Special thanks to Marie Duval, translator, for the French edition of Julia’s Gifts and Daniela Mastropasqua, translator, and Adelia Marino, editor, for the Italian edition of Stealing Jenny!
I’m giving away five free audio-books of Stealing Jenny, narrated by Lisa Reichert.
The first five who leave a comment will receive a code for a free audio-book!
More FQP projects are on the horizon!
Julia’s Gifts is being narrated as an audio-book and should be completed by the end of summer.
Julia’s Gifts is also being translated into Italian and should be available in paperback and ebook by the middle of July.
Stealing Jenny is being translated into Spanish and will be available via paperback and ebook by the end of the summer. (It’s already available in English and Portuguese. Special thanks to the remarkable and easy-to-work-with translator, )
Stealing Jenny is also being translated into Italian and will be available via paperback and ebook by the end of the summer.
Stealing Jenny just received its 600th review on Amazon! Special thanks to the reader who left the 600th review!
Please join me and other Catholic bloggers at Conversion Diary for 7 Quick Takes Friday. Leave a comment below (before Friday, January 31st) to win a free print copy of Stealing Jenny, my third novel! Speaking of novels, A Subtle Grace, is nearly ready for the proofreaders! I’m waiting for one more beta reader to send her comments, then it’s off to the printer and to the proofreaders!!
1. FREE BOOKS!!
Monday, January 27 to Wednesday, January 29, my third novel,Stealing Jenny, will be FREE on Kindle! To download the book for free Monday to Wednesday next week, click this link. (Please note: It won’t be free until Monday!!)
And if you don’t have a Kindle and want a PRINT copy, leave a comment below (before January 31st) to win a paperback copy of Stealing Jenny! (Sorry…North America ONLY, please!!)
2. Stealing Jenny on Amazon Japan
I think it’s so cool that my books are available all over the world. Here’s a screenshot of the profile page of Stealing Jenny on Amazon Japan. If you click on the picture, it will take you right to the actual Amazon Japan page. 
3. Brrrr!! It’s Cold!!
Temps have been averaging minus 30 C. with the windchill. I’m ready for spring.
4. Scrumptious Chicken Lemon Soup!
It’s been so cold this past week that all I want to do is snuggle up in a warm chair in front of the wood stove and drink tea or eat soup. This is a scrumptious chicken-lemon soup recipe.
5. Banana Almond Bread
Oooh, this looks like a great recipe for tasty banana bread! I haven’t tried it yet, but I will this weekend, as soon as I can find almond flour. This is gluten free and, I’m told, super delicious and healthy! http://www.beautifullynutty.com/banana-almond-bread-gluten-free/
6. Reading Shelf
An Unmarked Grave – Charles Todd
The Watson Chronicles – Ann Margaret Lewis
7. Man Up Cartoon
image copyright James and Ellen Hrkach (all rights reserved, do not use without permission)
Don’t forget to leave a comment (before January 31st) to win a free print copy of Stealing Jenny!
Copyright 2014 Ellen Gable Hrkach
I’m going to be interviewed on Brian Patrick’s Son Rise Morning Show on Sacred Heart Radio this Tuesday, September 27th at 8:50 a.m.
I’ll be talking about my latest book, Stealing Jenny.
To listen, go to the Son Rise Morning Show website and click on the “On the Air: Click to Listen” button to the right.
Special thanks to Krisi Keley, Gerard Webster and Joan Kelly for these terrific reviews of Stealing Jenny! Here are some excerpts:
Krisi Keley, author: “Stealing Jenny by Ellen Gable is a terrifyingly realistic suspense story that could be ripped from the headlines, but it’s also a beautiful life-affirming novel that offers so much more.
As is the case in all of her novels, in Stealing Jenny the author again excels at smoothly weaving the Catholic understanding of marriage and family – the sanctity of life and the precious gift of children and the sexual relationship – into a moving story of real people facing real world challenges and traumas. The characters of Jenny, her husband, Tom, and their children, as well as those of the unbalanced kidnapper, Denise, and the police officers who search for Jenny, are developed wonderfully. Through the family’s present suffering and glimpses of both the joys and sorrows Jenny and Tom have experienced throughout their relationship, the reader descends into this nightmare with them, but is also lifted up by the Callahan family’s faith and hope in God and by the strength He imparts in the very love which unites them.”
(To read Krisi’s full review, click here).
Gerard Webster, author: “Stealing Jenny has all the qualities of a keep-you-up-at-night thriller: high life-and-death stakes, three dimensional characters you care about, the clash of good vs. evil, and complications galore. I guarantee once you pick up this book it’s going to be a sleep-stealer. As a writer, Ellen Gable just keeps getting better and better. I can’t wait to read her next novel.”
(To read Gerard’s full review on Amazon, click here.)
