Seeds, Stories & a Small Favor

-

 


Oh my goodness! There are never enough hours in the day. Spring is in the air, which means gardening begins — even this weekend I will be starting my seedlings that need to begin their journey indoors. There is something so hopeful about that: tiny seeds, full of potential, just waiting for the right conditions to bloom. Sound familiar? That’s exactly how I feel about The Fading Light right now.

The Fading Light — Now Available for Pre-Order!

I am thrilled to share that The Fading Light is now available on Amazon for digital pre-order, with a release date of May 25, 2026. This timeline gives me the space to polish a few remaining details and make sure the story is everything I want it to be before it lands in your hands.

A Few Requests While I Tend My Garden…

You are the heart of this little writing community, and I have a handful of small asks that would genuinely make a big difference:

1. Spread the Word 

    If you know readers who love historical fiction, please share my newsletter or books with them. As I’ve mentioned, my goal is to step away from the 9-to-5 in four years — just in time to travel the US with my husband when he retires. Those adventures will fuel future books, and every new reader brings that dream a little closer. A quick share, a mention in a book club, a text to a friend — it all counts!

    2. Leave a Review 

      Reviews are pure gold for independent authors. If you’ve read any of my previous books, even a sentence or two on Amazon or Goodreads makes a huge difference for visibility. And once The Fading Light is in your hands, I’d love to hear what you think!

      3. Tell Me Where You Buy Your Books 

        I’m planning to go wide with The Fading Light, and your input will shape where I make it available. Do you prefer Amazon for everything, or do you shop at Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books, Google Play, Scribd, or Hoopla? Do you use audiobook services like Audible, Libro.fm, or your local library’s app? Reply to this email and let me know — every answer helps me find you where you already are.

        4. Follow Along on Social Media 

          Behind-the-scenes peeks at the writing process, garden updates, and cover reveals are all happening on The Ancestral Pen. A follow, like, or share helps new readers discover my work organically — which is the best kind of marketing there is.

          5. Be a Beta Reader! 

            Not sure what a Beta reader is? Think of it as being one of the very first people to experience a book before it’s officially published — a sneak peek in exchange for honest feedback. Beta readers help an author spot things that might be unclear, slow, or missing: plot holes, confusing timelines, characters that need more depth, or moments that made you want to stay up past your bedtime. You don’t need to be an editor or a writing expert — you just need to be an enthusiastic, honest reader who isn’t afraid to say “I got a little lost here” or “I loved this part!”

            I’m looking for two Beta readers for The Fading Light. I use StoryOrgin, where you can leave your thoughts with each chapter. I’ll send you link and ask for your thoughts within four weeks. Your feedback will directly shape the final book before it goes out into the world — how cool is that? If you’re interested, just reply to this email with “Beta Reader” in the subject line and tell me a little about yourself as a reader. I’ll be in touch!

            Thank you, truly, for being on this journey with me. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a tray of seedlings and a manuscript both calling my name. I’ll get to both — promise.


            Best regards
            Amy C Crooks

            Comments

            Post a Comment

            Popular posts from this blog

            52 Ancestors: The Bridge Between Two Worlds--William Vaughn Cook

            -
            Image
              The Bridge Between Two Worlds: William Vaughn Cook's Journey from Missouri Pioneer to Chickasaw Citizen In the dusty archives of the National Archives and the faded pages of century-old census records, there lives a story that speaks to the heart of America's frontier experience—a tale of love, adaptation, and the courage to cross cultural boundaries. It's the story of William Vaughn Cook, a man who became a bridge between two worlds. A Mystery That Began in Kentucky Picture this: somewhere in the rolling hills of Kentucky, a family named Cook made a decision that would echo through generations. Ananian (or Ananias, as records sometimes spelled it) and Mary Cook packed their belongings and joined the great westward migration that defined 19th-century America. Like thousands of other families, they sought opportunity in the expanding frontier, carrying with them little more than hope and determination. But here's where their story becomes a genealogist's riddle...
            Read more

            Newsletter: His Greatest Regret

            -
            Image
            "It started like a spark — hot, irresistible, impossible to ignore. But sparks burn out fast… and the ashes leave scars." When I wrote  His Greatest Regret , I wanted to explore what happens when grief and longing push two people together — not because they’re ready, but because they’re lonely, human, and aching to feel alive again. Richard and Charlotte’s love was never meant to last. It began as a spark: a widow and a widower, each carrying their own grief, finding an unexpected comfort in one another. What started as warmth grew into a fire that neither of them could control — and that fire left behind ashes that scarred everyone it touched. Most of all, it scarred William — the child born of that spark — who would carry the weight of Richard’s choices for the rest of his life. (William’s story comes next month — but you’ll need to catch up on what came before.) 🔥 Excerpt: Charlotte stood before the shop, her arms wrapped around an enormous flour sack that threatened to s...
            Read more

            52 Ancestors: Earliest Ancestor - Edward Beeson (1659-1712)

            -
            Image
              When I think about how far back I can trace my family tree with confidence, Edward Beeson stands as my earliest researched ancestor. While WikiTree may show lines stretching further into the past, Edward represents the furthest point where I've personally validated the research and feel confident in the documentation. He's my 7th great-grandfather, and his story spans two continents and three marriages during the tumultuous early years of colonial America. From Leicestershire to the New World Edward Beeson was born on February 24, 1659, in Thrussington, Leicestershire, England, to Thomas Beeson and Ann (Pecke) Beeson. He was christened the following year, on February 24, 1660, in the same parish where his family had deep roots. This was during the reign of Charles II, a time of religious upheaval in England when nonconformists like the Quakers faced persecution for their beliefs. Edward's early adult life was marked by both tragedy and new beginnings. Around 1681, at ...
            Read more