Elisa Keyston's Blog, page 2
August 24, 2020
Trivia and Behind-the-Scenes for Old Flames
I seem to have forgotten to do this for Alexandra’s Riddle, but I wanted to share some trivia about Old Flames with you all, the way I did for Arriving from Arkansas. Enjoy!
Foreston, Washington
I mention this in the author’s note for the book, but unlike Alexandra’s Riddle and the next book, Fool’s Gold, which are both set in real towns, Foreston is a made-up location. The reason for this is the fact that, in the book, a highly destructive forest fire ravages the area, but I didn’t want to write about a real fire (such as the Eagle Creek Fire), and I also didn’t want to “predict” a fire happening in a real location. However, I tried to stay as true to the area as I could. The location I chose for Foreston was somewhat north of Goldendale (which is not mentioned in the book, because if it was… I would be breaking my rule about not burning down a real town), somewhere around the Klickitat county/Yakima county line. So just pretend that Goldendale doesn’t exist and that Foreston and Fernhill are kind of in that general vicinity instead.
The Paine Estate
Old Flames was a lot of fun for me because my sister works at a historic Victorian house museum that is very similar to the Paine Estate. It was a lot of fun to incorporate aspects of the real museum with the fictitious one, such as the formal tea settings, the annual fashion show, the gardens and grounds, and more. But I want to note that the characters from the book are not based on real people!
uView
You may have noticed in Alexandra’s Riddle as well as in Old Flames that most things keep pretty close to reality (minus the magic), but that the video sharing platform they use is called uView, instead of a certain other real-world brand that we all know and… love? The reason for this is because that particular corporation is known for being very protective of their brand, and in particular doesn’t take lightly to anything that may portray the brand in a less-than-positive light. While for the most part uView is portrayed relatively neutrally (I think?), there is some discussion in Old Flames about monetization and demonetization, the struggle to make a living as a creator on that platform, and the care that content creators need to take in order to stay on the safe side of advertisers. I was concerned that this was a little too close to the line, so to play it safe, I opted to use a fictional website here.
Fire Prevention Resources
At the time I finished Old Flames, fire season had not yet begun (hence why the author’s note doesn’t mention this year’s fires). However, 2020 is shaping up to potentially be the most destructive fire season for the West Coast in recorded history. At the time of this blog post, the fires burning near Santa Cruz are threatening the ancient redwood forests, and at least five people have died. Fire prevention is more important than ever.
Here are some organizations doing good things to educate and prevent wildfires in the Pacific Northwest and across the United States:
Oregon Forests Forever
Oregon Department of Forestry Fire Prevention
Keep Oregon Green
National Fire Prevention Association / Firewise USA®
Smokey Bear
If you would like to help those affected by the current wildfires in California, check out this article. (Hat tip to The Pour Over for that resource!)
Old Flames releases September 15! You can preorder it now for Kindle or in paperback.
July 31, 2020
Some news!
Good news! Despite my downer blog post earlier this month, I finally broke through my writers block and have completed Old Flames! It is now with my editor and is available for preorder now! Thank you all so much for your patience while I worked on this book.
The other exciting bit of news is that the audiobook of Alexandra’s Riddle, narrated by Blair Seibert, is available now! You can get it from Amazon and Audible right now, and it will be available on iTunes soon. Learn more and listen to a sample of the audiobook below!
About Old Flames
Laney isn’t looking for love. She’s perfectly happy with the life she’s built for herself in the little town of Foreston, Washington. She’s a successful businesswoman, the owner of an alterations shop with a clientele across the northwest. She’s the chair of the local Victorian house museum’s annual fashion show. And she has a reputation for a magic touch: the rumor around town is that anyone who wears one of the period costumes she designs in her spare time will be blessed with good luck.
That’s what they say, anyway. Laney knows the truth is a bit more complicated—anything she wills while sewing has a tendency of coming to pass. It’s a supernatural gift from the fae who are said to inhabit the woods surrounding the Paine Estate, and it’s taught her to keep a guard on her notorious redheaded temper. But keeping her temper becomes difficult when journalist Paul Nelson comes to town to do a feature about the museum. With his stunning good looks and swoon-worthy English accent, Paul is charming, irresistible… and just so happens to be Laney’s ex.
Laney wants nothing more than to keep Paul at arm’s length, but when she stumbles across a series of break-ins at the museum, she may have no choice but to trust the dashing reporter who once broke her heart to help her catch the culprit. And when a nearby forest fire threatens the safety of the town—and of the woods—will Laney be able to put her old feelings aside in order to protect the magic of Foreston? Or will that same magic lead to an unexpected happy ending?
