Welcome! Thanks for your interest in my books and ministry. It’s been a while since I posted an update, so I have a few things to share.

 

Searching for a Christmas Gift?

Looking for a fun personalized gift? Check out my Books and Bling Gift Packs.

 

To get you in the holiday mood:

The Christmas Lights

This collective story that I collaborated on with several other CatholicTeenBooks authors, is now available as an ebook. Last Christmas, a friend approached our group about writing a story that would be read on his podcast, Jedlie’s Reading with Your Kids Podcast, on Christmas Eve. Jed gave us a prompt, and one by one each of us wrote a section as the story was passed from author to author. Only the final contributor knew the entire story until we read it for the podcast. We enjoyed the project and wanted to share this fun, short story with others. All proceeds from this e-book will be donated to Cross Catholic Outreach.

And, we were asked to participate again this year. So, if you’re interested, listen to Jed’s podcast on Christmas Eve for our next collective story. LINK

 

Christmas Angel

This is my story that appeared in the Gifts: Visible and Invisible anthology. Join Meg’s unforgettable Advent journey when four simple words challenge her idea of a perfect Christmas. This short story was inspired by a true event that a friend once shared with me. I thought it was the perfect backdrop to this story about helping others.

 

2021 In-person Events

I was so excited to begin traveling to events once again during the last few months.

In August, I participated in several panel discussions at the annual Catholic Writers Guild conference in Chicago.

Also in August, I represented CatholicTeenBooks at the Midwest Catholic Family Conference in Wichita.

And, just a few days ago, I was in Dallas spreading the news about CatholicTeenBooks at the St. Nicholas Show.

I’m hoping to attend more events in the new year. If you know of some great family or homeschooling events, please send me a message!

 

What to watch for in 2022:

Over the last many months, I’ve been working hard behind the scenes on a few projects. I finally have a few things to announce for the new year.

An Unexpected Role

I have some exciting news about this fun story about theater enthusiast Josie -who is probably my favorite character to write about. Josie’s story will soon be receiving a new name and cover art! I’m thrilled that this adventurous tale will be joining Where You Lead at Vinspire Publishing House.

The new title will be Into the Spotlight, and it will be the first in the Finding Faith series. The second book, featuring Josie’s friend Liz, is already well underway. I did make a few changes to Josie’s adventure but, overall, it is the same great story.

 

all for One Short Story Collection

Some of you may have read a few of my short stories which combined the main characters from The Perfect Blindside and An Unexpected Role. After the new year, I will begin rolling out these four stories with new cover art under the series title, all for One.

 

To Serve and Protect

Also, in the next few months, keep an eye out for my first picture book! I’ve joined forces with Perpetual Light Publishing and my very talented friend, Amy Klein, to create a fun children’s story about one of our family pets.

 

A Summer to Treasure

I’ve been mentioning this adventurous sibling adventure for a year now. I love this story and can’t wait to share it with readers, but sometimes the publishing process is slow-moving. I’m not sure what God has in store for this book, but hopefully, it will find its publishing home soon, in the meantime, I’m learning some lessons in humility and patience.

 

CatholicTeenBooks Updates

I wanted to share some exciting new programs we are offering over at CatholicTeenBooks.

First is our Perfect Match Quiz. Take a few moments to fill out several questions about what types of books you prefer, and we’ll offer some great suggestions.

Our blog now features new articles twice a month. These articles written by our talented authors are topics geared toward teens and parents.

We have recently added our own bookstore! All our books can be purchased right on our site!

We also have created a beautiful new catalog with all the ordering information, it’s the perfect tool to share with schools or bookstores. The digital version is on the website, but we are happy to send a physical copy out as well.

 

That is all for this update!

Thank you all for your continued support. I wish you all a very merry and blessed Christmas!

Leslea

Welcome! Thanks for your continued interest in my books and ministry. I have a few things going on to share with you.

Book Packs or Individual Gifts

I have recently created some fun bookpacks, which will be perfect for bookclubs, friend groups, or small church youth groups. Each pack contains books, discussion questions, and some fun book swag. You can find the info about my bookpacks as well as other author’s packs at www.CatholicTeenBooks.com.

eXtreme Blindside

At the beginning of the month, I found out that eXtreme Blindside won a Gold Medal Award in the Readers Favorite Book Awards. I’m always so thankful when my work resonates with others.

An Unexpected Role

For those who have read An Unexpected Role, you know that it is set on a South Carolina island. Well, I recently took a trip to a South Carolina island, so, of course, I had to bring the book along for a photo shoot. Thank you to my sweet husband for taking this great shot.

Newest Book

This fall, I am beginning the search for a publishing home for my newest adventure – A Summer to Treasure. This story focuses on sibling relationships and is set during a family road trip to the southwest. Even though this story is not about my own family, my wonderful children agreed to pose for a promotional image for the book while we were on our summer vacation. I think it turned out great, and I’m so thankful to them for always being supportive and putting up with their author-mom and her crazy requests. ?

 

CatholicTeenBooks News!

