Howdy FRIENDS of HALLIE,

I hope this newsletter finds you and yours safe from hurricanes, politics, and whatever else steals your peace these days. If you're like me, sometimes it's just nice to escape. May I suggest my newest book, THE SHEPHERDS?

See what I did there?

Seriously, I'm thrilled with the super kind reviews coming in! I know for a fact that Timothy, Sterling, and Fireman are thrilled. ​

​Thank you, readers, for these generous 5-STAR Reviews! They're so very important and I'm grateful.

How is Piper, you ask? She's terrific. Here she is looking at ____________________ with my husband. Care to take a guess what they're looking at? Or maybe you're feeling spicy today and want to "CAPTION" this photo!!! 

In other news, I would appreciate prayers and positive thoughts as I'll be having surgery on November 13th. It involves bone fusions in my foot, so the recovery will be challenging. And interesting. 

You see, my husband, Bruce, is excited about the idea of me in a scooter. He bought one with a basket for Piper. He says he's going to get her some goggles and a red scarf and take pictures of us riding around the house honking the horn.

If that actually happens (and it won't) I promise to post pics. Meanwhile, here are a few pics of Piper's introduction to "our" new ride.
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That's all for now. Y'all stay safe, have a good Thanksgiving, and always, FIND THE GOOD. Philippians 4:8.

Stay fearless,

​Hallie 

And just like that, it's here! Book 4's release will be in your hands or on your Kindle shortly! I can hardly contain myself! This book is "especially special" to me. Is that even a word? A phrase? Beats me, but let's go with it. Just for today :)

I have the cover in my hands and it's time for you (my newsletter subscribers) to get the FIRST look!!

But before the Big Reveal, I wanted to share a few amazing photos my friend Barbara sent me. As y'all know--or maybe you don't--a while back I asked my readers to drop me an email with "especially special" photos of scenes that brought Shady Gully to mind. Anything from an old barn to a glass of sweet tea on a porch railing.

You can see the wonderful pictures I've already collected by going to the SHADY GULLY section. If you scroll down, you'll see the latest batch Barbara sent me from Rood Creek Park in Georgia.

BTW, ahem, if any of you run across an "especially special" picture of a "four-way stop" or a...I don't know....a crossroads... like in Shady Gully, I'll throw your name in the hat along with the new subscribers to win a FREE eBook.

Speaking of new subscribers, I'm happy to say that Deb Gorman is the winner of this rounds FREE eBook. She chose Paint Me Fearless. Remember, ALL new subscribers are automatically entered in the drawing to win a FREE eBook or Audiobook of their choice.​ Please spread the word. If someone you referred wins the drawing, YOU win a FREE eBook or Audiobook as well!

Okay. Enough stalling. Onto the cover of book 4....
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As soon as The Shepherds pops up on Amazon, you can put it on your WISH LIST, and that way you'll get a reminder when the publisher makes it available to PREORDER. I'll also plan to send y'all a SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT letting you know IT'S TIME!!
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Happy Summer!! I hope you and your loved ones are enjoying either a good book or a good beach. Better yet, I hope you're enjoying them simultaneously :)

As I type this message to you, I'm enjoying the sound of four industrial fans blasting in my ears. Well, that's not true. I'm not enjoying them at all. Nor am I enjoying the heat. Eeeeeeks!! (Why does the AC have to go out when the heat index is over 100 degrees in Kentucky!?)

Timing is everything, isn't it? Oh well, we'll be back in business when the motor/part/thinga-ma-bob is shipped. And programmed. And then installed. Probably in a week or so.....

(Really.)

And how is Piper?  Well, I'm glad you asked.
She's now eating grown-up cat food, so I reckon that makes her a Big Girl! Time flies, doesn't it? Anyway, it's been a process, slowly adding new food to the old food, and then when she tolerates that, slowly adding more new food until it reaches 100%. Geesh, that's a lot of chemistry, isn't it? 

We thought we had her transitioned a month ago, but unfortunately, we had to start the whole process over again when she got the upchucks. 

Have you had experiences like this when switching your pet's food? My husband said when he was a kid, his folks just bought whatever was on sale and poured it into a bowl. Isn't that the best?

