Happy Sunday! The big news at Inspy Romance this weekend is our annual Back-to-School giveaway is launching tomorrow! We’re currently in lockdown where I live in Canberra, Australia. Many parents in Australia are eagerly awaiting an announcement on the start date for back-to-school in-person learning. I associate back-to-school with restocking stationery supplies. Sharpies, highlighters, and printer toner are some of my essential items. I may impulse buy ebooks, but I can stick to a list when it comes to stationery. Do you impulse buy stationery and/or art and craft supplies, or can you happily walk past and only buy the essentials?
Winners this Week
If you’re a winner, you should have received an email from the author in charge of the giveaway. If not, please email us at: prizes at inspyromance dot com.
Jaycee Weaver’s winner is Sharon!
Congratulations!
Don’t forget… every comment you make qualifies you to win one of the monthly Amazon card giveaways!
Specials this Week
Once Upon a Summer from Jaycee Weaver, Toni Shiloh, and Teresa Tysinger is 99¢ through August 31.
Reader Gathering
Did you know Inspy Romance hosts a Christian Romance Reader Gathering group on Facebook? Janine Rosche will be our host this week, so please join us… but don’t forget to answer the questions for admittance!
StoryChats @ InspyRomance
Story Chats launches an all-new episode every Friday! Elizabeth, Valerie, and Narelle talked about vacation romance with Janine Rosche in our last episode. You won’t want to miss it!
Listen to our new weekly show on your favorite podcasting app, through the player on our podcast tab, or watch us on YouTube! Wherever you listen or watch, please be sure to hit subscribe so you don’t miss an episode!
Last Week on Inspy Romance
On Monday, Jaycee Weaver discussed Tragedy and Romance (+giveaway)
On Tuesday, Valerie Comer shared why Three’s a Crowd
On Wednesday, Mandi Blake talked about The Perks of the Job
On Thursday, Liwen Y. Ho shared #TBT: A look back at my author journey
On Friday, Deb Kastner talked about being Busy as a Bee
On Saturday, Tabitha Bouldin discussed how It Runs in The Family
Next Week on Inspy Romance
Monday: Back-to-School Launch
Tuesday: Laurie Larsen (Heartwarming Moments, Presented by the Olympics + #Giveaway)
Wednesday: Melanie D. Snitker
Thursday: Narelle Atkins (Finishing the Race + #Giveaway)
Friday: Janine Rosche
Saturday: Jan Thompson (Why I Write Beach Romance + #Giveaway)
New Releases
August 2021
Amethyst Attraction (Pot of Gold Geocaching Romance 4) by Valerie Comer
So You Have My Secret Baby (So You Want to be a Billionaire 4) by Elizabeth Maddrey
Husband Auditions by Angela Ruth Strong
Coastal Hearts: The St. Simon’s Novels by Janet W. Ferguson
September 2021
Let Me Off Easy, Cowboy (Cavanagh Cowboys Romance 3) by Valerie Comer
Save the Date box set by Jan Thompson, Liwen Y. Ho, Jaycee Weaver, and nine others
Candy Cane Wishes and Saltwater Dreams box set by Amy R Anguish, Shannon Taylor Vannatter, and three others
Ruby Radiance (Pot of Gold Geocaching Romance 2) by Valerie Comer
So You Need a Fake Relationship (So You Want to be a Billionaire 5) by Elizabeth Maddrey
A complete list of Inspy Romance books by our authors is always available on our BOOKS tab. Find our audiobooks, our permanently free e-books, and our thank-you gifts for newsletter subscribers there as well!
A fun loving Aussie girl at heart, Narelle Atkins was born and raised on the beautiful northern beaches in Sydney, Australia. She has settled in Canberra with her husband and children. A lifelong romance reader, she found the perfect genre to write when she discovered inspirational romance. Narelle's contemporary stories of faith and romance are set in Australia and international locations.
Normally when the back to school sales are on I will buy things for the Christmas boxes with Operation Christmas child and will also get some for the Its in a bag Christmas appeal (I do around 3 Teens bags). I normally will get pencils, textas, etc. If I don’t need it unless a really good special probably won’t buy them.
Hi Narelle! As a retired teacher, I always enjoy purchasing back to school products for my classroom, my sons, and now for my grandchildren. I still purchase spiral notebooks (which I use as journals), folders, pens, pencils, highlighters, and glue sticks. Most of this I use throughout the year for myself.
In SW Michigan school starts in 2 weeks on my oldest grandson’s 16th Birthday. With an upswing of Covid cases not sure what this school year will bring, especially for my grandkids after a year of attending virtual classes at our house. Happy Sunday. Enjoying the cooler weather. Almost feels like fall in the air. Only 53 degrees (12 degrees Celsius).
I’m an essentials only kind of shopper.