Anthology – CatholicTeenBook authors are working on a new anthology! I’m really excited about this new collaboration. Stay tuned for more info!

Book Packs – As mentioned above, several CTB authors have created book packs for book clubs. Visit HERE for all the details.

New Member – CatholicTeenBooks has a new member! Antony Kolenc is now part of the group. Tony’s book, Shadow in the Dark, is a fantastic medieval adventure for middle school students.

 

Well, that’s it for this quarter! Thank you so much for your continued interest and support!

 

 

 

I hope this quarterly update is finding everyone safe and healthy amid the coronavirus concerns. When major events happen that affect us all, it is a great reminder to keep our focus on what is truly important – our faith and relationship with the Lord.

 

Sending my update during this confusing time seems a little frivolous when we have more important things to be concerned with. On the other hand, you might be tired of being cooped and ready to read something other than virus updates!

When I first started writing The Perfect Blindside years ago, I had no idea that my newest creative venture would turn into what I feel is a ministry. As our society keeps turning further from Christian values, I believe offering families faith-based entertainment for their children, through my writing and my reviews, is an important part of strengthening other’s faith.

So, if you are curious how things have been going with my writing, this quarterly update will fill you in. Also, at the end are some CatholicTeenBooks updates and sales information that you don’t want to miss.

Where You Lead Update

New Awards

Where You Lead has continued to be recognized through various awards, which I’m so thankful for. I’m glad others seem to understand and appreciate that faith-based fiction can be enjoyable and entertaining as well as wholesome and meaningful.

eXtreme Blindside Update

INSPY Award

A few months ago, many of you helped to nominate eXtreme Blindside for an INSPY Christian Book Award. The books with the most nominations move on the judging phase of the process. I was shocked that eXtreme Blindside was one of the books to make the longlist. (Here is the link in case you are interested in the competition https://inspys.com/?p=4554) Some of the books on the list are by very well-known Christian authors—what an honor to see my name on that list! No matter the outcome, I am very thankful for all those who took the time to recommend the book and the exposure that this process has provided.

Study Guide

There is now a study guide for eXtreme Blindside available on my website.  Link. This provides a more in-depth analysis of the story than just the discussion questions at the end of the book. This is great for book reports or homeschooling lesson plans.

Unlikely Witnesses Update

Due to popular request, I have turned my novella, Unlikely Witnesses, into a paperback. This short story, which combines characters from, The Perfect Blindside and An Unexpected Role, is still available as an ebook, but for those who prefer a physical copy, you can now get one!  Amazon Link

A Summer to Treasure Update

I am busy working on my next adventure. It is tentatively titled A Summer to Treasure and is a little different than my previous books. This one is about a multi-generational family vacation and focuses on sibling relationships. It’s a story I’ve been thinking about for a while and am excited about how it is shaping up. And these two cuties get to make their fictional debuts in this novel.

Just a Reminder!

A quick reminder that if you’ve enjoyed any of my books, please take a moment to post a review on Amazon or Goodreads. These reviews do help to spread the word to other readers. The Perfect Blindside is so close to hitting 50 reviews on Amazon, which supposedly will then make it a more recommended title. Thank you!

Interviews:

I’ve had the opportunity to participate in a few interviews in the last few months. In case anyone is interested in my personal story or more about my writing, you can check these out.

The Hollywood Times

Formidable Woman

Pauline interview

And finally…

Well, that’s it for this quarter! Thank you so much for your continued interest and support!

Greetings! Time again for my quarterly update.

There are just a few items to share.

Award for Where You Lead

I’m very excited that my newest story is connecting with readers. I hope this recognition will bring this story about answering God’s call, to new readers.

Anniversary

This spring is the 10^th anniversary of when the idea for The Perfect Blindside first popped into my head. If you are unfamiliar with this story, you can find it here.

Gift

As a gift to all my wonderful, supportive subscribers I am again offering my novelette, Unlikely Witnesses to enjoy.

Unlikely Witnesses – Leslea Wahl

New Work

I am busy working with my publisher Pauline Books and Media on the second Jake and Sophie adventure. I don’t have a release date as of yet, but will keep you posted.

In this new book, Sophie gets a chance to experience Jake’s world while at an extreme sporting event.

As always, I’m so thankful for any reader who is willing to post a review on Amazon. Even a few sentences helps to get my stories to new readers. I’m super close to the magic number of 50 for The Perfect Blindside.

Did you know that I am also part of a joint website with other authors who write faith-based novels – CatholicTeenBooks?

CatholicTeenBooks has some new exciting features, including our Faith Through Fiction video series and a new member.

You can find my reviews of Andrea’s fun adventures here.

Besides our regular CatholicTeenBooks newsletter, we also are starting a newsletter specifically for teachers and librarians. If you know of an educator that might be interested in faith-based books, please share this link with them. Educators Newsletter

 

That’s it for my spring update. Happy Reading!

This Quarterly Update contains information of an exclusive sale, some exciting news, and a gift for you!