Alexandra’s Riddle Audiobook
Cass is a drifter. When she inherits an old Queen Anne Victorian in rural Oregon from her great-aunt Alexandra, all she wants is to quickly offload the house and move on to bigger and better things. But the residents of the small town have other plans in mind. Her neighbors are anxious for her to help them thwart the plans of a land developer eager to raze Alexandra’s property, while a mysterious girl in the woods needs Cass’s help understanding her own confusing, possibly supernatural abilities.
And though little surprises Cass (thanks to her own magical powers of prediction), she never could have anticipated her newfound feelings for the handsome fourth-grade teacher at the local elementary school—feelings that she thought she’d buried long ago. Cass has sworn off love, but Matthew McCarthy is unlike anyone Cass has ever met. If she isn’t careful, he could learn her secret. Or worse—he just might thaw her frozen heart.
But falling in love could spell danger for both of them. Because it’s not just the human residents of Riddle that have snared Cass in their web. Cass’s presence has caught the attention of the fae that dwell in the woods. They know she has the Sight, and they don’t want to let her go…
Listen to a sample:
https://www.elisakeyston.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/AlexandrasRiddleRetail-Sample.mp3
About the Series
Lose yourself in the magical forests and charming towns of the Pacific Northwest, where picturesque Victorian homes hide mysteries spanning decades, faeries watch from the trees, and romance awaits… for those bold enough to seek it.
With its unique blend of small-town romance, cozy mystery, and light fantasy, the Northwest Magic series is sure to delight anyone who believes in faery gifts and happily-ever-afters. Read FREE in Kindle Unlimited and get lost in the magic now!
July 10, 2020
Status update
I can’t believe it’s already July. Old Flames was due out months ago, and the fact that it’s sitting there on my computer with no words written since mid-May is very distressing to me.
The truth is, 2020 has just proven to be too much for me. During the first couple months of the pandemic, I felt like I was still doing okay, but eventually the stress and isolation together wound up doing a good deal of damage to my mental health. People keep talking about “our new normal,” but my body and mind have been unable to accept the turmoil of this year as normal. Even though I’ve done my best to create a buffer between myself and the news, even in my own home, nothing is normal. I live in a multi-generational household, and even though our county is in Phase 2 of our state’s reopening, no one in my home has been able to go back to work yet. I am burned out of everyone being here, and even though I can at least see my friends again, for one reason or another I keep finding myself stuck here at home, isolated in some regards and surrounded by way too many people in other regards. The necessity for members of my household who previously worked in offices to now work from home has cut into my own workspace. Everything is a mess, it’s cluttered, it’s noisy; and as a result, my mind is a mess, it’s cluttered, and it’s noisy.
Additionally, there are aspects of Old Flames that did not seem like a big deal in the original development of the story that have been hitting far too close to home. The story hinges on a forest fire. That can’t be changed; I built it into the plot of Alexandra’s Riddle, and it’s even built into the title of the book itself. The fire is too integral to the plot to be removed at this point. Unfortunately, there are elements of the plot that are way too similar to the news for comfort. For one thing, as anyone who has lived in an area affected by wildfires knows, when there’s a fire burning, you have to wear a mask outside. Masks have not only become an integral part of our “new normal,” they’ve also become a highly politicized one, including within my own household. Now every time I write someone putting on or taking off their mask in the book, I feel like I’m making a political statement. It’s just one more reminder among many sprinkled throughout this story about a community in crisis that my own community is in crisis. I write for escapism, but this book has not been letting me escape. Instead, it’s been reminding me of everything that my mind so desperately needs to escape.
All of this compounded led to me just hitting a wall with only a few chapters left in the book. I was at the stage where, ordinarily, I get excited to be reaching the climax of the story, where the action is picking up and where I can taste the ending and know that I’ve almost reached the finish line.
And instead, I felt no excitement at all. In fact, I couldn’t bring myself to write another word. So I put it aside, figuring I’d be back to it in a few days. Instead, it’s been two months, and I’ve made no progress.
I don’t know what this means for the book. I don’t want to give up on it, but I honestly don’t know how long it will be before it’s finished. I have written six novels across two pen names and I have never had trouble with a book the way I have with this one. I hit a wall with it last year and wound up having to majorly doctor the plot to get it moving again, but I had only written two chapters when that happened. Now I’ve written seventeen chapters across a hundred and fifty pages. My beta readers see no issues with the plot, nothing structural that would cause a problem like this. It’s just… me.
