Penny For Your Thoughts?

For today’s Writing Thursday, I thought I’d ask you to try your hand at a little dialogue.

Pick one of the pictures below and write a thought bubble for above the animal’s head (an internal thought or, perhaps, a conversation with another–unseen–animal in the next pen).

Be clever, be creative, be funny, be serious, write it however you want. But share it with us in the comments, okay?

Picture # 1 is found on your left (and, yes, that’s it’s hair).

Picture # 2 is on your right.    

Ready?

Go!

~Elizabeth

Mother’s Day With a Twist

I’m a holiday girl. I like to decorate, I like to plan, I like traditions.

My favorite of the lot? Christmas.

But there’s another one, a big one, that I prefer to tweak and celebrate a few times a year–at random times and without all the fanfare.

That day is Mother’s Day (with me–as the mom, getting to spend some extra special time making memories with my daughters). Or, rather, Mother/Daughters’ Day.

Last summer we had lots of opportunities for random Mother/Daughters’ days as we were in the process of moving from St. Louis to New York state (with a one month pit-stop in my aunt’s NYC apartment). During that one glorious month, we wandered Central Park together each morning, finding new paths and new pretzel vendors. We visited book stores and rode subways and discovered cheap (but good) restaurants to explore when we didn’t feel like cooking. In fact, the screen saver on my phone is from one of our days in the city. I had scrounged together enough money to take the three of us for a horse and carriage ride through the park…to celebrate a book extension.

Then, in December, we headed back down to the city for a night to see the Nutcracker at Lincoln Center. It was wonderfully special watching that (in that magical venue) with my daughters next to me. The smiles on their faces were a mirror of my own.

And you know what? We’re celebrating Mother/Daughters’ Day again this weekend. I’ve pinched and saved for months so I can take them to see Wicked on Broadway. And thanks to my aunt who is elsewhere this weekend, we get to spend the entire weekend in the city…stretching our 2-1/2 hour long show into 48 hours of memories-in-the-making (walks in the park, window shopping, bookstores, and laughter).

I can’t wait.

So tell me, have you invented any holidays of your own?

~Elizabeth 

Picking Brains and Taking Notes

Since I’m mid-way through a new book (someone else’s, not mine) and working hard on another (my own), I figured I’d try something a little different today. And, if your answers help with my next round of marketing (PINNED FOR MURDER comes out October 5th), even better.

Thanks in advance for your answers…

1) Have you ever given a book to someone as a gift? Was it a book you knew they wanted, or one you simply suspected they’d like?

2) Have you ever stood on a long line to get a book autographed (and by whom)?

3) If you were a series writer, what are some unusual things you’d do to connect with/reach your readers (as well as potential new ones)?

4) Random thoughts? Ideas?  Comments?

~Elizabeth

Adding Your Own Story…To Theirs

I’m back. And for all of you clever readers who guessed “the Jersey shore,” you were right! The beaches were quiet, the weather pretty decent, and the last hurrah before school starts nothing short of fun (except for the moment when my youngest was walking along and literally had a piece of the amusement pier snap under her feet and fall into the dark and deep ocean below…with her flip flop to boot–but since she, herself, fell forward instead of DOWN, all was okay in the end).

One of my favorite things to do at the beach is take long walks along the shoreline. I try to go in the morning, the afternoon, and again in the evening. This time, however, I simply sat on the beach one morning and looked out at the sea–the boats in the distance, the school of dolpins heading north, etc…  And I started dreaming. About the people on the fishing vessels, and the dolphins and their destination on that particular morning…

So here’s my “Dreamer Monday” question for all of you today. Has there been a person or an object that’s caught your attention in the past few days? Did you find yourself imagining anything about them/it? Tell us.

~Elizabeth

Where in the World Is Elizabeth?

Today we’re going to play a game. I’m going to give you Bits & Pieces of where I am today. Let’s see who can figure it out!

1) When I looked outside “my” window this morning, I saw a great big statue of Paul Bunyon. With a golf club in his hand.

2) I opened my door, walked one block east and the ground I was walking on suddenly changed.

3) Every single time I’m here, I try to hear the sound this treasure supposedly holds…but all I hear is the real one roaring in my ear from just steps away.

4) The people they highlight on the reality show of this name aren’t the people I see when I come here (and I’m glad).

Anyone?

~Elizabeth

To the Mailbox We Go

 I’m sticking my hand in the mailbox today and retrieving several quick-to-answer questions.

*Deep breath*

Okay, go!

Q # 1:   What time of day do you write?

A # 1:  Morning. Now this can stretch into afternoon/evening if I’m on a roll, but morning is my start time.

