Driftless Spirits is a memorable and heartfelt story that invites reflection. Character-driven and cozy, it delivers a compelling mystery with touches of gentle paranormal intrigue. It’s a Perfect Escape.
~Escape with Dollycas into a Good Book

I absolutely loved this book, and I am ready for book two. This book is perfect for those who love small town settings, paranormal elements and most importantly a good cozy mystery.
~Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting

What Ringel does especially well is treat place as both setting and catalyst. Wisconsin’s Driftless region is not just where the story happens, it is part of what the story is about. The landscape mirrors Charlotte’s internal state: winding roads, unexpected valleys, quiet towns that seem easy to overlook unless you stop and really look.
~Likely Story

If you like cozy storytelling full of history, charm and a few restless spirits, I’m so glad you found Casten House Books. My name is Karen Ringel and I’ve embarked on a self-publishing journey to reveal the Secrets in Casten’s Horn.

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Pictures From my home in the Driftless area of wisconsin

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  • Writing Observations: Quirks and Routines

    So, I’ve written my first novel and I’m pretty proud of it. Book 2 is already started but as I write I’m becoming more and more aware of my little quirks and routines. I’m curious if other writers share these… Continue reading

    Writing Observations: Quirks and Routines

  • Driftless Thursday: Birds

    As if my love of the Driftless Area isn’t obvious from my site or my books, I’ve decided to create a series of posts to highlight my little corner of Wisconsin. I’m calling it #DriftlessThursday. All pictures on Driftless Thursdays… Continue reading

    Driftless Thursday: Birds

  • Secrets in Casten’s Horn (About the Series)

    With my first book, Driftless Spirits, now in all the usual places (Kindle, Apple, Nook, Smashwords… here’s the full list), I thought I should talk a bit about what’s coming. The series title is Secrets in Casten’s Horn. It’s hard… Continue reading

    Secrets in Casten’s Horn (About the Series)

  • An Update on Publishing

    Today I’ve officially clicked “Publish” on Draft2Digital. “Driftless Spirits” in ebook form is rolling out to every distributor and reseller they cover. The links to find my book on CastenHouseBooks.com open a universal links page on Books2Read. As new sites… Continue reading

    An Update on Publishing

  • Real “Things” in Driftless Spirits

    Driftless Spirits is a work of fiction, of course, but I like to sprinkle historical events, lore and even items in my writing that exist in real life. This post tries to capture links to those things in case you’d… Continue reading

    Real “Things” in Driftless Spirits

  • The Real Casten House (Sort of)

    Casten House is a very important place in Casten’s Horn. The little yellow house sits on a large lot, across the street from the Old Schoolhouse Diner. The house is in the Queen Anne style, yet humble. It has curved… Continue reading

    The Real Casten House (Sort of)