Fantastic News For Our Author Elizabeth Upton and The Celebration of “Secrets of A Nun: My Own Story” Still Going Strong After 40 Years In Print!

Elizabeth Upton
Independently Published (2025)
ISBN:  979-8388248473

Official Website: https://authorelizabethupton.com/


Reviewed by Heather Curran for Reader Views (11/08/2025)

“Growing up in southern Germany, I frequently saw nuns when my family and I visited local churches and cathedrals.  In my trips to Rome, when I toured the Vatican and St. Peter’s Basilica, nuns were likewise admiring the artwork or praying.  Each time I noticed them, I was impressed by their selfless austerity and commitment to service.  Elizabeth Upton’s book Secrets of a Nun: My Own Story both echoed my original perceptions while giving me a glimpse into a very nuanced life. 

Secrets of a Nun spans the decades Upton lived and served as a nun.  From an early age, she was called into service, entering the convent before her twenties.  During her time in the ministry, she worked within different localities, striving to improve the quality of life while combating societal and political ills. 


Secrets of a Nun humanizes women called into service. 
In poignant scenes, Upton narrates her experiences at university alongside other nuns. 
As they spent time together, they recognized their value and significance as intelligent, educated women.  Too often, unfair stereotypes are identified and then dismissed; it’s easy to pigeonhole women in religious orders and service as emotionless, one-dimensional, and almost unfeeling.  Upton turns that notion on its head and gives the reader a private, intimate understanding of the emotional and intellectual complexity that characterizes her and her religious sisters.

Upton’s beautiful writing leads the reader through her experiences. Conversations leap from the page and show the difficulties that Upton navigated as she entered neighborhoods that, at times, resented her presence.  With care and an observant eye, she recognizes the politics within any religious organization and how, sadly, these political wranglings can negatively affect even the most devout and compassionate groups. 

“Secrets Of A Nun: My Own Story”
Is Available From Amazon


Secrets of a Nun is a revealing, uncompromisingly honest, and deeply moving look into one woman’s soul.
Now Celebrating 2025, the 40th Anniversary of this publication ‘Secrets of a Nun’…

https://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Nun-My-Own-Story/dp/B0BZF76712/

The Wait Is Over For The Next ‘Clara and Iris’ Mystery In The Trilogy. Kim Carter Has Just Released “Time Did Not Forget”. . .

Readers’ Favorite announces the review of the Fiction – Mystery – Murder book “Time Did Not Forget” by Kim Carter, currently available ahttp://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0FX3DF82C.

Time Did Not Forget by Kim Carter is the fourth book in the Clara and Iris Mystery series. Widows Clara Samples and Iris Hadley, both in their mid-seventies, are private investigators based in Atlanta, Georgia. Their latest case takes them to Biloxi, where they agree to help their friend Charnell find her long-lost nephew, Cobie, who was kidnapped years earlier from a daycare playground. Despite the ransom being paid, Cobie was never returned, and the kidnapper vanished without a trace.

The case had gone cold, and no investigator wanted to reopen it. When Charnell takes an ancestry test that reveals she has a living nephew, she becomes convinced that Cobie is still alive. Not long after, Clara and Iris receive a mysterious newspaper clipping about a house fire in Fairburn, Ohio, from fourteen years ago, in which a local couple perished. Could this long-forgotten tragedy be tied to Cobie’s kidnapping all those years ago?

Time Did Not Forget by Kim Carter is a complex and captivating mystery that kept me hooked from beginning to end. The story moves at a rapid pace and is packed with action and unexpected twists that make it impossible to put down. The engaging writing style drew me deep into the investigation, leaving me constantly wondering what would happen next. Several plotlines seamlessly merged without detracting from each other.

The characters were realistic and relatable. I enjoyed Clara and Iris’s banter during their investigation, but Iris was my favorite character. Iris was frank and expressed her opinions, regardless of their appropriateness. The book was excellently written, and the events were so descriptive that I could not turn the pages fast enough.”

