"Inspired by life, crafted from the heart—sprinkling love, laughter, and a touch of magic into every story."
Welcome! I'm Gail Robin Raes, and I've always believed that stories have the power to entertain, inspire, and heal. What began as a personal escape quickly blossomed into a passion for writing that I'm thrilled to share with readers around the world.
It all started with my debut rom-com, Picnics in the Vineyard, a whimsical journey through California's Napa Valley, filled with love, laughter, and heartfelt moments. But what makes this book truly special? It's grounded in truth-sometimes more than I originally planned to reveal! That honesty led me to write its companion book, Uncorked: The Story Behind Picnics in the Vineyard, where I peel back the layers of fact versus fiction, giving readers a glimpse into the real-life inspirations behind the characters and events.
A conversation with a best-selling author once revealed that we often "sprinkle" ourselves into our stories. Well, I didn't just sprinkle-I poured myself into my characters, much like the iconic Morton salt girl, letting my life experiences rain into the plot. The result? Stories that resonate, amuse, and create meaningful connections.
Since those first books, my storytelling journey has expanded across multiple genres-from humor-filled fiction and heartfelt romance to light mysteries and a whimsical collection of children's books. With 18 books published in both eBook and paperback, there's something for every reader to enjoy.
So, whether you're looking for a heartwarming escape, a touch of laughter, or a bit of magic, I invite you to dive into my world of stories.
- Here's a glimpse of my growing collection:
- Just Desserts: A sinfully delicious tale with a wickedly irresistible twist.
- The Last Supper: A Culinary Journey of Taste, Gratitude, and Final Wishes: A story that celebrates life, food, and love.
- Bye-Bye, Birdy: A whimsical adventure where imagination takes flight.
- The Dragonfly Who Roared: A fun and inspiring story about dreaming big and soaring high.
- Rise of the Dragon: A Heavy Metal Legacy - When music meets magic, legends are born.
- The Magical Adventures of Levi and Papa Dragon: Laughter, magic, and unforgettable memories.
- Confessions of a Clutter Bug: A hilarious reflection on chaos, Barbie dolls, and fabulous mishaps.
- Will You Marry Me?: Love's most important question and the journey that follows.
- Ellabella and the Pink Dragon Dreams: A story where pink dragons inspire big dreams.
- The Dragon Who Saved Christmas: Papa Dragon's unforgettable quest to save the holidays.
- The Girl Who Loved Dragons: A story for every girl who believes in dragons and loves to read.
- The Sparkling Tales of Sparkle Twinkletoes: Sometimes, a sparkle is all it takes to save the day!
- Dragon Tales - The Adventures of Papa Dragon: Papa Dragon's Tales of Humor, Heart, and Adventure roar with fun and fire.
- Dragons Need Manners: Because Manners Matter—Even for Dragons!
- Papa Dragon's Fiery Fiesta: Cinco de Mayo with a dragon? What could possibly go wrong?
- ABC's with Papa Dragon: From A to Z with love, laughter and lots of giggles.
- Frankie and Darby Make a Splash!: Where birthday bubbles, sea sparkles, and giggles never end.
- The Mermaid Who Wore Flip Flops: You don’t need a tail to make waves—you just need flip flops.
- I'm always dreaming up new stories, and upcoming titles include:
- Papa Dragon and the Junior Rangers
- When Did I Become Vintage?
- Dragon Academy: School of Rock and Roar
- Just a Girl Who Loves Flip Flops
- Flip Flops, Friends and Fireworks
- Say It With a SONG: When words fall short, let the music speak
Each of my books are available in eBook and paperback, designed to spark joy and imagination for readers of all ages.
Thank you for stopping by my corner of the literary world. I hope my stories bring you as much joy as they've brought me in writing them.
Hugs and Happily-Ever-Afters,
Gail
Contact Me
Connect with me on Facebook, Instagram,
Amazon,
Bookbub, Goodreads.
Picnics in the Vineyard: "Where love and laughter are always on the menu."
Picnics in the Vineyard
May 2025
Picnics in the Vineyard has been completely rewritten and is now available in ebook format, with a paperback version coming soon. This newly updated edition features expanded scenes, fresh dialogue, deeper emotions, and all the warmth, humor, and heart readers loved in the original. Whether you’re revisiting Napa Valley or discovering it for the first time, this new version offers an even richer and more delightful experience.
