Archive for the ‘Bits & Pieces Fridays’ Category

02
Mar

We’ll Call It An Early Screening Of Sorts

Posted under Bits & Pieces Fridays 11 Comments

This week, I’m departing from the “normal” Bits & Pieces format on all of you and giving you a few Bits & Pieces about me (as it pertains to my latest “baby,” anyway) and then following it up with a really cool contest.

Here we go…

As most of you know, June 5th marks the debut of the first book in my brand new Amish Mysteries–HEARSE AND BUGGY. I’m beside myself with excitement over this series for several reasons…

*It’s got my professional name (Laura Bradford) on the cover, rather than a pseudonym.
*I’ve been fascinated with the Amish for as long as I can remember.
*I can’t wait for the readers who have followed me since my very first book (in 2005) to get their hands on my latest endeavor.

But just as the excitement is palpable, so, too, is the fear. Why? Well, partly because of the same three reasons I just gave for being excited. Because once this book is out in a place where everyone can read it, it’s out of my hands (kinda like the day you drop your child off at school for the very first time and worry all the way home as to whether or not they’ll be happy and/or fit in).

So while I’m excited for June 5th to arrive, I’m also a little scared (us creative types are a bit of a nutty bunch). Which should tell you why the contest I’m three sentences away from detailing is a labor of love…and quite possibly the thing that gets me biting my nails again like I did as a little kid.

Okay. Here’s the deal.

Prior to the launch of a brand new series, publishers print up what is known as ARCs (Advanced Reader Copies). These ARCs are uncorrected proofs–which means there are mistakes (typos, assorted mistakes, etc). The ARCs are also encased in a plain colored wrapper rather than the actual cover that will be on the final version. The bulk of these ARCs will be sent–via the publisher–to the big review places in the hopes of garnering some shout-outs. Aside from those, a few ARCs are sent to the author to be dispersed at our discretion.

Long story short, I got a handful of ARCs for HEARSE AND BUGGY on Monday and–**deep breath, Laura**–I’ve decided to put one up as a contest prize. Which, for one lucky winner, means a chance to read HEARSE AND BUGGY almost three months before it’s released to the public. I’m hoping that the winner will consider posting some reviews (Amazon, B & N, Goodreads, personal blogs, Facebook pages, etc) if they like the book–as a way to help spread the word. I’d also ask that the winner refrain from selling the book (or sharing it with anyone else) until after the June 5th launch date.

Sound fair?

Here’s what you need to do to be entered. Send an email to me at: ElizabethLCasey@aol.com with the words “Hearse and Buggy” in the subject line and…well…that’s it. If you care to include your snail mail addy for a postcard as the true launch date approaches, that would be great, but if not, that’s okay, too.

One entry per person.

Deadline for entries is midnight (Eastern Time) on March 15th. The winner will be announced both here and on my Laura Bradford Fan Page on Facebook on Friday, March 16th.

Good luck!

~Elizabeth (a.k.a. LAURA )

17
Feb

Run Away With Me

Posted under Bits & Pieces Fridays 6 Comments

Getting right to Bits & Pieces this morning and theming it around an area I’ve been thinking a lot about…

1) Must-go vacation spot before you die?

2) Favorite tried-and-true vacation spot?

3) Least favorite vacation you’ve ever taken?

4) What are your top four ingredients for a successful vacation?

~Elizabeth (who is ready for a break from the cold weather)

10
Feb

Bits & Pieces of the Heart

Posted under Bits & Pieces Fridays 15 Comments

Since Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, I figured I’d sprinkle it into today’s Bits & Pieces.

1) Any plans for Valentine’s Day this year?

2) Godiva or Hershey’s?

3) You get three words to describe your perfect mate. They can be three separate words or used together. Go!

4) Favorite romantic movie?

~Elizabeth

03
Feb

Cars

Posted under Bits & Pieces Fridays 15 Comments

Sitting at the car place awaiting word on why my car is suddenly struggling to go up hills. While I’m hoping it’s something little, I have this gut feeling my transmission is dying. So you can only imagine how badly I wanted to hug the service guy when he told me that IF it is the transmission, it’s still covered. Phew. Phew. Phew.

Today’s Bits & Pieces, of course, is now about cars (Chris C. this is for you)…

1) What was the first car you were able to call your own?