You can learn more about Kim Carter and “Time Did Not Forget” at https://readersfavorite.com/book-review/time-did-not-forget where you can read reviews and the author’s biography, as well as connect with the author directly or through their social media pages.

Readers’ Favorite LLC
Media Relations
Louisville, KY 40202

A One-On-One Interview With Award-Winning Mystery, Suspense, & Thriller Novelist, Kim Carter.

“It may be a place that’s both beautiful and creepy, or it may be just something that a person says that triggers me,” she says. “I’ve been to the morgue, the medical examiner’s office, cemeteries in the middle of the night, just all kinds of places that inspire me.

Actor Woody Harrelson’s father, Charles Harrelson, and I became extraordinary pen pals when he was in a supermax (prison) in Florence, Colorado.” She also reaches out to people at the GBI, the Atlanta police department, and various homicide departments, which may inspire a new storyline.

CONNECT WITH THE AUTHOR:  FacebookTwitterInstagramGoodreadsAmazonYouTubeBlueSky,

CAT Welcomes Author Elizabeth Upton Who Shares All Her News and Free Kindles With Our Readers of ‘The Book Library’. . .

I am delighted to share the photo above, which features my book showcased in the wonderful Montecito Journal newspaper at the end of June 2025! It is a wonderful newspaper in my local area of Santa Barbara and Montecito, California. There are many exciting happenings for both “Secrets of a Nun” and my romantic thriller, “The Shaman and The Mafia.

Right now, “Secrets” is featured in a wonderful readers’ magazine for August and September called “First Chapter Plus” by Reader Views. As the rest of the year goes on, I have several more events set for my book!
The new issue is now out; you can subscribe to it FREE!
CLICK HERE >> https://firstchapterpus.com/subscribe/


In early autumn, both “Secrets of a Nun” and “The Shaman and The Mafia” will be featured in Shelf Unbound magazine. Additionally, they will be displayed in a glossy catalog at the Hamptons International Film Festival, which runs from October 3rd to October 13th, 2025.



Here is some fantastic news and updates for readers and friends who have supported my books. To show my appreciation, I am offering three of my Kindle books for FREE this week, from August 7th to August 10th, 2025. Then, beginning August 11th, through September 20th, 2025, all my Kindles will stay priced at $3.99 to close out ‘Summertime Reading!’

You can download them from Amazon Kindle using the links below:
1. The Silver Woman of Fire: Gather Your Nerve and Live – https://www.amazon.com/Silver-Woman-Fire-Gather-Nerve-ebook/dp/B08YRYKFWB/ <<Click Links

2. The Shaman and The Mafia –
https://www.amazon.com/Shaman-Mafia-Elizabeth-Upton-ebook/dp/B09F7LYS7Q/ << CLICK

3. You Are a Sovereign Woman of Strength, Love, and Grace: Embrace Your Journey – https://www.amazon.com/Sovereign-Woman-Strength-Love-Grace-ebook/dp/B0CV8TM9CX/ <CLICK

Her best-selling books, ‘Secrets of a Nun: My Story,’ ‘The Silver Woman of Fire,’ and ‘The Shaman and The Mafia,’ helped set Elizabeth Upton firmly on the world’s literary map. With many novels to her credit, she released a new book in June 2022 titled ‘Lovers’ Secrets and Revenge, which is book three of ‘The John Callahan novel series.’

Elizabeth’s favorite she enjoyed writing was ‘The Shaman and The Mafia,’ as she shares, “The creation of this story has been an exciting journey. If possible, I would love to meet all of the characters in this book in real life.” Elizabeth’s books and novels are available on Amazon online and Barnes & Noble and featured on fine literary book sites.

Elizabeth was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA., until the age of sixteen, when she entered a New York State Convent and became a nun for twenty years, but she yearned for a more authentic spiritual life. Elizabeth left the convent and chose to attend and receive her B.A. from Syracuse University.