Uncorked The Story Behind Picnics in the Vineyard.
I have recently published a companion book to Picnics in the Vineyard it's impossible to tell the whole story, however, I share what was fact or fiction and what inspired a particular character or chapter in this book.
Uncorked and Uncorked: Audio Book Introduction
Just Desserts An utterly irresistible and sinfully delicious demise. By Gail Robin Raes (Author), Wendy Galla (Author) Buckle up for a hilariously wicked ride as Wendy serves up a side of revenge with her signature desserts. This is a story that will make you laugh, gasp, and keep you guessing-because in Wendy's world, the last course is always to die for. We know you're dying to read it!
Just Desserts
The Last Supper: A Culinary Journey of Taste, Gratitude and Final Wishes by Gail Robin Raes (Author), Wendy Galla (Author) "Fine dining is more than a meal; it's a celebration of life's finest moments. To savor a last supper at a cherished restaurant is to embrace joy and gratitude, even in the face of life's final chapter."
The Last Supper
Bye-Bye, Birdy: Embark on a whimsical adventure with Bye-Bye, Birdy—where imagination soars and every page takes flight!
Bye-Bye, Birdy
The Dragonfly Who Roared: A Fun and Whimsical Story about a Dragonfly Who Dreamed Big and Soared High
The Dragonfly Who Roared
Rise of the Dragon: A Heavy Metal Legacy When music meets magic, legends are born.
Rise of the Dragon
The Magical Adventures of Levi and Papa Dragon Every adventure with Papa Dragon is a journey of laughter, magic, and memories that last a lifetime!
The Magical Adventures of Levi and Papa Dragon
Confessions of a Clutter Bug When Things Go Fabulously Wrong, Blame Barbie!
Confessions of a Clutter Bug
Will You Marry Me? The Question That Changed Everything Love is a story that begins with 'Will you marry me?' and continues with 'I do'.
Will You Marry Me?
Ellabella and the Pink Dragon Dreams Where pink dragons inspire a little girl to dream big.
Ellabella and the Pink Dragon Dreams
The Dragon Who Saved Christmas Papa Dragon’s Big Adventure to Save Christmas and Spread Holiday Cheer
The Dragon Who Saved Christmas
The Girl Who Loved Dragons And the stories that bring them to life.
The Girl Who Loved Dragons
The Sparkling Tales of Sparkle Twinkletoes A tale of friendship, glitter and a dragon who knows how to shine!
The Sparkling Tales of Sparkle Twinkletoes
Dragon Tales: The Adventures of Papa Dragon Stories that Roar with Fun and Fire - Sparking Imagination, One Dragon Tale at a Time!
Dragon Tales
When Did I Become Vintage? Groovin' To Rock & Roll One Minute, A Vintage Museum Piece the Next!
Dragon Academy: School of Rock and Roar Rock Hard, Roar Loud - It's Dragon Class Time!
Lesson One: Don't Annoy the Dragon! Lesson Two: You don't need wings to soar, just the right tune.
Just A Girl Who Loves Flip Flops If flip-flops could talk, they'd sing you a tune, start reading the book, the fun's over the moon!
The Family Tree “Some family trees have beautiful leaves, and some have just a bunch of nuts. Remember, it is the nuts that make the tree worth shaking.”
Write YOUR story, who knows YOU better than YOU ? Because Your Story Deserves to Be Told—And Only You Can Tell It!
2025
I’m thrilled to announce my newest series I'm currently writing: Papa Dragon and the Junior Rangers and the Flip Flops and Friends!
Join Papa Dragon and his grandchildren as they embark on dragon-sized adventures, exploring the breathtaking wonders of our National Parks. Packed with humor, heart, and a sprinkle of dragon magic, this series combines the thrill of discovery with the joy of family bonding.
Stay tuned for release dates and sneak peeks!
