A Pooh For All Ages

Friday night, my girls and I went off to see the new Pooh movie. The day we heard of its upcoming release, we knew it was a movie we absolutely could not miss.   

You see, both of my girls were raised on Winnie the Pooh. In fact, they’d virtually memorized A. A. Milne’s map of the Hundred Acre Wood by the time each of them was three. Before any Pooh story could be read, we had to point at all of the important places–Eeyore’s Gloomy Place, Pooh’s thinking Spot, Owl’s House, Rabbit’s Garden, etc. And when we were done reading, we’d study (and discuss) the map all over again.

So, it was a wonderful surprise when the latest Pooh tale to hit the big screen, started off with that very map. We sat back and laughed (and, at times, cried–happily) our way through the movie. It was funny, sweet, innocent, and void of all the inappropriate innuendos that seem to be synonomous with “kid” movies these days.

And even more refreshing was the demographic in the movie theater itself. The theater was packed…yet, if I had to guess, I’d say there were no more than 12-15 kids under the age of ten. The majority of Pooh-watchers were adults (without kids) and teenagers (without parents). To see Pooh.

If you  haven’t seen it, you should.

Thanks, Disney. I couldn’t imagine a more special evening with my daughters.

~Elizabeth

Summer Fun

I’ve always been a fan of summer. I like the freedom that seems to come with longer days and nicer weather. And the last few days have served to underscore my love for this time of year…

I went hiking along Kent Falls in Kent, CT with My Special Guy. The view was spectacular and the hike great for the old legs!

I went to the New York Aquarium and got to see the sweetest little sea otter. He just swam around on his little back looking like his life was the greatest life ever! And when the keeper opened the door signaling it was time for him to come in, he took a few extra laps in his little pool for good measure before climbing out. Soo cute!

And then, after realizing my “white” car wasn’t looking so “white” anymore, I grabbed hold of a bucket and a sponge and washed my car from top to bottom. And when I was all done, I turned the hose upward and let the water cascade down all over me!  It’s been entirely too long since I’ve done that and I dare say I won’t wait so long to do it again!

So what kind of fun things have you done so far this summer?

~Elizabeth

Happy Fourth

Happy 4th of July, everyone!!

I hope your day is filled with sun, good food, memories-in-the-making, and spectacular fireworks!

I’ll be back posting regularly starting tomorrow.

~Elizabeth

Same Instructor, Different Generation

Twenty seven years ago. my brother stuck me behind the wheel of his then Honda Civic and taught me how to drive a stick shift. Being a new driver at the time, it wasn’t pretty. I stalled the engine (countless times), ground the gears, and rolled my way down more hills than I could count. But, eventually, I figured it out. I figured out how to time the release of the clutch with the press of the gas. I figured out how to start from a stop on a hill (without having to use the emergency brake). And I figured out how to actually look as if I knew what I was doing. 

I didn’t drive stick often at that time, mostly because the cars I had access to were automatic. But when it came time to buy my very first car (in 1992), I opted for a manual. Sixteen years later, when that car finally called it quits, I purchased an automatic. Sure, I would have loved to have gotten another stick, but, with the M.S. affecting my left side during rare flare-ups, I figured it was time to get rid of the clutch. I adore my new car–it has some really cool bells and whistles–but, that said, I miss driving a stick. It’s fun, it’s not something everyone can do, and it always, always, always makes me think of my brother.

Fast forward to now and my oldest daughter is learning to drive. Automatic, of course.

Only, just like he did with me, my brother took her in his car this weekend (he’s graduated to a Mustang Cobra convertible) and taught her how to drive stick. She stalled the engine, ground a few gears, and rolled a tiny hill or two. But after about fifteen minutes and the same patience he showed me so many years ago, she got it.

With me grinning from the backseat the whole time.

So tell me, what’s something you’ve learned in life that has the teacher and the teaching every bit as special as the lesson/skill you learned in the end?

~Elizabeth

P.S. In case you’re wondering, once Dear Daughter #1′s lesson was over, I took the wheel and drove it all the way home.

What Would You Do?

I watched a short video clip the other day from a recent visit by Jessica Simpson to the Oprah Winfrey show. During the clip that I saw, Jessica gave prom dresses to six or seven underprivleged high school girls who simply didn’t have the means to dress like their fellow students. The girls got to select their dresses from racks of possibilities (shoes, too). Once they’d made their selection, they came out on Oprah’s stage to show the audience. Some of the girls looked ecstatic, some wary, but all of them were very aware it was a moment they never saw coming. And from that alone, they learned to believe in change…believe that good things can happen when you least expect it.

I like that. I like when a celebrity, such as Jessica Simpson, uses her considerable resources to help the less fortunate, to make a difference in someway.

So here’s my question for all of you today. If you had the kind of money that you could share with others, what kind of things would you want to do? Any certain organizations or groups of people/kids you’d want to help?

~Elizabeth

I, Elizabeth Lynn Casey, am a neat freak

I’m a neat freak. Always have been, always will be. I like clean desks and counters and despise “the pile.”