Returning to her native state of California, she attended and received her M.A. in psychology from Chapman University. The Author began working for over thirty years in family counseling as a social worker and probation officer, working with troubled teens and abused children. She is a speaker, spiritual mentor, and advisor.

What DIY Authors Need To Know ‘To Master Amazon Marketing’ and The Importance of Using ‘Keywords’. . .


The Definitive Guide to Amazon Keyword Research for Books
(Courtesy of
Lakshmi Padmanaban )


As an author, nothing is more important than getting your book discovered by readers. While a well-written story and polished production values are table stakes, they only take you so far if potential buyers can’t easily find your book. This is where optimizing your book’s ranking on Amazon becomes crucial.

In this blog, let’s look at specific strategies that can boost your book’s visibility — from leveraging search suggestions to analyzing top competitors in your genre.

Whether you’re a debut indie author or a seasoned pro, the keyword tactics outlined here can help you understand how Amazon’s algorithms work and give your book the best chance to rank. By the end, you’ll have an action plan to start implementing immediate improvements. So let’s start taking your Amazon book ranking to the next level through data-driven keyword optimization.

5 Keyword Research Strategies to Boost Your Amazon Ranking


1. Select High-Volume Keywords

When optimizing your book on Amazon, focus on selecting high-volume keywords that have a substantial search volume. This will help increase your book’s visibility and potential for sales. To identify these keywords, utilize keyword research tools created specifically for Amazon, like Ahrefs Amazon Keyword Tool, Sellesta or Sellzone. These platforms will provide you with data on search volume and related keywords to better inform your decisions. Experiment with different platforms and identify the tools that work best for your needs. Remember to regularly update your research and stay informed about trends and changes in keyword performance — and, most importantly, to monitor your keywords’ performance and adjust your selections.

2. Long-Tail vs. Short-Tail Keywords

There are two types of keywords to consider when optimizing your book on Amazon: long-tail and short-tail keywords. Short-tail keywords consist of one or two more generalized words with higher search volumes. Long-tail keywords, on the other hand, are longer phrases with more specific intent and lower search volumes.

While it’s tempting to focus solely on short-tail keywords, balancing both long-tail and short-tail keywords is essential. This combination will help you reach both a larger audience as well as a more niche demographic. Incorporate both types of keywords into your Amazon book listing to achieve the best results for discoverability and sales.

3. Analyze Top-Selling Competitors

One of the best places to start keyword research is by analyzing your top-selling competitors. Look at the keywords in their product titles, descriptions, and bullet points. List the most frequently used keywords by successful competitors in your niche. These are likely to be highly searched terms that can drive sales.

When choosing keywords from competitors, look for long-tail keywords that are more specific than just generic brand or product terms. Long-tail keywords tend to have lower search volumes but are easier to rank for. You’ll want a mix of both high and low search volume keywords. Also, consider keywords related to your unique selling points that competitors may not be targeting.

Once you have a list, plug the keywords into the Amazon search bar to check the search volume and the number of related products listed. Focus on mid-range keywords that have monthly searches in the hundreds or low thousands. Highly competitive keywords with tens of thousands of searches may be too challenging to rank for initially.

4. Use the “Customers Also Searched For” Section

When viewing a book detail page on Amazon, a “Customers Also Searched For” section lists related keywords. These suggestions are based on the search patterns of customers who viewed that product. Add these related keywords to your list, as they are queries Amazon has identified as relevant.

For added context on search volume and competition, you can analyze these keywords like those from competitors. The “Customers Also Searched For” section on top-selling listings provides a wealth of relevant keyword ideas already validated by Amazon search data.

5. Research Questions in Your Book Category

Another source of potential keywords is to brainstorm common questions customers may ask about your book category. For example, in the gardening niche, you could come up with queries like “how to grow tomatoes” or “best fertilizer for roses.”

