Angela Shaeffer | Updates

Book Signing at Four Lemons Art Gallery

Angela Shaeffer — Sat, 26 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This Tuesday, July 29, I'll be signing and selling books at Four Lemons, the wonderful neighborhood art gallery that showcases the work of Shelly Coleman, the cover artist for The Things They Didn't See. Join us for light refreshments, shopping and Shelly demonstrating her water droplet technique.

If you're a Utah local, join us from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. at 4850 S. Highland Drive in Holladay, Utah.

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Five Days Left to Enter to Win!

Angela Shaeffer — Sun, 20 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

What a wonderful virtual book tour with 40 creative bookstagrammers, TikTokers and bloggers who all read and reviewed or spotlighted The Things They Didn't See and all rated it between five and four stars. Thank you for reading and spreading the word about this emotional and hopeful story! Across the board everyone resonated with how relatable the Miller family was.

There are still five more days to enter to win a signed copy of The Things They Didn't See. Click here to be taken to the ireads website to enter the giveaway!

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Midwest Book Review

Angela Shaeffer — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

"Filled with thought-provoking insights into family ties..."

*"...**perfect for book club recommendation and group discussion as well as individual enlightenment."*

In The Things They Didn’t See, Jill and her family love boating until an accident robs them of their passion and turns it into a tragedy they each recover from in different ways. Their shared experiences and interests move in new directions to challenge not only individual concerns, but the schedules and pleasures the family has looked forward to all their lives.

The novel opens with the hope of revised attitudes and experience as Jill endeavors to move her persona into a more carefree milieu:

...today, brimming with optimism and the endless possibilities that summer promised, she committed to rediscovering her fun-mom side. She’d revive Old Jill. The easygoing, smiling, funny woman she was when she and Matt first married. The mom she imagined she’d be before the busyness of having three children made her disappointingly serious. Of course, she’d always be type A because that’s how you got things done. But she’d also tease and laugh and not worry so much.

However, she finds herself still too immersed in organizing, logistics, and“timing things right so she didn’t let any of them down.”

Teenager Jake is also struggling to grow in a new direction, while Jill’s husband Matt finds himself stuck in the middle, trying to forge peace between them, as battles keep driving the family apart. Jake’s resistance to Jill’s efforts to control him is narrated from both viewpoints, giving their different perspectives fine embellishment and understanding.

Forced to admit that perhaps she is “doing an appalling job of parenting on her own,” Jill makes astute observations about family, empowerment, and life changes:

Maybe that was the reason asking for help was so hard. You were giving up—admitting that you needed someone else to be the hero of your story.

Libraries will find all these insights and revelations perfect for book club recommendation and group discussion as well as individual enlightenment. Parents, family members, and all kinds of readers will appreciate the family’s coming of age and the changes they face as life forces them in seemingly disparate directions.

Filled with thought-provoking insights into family ties and what breaks or rebuilds them, The Things They Didn’t See is an excellent study in discovery and growth that will attract a wide audience with insights on family members under siege from both external and internal forces.

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Virtual Book Tour -- Final Week

Angela Shaeffer — Sun, 13 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Check out these sites for more reviews this final week of the book tour.
Click here to enter to win a signed copy of The Things They Didn't See.

July 14 – @theratherslowreader *
July 15 – GetUrBook - author interview
July 15 - @ablueboxfullofbooks/ *
July 16 – @nissa_the.bookworm *
July 16 - @nessasbookreviews *
July 17 – @lizzies.reading.recs *
July 17 - @kiv_coffeeandpages *
July 18 – @junebug_reads
July 18 - @what.rincy.reads *

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If You Missed the Free Kindle Sale...

Angela Shaeffer — Sat, 12 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

You can still download The Things They Didn't See for free with a Kindle Unlimited membership!

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Free ebook on Kindle, Four Days Only!

Angela Shaeffer — Tue, 8 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Now through July 11 you can get The Things They Didn't See for FREE on Kindle. Download now and don't forget to leave a review!

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Featured in my Local Paper

Angela Shaeffer — Mon, 7 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

I loved talking with journalist, Collette Hayes for a feature in our local paper. The morning after it was published, while out on my walk, I passed three people who all had read the article and were now going to buy the book!

When Collette came to my home for our interview, she wanted to comp my book to Judith Guest’s Ordinary People. What an honor! But she wasn’t the first to see similarities. In two separate writing classes, a teacher and classmates made the comparison. Publisher’s Weekly/BookLife comp’d it in their review. Then the most serendipitous surprise: meeting Mimi Jones Hedwig, the editor who discovered Ordinary People in the slush pile all those years ago! She’s also working with Author Imprints to publish her own upcoming novels! You can find her review of The Things They Didn’t See on Goodreads.