I Love all the pens, notebooks, etc! My hubs works at a an office supplies store, so he always grabs things he knows I will love!
I take after my Daddy! I love pens, notebooks, all of it!!! I also make my own cards, so when I see things I can use for them on sale, watch out!!! lol!! I take after Mom with doing cards, and she couldn’t pass up a sale, and now I’m the same way! If you want to spend hours in a stationery store or book store, I’m your gal!! Shoe shopping, definitely not me!!!
I love it ALLLLLL the office supplies, but I don’t use them, so I’ve (mostly) learned to stop buying them. I do 99% of, well, everything, on my computer, so there’s not much I need from the Wonderful Shop of Excitement and Opportunities…
Hi, I love to buy craft and office supplies every chance I get. I actually give my almost 13 yr. old grandson and our 15 year old granddaughter Catechism lessons here at my house, so I am always on the lookout for supplies and craft materials, I just love it all. Have a Great week and stay safe. God Bless you all.
Make a list and stick to the essentials!
I’ve been known to buy some pretty notebooks and pens just for me.
When my kids were young, we always bought an abundance of pens, pencils, notebooks, etc to keep stocked up on. Now that they are adults, we don’t buy those kinds of things much.
School is just around the corner for the kids here in town starting the day after Labor Day. As far as I know, it will be full time in-person teaching.
Happy Sunday to the IR community!! Congrats to this weeks winner :-)
Hi Jenny, yes, the stationery that goes on clearance works well for OCC boxes and other Christmas appeal initiatives. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Renate, I hope your grandkids will be able to return to in-person schooling. I’ve just returned home from my one hour morning walk in a sunny and crisp 10C combined with wind chill from the mountains. Doesn’t feel like spring is coming, lol. Enjoy your break from the hot summer heat. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Mary, That’s the easiest way to shop. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Paula, It’s great that your hubs can indulge your love for stationery! Thanks for commenting. 😊
Congratulations Sharon. I usually only pick up the few things I use when the school supplies are on sale. Thank you for sharing. God bless you.
Hi Trudy, My dad also loves collecting pens. I’d definitely prefer to shop for books or stationery than shoes, lol. Card making is fun. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Valerie, this is so true! I buy less stationery now than I used to buy when I was hand writing first drafts and grocery store lists etc. 😊
Hi Alicia, I’m glad that you can use the craft and stationery supplies with your grandchildren. Now my kids are older, they’re doing almost everything online, too. Thanks for commenting. 😊
There is definitely something about the fresh canvas of new stationery. Nice pens are a bonus. I’ve never been able to focus enough to make good use of highlighters as well, lol. Let’s not forget the big 64 count box of Crayola crayons, either!
Congratulations to this week’s winner. Have a great week, all.
Hi Patty, That’s the most efficient plan. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Denise, Those pretty notebooks can be hard to resist. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Trixi, My youngest has almost finished her last year of school. January was my last back to school shopping expedition. Over the years the list of items has shortened due to technology. I hope your schools can open as usual for the new year. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Debra, you’re very welcome. The school supply sales are usually have good deals. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Lincoln, I remember the fun of crayons, and the not so fun times when the toddler decides they are good to eat or insert up their nostrils, lol. Thanks for commenting. 😊
I usually only get the essentials unless I want to try new things.
I mainly just go in & get what I need & then leave lol.
Hi Amy, That sounds like a good plan. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Sylvain, That’s the efficient way to shop and not impulse buy, lol. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Even as an adult, I still love using a big box of crayons, 64 count or 96!
Oh I do hope we are out of lickdown soon, somehow think it will be later rather than sooner though. I do love statnry though nowadays needs to be an absolutely amazing deal to tempt me :)
I know, right? Great no matter what the style of coloring or art! Pass me the Peach, would you?
It depends I guess, sometimes I just cannot pass by ;)
I’ve always loved school supply shopping — for myself as a child and for my kids as a parent! Since back to school is a thing of the past for me, I still enjoy going to the stationary section of either Barnes and Noble or Office Depot and buying cool notebooks or journals.
Where my friend’s church is in Tennessee they do book bags of school supplies for those who cant afford it or are struggling. These sorts of sales are where they can stock up. she sent a photo and there were a few hundred bags of supplies and the cars were lined up around the block to collect.
Wow, I love hearing these stories! 😊
Hi Dianne, We’re now in lockdown in Canberra until Sept 2, although I suspect it could be longer. I’m up to day 6 of walking outdoors for an hour. I’m hoping the rain stays away during the day now I’m on a roll, lol. Take care and stay safe. 😊
Hi Natalya, lol, if you don’t look, you don’t see the impulse buys. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Hi Laurie, Those journals and notebooks are hard to resist! 😊
Look like some great prizes, thanks for the chance to win them’
Hi Barb, You’re very welcome. 😊