Friday was spent sightseeing as this was my first time in L.A. Santa Monica pier (nice), Venice Beach (a place I have no desire to visit again) and Hollywood (kind of cool) all made the cut. Got to see the famous “Hollywood” sign on the hill and many of the stars on Hollywood Boulevard.

Now I’m back home and getting ready to start doing some events for DEADLY NOTIONS. I also must get back to writing book # 6 as the deadline for that is fast approaching. To help keep everything in line, I’ve commandeered a notebook for the express purpose of keeping track of goals. So far so good, but I’ve got another three weeks to go in April so we’ll see just how well I do (or don’t) do. 

How’s your April shaping up?

~Elizabeth

Once again, there’s a lot of  _ _ _ _ today, so I’ve decided to hunker down in _ _ _ and drink some _ _ _      _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ and _ _ _ _ a really good _ _ _ _.

Sounds good, doesn’t it?

~Elizabeth

My life has been a little different. There’s been no set coordinates, no one town, and my friends–at least the most wonderful of the bunch–have come from chance encounters. It’s the kind of life where a compass holds little value because the joy, and the treasured surprises in life often come when I toss aside the map and opt to wing it instead.

The woman, Lynn, who pops up in the comments from time to time? I met her about three years ago after she won a contest on a group blog I used to do with four other mystery writers. When I realized she lived in St. Louis (as I did at the time), I suggested we meet rather than mail her prize. We met…we hit it off…we became friends.

The woman, Mary, who pops up in the comments from time to time was a fan of my series (the Jenkins & Burns Mystery Series written as Laura Bradford) and reached out, via an email to my website. We emailed, we clicked, and she invited me to talk at her local library when I was touring for SEW DEADLY. She even invited me to stay with her and her husband (yes, technically she was a complete stranger but I had a good feeling) while I was in town. Not only did we hit it off, but everything about Mary makes me strive to be a more open person (not easy for someone who is as shy as I am by nature).

Heck, even this series I’m writing was born from a chance–something my agent asked if I’d be interested in trying. I almost said no, certain I couldn’t pull off a series with a backdrop of sewing. But, in the end, I gave it a whirl. The result? I ended up falling in love with these characters, centering the books around the friendships inspired by the sewing rather than the sewing, itself.

I could go on and on and on, listing examples of people and circumstances that have changed my life simply because I veered off course and took a chance, but I realize you all have jobs.

So I’ll stop for now and hand the tour guiding over to all of you…

What are some unexpected treasure chests you’ve stumbled on in life simply because you veered off course?

~Elizabeth

If so, I went on the 8 a.m. (central time) bus which means I’m already there waiting for you.

Where’s there, you ask?

It’s HERE.  Oh, and there’s a book up for grabs, too (bribery is great, isn’t it?).

~Elizabeth

  Cool, huh?

Here’s a few of mine:

(For air travel) No oranges allowed.

(For parenting) If you can’t drink and watch your children at the same time, don’t drink.

(For teenagers) Warn parents before mood changes happen.

(For people in general) If you can’t say something nice, don’t say it at all.

Your turn!

~Elizabeth

**My apologies for posting this late, just got home after book events in Missouri and Texas!

From Melissa:  Other than a few signings, is your obligation done once the book is written?

This is a good question. And, as a pre-pubbed writer who didn’t really know any published authors six years ago, I always assumed it did. I figured you wrote the book, turned it in, and the rest took care of itself.

I soon learned how wrong that was. Or, rather, how wrong it is if you want to succeed in this business.

The best way to illustrate the answer to this question is to talk about what I’m doing right now…

I’m currently writing the fifth book in my Sewing Circle Mystery Series. It’s due to my editor on November 1st. However, the third book (PINNED FOR MURDER) in the series releases in 12 days. In those next 12 days, I must send out my mailing announcing the book’s release (this includes labeling and stamping nearly 500 postcards), write some guest blogs, wrap up the contest I’m running right now (see my “Latest News” tab above for more information) and finalize my itinerary for my launch weekend.

The day PINNED FOR MURDER comes out, I plan to do some stock signings in my area as well as participate in a live online chat with Berkley readers as arranged by the publisher.

The next day I hit the road (or, rather, the air) to do stock signings in the St. Louis area before hosting a launch party in St. Charles, MO the evening of October 8th. Then it’s on to Houston the next morning for a signing the evening of the 9th, followed by more stock signings in the Houston area on the 10th. While traveling, I’m building my mailing list for the release of my fourth book (in April).

Then it’s home to write (which I’ll be doing while traveling, as well) before a second weekend of signings is upon me. During this time, I’m in touch with my editor regarding any best seller lists we may have made (keep your fingers crossed, okay?), and fielding any emails from fans who have read the latest book (I LOVE emails, by the way).

So there you have it–a quick glimpse at the world beyond the actual writing.

Any new questions to add to my lineup (Lynn, I’ll get to yours next week)??

~Elizabeth

In the meantime, I’ll be back on Friday.

~Elizabeth

Picture # 1 on the left is from LaDonna N. She spotted DEATH THREADS at the Champion Forest Barnes & Noble in Houston, Texas!!!  LaDonna looks as if she’s about to become a victim in my next book!

  And picture # 2 on the right is from a very clever reader who found DEATH THREADS in the B & N e-book store!!! Way to go, Carley W. 

Okay, folks, there’s just ONE more t-shirt up for grabs. So get out there and snap a photo of DEATH THREADS on a shelf of a bookstore not already submitted (it can be a chain store like B & N…but it needs to be a different location).

Got your photo? Send it to me at ElizabethLCasey@aol.com along with the where/when of your sighting and your t-shirt size (mediums and larges still available). But hurry, this Launch Week Challenge ends Monday!

~Elizabeth

Congratulations, Shel for finding the time to stop by my blog and post a few comments along the way! I pulled your name from my magic hat (which means you win a prize)!

Pick one thing from this list and I’ll get it out to you ASAP!

1) A signed copy of SEW DEADLY.
2) A signed copy of my first romance, KAYLA’S DADDY (written as Laura Bradford).
3) A signed copy of one of my older mysteries, FORECASE OF EVIL (written as Laura Bradford).
4) A signed copy of one of my older mysteries, MARKED BY FATE (also written as Laura Bradford).

Keep on posting comments, everyone…a chance at free stuff is always good. Plus we’ve got some really cool people who hang around this blog!

~Elizabeth

Well, I have to say, my first month of blogging on a daily basis went better than I expected! A huge Thank You goes out to all of you who have been giving me a shot the past few weeks.

And now that January is virtually done, it’s time to post my first monthly winner! At the end of every month, I put the names of all those people who have posted a comment on my blog that month into a hat for a random drawing. The more times you comment over the course of the month, the more chances you have to win.

Our January winner? Blog reader, Dru!!!  Dru, please contact me at: ElizabethLCasey@aol.com to claim your prize (a choice of…a) a signed copy of SEW DEADLY, b) a signed copy of KAYLA’S DADDY, c) a signed cover flap of the upcoming DEATH THREADS, or d) a signed copy of all three of my Jenkins & Burns Mysteries).

Congratulations, Dru!

~Elizabeth