​ A few random thoughts for this post. First, I have created an Author Facebook page for my penname Elisabeth Casteen. I'll probably use it mostly for advertisement purposes, but I'll post my new releases and information as well. It's something I've been thinking about for quite a while and the only reason I hestiated was that I would be adding another thing to my plate. But you gotta do what you gotta do.  I have also just finished editing my fourth Kathy Hamilton mystery, The Fatal Truth. Now, I feel I could sleep for months...it's so tedious and exhausting. So relieved that part of the process is over. I am still in the process of trying to schedule some book events for this year, not sure if I'll increase the number from last year. I'm going back-and-forth between online advertising and book events - how my money would work best basically. Everyone has an opinion about this...still trying to form mine. So, like I said just a few random thoughts this time. 
Until next time....

​A few random thoughts for this post. First, I have created an Author Facebook page for my penname Elisabeth Casteen. I'll probably use it mostly for advertisement purposes, but I'll post my new releases and information as well. It's something I've been thinking about for quite a while and the only reason I hestiated was that I would be adding another thing to my plate. But you gotta do what you gotta do.  I have also just finished editing my fourth Kathy Hamilton mystery, The Fatal Truth. Now, I feel I could sleep for months...it's so tedious and exhausting. So relieved that part of the process is over. I am still in the process of trying to schedule some book events for this year, not sure if I'll increase the number from last year. I'm going back-and-forth between online advertising and book events - how my money would work best basically. Everyone has an opinion about this...still trying to form mine. So, like I said just a few random thoughts this time. 
Until next time....

Not too much to write about today. I've been going through the edits for my latest mystery, The Fatal Truth so that's been taking up most of my time. However, I did want to mention an awesome comment I got the other day. I was at the library and saw one of my readers at the front. He had checked out my third book a few days ago, so I just wanted to say hi. He told me that he had already finished my book and couldn't wait for the next one. We started talking about some of our favorite authors and then he told me that I was his new favorite author.  That complement really made my day and it's things like that that really help me to keep going, especially when I get bogged down in tedious book edits or a book event doesn't go as well as I would've liked. Anyway, just wanted to mention that and to say thank you for all the wonderful complements that I have received from readers. It means more than you could ever know.
​Until next time....

Just a few things on my mind as I'm writing this. I've started my first carousel ad for my Kathy Hamilton Mystery series on Facebook. I've always wondered if carousel ads or single-image ads are better. It's nerve-racking making sure you have the right image that will resonate with readers, so that they will notice the book that you've spent so many hours on. To me, running ads is more of an art than a science. I don't think there's a magical formula for it to work every time. I think sometimes you just have to get lucky, and hopefully your ad will connect with potential readers amidst all the other things running across their screens. Anyway, I have also been trying to find book deals and leads for my newsletter each month, and so far, I think I've done pretty well. However, sometimes the deals I find run out just after my newsletter comes out which is, to say the least, not ideal. Just another thing to think about (as an author) and try to come to a 'sensible' solution for. Lastly, I have started outlining my first psychological thriller novel and I'm very excited and nervous about this project. On one hand I want it to turn out well and on the other I'm hoping that I'll do it the justice it deserves. So, the only thing to do is to jump in and see what happens. Anyway, I guess that's all for now.
Until next time....

Well, my book giveaway is finally over and the winner this year is...Brandi Lynn of NC. I am so thrilled with how it turned out this year! I saw more participation than last year and even got some new readers involved. I enjoyed reading the giveaway responses and learning what kind of readers responding to my giveaway. So, I'll be sending the giveaway prize off and I hope that my giveaway will grow next year. The giveaway prize was a choice of one of my books plus a reader gift basket which included a tote bag, cup, a pair of fuzzy socks and more.  Maybe if my giveaway grows enough, I'll be able to giveaway more prizes...who knows? I've also noticed that my Facebook page is growing and I'm getting more followers which is very exciting! I am looking forward to this new year and seeing where my author journey takes me.
Until next time....

As an author, I am constantly reminded and urged to have a social media presence.  Now when it comes to social media, the big three come right to mind: Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.  Three very different platforms that are all very important and require a lot of time to do 'it right'. I find myself scrambling a bit trying to figure out how to come up with interesting content for all three platforms. Just the other day, I received a message from Facebook that my posts were now 'more visible' because I had, somewhat by chance, consistently posted engaging content. Needless to say, I was happy that I had managed to figure out at least one of the platforms. I think the thing I enjoy most about my social media pages is seeing how people react or comment on my posts. What we have in common, mostly our love for books and reading, and the fact that they believe I have something to say. It is not about agreeing but sharing a point of view. Everyone may not understand my enthusiasm for all things Jane Austen, but that's ok just as long as we all share a love of reading and realize the importance of it in our lives. So, I am still in the process of figure out how to make social media work for me and have the time for all three platforms so that readers know about me and my books. I guess with everything else......it's  a work in progress.
​Until next time.....