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Virtual Book Tour -- Week 3

Angela Shaeffer — Sat, 5 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Check out these sites for more reviews coming this week.
Click here to enter to win a signed copy of The Things They Didn't See.

July 7 - Novels Alive
July 8 – Deal Sharing Aunt – author interview
July 9 – Liese's Blog
July 10 – @readsandmusic *
July 10 - @books.and.salt/ *
July 10 - Book Corner News and Reviews
July 11 – My Reading Getaway
July 11 - @speedreadstagram *
July 12 - @tia.reads *
July 12 - @pastacoffeeandbooks *

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Virtual Book Tour - Week 2

Angela Shaeffer — Sat, 28 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Check out these sites for more reviews coming this week.
Click here to enter to win a signed copy of The Things They Didn't See.

June 30 - July 3

June 30 – Sharing Life's Moments
June 30 - Deanna’s Bookstagram
June 30 – @adriftinfictionalworld
July 1 – Happily Managing a Household of Boys
July 1 - @chloeltaylor__ *
July 2 – FUONLYKNEW – book spotlight and author interview
July 2 - @the.librarymouse *
July 3 – @Leannebookstagram
July 3 - @jilljemmett *

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Enter to Win a Signed Copy of The Things They Didn't See

Angela Shaeffer — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Click here to follow the ireads book tour and to enter the giveaway!

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Virtual Book Tour Begins June 23

Angela Shaeffer — Sat, 21 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

From June 23 through July 18 The Things They Didn't See will make 40 (virtual) tour stops on Instagram, TikTok and Blogs. Look for reviews, author interviews and a link to enter to win a signed book.

First Week Tour Schedule: (subject to change)
June 23 - @bearyintobooks *
June 23 - Cover Lover Book Review
June 23 - @regallywritten
June 24 – @acourtofspinesnpages *
June 24 - Locks, Hooks and Books
June 25 – Sandra's Book Club
June 25 - @theliteraryescapade *
June 25 - @reader_ceygo *
June 25 - @michellegodardricherauthor *
June 25 - @bookscape__ *
June 26 – Kim's Book Reviews and Writing Aha's
June 27 – pages of libra
June 27 - @this.human.reads *

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Release Day!

Angela Shaeffer — Wed, 4 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Oh, it's a wonderful feeling to hold your dream in your hand! Ten years in the making, a lifetime of fantasizing about what if I really, really did write a book one day.

It's getting great reviews from ARC readers:

"Each character is so relatable in some fashion that it really envelops you in how they're perceiving the other characters."

"...very relatable as a mother having teenagers--especially boys--and reminiscing about ways I could've handled things differently in the past."

"Rather than feeling sad, this book made me feel hopeful. I really liked that it gave a realistic glimpse into how grief an affect us..."

"Misunderstandings, love, and good intentions abound in this heart-wrenching and beautiful struggle towards hope and connection."

"...distinctive characters lets the reader share their innermost emotions and thoughts... Several times while reading, I thought, this feels so real."

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Goodreads Giveaway!

Angela Shaeffer — Fri, 16 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

10 Goodreads readers will receive a free paperback (and I'm hoping they'll read and leave an honest review)! Enter to win May 21 - June 11.

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Clarion (Foreward) Gives TTTDS 4 out of 5 Stars!

Angela Shaeffer — Sat, 26 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

"Focused but episodic, the novel The Things They Didn’t See is about the sharp realities surrounding grief.

“heartrending novel”

"…[the] candor, which is stripped of sentimentality and is written to let people’s weaknesses unfurl, contributes to the book’s aching undercurrent.”

"…the book’s buildup of quiet devastation is steady, and the family’s first year of grief culminates in satisfying hope.”

"In the cathartic novel, The Things They Didn’t See, a family’s personal and collective grief inspires reminders about the importance of loving each other."

See the full review here: https://www.forewordreviews.com/reviews/the-things-they-didnt-see/

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Kirkus Review: "Get It"

Angela Shaeffer — Sat, 26 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

So thrilled at another amazing review! Kirkus awards The Things They Didn't See "Get It."

"An affecting narrative about the strength it takes to recover from tragedy."

"Shaeffer’s use of multiple third-person perspectives creates a well-paced, engaging plot that will hook readers in."

"…character development throughout feels realistic.”

"The various points of view, including that of Jill’s teenage son, show how unique and individual the effects of grief can be, and they bring a sense of community to what could easily be portrayed as a lonely process."

See the full review here: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/angela-shaeffer/the-things-they-didnt-see/

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Booklife Editor's Pick!

Angela Shaeffer — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

I am speechless at the wonderful review from Booklife.
(And sleepless... I was up all night thinking about it!)

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Counting Down to Pre-Release

Angela Shaeffer — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The Things They Didn't See will be available to order soon! You can pre-order your copy on Amazon.

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