Train of Clues Free Days

Mark your calendars - July 11 and July 12 will be free days for "Train of Clues".  I've decided to remove all books from Nook and Smashwords, not that "Train of Clues" was actually on either of those, and do some free promotional days for everything.  "Train of Clues" will go free again in August but I'll post and let you all know when.  Next Thursday and Friday, "Train of Clues" will be your first chance to download for free. 

For those of  you who don't remember, "Train of Clues" is my first ever story, first entered contest and a second place winning story, which actually was sent to an editor with the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) for her opinion on a direction to turn this into a series with each state being the mystery.  "Train of Clues" is a birthdary party, scavanger hunt on a party train to a mystery destination.  The idea to make each state the mystery came after winning second place. 

I am currently looking for a sponsor or sponsors for the state series so I can get that going again but right now, the series will remain on hold until I can get Heather caught up and be able to pay for future books.  If anyone knows of someone who would like to be a financial sponsor for the series, please pass my contact information, which can be found on the JGDS website home page.  I'm available any time to talk to anyone who has the finances to back a series like this.  I've got a couple of feelers out and will do some followup time next week but I also know that gaining a sponsor takes time, although I've been thinking of this the better part of 3 or 4 years now.  Putting this out in the universe and hoping a response comes in quickly.  Hope you all enjoy your free download of "Train of Clues" next week.  - See you all in the postings - Ma America :)

National Travel & Tourism week

It's that time of year - travel plans are being made and soon school will be out. This author will be busy for the next six weekends. The travel & tourism departments across the nation are kind enough to offer fun activities and businesses at various Welcome Centers. Elysabeth will be visiting the Fairplay Welcome Center on Saturday, May 15, 2010 from 10 to 12. If you are traveling I-85 from Georgia northward, stop by and speak. Grab a few goodies or try winning a prize.

The Fairplay Welcome Center is located 1 mile inside South Carolina on I-85 Northbound. So come on over and see what local businesses have to offer you. Welcome to South Carolina ya'll.

For a complete list of Elysabeth's whereabouts over the next six weeks, stop by Elysabeth's booktour page and check out her upcoming events.

If you all remember last year's posting, I met up with my husband's Aunt Toni and Uncle Jerry and their daughter Joanna, whom I'd only met once and that was 16 years ago. I don't expect to run into these relatives again this year due to surgery for Aunt Toni, but you never know who will show up. I'll definitely take pictures and post when I can. Looking forward to meeting you all and showing you what I'm about as well as welcome you to South Carolina - safe travels to all - Mrs. E & the JGDS

Honea Path Idol and book signing

One performer (I understand the preacher) bought a copy of State of Wilderness. But there was quite a crowd and Honea Path has had it's first Idol - and the weather held up for the whole event. I got worried when I picked the kids up from band practice as it started to rain a bit but it moved on rather quickly - check out the talented folk - I should have videoed the performances but I didn't think of it - so you have still shots - E :)

Fair Play Welcome Center slide show

This was fun and I'm looking forward to being there in August for the "Cool it in South Carolina" themed month along with Katie Hines and hopefully other authors from the area. The authors will be themed - "Cool it with a good book in South Carolina" and hopefully we can serve some homemade peach ice cream during our time there. See you in the postings - E :)

Radio and relatives?

The Welcome Center promotional event went well. Katie Hines and I have been asked to come participate in the August themed event (every month the staff at Fair Play Welcome Center have a theme they present to travelers). By then, State of Reservations should be out and book #4 (tentatively titled State of Heights) will be close to out or out. Just have to see how far I get in the next few days writing wise. The staff are already trying to predict what South Carolina's book will be titled - and have suggested State of Rebellion - but I don't work off titles since my titles are reflective of the clues inside the book and Batya helps come up with my titles. So I will refer my clues to her when I get them in place for that book and let her come up with a title - lol.

I did get to meet Radio and Coach Jones and they will be here in Honea Path in July doing an event for the Outdoor Dream Foundation (similar to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, in that they do things for the kids). For more information, check out The Outdoor Dream Foundation and see what all they have coming up.

Now for the most awesome thing that happened to me - I was standing at my table talking a gentleman. I probably had been talking for 3 or 4 minutes when he says, "I'm traveling with two women who are teachers. You should talk to my wife about your books and schools." I said okay, then his wife came out and he called her over to the table and started telling her what I was doing. She looked at my cover of State of Quarries, and looked at me and asked, "You're an Eldering?" and I said yes. She pointed at me and stammered, "You're... you're.... you're..." and I was going, yes I am and replied, "Oh my gosh." She continues with "You're Bill's wife and I'm..." and I was like "Yeah, you're" and she says, "I'm Aunt Toni." They live in Florida. I have met them one time in my 20 years of marriage and that was 15 years ago when I was pregnant with my youngest child. They were traveling with one of their daughters, Joanna, who is a teacher in, get this of all places, Gwinnett County Georgia, which is only about 2-1/2 hours from Honea Path, to visit with Bill's youngest sister who lives in North Carolina, this side of Charlotte. So my most awesome experience was running into relatives of my husband's on their way to get their other daughter and visit with one of his sisters.

Overall, I do believe the contacts will hopefully get me into the schools nearby and then move out from there. They say you have to start at home or close to home so hopefully this will be the leg up I need - Pictures to come soon (daughter has to download them from her camera to a CD so I can put in my computer (I'm having printer problems again). Will post when I can - E :)

An Invite to participate

I've been communicating with the director at one of the South Carolina Welcome Centers (Fair Play, I-85, coming into South Carolina from Georgia) and have been invited to participate in the 2009 National Travel and Tourism week, May 9th through May 17th. This particular Welcome Center will be having industry partners in the area promoting themselves on Friday, May 15th and Saturday, May 16th, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. We are allowed to distribute any promotional type item we can (brochures, coupons, business cards, et cetera; and in my case it will be bookmarks and some other things for the kids). I'm working on some ideas now - following my "Where will the adventure take you next?" theme - and hopefully I will be able to have plenty of goodies for everyone.

So if you are traveling that weekend in May between Georgia and South Carolina, stop by Saturday, May 16th, between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. and say hello to me. I'd love to meet some of my readers from other states. See you all there. E :)