Well, 2023 is finally here. All the Christmas decorations are sadly put away and it's time to start a new year. I found a new book promotion site called Meet New Books. I started using it last week and I'm finally ready to start my book promotions for Killer Deception and Hush Now, Don't Cry. Here's my author profile page on Meet New Books https:/www.meetnewbooks.com/author/1639/maggie-elisabeth-casteen . I'm working on getting No Good Deed into large print and up on Amazon. I'm also in the process of looking at the author events for this year. Hopefully, I can add one or two. I believe I did about five last year so, I really would like to add some more this year. I also got my reading list for 2023 ready for the Goodreads Reading Challenge. I'm already working on the first book on my list, Dawnlands by Philippa Gregory and I hope it has a better ending than the last one. I've also got more books by Juliet Gauvin on there...I like to call it the Irish series. Anyway, getting ready to start another year or writing, publishing, and promoting.
Finally, my annual book giveaway has started on Facebook, go to my author Facebook page.  To enter: comment below with your answer to the question in the post picture. My book giveaway will run from January 1st - 25th, 2023. Deadline is January 27th, 2023, at 8PM EST, for the US only. On January 27th, one winner will be selected from the Facebook comments and newsletter emails submitted. They may pick their choice of free book: Killer Deception, Hush Now, Don't Cry, No Good Deed, Road Less Traveled or Ruff Rewards. The winner will also receive a book lovers gift basket with their choice of free book. ** I will connect the winner privately to get their prizes to them.** 
Until next time.....

​I can't believe a new year is almost here. I have come so far as an author from where I started in 2020. In the beginning, all I wanted to do was see if I could get my book, Killer Deception, published. I never intended to go any further than that, but people or readers have been so encouraging and keep asking when I'm going to publish my next one. So, I decided to throw caution to the wind and see if I could make 'a living' at being a writer. It has honestly been something I've always wanted to do....write for a living. I have to say that I have throughly enjoyed writing these stories, creating new characters, and weaving story plots together. I truly believe that this is what I was always meant to do, and hopefully, I will be able to continue to write more stories and publish them for others to read. I'm excited to see what next year will bring and how much further my writing journey will go.  So, Merry Christmas to everyone and I wish you all a happy new year!
Until next time....

I am so excited that Christmastime is finally here! I always take the week before Christmas off so I can really concentrate on my writing. Maybe, one day I won't have to do that anymore. I've sent my Christmas cards, the holiday baking is done, and all the decorations are up. There's just something about Christmas that you can get at any other time of the year. Maybe it's spending time with my family, watching Christmas movies, and not having a million things on my mind. Who knows? Anyway, I've had three new subscribers to my newsletter and I am very excited and grateful. If you haven't signed up then you are missing out. I always start the year with a book giveaway, which is right around the corner and I select one winner at the end of January.  My newsletter comes out around the 4th of every month and I also send out special holiday emails and such. There's so much to do as an Indie author. I try to be as efficient as I can about it, but there's always something slipping through. But no matter how much there is to do I always go back to the enjoyment and satisfaction I get from writing. It is still the thing I want to do and never feels like work to me.  Anyway, I guess that's it for now.
Until next time...

My Thanksgiving this year was very quiet, since I was sick. So, no turkey and dessert for me...I had mine two days later. I spent my Thanksgiving on the couch watching the FIFA world cup, taking medicine every few hours. It wasn't too bad...the soccer made up for it. Anyway, I'm starting to see some decent book sales at Cabin Lake which is awesome and I also have my Christmas on the Hill Book event this weekend! This will be my fourth book event this year...there was a time, especially during COVID, when I wasn't sure if I was able to have an event. So, the fact that I've had 4 is just amazing. I'm also looking to do some book promotion/advertising next month...maybe I'll get some of the Christmas shoppers to purchase my books.  If you have any readers that you need a gift for, please check out my website www.authormaggiecasteen.com and check out my books.  Another thing that I'm looking into is finally getting my Kathy Hamilton series into audiobooks. Audiobooks is the 'next step' for me as an author, so we'll see what happens, but hopefully it won't be too much longer until I can start adding Audiobooks as a format option. 
Until next time....