Here we go.
It’s been a long time coming, but I am happy to share that Cape’s Side Bay is slated to be released in the spring.
I spoke with Noah Broyles and we have discussed a publishing date of May 30th. So, look for your copy of Cape’s Side Bay sometime around then.
As more updates come in I will let you know.
Thanks for your support and patience,
James
Hello!!
I know it has been a while... a long long while, but, here I am with an update. Earlier today I submitted the final manuscript for Cape’s Side Bay, again. The book has been complete for over 6 years and I have been told it will be published this year. Originally I was told Q1 but that does not seem to be the case.
CANCER UPDATE, OCT. 07, ‘21
Good day, everyone. Yesterday, I returned home from a surgery to remove the Melanoma tumor from my head. Surgery went well and the prognosis is good. Now, I face a couple of months of recovery at home and treatments with radiation and immunotherapy.
Bottom line: This is the first day of the rest of my life, and life is good.
The dark irony in all this is that my two main characters, Ryn and Josalind, each have “demons” of a sort in their heads. And it turned out that I did, too. But different than them, I can say at this stage that mine is easier to excise.
Thank you for all your support and good wishes.
Cheers
Leo
CANCER UPDATE AND PENDING SURGERY
As most of you know, I have been living with metastasized melanoma for almost two years. Since my second surgery in March 2020 to remove affected lymph nodes under my left arm, I appear to have been cancer free. To remain that way, I underwent a year of targeted gene therapy that ended in May of this year.
I now have periodic CT scans and brain MRIs. My last brain MRI seven months ago was clear. But since then, I have developed a tumor in my brain that would suggest the gene therapy was a failure. Plan B now will be to remove all evidence of this growth with a combination of surgery and perhaps radiation and then proceed with immunotherapy.
The kicker in all this is that I was on the gurney with the surgeon outside the operating room, ready to go under the knife, on Thursday afternoon this past week. Then word came down that a shortage of post-op recovery beds meant they had to bump my surgery. Because of other scheduling issues, I am still waiting to confirm a new date this coming week. In the meantime, all I can do is manage symptoms with medication.
It’s a tough time all around with scheduling in hospitals with all the pressures that are on the healthcare system because of COVID (I have zero sympathy and zero patience for anyone who refuses to get vaccinated without a legitimate medical reason, but that’s another story). I live in Canada with a public healthcare system and the there are still dire challenges right now.
All we can do is just wait and see and hopefully I will get a new surgery date confirmed on Monday and then take it from there.
TREATMENT OPTIONS
Where gene therapy tries to attack the cancer directly, immunotherapy boosts your own immune system’s ability to identify, target and destroy cancer itself. So, you could say my first treatment with gene therapy was giving a man a fish to eat, and Plan B with the immunotherapy will be teaching him to fish for himself.
THE GOOD NEWS
The good news is that the tumor is easily accessed and easily removed … relatively speaking. There are of course risks with any kind of surgery like this, but I am assured in this case that a positive outcome is the most likely outcome.
AND … Bane of All Things is still releasing, come hell or high water!
Again, due to COVID disruptions (this time, impacting book publishing supply chains) the release date has shifted back three weeks to Dec. 07 – but it will still be out in time for Christmas, so chill that egg nog!
Thanks again for all your love and support.
Cheers
Leo
Well it has been a minute!
Greetings wonderful followers!!
We have gone through another holiday season and rampaged into a new year. I hope you have all had a fun and eventful time. Speaking of eventful, things have been happening with Beyond the Code and I want to share the news.
First off, for my Edmontonian followers, Beyond the Code has been included in the Capital City Press Collection. This is a program within the city of Edmonton to include works from local authors into the city’s many Libraries. This year, the books chosen will be featured in the brand new Stanley A Milner Library in the downtown core. See the link below
https://epl.bibliocommons.com/item/show/2044774005
Secondly, the Beyond the Code audio book has received several reviews through Audible.com and now is standing at a 4.7 rating. Check out what they have to say and if you sign up with Audible, you can get an audio book for FREE! See the link below and give it a shot.
https://www.audible.ca/pd/Beyond-the-Code-Audiobook/B07XVNFSDS
Next thing, Beyond the Code has been reviewed on Onlinebookclub.org. 3 out of 4 stars!! Follow the link and see what they have to say.
https://forums.onlinebookclub.org/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=129849
And last but not least. This is something I am very excited about. Sometime ago, I entered Beyond the Code into the 2019 Screencraft Cinematic Book Competition and, I am happy to tell you, that Beyond the Code has made it through the first hurdle and is in the Quarter Finals!! Follow the link below if you want to know about the contest and the other Quarter Finalist and wish me luck. They will be announcing the Semi Finalist on Feb 12th.
https://screencraft.org/2020/01/08/2019-screencraft-cinematic-book-competition-quarterfinalists-announced/?utm_source=drip&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2019+Stage+Play%2C+Book+%26+Short+Story+Quarterfinalists+Announced
Thank you all for your continuing support and feedback. If you haven’t already, make sure to give Beyond the Code a review on Goodreads or Amazon. Reviews are the lifeblood of every Indie author plus, I love to hear what you all thought of my work.
Thanks again for all your continuing support and I hope to bring you good news in the future.
Greetings Supporters of Crow’s Gambit,
Seasons Greetings Followers!!!
I hope the holidays have been a fun time for you so far and you are looking forward to a great end of 2019. If you are still filling in the blanks of that lengthy Christmas shopping list, consider a copy of Beyond the Code. They’ll be looking forward to a fast paced, action adventure tale jam packed with heart stopping battles, deep seeded intrigue, and supernatural abilities and light up the imagination. Beyond the Code is available in paperback, digital, AND audible!!! Narrated by the amazing Lisa Beacom. Check it out!!
https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Code-Kelsey-Rae-Barthel/dp/1947848097
And if one book of my work just isn’t enough, I have good news for you. My chilling short story "New Suit" has been published in Writing Bloc’s latest anthology "Deception". It’s a fantastic collection of stories written by some amazing authors all in one convenient package. Follow the link to get your hands on that bad boy.
Thank you all for following my progress and helping me achieve this life long goal. I hope you all have a fantastic holiday and wish you all the best in the new year.
Kelsey Rae Barthel
Hi!
It’s been a while since I’ve updated so I hope all is well with everyone and that you had a nice Thanksgiving.
And now, just in time for the holidays, my novel novel, Celia At 39, has just published from indie Writing Bloc (some names in this fantastic organization you may recognize and why not follow Writing Bloc on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram? You’ll be happy you did).
Here’s the link to the book on Amazon (Kindle drops today; paperbacks shortly and Audible in works).
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07YSX5L8M/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i1
I hope you will all check it out. Remember, books make great holiday gifts!!
Thank you for the support, people.
