 The author and Seth, circa 2017, in the hills of Painted Post. Photo credit: Brendalyn Crance. What a great year . . . Hi Folks, First, I want to say thanks to all who supported my author’s journey in 2025. In terms of books sales/page reads/hours listened, this past year was the most successful ever for the Ryland Creek saga. For all that transpired this year, I'm deeply thankful to God and to you. There are a multitude of reasons for the boon:  The first five books of the Ryland Creek Saga. The Forest Ghost and The Time of the Backroads are also available on KU. In mid-to-late March, all Ryland Creek saga books were placed into Amazon's Kindle Unlimited (KU) program. While that made the e-book format exclusive to Amazon, it reached many new readers.  Lill Ernst and her hound, Judge, from The Legends of Ryland Creek. From April through September—my print books became published directly through both Amazon and (once more on) Barnes & Noble, which allowed me to reduce prices for soft cover and casebound formats (due to lower print costs) through these retailers.
 The e-book cover for An Exceptional Hound's In May, the New York State Outdoor Writers Association (NYSOWA) awarded An Exceptional Hound—the audiobook—First Place in NYSOWA’s annual Excellence in Craft Awards (TV, Radio, Video, and Audio) category. This audiobook, like the first, was narrated by the amazing voice acting talent of Wayne Thompson. Wayne is the consummate professional. In the few scenes where I made specific requests—Wayne not only did what I asked but made it even better. On a personal note, this award offered a huge degree of closure due to the loss of the real Seth—a truly exceptional hound, who became the character Seth in all the important ways and more—the previous fall due to cancer.  Myself pictured with Bella and Blaze. Photo credit: Brendalyn Crance In June, both Ryland Creek books currently in audio format (The Last Coon Hunter, 5th Anniversary Edition, and An Exceptional Hound) were enrolled in Audible’s All You Can Listen program, increasing reach to the subscribers in this program.  Lance Ernst and Bella in a scene from Return to Ryland Creek and the cover to Return. In late November, Return to Ryland Creek: Book V of the Ryland Creek Saga was published—my seventh novel and first print publication release in over three years. Special thanks to the feedback from my beta readers (Angie, Dave, and Lee) and world’s greatest copy editor, Joyce Mochrie. So once more, my heartfelt thanks if you:
Your support allowed me to help/motivate other authors and even assist some non-authors/organizations/academia in terms of my volunteer time, even financially, as a result. Again, a special thanks to NYSOWA for allowing me to be part of this wonderful group of outdoor writers, educators, and artists.  A near autumn swamp in Painted Post, with Joe Pye weed (in purple) in bloom. Note: the impressionistic effect is me taking the picture too fast. Ha! On the Home Front: I’m also grateful to my family for their continued support—particularly my parents and wife, who patiently endured endless writer/technobabble. (Their struggle is real.) I’m immensely proud of Seth’s pups—Blaze, Bella, and Tony. Most improved player award goes to Tony—absolutely nothing rattles this hound; not even that not-small bear we walked up on a month or so ago. Yes, these pups have much to learn, but each has proven they’ve got what it takes—even more impressive when you know they’ve been mostly self-taught (i.e., they didn’t have the benefit of a senior hound) over the past year. I know their father, Seth, would be proud. If my writing career ended today, that’s okay as I still have them. God willing, we’ll continue running these hills for a while yet. And of course, I again thank the Creator of All Life for all of this, the forests of Painted Post, and for you.  A scene from A Place Called Painted Post, being co-authored with Judith "Shanne" Bowie and illistrated by Lee O'Connell, with an estimated release of Summer 2026. Looking Ahead to 2026
Next year holds a lot of promise with my co-author, Shanne Bowie, along with illustrator, Lee O’Connell, as we push ahead with A Place Called Painted Post—a tale told from the raccoon’s point of view. (There are no talking animals, folks. But there is dialog. . . . I know. I’m such a tease.) On the audiobook front: In January 2026, I'll begin expanding the reach of the audiobooks--which sounds like a nightmare of un- and then re-publishing due to contractual reasons. But I'll work through the wickets to make this format available to more audiobook listeners. I’ll also be working hard at putting The Forest Ghost into audiobook format. Wayne Thompson told me he’s ever ready--with the plan to add a lady voice actor for the female character roles. Here's to your success in the upcoming year. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Very Respectfully, Joseph Gary Crance
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