The Road to Paradise is HERE!

The long-awaited release day has arrived for the first of my Vintage National Parks novels, The Road to Paradise! 

I’m so excited to see this book get out into bookstores, libraries, and especially into the hands of readers. I’ve dreamed of this novel ever since my days working as a ranger at Mount Rainier. Hopefully it’s a story that will take you on an armchair adventure this summer and give you a glimpse into the heart and history of this beautiful national park.

If you’d like to order the book online (either print or ebook), you can find links to various sellers here. I’d also encourage you to support your local bookstores.  Call  your Christian bookstore or Barnes & Noble and see if they’ve got The Road to Paradise in stock. I did some checking today, and most of the B&N stores in the northwest seem to have it on the shelf (EEEEEE!). So does Powell’s Books in Portland–which is a thrill for this Oregon girl. Remember, it’s Christian fiction, so rather than heading to the regular fiction section, veer over to the “religion” section and find the Christian fiction/Inspirational fiction shelves. There are lots of other great reads available there, too.

Upcoming Events

• TODAY AT 4 PM PDT/7 pm EDT, I’m going to do a short FB Live video talking about the release. When I asked readers what they’d like to hear about, several said “stories from your own park days.” Okay…you asked for it! How about the good, the bad, and the funny about working for the NPS? Check it out today at my FB Author page. If you don’t catch it live, I’ll be sure to archive it so you can watch it later.
• THIS SATURDAY, JUN 10, I’m planning to drive up to Mount Rainier to photograph and video some of the special spots mentioned in The Road to Paradise. IF there is cell service–and that’s a huge IF (there never used to be a signal there)–I’ll do some FB Live videos from the Paradise Inn. If there’s not a signal, I’ll just record video and post it later that evening or the next day. Watch for it! You might see some fun behind-the-scenes looks at the park and the making of The Road to Paradise.
• SATURDAY, JUN 24. Willamette Valley Christian Supply in Corvallis, Oregon, is hosting me all day for a special launch event. There will be cookout-food, readings, sale prices, giveaways, and more. I’m not sure of the times yet, but I plan to be there early and stay late. It should be a lot of fun!
• SATURDAY, JULY 15. I’ll be signing books at Rainbow West Christian Supply at the Heritage Mall in Albany, Oregon from 12-3 pm. If you live in the area, I hope you’ll stop by and see me.
• SATURDAY, AUGUST 11. I’m going to be part of the Christian Fiction Readers Retreat in Cincinnati, Ohio. Readers + Authors = LOTS OF FUN! I can’t wait!
• AUGUST 15-18. Oregon Christian Writers Summer Conference in Portland, Oregon. I’ll be serving as a mentor at this event, so if you have questions about getting started (or moving ahead) in the writing business, this is the place to be. Keynote speakers are the incredible Frank Peretti and Tessa Afshar.

How can I help?

Readers often ask if they can help spread the word about The Road to Paradise. I’d LOVE to have your help, in fact I treasure it. Most books today are not sold because of print ads or interviews. They’re sold because of word-of-mouth. A recommendation from a friend holds the most weight when it comes to our reading choices. So here’s a few things you can do to help get the ball rolling.

• Talk to your friends about the book
• Take a picture of yourself reading the book, particularly if you’re reading in a fun setting.
• Post to social media. Mention if you’re enjoying the book and where people can find it. If that makes you uneasy, find one of my posts and re-share it. Simple!
• Request that your local library purchase the book. Seeing my novels on library shelves is one of my long-held dreams. I’m a huge supporter of public libraries.
• Suggest the novel to your book club.
• Pass out bookmarks. Need some? Send me an email (find the “contact me” tab) and include your mailing address. I’ll get some out to you. You can leave them with your library, with bookstore owners, or just hand them out to friends. Everyone loves bookmarks–even if they read eBooks.
• Going to a national park this summer? Maybe you could take your copy of The Road to Paradise along for the ride. I’d love to see pics of the book traveling around the country and visiting other beautiful natural areas.
• If you’re on Instagram, make sure to follow me at @karenbarnettauthor. You can also find my little friend Ranger Bear at @RangerBear_Adventures. I can’t wait to take him to Mount Rainier this weekend!
• And most importantly–pray for me and for the readers who pick up the book. I’ve already heard that because of its content, The Road to Paradise is making inroads with bookstores, media, and readers who wouldn’t normally pick up a Christian novel. That both thrills and scares me. I do my best to write the books that God gives me, without obsessing whether it will become a “crossover” book or if it will only appeal to Christians. I try to leave that in His hands. Be praying for these readers in particular.

Thank you for supporting me in my writing dream. I can’t believe this is my fifth book now. I get giddy and nervous each time, and today is no exception. Do you remember how it felt to write a poem in the third grade and then having to stand up and read it? Yeah. Today I’m that trembling kid standing in front of the room, turning green. Deep breaths!