To validate these question-style keywords, enter them into the Amazon search bar preceded by “how to” or “what is” to see if auto-complete suggestions populate. If so, those queries indicate actual customer searches. You can then check search volume and competition. Question keywords tend to be longer-tail but can perform well if you have comprehensive answers in your listing.

How to Enhance Your Book’s Visibility With the Right Keywords?

Since Amazon has tons of books available at the click of a button, it’s crucial for authors to optimize their book descriptions, categories, and keywords for better visibility. Let’s focus on the best ways to enhance your book’s visibility through the effective use of keywords.

Incorporating Keywords in Book Titles

When choosing your book’s title and subtitle, consider relevant keywords that readers might use to search for your book. Including these keywords in your title and/or subtitle can help improve your book’s discoverability on Amazon. For example, if your book is about vegan cooking, you might choose a title like “The Vegan Kitchen: Quick, Easy, and Delicious Plant-based Recipes.”

Similarly, add your best keywords in the title, but at the same time, make sure that it’s utterly relevant to your book topic. Keep the title keywords very specific and close to the book title — preferably something that’s descriptive and gives a teeny-tiny insight into what your book is. Otherwise, your keyword inclusion will look forced and can actually drive readers away.

Incorporating Keywords in Book Description

After you’ve included the best and title-closest keywords to the book title, the next place to include them is in your book description. This is one of the places that Amazon considers when ranking your book. So from the list of keywords you’ve obtained from one of the keyword research tools, choose a few best ones that are very specific to what your book is about — and the keywords your target audience will use to search for books like yours.

Sprinkle those keywords all around your book description, making them sound natural and an organic part of the description instead of being forced. Add as many keywords as possible and repeat the primary keywords more than once. This is one of the best ways to get your book noticed by the Amazon search engine and increase its visibility in the search results.

Optimizing Author Pages with Keywords

Your Amazon Author Central page is another crucial place to include relevant keywords. By incorporating keywords into your author bio, book descriptions, and editorial review sections, you can boost your page’s SEO.

For instance, mentioning specific book genres you write in (‘romance’ or ‘crime thriller’) and adding a few writing-related qualifications with keywords like ‘award-winning author’ or ‘writing workshops’ can improve your Amazon Author Central page’s search visibility.

Wrapping Up

Implementing a comprehensive keyword strategy is one of the most impactful ways for authors to boost their book’s visibility and sales on Amazon. By thoroughly researching high-volume keywords, analyzing top competitors, and leveraging Amazon’s own search data suggestions, you can identify the most effective keywords to target. However, it’s important to regularly evaluate keyword performance and be willing to adjust your approach over time as search trends and algorithms change.

The techniques covered here, such as balancing long-tail and short-tail keywords, optimizing your book description and author page, and understanding the differences between Amazon and Google optimization, can help increase your book’s discoverability by more readers if implemented strategically. While ranking highly takes ongoing effort, focusing your efforts on keywords that are relevant, descriptive, and specific to your book topic and genre will give your book the best chance to succeed on Amazon.

With data-driven keyword research and optimization, you can start taking control of your book’s Amazon performance. Use the actionable tactics discussed in this post to analyze your book’s discoverability gaps and prioritize improvements. By leveraging the power of keywords, you’ll be able to enhance your book’s visibility, outshine competitors, and connect with more of the readers looking for your exact book. The time invested in optimizing keywords will pay off in increased readership and sales on Amazon for many books to come.

New Release By Award-Winning Novelist ‘Pavane Ravel’ – Press Release & Editorial Book Review For “The Board Extraction” Book Three of ‘The Other Shoes of Larry Martin’. . .

“Larry Martin lives two very different lives, in two different
worlds. In Book Three, his personal journey continues in what
is now a 2023 PenCraft Book Award First Runner Up winner
of ‘Realistic Dramatic Fiction.’ Additionally, Book Three: The
Board Extraction was awarded a 2023 5-Star Book Review
by Reader’s Favorite and by K.C. Finn.”