January 26, 2025
NEW ebook and paperback published, Dragon Tales: The Adventures of Papa Dragon
December 24, 2024
NEW ebooks and paperbacks published, The Girl Who Loves Dragons and The Sparkling Tales of Sparkle Twinkletoes
December 18, 2024
NEW ebook and paperback published, The Dragon Who Saved Christmas
December 15, 2024
NEW ebook and paperback published, Ellabella and the Pink Dragon Dreams
December 11, 2024
Great news! BookBub announced, Will You Marry Me? The Question That Changed Everything, has been confirmed for a New Release Alert scheduled to go out December 12, 2024.
December 10, 2024
NEW ebook and paperback published, Will You Marry Me? The Question That Changed Everything
December 9, 2024
Great news! BookBub announced, The Magical Adventures of Levi and Papa Dragon and Confessions of a Clutter Bug: When Things Go Fabulously Wrong, Blame Barbie, has been confirmed for a New Release Alert scheduled to go out December 10, 2024.
December 6, 2024
Three NEW ebooks and paperbacks coming soon, "Ellabella and the Pink Dragon Dreams" and "The Girl Who Loves Dragons" and "The Sparkling Tales of Sparkle Twinkletoes"
December 4, 2024
NEW ebook and paperback published, Confessions of a Clutter Bug: When Things Go Fabulously Wrong, Blame Barbie!
December 1, 2024
NEW ebook and paperback published, The Magical Adventures of Levi and Papa Dragon
November 22, 2024
NEW ebook and paperback published, "Rise of the Dragon".
Currently writing, "Will You Marry Me?" Prepare to laugh, cry, and marvel at these stories of love, courage, and the unexpected magic of saying "Yes!"
November 5, 2024
Soon to be published, "When Did I Become Vintage?" and "Confessions of a Clutter Bug" are in their final edits.
October 5, 2024
I designed my new author's website: gailraes.com which will feature my published books as well as news of books soon to be published such as "Just A Girl Who Loves Flip Flops", "Confessions of a Clutter Bug", "Dragon Tales" and "Dragon Academy-School of Rock and Roar" and more.
September 23, 2024
I have published my first two children's books: Bye-Bye, Birdy and The Dragonfly Who Roared. They are available on Amazon in ebook and paperback.
August 10, 2024
I have recently published three NEW books: Uncorked, Just Desserts and The Last Supper. They are available on Amazon as ebooks and two are available in paperback.
July 10, 2024
I have been writing the stories for the Dragon Tales children's series and I'm very excited with how much fun I've had writing them.
June 12, 2024
Exciting News:
Bookbub selected Uncorked: The Story Behind Picnics in the Vineyard in their New Release Alert newsletter!
June 9, 2024
Uncorked: The Story Behind Picnics in the Vineyard has been published on Amazon available as an eBook.
February 25, 2024
I attended a book signing for author, Jan Moran, at the Hook and Ladder Winery in Santa Rosa, California.
Jan discussed her wonderful book, The Winemakers, which takes place in Napa in the 1950's.
I had the pleasure of talking to Jan before the event and I gave her a copy of my own wine country themed book, Picnics in the Vineyard.
2023
October 18, 2023
My book has been accepted by Thrift Books for distribution.
October 1, 2023
Membership accepted into the Fellowship of the Pen for Novelists
September 1, 2023
My book has been accepted on Hoopla which is part of a nationwide library system.
July 12, 2023
P.E.O. Book Club, Napa Valley Chapter
A conversation with author Gail Robin Raes as she discusses her new book, Picnics in the Vineyard.
Her book is a work of fiction yet inspired by actual events while living in the Napa Valley.
She will be happy to answer questions and sign copies of her book.
June 1, 2023
Author Profile accepted on Bookbub, Goodreads, Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, Apple iBooks, Kobo and Amazon.
April 19, 2023
Fun Diners, Meet the Author, Peoria, AZ
March 14 and 20, 2023
Picnic with Friends Book Discussion, Surprise, AZ
February 6, 2023
Meet the Author, Sun City Grand Book Club, Surprise, AZ
Picnics in the Vineyard
May 2025
Picnics in the Vineyard has been completely rewritten and is now available in ebook format, with a paperback version coming soon. This newly updated edition features expanded scenes, fresh dialogue, deeper emotions, and all the warmth, humor, and heart readers loved in the original. Whether you’re revisiting Napa Valley or discovering it for the first time, this new version offers an even richer and more delightful experience.