Joan Kelly, author: “…the author introduces the reader to other members of the Callahan family; a family who finds strength to endure this trauma through their strong Catholic faith.Stealing Jenny is a well-written story that emphasized the preciousness of each life and the strength of family.”
Stealing Jenny is available on Amazon in print or on Kindle.
My latest column at Amazing Catechists talks about catechizing through fiction:
I’ve been a novelist for ten years. My second novel, In Name Only, (a Catholic historical romance) was the first Catholic novel to win the Gold Medal in Religious Fiction at the 2010 IPPY Awards and has been an Amazon Top 100 Bestseller for four months.
So what’s different about my novels?
Well, for one thing, they are unabashedly Catholic. While there are some who don’t agree with the use of fiction to catechize or evangelize, I don’t have a problem with it. After all, Jesus used parables to teach, didn’t He?
My first novel, Emily’s Hope, is the fictionalized parallel stories of myself and my great-grandmother. It illustrates the Church’s teachings on sex and marriage and why it is so important to obey these teachings. One young adult sent me a “fan” letter saying, “Your book has helped me to understand the Church’s teaching on sex and marriage more than any textbook.”
I have to admit, that while Emily’s Hope is popular at Catholic conferences, with NFP enthusiasts and faithful Catholics, its sales have been mediocre in the past few years. It does, however, seem to find its way into the hands of those who find it helpful.
However, I took a slightly different approach with my second novel, In Name Only, which is a romance that takes place in 1870’s Philadelphia. It is different from my first novel because the “teaching” is more subtle. It is also different from secular romances because it does not contain graphic sexuality. However, it does include the basics of the Theology of the Body, so sexual issues like promiscuity and pornography are dealt with tastefully. I also worked diligently to improve my writing style.
This approach seems to have paid off. In Name Only has been my most popular book thus far, and continues to be an Amazon Kindle Top 100 bestseller in Religious Fiction.
With my latest novel, Stealing Jenny, I wanted to illustrate why it is so important to be pro-life, especially in our current culture. Again, Catholic teaching is more subtle and I included characters who were not Catholic, nor planning to be Catholic.
Advanced reviews have been overwhelmingly positive. “Stealing Jenny is a gripping novel filled with engaging characters, a compelling mystery and a message which underscores the precious dignity of life. I literally couldn’t put it down and give Stealing Jenny my highest recommendation,” says Lisa M. Hendey, Founder of CatholicMom.com and author of A Book of Saints for Catholic Moms. Author and Blogger Sarah Reinhard writes, “Stealing Jenny will keep you on the edge of your seat and probably destroy your sleep pattern as you stay up to find out what happens. But beyond being a great suspense, it’s also an excellent example of morals in action and family life redeemed. As a fan of Ellen Gable’s work already, I’m now officially getting a t-shirt!” Therese Heckenkamp of Traditional Catholic Novels.com says “Stealing Jenny is a smoothly written, chilling tale of gripping suspense. There are terrifying moments and heart-wrenching moments. Catholic faith and hope are tested. Above all, the sacredness and privilege of precious new life is made indisputably evident. I never wanted it to end!”
Stealing Jenny is available via Amazon in print or on Kindle.
Copyright 2011 Ellen Gable Hrkach
Today, our local paper features an article on my new novel’s book launch.
“Hrkach, who writes under her maiden name, Ellen Gable, has been writing fiction for ten years. Her second novel, In Name Only (a Christian historical romance) won the Gold Medal in the 2010 IPPY awards and has been an Amazon Kindle Top 100 bestseller in Religious Fiction for the past three months. Her third book, “Come My Beloved,” a non-fiction book of true love stories, was released earlier this year.
Her new book is a departure from her usual historical fiction books.”
To read the article in its entirety, click on the article link above.
My newest novel, Stealing Jenny, is now available on Amazon:
In Print
Or on Kindle
Here are a few of the advanced reviews:
“Stealing Jenny is a gripping novel filled with engaging characters, a compelling mystery and a message which underscores the precious dignity of life. I literally couldn’t put it down and give Stealing Jenny my highest recommendation.”
Lisa M. Hendey, Founder of CatholicMom.com and author of “A Book of Saints for Catholic Moms”
“Ellen Gable is a masterful storyteller. Stealing Jenny is a smoothly written, chilling tale of gripping suspense. There are terrifying moments and heart-wrenching moments. Catholic faith and hope are tested. Above all, the sacredness and privilege of precious new life is made indisputably evident. I never wanted it to end!”
Therese Heckenkamp, Traditional Catholic Novels.com
“Stealing Jenny will keep you on the edge of your seat and probably destroy your sleep pattern as you stay up to find out what happens. But beyond being a great suspense, it’s also an excellent example of morals in action and family life redeemed. As a fan of Ellen Gable’s work already, I’m now officially getting a t-shirt!
Sarah Reinhard, author “Welcome Baby Jesus: Advent and Christmas Reflections for Families”
Plot Line and Sinker (Ellen Gable, Author) 