As Larry’s saga continues in Atlanta, GA, he is known as Laurie Roberts, the adopted son of a famous architect, Sherman Roberts. Laurie is President of Operations in his father’s international firm.


While Laurie grapples with corruption and theft in the Hong Kong office, he learns that Sherman’s life is threatened by an unseen but highly dangerous business consortium. Managing this threat puts both their lives in danger.

In Manhattan, NY, Laurie is an influential progressive journalist. He writes for The Political Standard, a massive digital newspaper using his pen name, Larry Martin. Peter Bennett is the Director of the paper and Larry’s dearest friend. Trouble comes for Larry. The Political Standard’s board of directors is extremely upset with him.

Larry is forced to fend off another journalist’s unscrupulous intent to destroy him if he doesn’t give her what she wants. And when Peter Bennett is physically assaulted, Larry jumps into high gear and quick thinking to negotiate a delicate situation that is personal to him. The Board Extraction moves swiftly through a nonstop series of events. And through it all, Larry remains highly tactical, metaphysical, calm, kind, and immensely brilliant. . .


For immediate release:

The author’s new book receives a warm literary welcome!

Readers’ Favorite announces the review of the Fiction – Drama book “The Other Shoes of Larry Martin: Book Three: The Board Extraction” by Pavane Ravel, currently available at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0F9V6J885.

Reviewed By K.C. Finn for Readers’ Favorite

“The Board Extraction” is a work of fiction that falls within the political suspense drama, slice-of-life, and sociocultural writing subgenres. It is the third installment of the ongoing saga titled “The Other Shoes of Larry Martin,” which chronicles his life and personal journey.

The work is best suited for adult readers with its complex themes, and was penned by author Pavane Ravel. The author continues to deliver a thought-provoking and immersive narrative centered around the formerly indoctrinated Larry and his new liberal ethos in life. As the narrative unfolds, Larry Martin’s character evolves, and he grapples with the consequences of his decisions. The story goes beyond mere entertainment as it delves into self-examination, personal growth, and the weight of one’s choices. Author Pavane Ravel’s writing is adroitly beautiful, blending political and social issues with drama and romance together seamlessly into Larry’s ongoing life journey to find himself.

I was thrilled to be back in his world and see what happened next in his interpersonal relationships. This multifaceted installment offers new elements of romance, humor, and drama that play out in perfect balance against the more topical issues of political and business power plays. Larry’s unexpected detour into modeling was one of my favorite sections, as it’s always so relatable to see him be such a fish out of water.

What struck me most was how much this series resonates with readers from diverse backgrounds and beliefs because it’s Larry’s open-mindedness and sense of discovery that bonds us to his cause. It’s a reminder that our decisions, big or small, carry consequences and shape our paths, and the information we build those decisions on is never foolproof.


Overall, readers seeking a resonant series that encourages introspection and contemplation about our own choices need look no further than The Other Shoes of Larry Martin for everything they need. I’d particularly recommend The Board Extraction for a unique blend of entertainment and reflection, which offers valuable insights into life’s complexities.

You can learn more about Pavane Ravel and “The Other Shoes of Larry Martin: Book Three: The Board Extraction” at https://readersfavorite.com/book-review/the-other-shoes-of-larry-martin/2, where you can read reviews and the author’s biography, as well as connect with the author directly or through their website and social media pages.

Readers’ Favorite LLC
PR Media Relations
Louisville, KY 40202



Pavane has a great sense of humor and loves to engage and connect with readers.
While the author resides and divides her time between Manhattan, NY, and Georgia.
She welcomes readers’ thoughts and comments through her website
and by connecting on social media.

VISIT AUTHOR: WebsiteJoin Author’s NewsletterFacebookTwitterInstagramGoodreadsAmazonBlueSky,