Kimberly Fish's Blog

My newest story, Comfort Christmas, releases to the world today as an eBook, paperback, and a sigh of satisfaction for readers who enjoy books about smart women, their best friends, using creativity to reset heartbreaks, and chocolate. But mostly, second chances. And reindeer. Okay, and children caroling.

The characters in this novella were the first I created when I wandered around the Texas Hill Country 25 years ago trying to capture the essence of what I loved about those untamed hills. I wrote a series of short stories that I rolled into the novella, Emeralds Mark the Spot (which I give away free to those who subscribe to my newsletter at kimberly fish.com,) and these two lovebirds have walked through the pages of my other novels set in Comfort, Texas. It seemed fitting to give them a standalone story, set during Christmas, as a bookend to this 4-book series of smart women, their best friends, and the Texas Hill Country. I hope you'll agree.

I'd like to hear if you have a favorite scene, passage, or just want to keep reading about the folks who live in my version of Comfort.

Wow, to open an email and discover that my new release, Comfort Zone, picked up a GOLD AWARD from Literary Titan is the way I like to end a Sunday. With their wonderful list of books read, I'm honored to accept this award for a new beginings/sweet second chance story that takes readers through the Texas Hill Country, San Antonio, and right to a do-or-die end zone finish.

Thank you to curators of books at Literary Titan!
https://literarytitan.com/2022/01/02/...

Lining up for those who like to listen to their novels, Comfort Plans is now available on Audible. This story is of a female architect with a lot to prove. A bit of a mash up between Fixer Upper and Hallmark with a dash of History Channel on the side, its chocked full of memorable characters. I've always been a "if walls can talk" sort of tourist and this story explores that potential from start to finish, with readers knowing the context of hidden letters long before anyone tangled in the plot.
Comfort Plans was the first book in my set of novels launching from the very real, Comfort, Texas, community and I've had so much fun creating a friend group that live on long past the last page. Hope listeners click on this new audiobook and enjoy a sweet, second chances stories ripe with family drama, humor, and a do or die finish.

I'm over the moon, to share the news that the latest novel in the Comfort, Texas, series will debut for readers everywhere, Nov. 1st. Comfort Zone--and we all have one, don't we?--is a story about an art appraiser on the the trail of an unpublished song and a retired NFL quarterback committed to rescuing the financial needs of a charter school in San Antonio, Texas. These two unlikely partners join forces in a race to the financial end zone, and along the way discover that its in breaking free of comfort zones that sweet, second chances are found.

Paperback and eBook readers can enjoy this story set during Thanksgiving right alongside their pumpkin pie and Christmas twinkle lights. Hope the armchair travel to Comfort brings pleasure to busy readers.

Comfort Zone available on Amazon.

In my part of the world, we're preparing for a Narnia-esque few days. It's not pretty around here as Southerners get a little freaked out by seriously cold weather and the threat of losing electricity, but as a reader, I know I can probably read three books this weekend. Curled up by the fire with a mug in hand, I'm going to dig into some classics. I have a Victoria Holt novel that I found at a second hand store (I'll add it to my small collection of her books already on my shelves.) To that, I'm mixing in a Maeve Binchy and Dorothea Benton Frank novels.
Hope you have good books to see you through whatever this weekend throws at you. I find books to be so grounding when the world around us swirls with weirdness and confusion. How about you?

This is going to be a fun week! Tomorrow, Lone Star Literary Bloggers are taking my new novel, Comfort Foods, on a book tour around the state and revealing their reviews and features about the book to their subscribers and other bookish folks. It's always nervy waiting on the verdict of reviewers with a history of reading some really excellent books, and wondering how mine will compare. This contemporary, sweet, second chances story is full of unforgettable characters, fast-paced dialogue, social media upheavals that twist the plot, and tons of virtual calories. I'll have the posts shared to my Kimberly Fish, author page on Face Book and the reviews will go up soon afterwards.

