Publishing Books by Karen GoatKeeper and Dr. Richard E. Rintz

Home of karengoatkeeper.com

Site News

For now all of Dr. Rintz’s botany books, Exploring the Ozark Hills, My Ozark Hills, The Pumpkin Project, Love of Goats, Waiting for Fairies, The Little Spider (listed by a bookseller), City Water Project and Goat Games must be requested through my Contact Page. It is working as far as I know. Payment arrangements are through PayPal.

Books published through Kindle (Amazon) are still available through Amazon. This includes all of my novels and Ducks Love Hats. The eBooks are still available as well.

The Buy Print buttons now link you to the Contact GKP page. I am looking into hooking them directly to PayPal.

Onions in Succession Planting in my garden — Every year I read about how long onions take to mature. Every year I plant the onions in a place where I think they will be ready to dig before the next crop grows over the top of them. So far it has not worked out.

The number of picture book reviews moved over is slowly growing. They can be accessed here.

Missouri politics is heating up. It’s not what I normally put on my site. However! Conservation sites and state parks are wonderful public places. They need money to keep these open to everyone. Please vote yes on Proposition 1 this August.

Also in August: There is the proposal to eliminate the income tax and go to a sales tax: Proposition 5. Unless you are rich, this is moving you from a tax with deductions and exemptions to one without these. I can’t afford a minimum 13% sales (income) tax. Can you?

Then there is Proposition 4. We increased Medicaid using an initiative. Now they want to change the rules so we can’t do things they won’t. Vote No! on this one too.

Two year old Nubian doe — By two years old, Nubian doe Drucilla has filled out. She is nearing her 130 pound final weight. Her belly hangs low because she is expecting her first kid.

Extra items on the ‘to do’ list have derailed some of my writing time. One thing added are walks to get plant pictures. So far I have five new plants this season!

Picture book reviews on Goodreads has a link. The second site is being difficult. I’ll keep trying. Find the links down below about reviews.

This Saturday’s Substack post is about how to approach writing: pantsing or plotting and centers on “Dora’s Story”.

Most of the books sitting on my bookshelves are those waiting to be read. These are some under biography. Others are novels. These are books I want to read and give to others to read instead of leaving them on my shelves for years.

My Writing

There are 84 essays in “Exploring the Ozark Hills”, 21 per season. I have 10 to go in winter and I am done. Maybe?

The next book to tackle is “The Pumpkin Project”.

Nubian ears flap as kids play — Nubian goats are known for their long ears. When the kids leap as they run, their ears flap.

Well, I missed the Life’s Rules deadline. Trying to do writing in the afternoon in the heat is not working well. I have a new fan.

Writing News may get a makeover as I am doing so much on writing on Substack. This week is about those piles of books waiting to be read on my shelves. What about your stacks?

A clear viewing box helps when looking at fish. The top one is a mottled sculpin and can get several inches long. It is a fearsome predator. The bottom fish is a small yellow sunfish. These are a popular fishing catch, if it lives in deep water and gets much larger.

General Comments

After months of small rains, a storm dropped four inches. The creek rose. My garden is grateful as I will have problems trying to water from the creek this year.

Since there are only eight goats, I wasn’t going to grow monster squash again. Instead I planted kabocha. It is a monster squash too!

The onions are drying in the house. Pumpkin vines are recovering from being partially trampled.

Goat kids grow up so fast. These four are all promised. They leave in August.

Kingpin will move to a new home in September. I am trying to adjust to not milking twice a day – just having expensive pets.

I have several writing deadlines. My 2026 goals are to finish Life’s Rules, Ship 18, Ship 19, the gardening essays and two Opal and Agate picture books. Is this doable? At least, I will try.

Eggs the Black Snakes Missed — I much prefer to find eggs in a nest rather than a black snake. My flock includes Easter Eggers that lay colored eggs.

I am presently reading “American Notes” by Richard Kipling and “The Personal Librarian” by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray . There are more picture books, “William’s Ninth Life” and “Cinnamon’s Day Out” this week.

You can keep up with my reading and reviews on Goodreads. As I finish each book, I take the time to write a review on Goodreads. Regular book reviews are on this Goodreads page (I lost it?!). Picture book reviews are on my new Goodreads page. Many reviews remain on the blog as I transfer only a few each week. It would be nice if those reading my books would do the same.

Sibling Cuddle Time — Nubian doe Spring goes out to graze all afternoon. Her twins curl up together and sleep. At least, that’s the plan. It works until they get hungry again.

Finding My Substack

This week’s post is about a writer’s approach to writing: Pantsing or Plotting?. The book under discussion is “Dora’s Story“.

This is under karengoatkeeper. As the site gets more organized, I will add a link to it.

About GKP Books

I normally sell books through Kindle and Smashwords as their sites are secure. Some books are only available through me for the time being. Please use the Contact GKP page.

Some eBooks (notably “Pumpkin Project and “Exploring the Ozark Hills”) are too large or complicated for the other sites. These are available as PDFs from me. Please use the Contact Me page.

All of the links should be working. If you find one has decided to go on vacation, you can contact me through the Contact Page.

What does this Nubian doe kid see? Could it be you checking out my website?

Thank you for Stopping By

Keep checking back as the topics on the two posts change every week, weather permitting. Impassable roads can delay things.

Succession Planting in My Garden
I read gardening articles and books. I talk to other gardeners. Many of them mention succession planting. What Is Succession… Read more: Succession Planting in My Garden
How Long Do Goats Live?
I hear this question from many people. How long do goats live? It must matter to them, although I wonder… Read more: How Long Do Goats Live?
How Many Books on Your List?
Every year Goodreads asks you to sign up for their reading challenge. How many books do you plan to read… Read more: How Many Books on Your List?
Cold Water Stream Project
When a University of Missouri team stopped by asking to do research on our creek, I had to rethink it.… Read more: Cold Water Stream Project
Taking Goat Kid Pictures
Plant pictures are fairly easy to take. Unless the wind is blowing, the plants stay put. Taking goat kid pictures… Read more: Taking Goat Kid Pictures