I also like organization (to-do lists, file folders, and a place for everything).

So when my office became a victim of floods here in NY in mid-March, my sanity was put to the test. The living room floor played host to stacks of folders, the couch became a place for special books and memorabilia normally on my shelves, and the dreaded “pile” not only found its way into my world but it also multiplied. Ten-fold. 

I got really good at not looking into the living room those next four weeks or so as we tried to decide what to do with the floor. But even though I tried not to look, I still saw. Grrrrr.

Fortunately, while I was traveling for some launch events last weekend, a new floor was put down in my office. And then, just yesterday (while waiting for my kids to get home), I started moving back in–folders back in their file cabinet, memorabila back on its shelves, books in their appropriate spot. And boy, do I feel better.

Phew.

Any other neat freaks out there? 

~Elizabeth

P.S. If you  happen to be on Facebook, I’m running an impromptu contest for fans of the series on myAuthor Page today. Here’s a LINK.

Ta Da!

I am positively giddy over the newest cover art for my Southern Sewing Circle Mystery Series!!  I’m so giddy, in fact, I can’t help but share a sneak peek of it with all of you!

This is the just-completed cover for Book # 5 in the series–DANGEROUS ALTERATIONS (release date: November 1st). Isn’t it  gorgeous??

Ahhhh, my cover artist loves me. She really truly does.   Now, with any luck, I’ll get the very same artist for my new series (stay tuned for information on that later this week).

In addition to various story “clues” in the picture, my faithful readers should know exactly who that rabbit is…  Leona will be very proud!

~Elizabeth

Gonna Party Like It’s ???

While I know Monday is not everyone’s favorite day of the week, I have to say–at least this week, anyway–I disagree. With a book launch tomorrow and an award ceremony to attend on Thursday, there’s a lot to do and a lot to be excited about.

Which got me thinking about parties and about all of you.

Yes, you.

What was the most fun (and/or creative) party you’ve ever attended? How about the most fun (and/or creative) party you’ve ever thrown?

I’ll give my answers in the comment section later on.

~Elizabeth

A Check in the Award Winner Column

When I was 10-years-old, I knew I wanted to be a writer. I knew I wanted to see my books on library and bookstore shelves.

Today, that dream has evolved just a bit.

Yes, I still want to see my books on library and bookstore shelves–something I’ve accomplished and hope to see for years to come.

Now that I’m older and actually get this business a little, I’ve added a few more aspects to my dream…

1) To be a national bestseller (something I hit with SEW DEADLY when it came in at # 4 on the national B & N list for mass market mystery it’s first few weeks on the market). Now, while each subsequent book in the Southern Sewing Circle series has achieved this honor…I’d like to see one of my books make it onto the NYT Bestseller list one day!

2) To be an award winning author. This little gem is something all writers want to achieve if for no other reason than validation. And, until this past week, I’d been nominated for awards (an Agatha for Best First Novel of 2005, and RT Magazine’s Reviewer’s Choice for Best Harlequin American of 2010–for which I got two nominations) but hadn’t been a “winner” yet.

This week, that changed. I am pleased to report that one of those two books ,that were  nominated for Best Harlequin American of 2010, has won!!!!  Yay!  Every year, Harlequin American puts out 48  books (four each month). RT Magazine reviews them all, selecting their top five at the end of the year. My January release–Kayla’s Daddy, and my December release–Miracle Baby, both made it into the top 5 (not bad considering Kayla’s Daddy was the first romance I’ve ever written).  Once they have their top 5, RT’s team of reviewers selects their very favorite.  MIRACLE BABY is that book!   I’ll officially receive the award next month in L.A.  

Exciting stuff, huh?

~Elizabeth (who, for romance purposes, can also be called “Laura”) 

P.S. My post for tomorrow may be late. My computer is virtually dead and my new one is being set up by the Geek Squad as I write this.

My *Grin* Day

About a week before a book comes out, authors usually get a box on their doorstep. All UPS drivers who deliver to our homes, know what these boxes contain (they’re used to being knocked over in the doorway, I imagine). But, for a lucky gal like me (who happens to have an amazing editor), two hot-off-the-press copies arrive at my door a week before the big box. When those come, it’s really exciting because it’s my first look/touch/smell of my latest book.

Friday afternoon was that two-copies-hot-off-the-press day. See, aren’t they pretty…

I can’t really explain what it’s like to see my latest creation in book form. Real book form.  But I can tell you what I did when I pulled them out of their padded envelope. I stared at the front cover for about five minutes. Then I turned it over and read the copy on the back from start to finish. Then it was time to open it. I read the backlist page (growing all the time), I read the dedication (to two of my closest friends), the acknowledgement section, and the first paragraph of chapter one. When all that was done, I turned to the back to see what other authors get plugged in the back. And guess what? On the list of some of the more well known crafty type mysteries, my name was right there, too! 

*grin*

The next *grin* phase comes two weeks from tomorrow (April 5th) when I get to walk into my first B & N and see DEADLY NOTIONS on the shelves!

~Elizabeth