When (and why) did life get so complicated, I wonder??? 

What's everybody reading this summer? I've been reading a lot for my book club. Some good titles I've read include Block Party, The Marriage Portrait, and Just the Nicest Couple. Another excellent read is Exiles, by Australian author, Jane Harper. It's the third book in the Aaron Falk series. Quite good!!

A book I'm really looking forward to is Unbridled Spirits by my friend Michelle Bennington. It's the third and final book in the Small Batch series, and in this one the protagonist, Rook Campbell, risks everything when there's a murder at a historic bourbon baron's home. It releases later this week! Check out the series on Amazon----here.

​Finally, an update on book 4 in the Shady Gully series. If you missed my last newsletter, I offered up a teaser and revealed the highlighted characters. 

When people ask which of my books I like the best, I always answer: "The one I'm working on now."

That's the honest truth. Perhaps it's because I'm in the thick of it, and blood, sweat, and tears (lots of tears) are flying in all directions. It's just me, my story, and my characters...bargaining with one another in the trenches. And it's not easy. This book was especially hard for a lot of reasons you'll soon discover. So, without a doubt, book 4 is my favorite. 

If all goes as planned, you'll have the title, cover, and release date SOON!! Stay tuned!

And as always, stay fearless!
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​Happy Spring everyone!

While it's still chilly here in Kentucky, I'm guessing some of my readers, especially those in Louisiana, are already enjoying those milder temps. Consider me jealous!! I'm ready for sunglasses, straw hats, and summer reads!

Speaking of summer reading, what are y'all reading? I really, really want to know!

I recently finished a couple of wonderful books. 

1) Widow's Blush by Michelle Bennington is a perfect cloak-and-dagger, cat-and-mouse novel!
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It's 1803 and England's foreign secretaries are dropping like flies… 

The beautiful Lady Birchfield (Ravenna) ought to know as her husband’s death is the first in a series of mysterious expiries that rattle London’s elite society and set Europe on a dangerous course toward war. See my full review on Goodreads HERE!

2) West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge is captivating. I cried, cheered, and gasped all the way through!​

West with Giraffes is rich with important and profound themes like how we evolve as human beings, the importance of treating others and animals kindly, and yes, the melancholy and loneliness that comes with aging. Rutledge captures the frustration of growing old and feeling that you, your stories, and your history have become irrelevant. See my full review on Goodreads HERE.

Other noteworthy book/TV news: One of my all-time favorite novels is A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles. I'm beyond excited to see the series on Paramount/Showtime starring Evan McGregor. Once all the episodes air, I'm breaking out the popcorn!!​

In other news, I was recently invited to Florence, Kentucky's Book Fair. It was a truly wonderful event and I got to meet the mayor!! ​

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​And now, let's talk Shady Gully. In my last newsletter, I invited you to guess which three characters I'd be featuring in book 4. Surprisingly, no one guessed correctly, but fear not, I won't leave you in suspense any longer.

**WARNING **CAUTION** If you 're NOT up to date in the series, SPOILERS FOLLOW! 

Sterling - Although he got the girl at the end of book 3, the handsome musician at Northlake Christian Church is struggling for direction in his life. In Shades of Violet, he confesses to his sister that he's toying with the notion of going to law school. Or maybe, he wonders, he could become a novelist and write the kind of thrillers his dad had loved before he died. But alas, as book 4 opens both his love life and career are spiraling....

Fireman - The last we saw of the dynamo otherwise known as Fireman, he was surrounded by a gaggle of women while shimmying on the dance floor at Petey and Violet's wedding. What, pray tell, could he have gotten himself into now? Hint: he just got his own car. 

Timothy - Readers last saw the popular megachurch preacher from Kentucky as he shared an intimate moment with the beautiful Meadow at Violet's wedding. But now----

A teaser from Book 4's Blurb:

When the charismatic pastor of Kentucky’s biggest and most popular megachurch collapses on stage in front of thousands, a frenzy of speculation erupts. Is he sick? Washed up? Or is it that woman? Mysterious and strikingly beautiful, could “Meadow from small-town Louisiana” be responsible for the revered Timothy’s downfall? Desperate to escape scrutiny, Timothy inflames rumors even more when he takes a sabbatical with the lovely Meadow—to Shady Gully, Louisiana.