Uncorked The Story Behind Picnics in the Vineyard.
I have recently published a companion book to Picnics in the Vineyard it's impossible to tell the whole story, however, I share what was fact or fiction and what inspired a particular character or chapter in this book.
Uncorked and Uncorked: Audio Book Introduction
Just Desserts An utterly irresistible and sinfully delicious demise. By Gail Robin Raes (Author), Wendy Galla (Author) Buckle up for a hilariously wicked ride as Wendy serves up a side of revenge with her signature desserts. This is a story that will make you laugh, gasp, and keep you guessing-because in Wendy's world, the last course is always to die for. We know you're dying to read it!
Just Desserts
The Last Supper: A Culinary Journey of Taste, Gratitude and Final Wishes by Gail Robin Raes (Author), Wendy Galla (Author) "Fine dining is more than a meal; it's a celebration of life's finest moments. To savor a last supper at a cherished restaurant is to embrace joy and gratitude, even in the face of life's final chapter."
The Last Supper
Bye-Bye, Birdy: Embark on a whimsical adventure with Bye-Bye, Birdy—where imagination soars and every page takes flight!
Bye-Bye, Birdy
The Dragonfly Who Roared: A Fun and Whimsical Story about a Dragonfly Who Dreamed Big and Soared High
The Dragonfly Who Roared
Rise of the Dragon: A Heavy Metal Legacy When music meets magic, legends are born.
Rise of the Dragon
The Magical Adventures of Levi and Papa Dragon Every adventure with Papa Dragon is a journey of laughter, magic, and memories that last a lifetime!
The Magical Adventures of Levi and Papa Dragon
Confessions of a Clutter Bug When Things Go Fabulously Wrong, Blame Barbie!
Confessions of a Clutter Bug
Will You Marry Me? The Question That Changed Everything Love is a story that begins with 'Will you marry me?' and continues with 'I do'.
Will You Marry Me?
Ellabella and the Pink Dragon Dreams Where pink dragons inspire a little girl to dream big.
Ellabella and the Pink Dragon Dreams
The Dragon Who Saved Christmas Papa Dragon’s Big Adventure to Save Christmas and Spread Holiday Cheer
The Dragon Who Saved Christmas
The Girl Who Loved Dragons And the stories that bring them to life.
The Girl Who Loved Dragons
The Sparkling Tales of Sparkle Twinkletoes A tale of friendship, glitter and a dragon who knows how to shine!
The Sparkling Tales of Sparkle Twinkletoes
Dragon Tales: The Adventures of Papa Dragon Stories that Roar with Fun and Fire - Sparking Imagination, One Dragon Tale at a Time!
Dragon Tales
When Did I Become Vintage? Groovin' To Rock & Roll One Minute, A Vintage Museum Piece the Next!
Dragon Academy: School of Rock and Roar Rock Hard, Roar Loud - It's Dragon Class Time!
Lesson One: Don't Annoy the Dragon! Lesson Two: You don't need wings to soar, just the right tune.
Just A Girl Who Loves Flip Flops If flip-flops could talk, they'd sing you a tune, start reading the book, the fun's over the moon!
The Family Tree “Some family trees have beautiful leaves, and some have just a bunch of nuts. Remember, it is the nuts that make the tree worth shaking.”
Write YOUR story, who knows YOU better than YOU ? Because Your Story Deserves to Be Told—And Only You Can Tell It!
2025
I’m thrilled to announce my newest series I'm currently writing: Papa Dragon and the Junior Rangers and the Flip Flops and Friends!
Join Papa Dragon and his grandchildren as they embark on dragon-sized adventures, exploring the breathtaking wonders of our National Parks. Packed with humor, heart, and a sprinkle of dragon magic, this series combines the thrill of discovery with the joy of family bonding.
- Upcoming Titles in the Series:
- Book 1: California Adventures
From towering redwoods to the iconic Yosemite, explore the Golden State through the eyes of our favorite dragon and his curious crew. - Book 2: Southwest Adventures
Journey through the vibrant deserts, ancient canyons, and star-filled skies of the Southwest. - Book 3: Hawaiian Adventures
Dive into lush jungles, volcanic wonders, and the sparkling shores of Hawaii for a tropical escapade like no other.
