do this easily on a PC, by clicking on the link below, then right clicking on the icon to the left of the URL and saving it in your bookmark manager. Every little bit helps!

All of My Books

Below you will find all of my currently published books as well as a short synopsis. Click on the link to read the first chapter of each on my website.

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? And will Shane be able to fight his attraction to Lila and focus on his job?

​Smoke & Steel - A mysterious woman is found unconscious in a storm. Why is she running for her life? Why is she so secretive? 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

​W​inter's Child - What if you adopted the perfect child and later learned her entire personality changes with each season? Shy in spring, warm and bubbly in summer, anxious and depressed in fall. And when winter comes... well... hide your knives!

Portal Fantasy/Speculative Fiction

​Fate's Highway - Dean Edmonds hated his life. But when a tragic accident takes his family, he has the opportunity to build a new one out of the ashes and chase his dreams. But will they survive another tragedy?