I hope this newsletter finds everyone enjoying the beauty and joy of the Christmas season. I feel truly blessed to be able to use my creativity to hopefully inspire others, and I’m am so thankful for each one of my followers.

There are a few updates I’d like to share with everyone.

First, a little something to get you in the holiday spirit.

SALE!

I’m offering a special discount on my three books – all 3 for $30. Please send me a message if you are interested. We can arrange payment via check or pay pal. This might be the perfect gift for the reader on your list or a special treat for yourself if you’re still curious about my books.

Book Updates:

Unlikely Witnesses is my newest release. This short story is only available as an ebook. It is an adventurous tale with my characters from The Perfect Blindside and An Unexpected Role. I’m hoping to use this to garner the interest of new readers as well as giving a little treat to anyone who has enjoyed my previous books.

As a Christmas gift, I’m sharing this novella to my subscribers – just click on the link below. I hope you enjoy this fun story.

Unlikely Witnesses – Leslea Wahl

 

This fall, The Perfect Blindside was awarded a Gold Medal Reader’s Favorite Book Award. I’m so thrilled that this book that started my writing journey is still touching those who read it.

Also, I have created a study guide for The Perfect Blindside. This guide is intended to help students analyze the story by providing comprehension questions. This might be a great supplement for a homeschooling curriculum.

Study guide

 

Where You Lead

My publisher, Vinspire Publishing, has created a new video for this fun adventure that came out this fall. VIDEO

 

eXtreme Deception – aka Perfect Blindside 2

I’m thrilled to announce that edits and rewrites have finally begun for this long-awaited sequel.  I will keep you updated on the progress and possible release date.

 

Just a reminder! If you have read and enjoyed any of my books and have an Amazon membership, please consider leaving a review. It doesn’t have to be detailed – a single sentence will do. The number of reviews does help the books to get more exposure, and I’d love to reach more readers with the positive messages of these books. Thank you!

 

A few new updates from my CatholicTeenBooks friends.

Our Secrets Anthology would make a fantastic present. This collection of short stories gives readers a taste of 7 different authors.

Susan Peek has a new children’s Christmas book – Saint Rudolph and the Reindeer. This delightful little Christmas gem will surely be a new family treasure for many.

In case you have missed my recent Tuesday Treats blogs, my fellow CTB author have some great new releases:

3 Things to Forget by Cynthia T. Toney

Roland West, Outcast by Theresa Linden

Guarding Aaron by T.M. Gaouette

The Siege of Reginald Hill by Corinna Turner 

Welcome to my quarterly newsletter. This month’s edition is full of exciting news that I can’t wait to share! So, let’s get to it!

It’s finally here!

Yes, my newest book Where You Lead is finally being released – in just a few days. After a few delays, this adventurous mystery should be available starting on September 15^th. This new YA novel explores God’s calling for our lives, in big and small ways. This is a particularly special theme for me since I felt called to become an author and continue to say “yes” to where He leads me. God’s plans for our lives are often unexpected and surprising.

To celebrate the release of this new book, I’m hosting an online treasure hunt to win some great prizes!

Click HERE for all the details!

If you’d like a little bit more information on the story, please click on the links below.

Book Trailer (created by my very talented son)

First Chapter

A little bit about where the idea for this novel came from.

 

A New Award!

I was so excited to recently learn that The Perfect Blindside won another award. It earned a Gold Medal in the recent Readers’ Favorite Awards. I’m so grateful that this special book is still reaching people. I’m especially eager for new readers to meet Jake and Sophie as I begin edits on their next adventure.

 

Oops!

About a month ago I stumbled across the realization that the kindle version of An Unexpected Role was missing the epilogue. I don’t know about you, but I love epilogues to know how the story wraps up. The problem has been corrected but if any of you had read the old version, please let me know and I’ll send you the corrected story.

 

CWG Conference

In August, I had the pleasure of attending the Catholic Writer’s Guild Conference in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. This was a special opportunity for me for several reasons. It was such a joy to meet so many of the authors I’ve “known” online. To interact with friends and authors I admire was truly special. I learned a lot from the talented speakers, was able to make some great contacts, and brought home a bunch of fantastic books. And, as an extra special bonus, I have family that live in the area so was able to reconnect with some of them.

The photo is of me with several of my CatholicTeenBooks.com authors – Carolyn Astfalk, Carmela Martino, Amy Cattapan, and Lizette Lantigua. We are surrounding Carmela after her book Playing By Heart was awarded a CALA Award. (Playing By Heart is one of the prizes in my online treasure hunt!)

 

Seal of Approval

The CatholicTeenBooks anthology, Secrets, recently was awarded the Catholic Writer’s Guild Seal of Approval. This collaboration is a great way to get to know several different authors. (Also one of the prizes you can win if you join my treasure hunt!)

 

New Logo

My friend and fellow author, Theresa Linden, created a logo for me. What do you think?

 

Okay, that’s it for this quarter. Thanks so much for all your continued support!  Happy Reading and God Bless!!