I'm offering a FREE book GIVEAWAY on this book tour including a signed copy of my novel, Comfort Foods, and a gift copy of Ina Garten's newest cookbook, Modern Comfort Foods--doesn't that sound like a delicious pairing? You can enter the giveaway through any of the review posts that will go up daily at Lone Star Literary and my FB page through January 21st.

Thanks to a very capable service technician, I’m back in business with fiery gas logs. I know, how lazy can I be, right? But they came with the house and must be enjoyed! These wintry days, there’s nothing I enjoy more than sitting near the glowing fire and reading a good book. It’s ironic that last night when the gas logs fizzled out, I was reading a book I’d totally lost interest in. So, maybe better luck tonight.

At what point to do you give up on a story/author while reading? Is it the level of characterization, dialogue, lack of dialogue, slowness of pacing, or just confusion between bouncing around from thinly developed plot or character to another? I’m curious, because I want to avoid the pitfalls that can trip up a new author and experienced ones. It’s so easy to recognize the signs in other books, and less clear about the ones on my own pages. With the new novel, Comfort Foods, rolling out to readers I hope to hear feedback either through an emailed note or a review, that will me trouble shoot while beginning the next novel.

Cheers to you, dear readers, as you snuggle into your favorite chair or sofa this month and take a risk on a book. I hope you find unforgettable stories and characters that you’d want to linger with.

Visiting with readers these days is a tricky thing, but I'm thankful that creative retailers are finding ways to maintain social distancing and germ warfare. The folks I met this weekend in San Antonio were lovely, kind, and definite book fans! I was stunned folks drove so far to find me and it gave me a shot of encouragement to keep on writing. Even from behind a mask, the human heart seeks out the community found from a love of books.
While in Comfort, Texas at the 8th Street Market, I talked with someone who asked my why I write stories set in that Hill Country town and I replied "because I want to write about a world I'd want to live in." Not sure what that says about me, but the friend groups in the Comfort stories are expanding and my mind drifts back there often, wondering what the characters are doing and how they'd react to circumstances. I think of the series of novels and novellas of "At Home in Comfort" and who doesn't long for a sweet home?
Hope you all stay safe and healthy this Thanksgiving week, and that you are surrounded by books that open new worlds to you.

It's my favorite time of year to travel and this time I'm taking books to one of my favorite spots! I must be living the dream--or making very good use of an itinerary that included San Antonio. We're heading down for a wedding and along the way will make some stops for pleasure--Hello, Magnolia!--and then scooting in to meet readers and friends at The Twig Bookshop in the Pearl District of San Antonio. This is such a fascinating location because it's the kind of redevelopment project that makes beautiful use of an iconic structure (the Pearl Beer Brewing Company) and modernizes a space for contemporary purposes (like restaurants, apartments, shops, and bookstores!) I'm returning to The Twig, and grateful they've carried my books over the years.
Saturday we're heading into the Hill Country with books to share with the folks at the 8th Street Market in Comfort, Texas. The ladies that began this home style shop were in our church small group when we were at Castle Hills FBC thirty years ago, and now they have this thriving business that draws folks off the interstate to linger in the small town that time forgot. I'll post photos to my IG page fish_writer and hope you'll follow along as Comfort Foods and the other Comfort based novels take a road trip.

Wow--another shiny award for a story of second-chances and reconciliations. The three generations of women in this story have tangled roots and finding a way to live together is complicated. But with this award from Independent Authors Network, I'm hopeful that readers relate to the characters in Comfort Songs and enjoy the plot of personal grit, forgiveness, a second-chance romance, and a new way forward--and find the pages to be rewarding.

If you've read Comfort Songs let me know your thoughts, and if not, then I hope you'll move it to your "To Be Read" stack and enjoy it this fall.

I so enjoyed the imaginary folks I've placed in the very real town of Comfort, Texas, that I hope the new novel, Comfort Foods, does as well as the first two books. Happy Sunday, dear readers!