It feels a little daunting every time I sit down to write to new story. There are so many choice or ways that the story could end up. But that is exactly what I am doing right now. I have an idea for book 4 of the Kathy Hamilton Mystery series, and I am trying to figure out which path this story should take. I have to admit it is fun trying to figure out what will happen to all the characters in the next book. What storylines will have new twist or turns in them - nothing too drastic I don't think. Anyway, just wanted to throw a line out there that I am in the process of book #4 and I am hoping that it will be just as good as its predecessors.
Until next time.... 

It's been a while since my last post. I've been busy getting my sales page ready and lining up my promotions (library mailers, Facebook ad..) for No Good Deed. However, my first professional review of No Good Deed from the Prairies Book Review is finally in and I'm very excited. They described my latest book as, "Swift, gripping, and entertaining…" Click the link below to read the full review. 
No Good Deed Review
Don't forget No Good Deed is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and my Bookshop page. If you enjoy the review of No Good Deed just wait until you actually read it. Just go to www.authormaggiecasteen.com/books  and click the button you prefer to purchase from. 

Last Saturday was my first book event at the Cabin Lake Vendor Fair. I met a lot of people and even sold some books. I was a little nervous because I was afraid that I might have forgotten something, but it turned out great. I passed out several business cards along with information on how to purchase my books online.  It was a nice day for an outdoor vendor fair, although around noon it started to get a little hot. That's the way it goes here in southeastern North Carolina....so I didn't stay the whole time.  However, I am pleased with how it turned out and I can't wait for my next event, which I planning on being in July. Thank you to everyone who came out and stopped at my table. It was wonderful to meet each one of you.
​Until next time...

I am so excited to announce that my third book, No Good Deed, is available for pre-order on Amazon! The eBook version is already available and the paperback will be available to ship in July.  Don't miss out in the next chapter of the Kathy Hamilton Mystery series! This book will pick up where Hush Now, Don't Cry left off and you will finally know what happens to Charlie and get swept up in another case. Kathy will soon find out if no good deed goes unpunished.

\I just wanted to say a few words for today because memorial day is special. We need to stop a take a moment to remember those that have fallen so that we could be free. Without their sacrifice we would not have the life we have. So, during the war movie marathons, the hotdogs, and good times, please don't forget to take a moment and remember the reason you have all these things is because someone decided to fight a battle so you wouldn't have to . Never forget the fallen.....Memorial Day 2022. 

I am so excited about this particular post...this is a true milestone for me as an author and I couldn't be happier. In February, I received a call from Wordsmith Magazine. They had received a recommendation from Amazon for my book 'Killer Deception' and wanted to know if I would be interested in contributing an article to their publication. Writing magazine articles seemed like something bestselling authors did, not an indie author who has only published three books. Anyway, by the end of the conversation my Wordsmith representative had sent me an email with information and article requirements. So, I took a deep breath and looked through the information, selected a topic, and finally wrote my first article: Crimes & Clues: the essential parts to writing a mystery. I submitted my article in March and it was published in their April edition. Now, I am a featured contributor for Wordsmith Magazine, and they are interested in me contributing more articles for their magazine. So, lots of interesting things are happening and I am looking forward to writing more articles because that's what I do....I am a writer. If you would like to check out the article, head on over to my website at www.authormaggiecasteen.com and click on the Author Articles section or sign-up to my On-the-Scene newsletter to get the full scoop. 

It's hard to know what a website needs or even what you want on a website. Should you have forms, surveys, a blog, or maybe you should just focus on your books. I have looked at the websites of other authors, and that helped a little but still an indie author just starting out doesn't have the same needs a an author whose been writing for 15 years.  Anyway, I have to say that it's been time-consuming trying to figure out exactly what I need...however, I think I may be getting close. So, I have made quite a few changes, hopefully for the better, to my website. So, stop by and check it out...you might see something interesting.
Until next time....

I am so excited to finally be able to write that my third Kathy Hamilton mystery is finally being published. Finally, after months of hard work, editing, and especially writing I can finally release it. It is so hard to come to the point where you can let it go...to realize that there are no more edits. That reading it for the thousand and one time is not going to help and that if you wait too long -- you may lose momentum.  Anyway, enough of my rambling.... No Good Deed will pick up where Hush Now, Don't Cry left off and you will finally know what happened to Charlie.  Plus, Kathy will get into another adventure with her latest case, and you can see if you can solve it before the end. It will be available for purchase about mid-May on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and many other retailers.  When I have more details, I will post them as soon as I can. 
Until next time.....

I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately about what it takes to make a good newsletter. Is it free stuff, or information on events, or inside information on the latest book? Being a new indie author has its disadvantages in this regard and so I have done quite a bit of research about what goes in to making a great newsletter. I try to put together a feature article, a book deal that I’ve found, any information on my books and events, and a short blurb about one of my books. It’s not always easy to put all this information together, especially when the book deal I have selected runs out and I have to scramble to find another. I prefer to read the books that I recommend because sometimes the book blurb doesn’t really tell you what’s on the inside.  I would, at some point, to have subscriber-centered sections in my newsletter, but I think I might have to wait a bit longer for that. I think one of my favorite newsletter features is the reader book reviews. I like to show what actual readers think of my work and see how they describe it. I know professional reviews are highly sought after, and really are necessary if you want to be taken seriously, but I still prefer the reader review. I want to know what the average reader thinks of my books. The art of the Newsletter is still a work in progress for me and I hope that I am headed in the right direction. Just know that I try every month to put together something that will be interesting and informative for my subscribers. Thank you for letting me have a slice of your time and if you are not signed up then please go to www.authormaggiecasteen.com and sign up today!

***UPDATE ON BOOK EVENT:  My book event in March was cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances. When I have more information on when it will be rescheduled, I will post an update.

​It's been difficult to setup a book event during this COVID craziness; however, I have finally had a breakthrough. My first author event will be at my local library on March 31st at 7pm.  The Duplin County Library will be hosting a local author event at the Ed Emory building in Kenansville. There will be other authors there beside myself. There will be a time where the authors will talk about their books and how they got started then, readers can go and visit the tables and authors. I will have books for sale, information on my newsletter, free giveaways, and much more. I can't wait to finally make this happen! Hopefully, this will be the first of many...see you there. 
Until next time....