Q # 2: Where do you write?

A # 2: Depends. Sometimes I write away from home (library, Panera, etc). I helps me shut down the distractions of home and actually get something done. But once I’m really going on the book (and provided no one is home), I can write at home, too.  That said, my very favorite place to write is a Borders Bookstore. Nostalgia, I guess.

Q # 3: Do you just write cozies?

A # 3: No! I write romance (a relatively new addition), too. I also have a great women’s fiction novel brewing in my head at the moment…in addition to a thriller that’s done but needs about 20K more words.

Q # 4: Where are you at with your writing right now?

A # 4: I’m currently working on the fifth book in my Southern Sewing Circle Mystery Series. It’s due to my editor on November 1st!  If your a series fan, this may make you scratch your head in confusion. But no, you haven’t missed anything. PINNED FOR MURDER (the third in the series) comes out on October 5th. DEADLY NOTIONS (the fourth in the series–already done/edited/cover designed and waiting) comes out April 4th.

Q # 5: This one is from me to you…Any questions you’d like to send my way???

~Elizabeth

P.S. If you visit my blog often, you may recognize the name Lynn Cahoon. She’s done a few guest blogs for me over the past few months. She’s both a writer and friend. Anyway, Lynn has done something very gutsy. She’s put the first chapter of a work-in-progress (romance) on a Harlequin website that is currently featuring New Voices. People can stop by and read her first chapter…and offer a comment/rating. If you have some time today, I’m sure she’d appreciate a little support. To read her entry, click HERE.

No More Excuses

The dog days of summer are great. They really are. But they have a way of really messing with routines. At least for me, anyway.

Next week, that changes.

You see, come Monday, my 11-year-old will be boarding the bus for her first day of middle school (I can’t believe it, I just can’t believe it) and then, come Tuesday, my 15-year-old will be bound for her first day as a sophomore. And you know what happens the second they’re both out the door on Tuesday?

All procrastination (which seemed to rule my life this summer) ceases.

Really.

I have a schedule brewing in my head:  Write all morning. Workout (which I need to do) as soon as I’m done.  Then, and only then, will I run errands/do chores.

So that’s my plan. Anyone else determined to do things differently this fall?

~Elizabeth

The Pitter Patter on the Roof

I don’t know about you, but there are certain places I like to be at certain times. For instance, if I’m struggling with a decision (or I’m a bit peeved about something), I like to drive. Find me a two-lane country road out in the middle of nowhere and it’s even better.

If it’s snowing, I like to be cuddled up on the couch.

If it’s warm and sunny, I like to be at the beach.

If it’s rainy and grey, I like to be in a bookstore. Preferably one where I can hear the rain on the roof as I wander the aisles–looking at covers on the face-outs, running my hands along the spines of the paperbacks, pulling out various titles and reading the jacket copy.

I don’t know what it is about rain and a bookstore for me. I really don’t. Sure, I love to roam the bookstores anytime, anywhere. But a rainy day? It’s virtually a have-to for me.

So how about you? Tell me particular places you crave and particular times in your life. And, when you’re done, tell me about some of your favorite bookstores of all time (tossing in a why for good measure).

~Elizabeth

Daydream Believer

Do you know what the best part of daydreaming is? It allows us to “check out” of reality for a little while and visit a place that makes us smile. And smiling is good, right?

That said, what kinds of things do you daydream about? Do you picture yourself receiving an award, meeting a goal, fulfilling an accomplishment? Or do you find yourself fantasizing about your next dinner or, even better, the ultimate dessert?

I daydream all the time. And those dreamy break-from-reality moments run the gamut from a robot who can clean my house to something sinfully chocolate appearing on my plate with a big glass of milk on the side. But lately? My daydreams have had me taking a call from my editor (the one where she’ll tell me I hit the NYT Bestseller list–extended or otherwise) and standing to thunderous applause when my name is called to receive a Rita (Romance Writers of America) and/or and Agatha (Malice Domestic). 

So how about you? What’s something you daydream about?

~Elizabeth

Oooh, Aaah

Born from the suggestion of an old friend (and in honor of Hurricane Earl), I decided to make today’s Bits & Pieces be of the “oooh, aaah” variety.

Ready?

1) What sorts of natural disasters have you been through (whether small or large scale)? Any interesting tales to share?

2) Which type (earthquake, tornado, hurricane) scares you the most?

3) Quiz time: Which storm has people putting taped x’s on their windows?

4) Has there ever been a hurricane (during your lifetime) that has carried the name of either you or a loved one?

I’ll be back to answer these myself in the comment section later on.

~Elizabeth