Naturally, all the gang will be back in book 4. Desi and Lenny, Robin and Sheriff Rick, Bella and Luke, Petey and Violet, Father Patrick, Wolfheart, Bubba, Daryl, and of course, Micah and---

Quietdove? Hoot Wheeler? 😉😀😄 
​Stay tuned!

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And finally, it took a while, but Paint Me Fearless recently reached a HUGE milestone. One hundred rate/reviews on Amazon! To everyone who has taken the time to rate/review any of my books, THANK YOU! Each and every one of them is another STEP toward realizing my dream. 

Until next time, stay fearless!

​Hallie

Greetings to all my valued newsletter subscribers!

I'm sorry I haven't sent a howdy or an update the last few months, but boy-oh-boy, have I got news for y'all :) Before I get into that, though, I'd like to wish you a very Happy New Year! I hope you had a great Christmas and that 2024 is off to a good start.

As you can tell from the graphic above, I love animals. I also love devotionals. Put those together and you've got a wonderful magazine called All God's Creatures, published by Guideposts. Yes, Guideposts. The one and only Guideposts founded in 1945 by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale. (As a kid, this publication was spoken of in reverent tones.) 

I suppose that's why it's such an honor to tell you that I'll be writing for 2026's All God's Creatures Devotional!! Yes! I can hardly believe it. I'm teary-eyed just telling y'all about it. Anyway, if you haven't heard of this devotional, here's a snippet:

​All God’s Creatures Magazine
This heartwarming, daily devotional magazine reveals all the miraculous ways God uses animals to nurture our faith and draw us closer to Him. Every heartwarming—and sometimes humorous—true story will inspire, comfort, and encourage you as only animals can.

You may recognize the cover with the orange kitten as it played a role in my newsletter entitled God Wink. I'm beyond thrilled---and so humbled to be a contributing writer with some really amazing authors.  Pinch me, I'm dreaming. (My mama would be so pleased.)

I know 2026 seems like a LONG time from now, but with big publications like Guideposts, they plan WAY ahead. If you're interested in checking out the devotional, go here --> ALL GOD's CREATURES

In other news, Piper got herself a koi pond. Yep, it's a big commitment. And VERY time consuming. And honestly, a little addicting. Every day she has to clean the filter, feed and play with her fish, and if she earns enough coins, she can splurge and get a pack of dragon flies. Or maybe even a new koi. Here are a few shots of her in action.

And finally, I'm excited to tell you that I finished the fifth draft of book 4 in the Shady Gully series. In fact, I just wrote the blurb. I'm very, very, very excited about this book. Truth is, I love the town and these characters more with each book, and I hope you do as well. 

In my NEXT newsletter I'm going to give you a teaser. Well, not really a teaser, I'm just going to tell you who SG #4's three featured characters are......

Anybody care to guess? Tell you what, if someone happens to guess all three in the comments below, I'll mail you a signed copy when the book is released, or I'll send you the eBook BEFORE it's released. Your choice.

Rule: You only get one guess, and in that guess, you can ONLY pick THREE characters. If and when someone gets the correct combination, I'll let y'all know in the comments. I'll announce the winner--along with the highlighted characters--in the next newsletter.

For now, SG #4 is off to my editor, and then my publisher and I will get to work with the cover, the technical mumbo-jumbo, as well as the fun stuff. I'll keep you updated.

Until then, Stay Fearless,

Hallie Lee 

Boo! It's me!
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Hey FRIENDS of HALLIE, how's everybody doing? Are the temps dropping in your neck of the woods? Do you feel the hint of the holidays ahead? Is this your favorite time of the year or do you prefer the beachy summers?

More importantly, what is the correct answer to the following question? The most important scent of fall is..........Gumbo or Pumpkin Spice?

Sorry if you got it wrong.

I'm approaching the season with a cautious amount of optimism. I have a fuller than usual plate ahead with a heavy list of To-Do's, but since God recently led me through a particularly challenging project, I'm trusting He'll guide me through the rest.  