Stay tuned for release dates and sneak peeks!
January 26, 2025
NEW ebook and paperback published, Dragon Tales: The Adventures of Papa Dragon
December 24, 2024
NEW ebooks and paperbacks published, The Girl Who Loves Dragons and The Sparkling Tales of Sparkle Twinkletoes
December 18, 2024
NEW ebook and paperback published, The Dragon Who Saved Christmas
December 15, 2024
NEW ebook and paperback published, Ellabella and the Pink Dragon Dreams
December 11, 2024
Great news! BookBub announced, Will You Marry Me? The Question That Changed Everything, has been confirmed for a New Release Alert scheduled to go out December 12, 2024.
December 10, 2024
NEW ebook and paperback published, Will You Marry Me? The Question That Changed Everything
December 9, 2024
Great news! BookBub announced, The Magical Adventures of Levi and Papa Dragon and Confessions of a Clutter Bug: When Things Go Fabulously Wrong, Blame Barbie, has been confirmed for a New Release Alert scheduled to go out December 10, 2024.
December 6, 2024
Three NEW ebooks and paperbacks coming soon, "Ellabella and the Pink Dragon Dreams" and "The Girl Who Loves Dragons" and "The Sparkling Tales of Sparkle Twinkletoes"
December 4, 2024
NEW ebook and paperback published, Confessions of a Clutter Bug: When Things Go Fabulously Wrong, Blame Barbie!
December 1, 2024
NEW ebook and paperback published, The Magical Adventures of Levi and Papa Dragon
November 22, 2024
NEW ebook and paperback published, "Rise of the Dragon".
Currently writing, "Will You Marry Me?" Prepare to laugh, cry, and marvel at these stories of love, courage, and the unexpected magic of saying "Yes!"
November 5, 2024
Soon to be published, "When Did I Become Vintage?" and "Confessions of a Clutter Bug" are in their final edits.
October 5, 2024
I designed my new author's website: gailraes.com which will feature my published books as well as news of books soon to be published such as "Just A Girl Who Loves Flip Flops", "Confessions of a Clutter Bug", "Dragon Tales" and "Dragon Academy-School of Rock and Roar" and more.
September 23, 2024
I have published my first two children's books: Bye-Bye, Birdy and The Dragonfly Who Roared. They are available on Amazon in ebook and paperback.
August 10, 2024
I have recently published three NEW books: Uncorked, Just Desserts and The Last Supper. They are available on Amazon as ebooks and two are available in paperback.
July 10, 2024
I have been writing the stories for the Dragon Tales children's series and I'm very excited with how much fun I've had writing them.
June 12, 2024
Exciting News:
Bookbub selected Uncorked: The Story Behind Picnics in the Vineyard in their New Release Alert newsletter!
June 9, 2024
Uncorked: The Story Behind Picnics in the Vineyard has been published on Amazon available as an eBook.
February 25, 2024
I attended a book signing for author, Jan Moran, at the Hook and Ladder Winery in Santa Rosa, California.
Jan discussed her wonderful book, The Winemakers, which takes place in Napa in the 1950's.
I had the pleasure of talking to Jan before the event and I gave her a copy of my own wine country themed book, Picnics in the Vineyard.
2023
October 18, 2023
My book has been accepted by Thrift Books for distribution.
October 1, 2023
Membership accepted into the Fellowship of the Pen for Novelists
September 1, 2023
My book has been accepted on Hoopla which is part of a nationwide library system.
July 12, 2023
P.E.O. Book Club, Napa Valley Chapter
A conversation with author Gail Robin Raes as she discusses her new book, Picnics in the Vineyard.
Her book is a work of fiction yet inspired by actual events while living in the Napa Valley.
She will be happy to answer questions and sign copies of her book.
June 1, 2023
Author Profile accepted on Bookbub, Goodreads, Smashwords, Barnes & Noble, Apple iBooks, Kobo and Amazon.
April 19, 2023
Fun Diners, Meet the Author, Peoria, AZ
March 14 and 20, 2023
Picnic with Friends Book Discussion, Surprise, AZ
February 6, 2023
Meet the Author, Sun City Grand Book Club, Surprise, AZ