2) Dream car?

3) How many cars have you owned over the years?

4) Must-have on a car?

5) Would-like-to-have on a car?

~Elizabeth

20
Jan

B-B-Bits & P-P-Pieces

Posted under Bits & Pieces Fridays 9 Comments

It’s cold out. Really, really cold out. Which makes it hard to think of anything besides cold-weather things. So here we go…

1) Blanket or robe?

2) What do you reach for when you want to add something to your hot chocolate?

3) Ski or sled? Bonus points if you have a funny story to share about either.

4) Name a song that instantly makes you think of warmth.

~Elizabeth

13
Jan

Mirror, Mirror

Posted under Bits & Pieces Fridays 3 Comments

Today’s Bits & Pieces came to me while looking at an image of that face that appears whenever Snow White’s Wicked Queen looks in the mirror…

1) When you look in the mirror, what’s something you like?

2) What’s something you’d change (either physical or otherwise)?

3) Everyone has an age where they felt their best, what’s yours and why?

4) Describe yourself in a sentence.

~Elizabeth

06
Jan

An Honor Before Bits

Posted under Bits & Pieces Fridays 10 Comments

Before I get to this week’s Bits & Pieces, I figured I’d share some cool news with you. DANGEROUS ALTERATIONS was just named one of the Top Ten Books of 2011 by Laura Hinds (a cozy reviewer at MyShelf.com)!!! You can access the various lists HERE. Scroll down to Laura’s list and you’ll see DANGEROUS ALTERATIONS there, along with a review link beside it (the review of the book is really quite awesome)!!!

Yay!!

Double YAY (or would that be, YAY!! YAY!!??)!!!

Now that I’ve had my moment to share my good news, we’ll move on. This week, I’m asking the questions and giving my answers as part of the blog. After you read mine, I sure hope you’ll pop into the comment section and tell us yours…

1) What are you reading now?

*Me? I’m reading, MURDER 101 by Maggie Barbieri. It’s the first and only book I’ve downloaded to my new Kindle Fire so far.

2) What’s your favorite cake of all time?

*Me? I’m a Boston Creme Pie/Cake kinda gal. But it’s got to made just right. Mmmm…

3) If you could hear any song at this moment, what would it be?

*Me? I think I’m in a Hooters–And We Danced kinda mood right now.

4) What’s an ability/interest few know you have?

*Me? I’d say cake decorating. For which I provide Exhibit A (made last night for Dear Daughter #1′s birthday). In the past, I’ve made everything from Blue (from Blue’s Clues) to a 3 dimensional Pooh Bear cake that totally rocked! I took a class to learn this when DD #1 was 13 months old and I’ve been decorating cakes for her and DD #2 ever since. I’ll venture to say that learning how to do that has brought me a lot of joy over the years (their faces when they see their cakes is worth every second I spent on decorating).

Now it’s your turn…

~Elizabeth

30
Dec

Old and New

Posted under Bits & Pieces Fridays 6 Comments

Well, this is it. My last blog of 2011.

It’s been an interesting year, that’s for sure. One filled with memorable moments I wouldn’t trade for anything, and a handful of trials I wish I could delete. But, all in all, everything was/is good.

2012 and what, exactly, it will bring, is still a mystery–a mystery we all try to put a handle on via resolutions or promises for change or growth.

Me? I prefer to set goals.–things I hope to accomplish before the last blog of 2012 appears on this very page.

I did pretty good with my goals last year. I took each of my daughters on a Mom-and-Me weekend. I signed three new contracts (one for a romance, one for a 3-book extension for the sewing series, and one for a brand new Amish series). And I kept up on this blog. The only goal I didn’t do so well on was one regarding fitness (why is that always the one that’s hardest to stick to?).

For 2012, I have an all new batch of goals…plus a return of the fitness one I failed to achieve in 2011.

So how about you? Did you set goals/make resolutions for 2011? If so, how did you do? Any for 2012 you care to share?

~Elizabeth

P.S. Be sure to stop by on Monday as I’ll be unveiling the cover of HEARSE AND BUGGY–the first book in my new Amish cozy mystery series which will debut on June 5th!!!! It’s beautiful!

16
Dec