Since it's November---the season of gratitude---I'd like to show my appreciation to my loyal, true-blue, read-and-leave-a-review-no matter-what readers. THANK YOU! Y'all are simply the best!

I'd also like to give away a few audiobooks, which not only make great Christmas presents but are a great way to revisit Shady Gully through the amazing narration of the fabulous Kathy Fox Vancil. 

As current subscribers, y'all are automatically entered in the drawing, and ALL NEW SUBSCRIBERS WILL BE ENTERED IN THE DRAWING as well, so please encourage your friends to join the FRIENDS of HALLIE newsletter! IF THEY WIN and SAY YOU ENCOURAGED THEM TO JOIN, you're also a winner!

The contest will last through November 30th, so you have plenty of time to tell your friends and family about the Shady Gully series AND give them a chance to WIN!! 

And now, for a PIPER update! She's fabulous, and for those wondering, yes, orange cats are definitely crazier than regular cats. However, she knows how to kick back and relax as well. For your viewing pleasure, I now offer you the many Positions of Piper. 

And finally, I'll be offering 10% off my books this Christmas for those of you who want a signed copy for your family, friends, and co-workers. As of now, I have both hardcovers and paperbacks on hand. The order cut-off date is December 15th because I want to make sure I can get them to you in time for Christmas. And remember, it's a WHILE SUPPLIES LAST deal so get your orders in early! Contact me at [email protected] with your order.

Hey to all my FRIENDS of HALLIE out there! 

It's hard to believe that we're already into September, isn't it? Any die-hard summer fans out there?  Or are most of y'all ready for fall?

Well......I have a bit of personal news to share!  After we took our time visiting landmarks on our way to Louisiana for a very special wedding, aka our Grand Adventure Trip which you can read about here, I began to hear murmurings from my family about...adopting a kitten.

Since my husband was doing some consulting in another state, he and our daughter, Bree, thought it would be good for me to have a furry baby at home. As most of y'all know, we lost our dog, Lucy Belle, in 2021, and then our twenty-two-year-old cat, Patches, in April. "No, I said firmly, "I'm not ready yet."

But clearly God had other ideas. What follows is an amazing, miraculous journey of hope, patience, excitement, disappointment, frustration, and finally .... a gift. A GOD WINK.

The week after our return from Louisiana, Bree started her "Get Mama a Kitten" campaign.  Daily she scoured all the local shelters, sending me photo after photo of adorable kittens. My responses were full of reluctance.  

She pushed. "If you were going to get another kitten, Mama, what kind would you want?"
"Orange," I said impulsively, thinking I'd never had an orange kitten before, and I didn't want anything that would compare to my others. 

Over the next few days, she sent dozens of texts featuring orange kittens, but none of them sparked any emotion in me at all. Still, the seed had been planted. Then one day, she texted me a picture of Ava, a beautiful long-haired orange and white kitten. I cracked. Just a little. And for Bree, that was all it took to get the ball rolling. She filled out an application and emailed it to the shelter. 

Unfortunately, the shelter denied my application because (you really won't believe this) there were "no other pets in the house." However, they told me I could adopt two kittens. No thanks.

But Bree didn't give up though, and the random kitten texts continued as she searched other shelters for potential adoptees.

Meanwhile, storm season had hit Kentucky with a BOOM, and we got rolling storms for the next few weeks---with LOTS of power outages. I found myself alone and down in the dumps, so when our neighborhood got power again, I decided to go to our local Pet Smart. Sometimes they had kittens, I thought, and I'll just look. 

But they didn't. 

Just as I was about to leave, a woman who'd been working in the back cleaning cages peeked her head out. "Can I help you?"

I told her the story of losing Patches, and what I wanted, and she said she ran a shelter in Danville, Kentucky, and they supplied kittens to places like Pet Smart. She said she thought she'd heard of one coming soon that looked similar to Ava, the orange kitten at the other shelter. "If I come across one," she said, "I'll send you a picture." She added, "But I may not remember."

