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

Home of karengoatkeeper.com

Site News

Well, the links do take you to PayPal. However, that may be all they do right now. There is a way to troubleshoot. I will get to it as soon as I can as it will take several hours.

I mail books through the Post Office on Tuesdays and Fridays. The pdfs can be sent Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. (The Post Office closes at noon on Saturday, before I can get there with a book.)

The way things are supposed to work: You purchase a book or pdf. I get an email saying you made this purchase. I send the book or pdf.

tomatoes welcoming rain to my garden — Tomatoes are 95% water. Regular rain or watering is essential for them to get big and ripen. When water arrives haphazardly, almost ripe tomatoes often split their skins.

I give up trying to foresee problems. The new ones are ones I thought were already solved. One new one is how big some of the pdf files are – too big to email.

Dr. Rintz’s “Discovering the Floral Biology of Ceropegia” pdf is now listed on the book page for $25.00. The Buy Pdf button should link you to PayPal.

“Goat Games” and “Exploring the Ozark Hills” are also available as pdfs for $15. Both of these are very large files. These also have a PayPal link.

The number of picture book reviews moved over is nearing 200 both new and from my archives. They can be accessed here.

If you have any difficulties, please, please, let me know. I am slow both as time is limited and knowledge is negligible.

There are several easily spotted Kombucha squash growing on the ground. They are roughly round and ribbed.

At present each book must be purchased separately. There is something known as a shopping cart that would allow multiple books, however I am still trying to decipher how to do it.

Maybe, someday, I can focus on my writing instead of the myriad problems here.

This Saturday’s Substack post discusses starting with reality and moving into fantasy as in “Edwina“.

Nubian buck Kingpin has long legs, much longer than those of a Boer. Dairy breeds, both goats and cows, are bred for longer legs to make milking easier.

My Writing

“The Pumpkin Project” is now set up. Next comes getting some copies printed. It is a big book – 214 pages – in color.

I will prepare the pdf and it will be available in a week or two for $15.00.

The summer is flying by. I am trying to get some plant pictures for the Dent County Flora before all the flowers disappear for the winter.

“The Pumpkin Project” took years to write. It is massive, over 200 pages and in color. I’ve charged $35.00 for it, privately printed. Trying to use an online printer, the new price would be $70.00, something no one would pay.

The first Opal and Agate picture book is in my mind. I can almost see it. Next I need to sit down and put in on the pages.

Perhaps I will get enough pictures to have good models for the planned picture books. I haven’t figured out how to post the one of Kingpin playing dead yet.

Tiny frog ready to leave the rain barrel — Tree frog tadpoles are a good choice to watch as they grow up. They are little frogs in a matter of weeks. Bull frog tadpoles may take a year or two. This tiny frog will leave the rain barrel tonight or tomorrow night.

General Comments

Visitors came and wanted to see my garden. This is a problem.

I don’t mind showing people around the garden. The problems are from the squash plants. They are out on the pathways and block the way.

All the hot weather stopped the tomatoes from pollinating. The chipmunks keep nibbling off the bottoms. And now the tomato worms have moved in.

Salsa is ready to cook and put into jars. There are plenty of tomatillos so I may make salsa verde.

Squash fills the refrigerator produce drawer. The goats love squash snacks at dinner.

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.

I just had to take a run over to see what was new here.

I am presently reading “A Pair of Aces”, “Night of the Howling Dogs”, “Foraging Mushrooms in the Ozarks” and “Jazz Funeral”. There are more picture books, “Punia and the King of Sharks” and “Gold! Gold from the American River!” 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.

Nice to have you visit.

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 Draft2Digital as their sites are secure. Some books are only available through me for the time being. Please try to use the Buy Buttons. If they don’t work, 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. There are PDF Buttons.

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.

Nubian doe High Reaches Rose is very demanding.

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.

Welcoming Rain to the Garden
During times past, gardens were put in and everyone hoped for the best. There were no hoses and water taps.… Read more: Welcoming Rain to the Garden
Trying to Improve My Writing
For a writer who really cares about the quality of the books written and published, the task of trying to… Read more: Trying to Improve My Writing
Kombucha Monster Squash
Since I have only a few goats now, I decided to stop growing the monster squash. My goats like butternut… Read more: Kombucha Monster Squash
Nubian Breed Characteristics
There’s a book put out by the American Dairy Goat Association that details breed characteristics for the dairy breeds they… Read more: Nubian Breed Characteristics
Cost of Free
There was an interesting article on Substack the other day. One of the lures for writers to set up accounts… Read more: Cost of Free