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Author: CAstfalk

Carolyn Astfalk is a wife, mother, and author of contemporary Catholic romances, including her latest, All in Good Time. She formerly worked as a communications director and now works just to keep her head above water. Find her books on Amazon and her other words scattered around the blogosphere and social media.

Standing Strong: Going All In with the West Brothers

Published by CAstfalk on 10/04/2017

AVAILABLE TODAY!

Couched in ordinary circumstances and ordinary characters (except that, well, they live in sort of a castle), Standing Strong deals with the most important things. We start asking ourselves the relevant questions sometime in the elementary school years: What do I want to do? What kind of person do I want to be?

And we answer them every day with our actions or inaction, our habits, our determination, and our willingness to accept who, ultimately, will rule our lives.  To whose will do we bend? Our own? Or God’s will?

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Are You Under-Utilizing Goodreads? Tips for Readers and Writers

Published by CAstfalk on 09/25/2017

goodreads(Updated 9/15/2019 – Just added: Kindle Notes and Highlights!)

Maybe you log books you read on Goodreads, but are you taking advantage of its other features?

For instance, did you know you can post a general update on Goodreads, like you would a status on Facebook or other social media? You can!

While logged into Goodreads, look in the left-hand column beneath what you’re currently reading.

All it takes is a little time browsing and clicking to discover what’s there. Pro tip: Scan the WHOLE page, including the sidebars, menus, and widgets for links. I guarantee there’s more there than you realize.

You may wonder, what’s the difference between a Goodreads “Friend” and a Goodreads “Follower.” Simple: Being a friend means the flow of information goes both ways. You see what your friend posts, and your friend sees what you posts. Being a follower means the flow of information goes one way: only the follower sees information; their posts are not shared.

For tips on establishing a new account, Dave at Kindlepreneur provides a good step-by-step guide and highlights some Goodreads features.

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Relevant Fiction Reviews: High School Theater

Published by CAstfalk on 09/18/2017

Relevant Fiction Reviews

I was a behind the scenes gal when it came to high school theater, but I still have many happy memories tied to our musical productions. As a proud member of the stage crew for four years, I was able to identify with the closeness and camaraderie that comes from putting on a show together.

The following are three excellent YA novels that stand on their own merit, but have something just a little extra special if you are or were a high school theater geek.

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Seven Quick Takes

Published by CAstfalk on 09/15/2017

7 Quick Takes

My Childhood Picture Book Favorites Edition

I write frequently about my current favorite books, including those I read to and with my children.  However, I don’t think I’ve ever listed MY favorite books from my own childhood – until now!

Unlike my current home, my childhood home didn’t hold a ton of books. I remember being read to from a very small stash and from the books I checked out of the school library. And, my mom was very indulgent with my requests from the Scholastic Book flyer.

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Catholic Fiction and Where to Find It

Published by CAstfalk on 08/28/2017
Catholic Fiction
Photo by Kimberly Farmer on Unsplash

Updated: February 2021

I’ve spent the better part of the past decade connected to a variety of online circles in which Catholic fiction is not only known, but loved and nourished. So when I step outside that literary bubble, I’m sometimes surprised to be reminded that many people – even practicing Catholics who are voracious fiction devourers – have yet to discover contemporary Catholic fiction.

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