I left feeling at peace about it. I mean, maybe I wasn't really ready for another cat. God knew better than I did what was best, and if this lady came across an orange and white kitten, and remembered me, then maybe it was meant to be. 

Several days went by without a word, and then, DING, a text from the Danville lady. She told me she'd found an orange kitten that I might like. I waited, but there was no picture. When I prompted her, she said, oops, I forgot, and as I could see the dancing dots of promise in the text, I half hoped the cat was double-dog-ugly. Then I'd be off the hook.

​But she wasn't......

Oh no, I thought. That face. She was a hundred times cuter than Ava. My heart opened up and I started to imagine scenarios with this little mug in my life. Linda from Danville said as soon as the litter of kittens arrived at the vet to be vetted, I could meet her. FYI, "vetted" means the shelter gets the kittens, spays/neuters them, and gives them their first round of vaccines. (Right? It's been over twenty years, so I had no clue either.)

Anyway, several days passed, and then a week.  I'd begun to lose hope. Again.

The next day I trudged to my mailbox and rec'd my Guidepost's All God's Creatures monthly devotionals. (I highly recommend their daily devotionals, especially for animal lovers!) As usual, it was in a white envelope, and all the way back home I kept thinking, I wonder what will be on the cover. A duckling? A bunny? A robin? As much as I love All God's Creatures, they rarely feature a cat or a dog. But, I think, as I neared my door, if there's a cat, or better yet, a kitten, this is going to work out with Piper-----yes, I'd already named her in my mind. 

I opened the envelope, and not only is it a kitten...
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...but it was an orange kitten!

To put an exclamation on that point, my phone goes off with a text. It's Linda from Danville! She says she just got word that the litter of kittens were on their way to the vet to be vetted! She'd let me know as soon as they were ready for adoption.

So, I go shopping. I buy kitten food, toys, and stare at that fluffy little face for seconds upon seconds. Okay. Minutes upon minutes. I look at my Orange Kitten Devotional and can't wait until July 1st, so I can read the first one!

But a week went by, and I heard nothing. I restrained myself as long as I could, until one day I texted Linda and asked if she'd heard anything. "I'm sorry," she said, "the people never showed up at the vet with the kittens." She apologized and told me she'd keep her eyes out for another orange kitty. 

But somehow, I knew in my heart, there wouldn't be one. Not one like her. Like Piper.

Terrible weather rolled into Kentucky (again) the following week, and this time, we lost power for days. Long, hot summer days. Long, dark nights without light. 

Because she sensed my gloominess, Bree upped her game on social media, once again on the hunt for an orange kitten. But I didn't want just any orange kitten anymore. I'd opened my heart just a little, but the moment had passed.

One night, while I was sitting alone in the heat and the dark (still no electricity) Bree sent me a photo of an orange kitten that was available. She'd been texting with the owner and said we could go get her that weekend!  July 1st. "I'll go with you, Mama."

But I couldn't decide. Every time I looked at the photo against the dim light of a candle, I felt .... nothing. 

"But we have to let the lady know now," Bree pressed.

I hemmed and hesitated, and finally, because my daughter is a bit of a bulldog, I agreed. But I didn't feel good about it. The next morning, after a sleepless night, I texted to say no. "I'm sorry," I said, "but it's not the right time." This was June 28th.

On Friday, the 30th, our electricity popped on for just long enough to charge my phone and get a glimpse of what was going on in the outside world. While I was chatting with Bree, the lights flickered, and went out again. Seriously?

In order to preserve my phone's battery, we ended the call. When I received a text, I assumed it was from Bree. I glanced at my phone with a giant sigh.

"I have the kitten!" Linda from Danville said. "She's fully vetted and ready to go." 
"What?" My heart raced as tears puddled at the corners of my eyes.

(I still don't have any idea how it happened. Some confusion between the owner of the kittens and the vet's office. A miscommunication. A changing of the mind. I don't know.) 

But the next day, July 1st, I read my All God's Creatures Devotional with the orange cat on the cover, and Bree and I went to Danville, Kentucky, to pick up Piper. 

How can that be anything other than an absolute and total God Wink?

IN BOOK NEWS...

On June 5th, the All I'm Sayin' online book club, hosted by Mark Cermak, began an in-depth conversation of Paint Me Fearless. I had the honor of popping in from time to time to take part in their incredible discussion. As a host, Mark thoughtfully guided them through the book, chapter by chapter, and the dialogue was profound, honest, and courageous. 

For anyone who has read Paint Me Fearless, you understand why parts of the book would be hard to talk about, especially with strangers. While some of them knew each other from high school, many of the participants were new to the group. Relationships were built. Friendships were renewed.

And solidified in August when the entire group met in Pennsylvania to celebrate the book, the discussion, and the unfathomable bonds that emerge from sharing a story about trauma. The human spirit at its best!

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For me personally, it was a heady experience. I was brought to tears when I received a special gift from these beautiful people. A copy of my book, autographed by them.

Thank you, Mark Cermak and All I'm Sayin' book club! You are shining stars in a hard profession. FYI, if you're interested in joining an online discussion of Wolfheart, book 2 in the Shady Gully series, Mark has graciously agreed to host the conversation. It starts November 6th at the Cozy Corner! You can join here: Shady Gully's Cozy Corner Chat!

As always, I encourage you to leave reviews on Goodreads and Amazon after you've finished one of my books. Reviews (even if only a sentence or two) are crucial in a writer's journey. 

And with that, I wish y'all a Happy Fall!
​Stay Fearless,

Hallie

Hey all,

How's your summer going? Are you kicking back at home, enjoying Netflix and getting in a little reading time? Or are you traveling the world? Or somewhere in between?

As many of you know, after losing both our cat and dog in a span of two years, my husband and I are petless. It's a strange sensation, and not in a good way.

Still, over the last couple of months we've tried to make the best of it. We've been doing some traveling. Now, as a true-blue homebody, I wasn't entirely comfortable with this notion, but since a good friend of ours from Louisiana was getting married, we decided to make it a "Grand Adventure."

So, if you're game, fasten your seatbelts. We're hitting the road!


​Grand Adventure: Part 1
Singing horses, Chris Stapleton 2.0, and flying guitars. 
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​Grand Adventure: Part 2
Hot Springs. The restaurant is The Vault
And the lighted menus were especially helpful for those of us who are visually challenged.
(I couldn't get the video to work, but if you click here ->>you'll go to my Facebook video showing you how cool they were!

​Grand Adventure: Part 3
Our home away from home on the lake. Catching up with my brother. Meeting my (grand) nieces! #Louisiana #family #lakelife

​Grand Adventure: Part 4
Fishing, Cajun sausage, morning devotions, and coffee with friends. #GertytheGator #FelixtheFrog

​Grand Adventure: Part 5
These two, my hearts! Over thirty years of sisterhood filled with joy, laughter, grief, sorrow and everything in between. Another Life Moment for all of us. 

​Grand Adventure: Part 6
Memphis. Yes, please! While we didn’t make it to Elvis’s mansion, we fell in love with Germantown. We found a restaurant called Southern Social that is now on our Best Restaurants Ever list! Their tagline? “Updated Dixieland classics served in a fine-dining setting.”

Seafood gumbo. Barbecued shrimp. Redfish over Cheese grits. Mascarpone risotto. Sea bass cooked to perfection. And they even brought us chocolate covered strawberries and champagne to celebrate our upcoming anniversary!

​Grand Adventure: Part 7
Had a great day with the animals.
The Nashville Zoo has an especially sweet group of kangaroos! My absolute fav was the leopard in the tree. He was one cool cat! We closed the night out with another group of “party” animals at Opryland. Great catching up with these two. 

​Grand Adventure: The Conclusion
We arrived safely home to the sound of--
Well actually, no, there was no pitter-patter of little paws. And no Patches, pouting from the hallway at the edge of our bedroom, her green eyes brimming over with indignation at being "abandoned." (She'd always forgive us eventually and curl into our suitcase as we unpacked.)

While our homecoming was certainly different this time, there were bright spots, like the tulips I received from my daughter, which were blooming violet on the kitchen bar.

It was a fantastic trip filled with laughter and joy. We were able to reconnect with family and friends and make more memories.

But there is just no place like HOME!

But the Fun Wasn't Over....

One of my favorite authors and bestest online buddies is Janetta Fudge-Messmer. What can I say? The two of us hit it off three years ago after a long phone conversation, and since then we've stayed in touch. We've laughed, vented, shared, and celebrated both good and bad times. Finally--thank you, Lord--I got to "meet" her in person when she and her hubby visited Lexington. 

A fun night was had by all! And they even visited our hardware store the following day! If y'all haven't read her books, check out her website here.

What's next? Well, actually, there is a plan....but you'll have to wait until next month to find out! How's that for a cliffhanger?

Now, please tell me what you're doing this summer.

Stay Fearless, 

Hallie

Welcome to the Summer Edition of the FRIENDS of HALLIE newsletter!

One of the best things about being a published author is the opportunity to meet other authors. While it's true we spend the majority of our time alone with our characters, on occasion, we DO get out of the house.

Book festivals, author panels, and book clubs are always a great way to meet fellow writers, but just like any other small business shindig, things don't always click. But when they do....hallelujah, the flood gates open and soon we're rambling about plot lines, marketing woes, disappointments, triumphs, and everything in between.

And if we're really lucky, this shiny, remarkable human being who totally "gets us" lives close enough to continue the conversation. 

Michelle Bennington is a prolific writer in the vein of Janet Evanovich and Rita Mae Brown. That's right. I said that. She's that good. Her cozy mysteries are overflowing with surprises and twists, peppered with romantic tension, and chock-full of relatable, quirky characters.

Amid all that feel-good fun, Michelle manages to weave page-turning stories that grab ahold and don't let go until the very end, at which point, you want more. As I said, she's that good.

FRIENDS of HALLIE, please meet my friend, Michelle Bennington.

Hallie: As you know, I'm one of your biggest fans, and I could talk books with you all day long. Oh wait, we've already done that, haven't we? Ha! Before we get into your Small Batch Series, would you tell my readers a little about yourself?

Michelle:  You're so kind. You are not only one of my favorite authors, Hallie, but you're one of my favorite people! So, a little about me. I grew up very blue collar in rural Kentucky--catching crawdads and lightning bugs, playing in creek beds and such--and I'm so thankful for that foundation. But I was also a bookworm and loved reading. When I was thirteen, I decided I wanted to be an author and I began writing as much as I could.

Long, circuitous journey short, here I am. Still reading, still writing. It took me a long time to gain the confidence to pursue publication seriously. I still struggle with confidence and reckon I always will, but in my forties, I had finally come to the realization that my one life is getting shorter each day. I had to try and see what happened.

Hallie: We have so much in common. I was also drawn to the power of the written word at a young age. And I collected lightning bugs. However, down in Louisiana, we call them crawfish, not crawdads. LOL. Have you ever been to a crawfish boil?

Michelle: No I haven't, but I've heard of them and would LOVE to. I love trying new things--especially food and beverages. The closest I've come to one is eating at The Stormin' Crab in Lexington where they serve a seafood combo boiled in a bag and I think I got crab legs. 

Hallie: Ha! We haven't been to the Stormin' Crab yet, but next time we do a Crawfish Boil at home, we'll give y'all a call. Now, when you're not writing, what do you do for fun?

Michelle: When I'm not writing I'm buzzing around involved with family and friends. I love to travel, even regionally and locally; love to dance and get involved in a wide variety of arts and crafts; love doing tours of old houses, distilleries, or anything of historical significance. And I love hanging out with my husband and my sweet-n-sassy cockapoo pup, Miss Maple. 

Hallie: Okay, here is where I should confess to my readers that Miss Maple was, in fact, the one that brought us together. While researching "who-was-who" for an upcoming author signing we were both attending, I perused your Facebook page and found Miss Maple. It was love at first sight. Thanks for her Insta handle. I know my readers (and I) would like to see more pics of Miss Maple and you in your Dance Duds. Please tell us more about that :)

Michelle: I've been dancing since 2011 (off and on because life often gets in the way). I do international dance. I started with Middle Eastern folkloric, cabaret, and fusion style dances, which most Americans know as belly dance. 

Our sweet, beautiful Patches passed away on Monday, April 10th.  Y'all may have known her as my Creative Director, and boy-oh-boy, did she have pizzazz!!!

But when she wasn't calling the shots (demanding more cat scenes in the Shady Gully series) she was really quite the charmer...

The grief we're feeling now is in stark contrast to the blooming flowers and tweeting birds of spring. Seasons change, of course, but I wonder, are we ever really "ready" or "prepared" to lose a loved one?

Ecclesiastes, Chapter 3, has filled my head, heart, and soul these last few weeks. Verse one says, "To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under the heaven."

Here is my social media tribute to Patches, the cat that was definitely All That :)

We had to say goodbye to our sweet, beautiful Patches yesterday. Twenty-two years old and gifted with an amazing constitution, she waited out a variety of cats and dogs to finally have us all to herself. When Lucy died almost two years ago, Patches truly lived her very best life. A heated cat bed in every room. A diet consisting of treats and the finest tuna. She thrived being the only furry child in the house.

While she had her share of setbacks, especially lately, she fought hard and resisted her final farewell…right up until the end.

We are devastated. It truly feels like the end of an era. She grew up alongside our daughter, Bree, and purred in her arms when she went away to college. And then gave her the side-eye when she married and got a cat of her own.

Patches lived in three different states, enjoying sunsets in Louisiana, New Mexico, and Kentucky. She oh-so-patiently schooled a very select group of sitters whenever we traveled. Sarah Hopkins, Rachel Dodge, John Brothers.

I’ll never forget the kind and gentle words from Mr. Wimberly from the Pineville Animal Shelter in Louisiana. Twenty-two years ago, he told me with certainty, “She’s going to be a big cat and live a long life.”
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I can’t imagine how he knew that, but she WAS, and she DID. While I’m so grateful for the time I had with her, as I circle the empty cat beds and her electric blanket perched on the couch next to my spot, my heart aches for more. 

Back to Ecclesiastes, Chapter 3, specifically verse 4, "A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance." 

While I'm mourning and weeping for our sweet Patches, I DO have some super, exciting news to laugh and dance about. And you guessed it, it's BOOK NEWS!
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That's right, the audiobook of Shades of Violet is NOW AVAILABLE!  The great Kathy Fox Vancil, aka the voice of Shady Gully, is back to narrate the third book in the Shady Gully Series. Here's what she said about her experience:

"From a narrator’s perspective, Hallie Lee writes immersive fiction. Her characters live and breathe because Hallie knows how to create and sustain real life experiences, emotions and personalities through the turn of phrase and masterful wordsmithing. 

There were times, when narrating Violet, that I had to stop because the insecurity parallels hit a little too close to home. Meadow’s combined bitterness and hopefulness was a rollercoaster … a thoroughly exhilarating and unsettling ride. Lenny, dear man, is rock solid on the outside but needing real answers. One of the highest praises I can offer is that Lee’s male characters are men, not female author “idealized” male characters, but real men. 

It was a privilege to narrate the 3rd book in this delightful and gritty Shady Gully series. Can’t wait to see where Hallie Lee takes us in the next book." ----Kathy Fox Vancil

The audiobook is available on Amazon, Audible, and Apple Books. Here is a link to purchase at your favorite retailer--> https://www.books2read.com/shadesofviolet

Now. Don't you think the Shades of Violet audiobook would make a GREAT Mother's DAY Gift? I do, and I'd love to give one away. Any takers? Just comment below or email me here and tell me why you want the audiobook of Shades of Violet. I'll pick a winner before next Friday. 

The response to Shades of Violet has been fantastic, and as always, I'm grateful to all who have taken the time to rate and offer a line or two about my work. You can do that anytime on Goodreads as well as Amazon, and wherever you purchased the books.

So there, even amid sorrow and pain, there is always something to laugh, dance, love, and embrace. In fact, if you're wondering what's next for my husband and me, who suddenly find ourselves petless, stay tuned. I see a GRAND ADVENTURE in our future. Stay tuned!

​And most of all...

Stay Fearless, 

Hallie