I am going to try a few more things to get it moving again. I’ve tried switching to writing a different book instead, but I haven’t been able to concentrate on anything else, either. I just want it to be done. I don’t think I’ll be able to focus on anything else until it is.
February 26, 2020
Actual writing news!
I am still clawing my way out of a month-long chest infection in addition to the flare of my aforementioned chronic health problems, but this week has been the first time in about six months that I have felt well enough to be able to write. My focus has been on Old Flames, which was originally supposed to be a newsletter-exclusive novelette and was also supposed to have come out last fall. I was having trouble with the plot before my health knocked me out of commission, but I am happy to say that I have finally figured it out and am very happy and excited about the change! The new plot doesn’t subtract anything from the original plan, but adds a lot more that will make the story flow better with the rest of the series (got that mystery subplot going!), incorporates more magic, and I think really does justice to Laney, heretofore the odd McCarthy out.
The change also means that the book is shaping up to be more book-sized than novelette-sized. (I’m still not sure if it will be as long as Alexandra’s Riddle, but it will probably be around Arriving from Arkansas.) Since I had already promised the book to my newsletter subscribers, I will still be sharing it with them for free when it’s done, but the plan now is for it to be a limited-time download that’s only available to current subscribers, not future subscribers. Once the download period has passed, I’ll be publishing the book—complete with a paperback edition—through Crimson Fox Publishing, making Old Flames the official Book 2 of the Northwest Magic series (even though chronologically it takes place before Alexandra’s Riddle). The other books in the series will shift accordingly. And, of course, they’re all stand-alones, so they can be read in any order!
I haven’t updated the book’s blurb yet, but the current blurb isn’t that far off-base, it’s just missing some plot elements. I’ll update the book’s page and Goodreads listing when I have a better idea of when it’s coming out and the finalized plot details!
February 16, 2020
A few changes for 2020
I know it’s been quiet around these parts for a while! Things have been going on, though unfortunately not “writing” things, for the most part. They do pertain to my books, though, so I wanted to let you know!
First of all, my health. You may have seen me mention on social media or in my newsletter that I’ve been having some health problems since last spring. No need to worry—it’s nothing like cancer or anything like that. It’s a chronic condition that’s just been flaring in a particularly nasty way over the last year. It’s not entirely clear why this flare has been so pernicious, but in the meantime it’s absolutely eaten away at my ability to write or function in any kind of practical way.
So, in the interest of cutting back on my commitments as well as for the good of the series as a whole, I made the decision at the end of 2019 to step down as the series lead on The Pioneer Brides of Rattlesnake Ridge. The very capable Catherine Bilson, who wrote Coming from California in season one of the series, has taken over as series lead moving forward. You can look forward to several new books in the series in the second half of this year, both from returning authors and from new contributors to the series! I also am still intending to write Sailing from Scotland, though that has been pushed down on my priority list for the time being so that I can focus on the Northwest Magic books that were supposed to already be in your hands, such as Old Flames.
Speaking of Northwest Magic, my other announcement for today is that that series has found a “new” publishing home! Previously the books were published by Caleo Press; starting today, Alexandra’s Riddle and future installments in the series will be published by Crimson Fox Publishing. A more detailed explanation for this (including why I say “new” in quotes) can be found here.
That’s it for me for now! I don’t have much writing news for now as my health has still been quite bad, but I’m hoping that once the weather starts to warm up that will improve and I can get back in the writing chair. 
December 25, 2019
A Very Hallmark Christmas 2019
Merry Christmas! I know it’s been a while since I posted. My chronic health problems have really been a pain this year. Thanks to that and a bout of writer’s block, I’m behind on Old Flames, which was meant to be my last release of 2019 but is looking to likely be my first release of 2020 instead. But it is coming, and I’ve got exciting news about the next Northwest Magic book, Fool’s Gold, as well as something new from Sweet Promise Press. Stay tuned!
In the meantime, I’m continuing my tradition of reviewing Hallmark Christmas movies for you all. These are the movies I watched this year. Bear in mind, these aren’t all new-for-2019 movies, they’re just movies I’d never seen before this year.
Nine Lives of Christmas
Network: Hallmark
Release Date: 2014
Starring: Kimberly Sustad and Brandon Routh
This was the first Christmas movie I watched this year and it stood out as one of my favorites ever! I haven’t seen a lot of Hallmark movies with a focus on pets, and most of the ones I’ve seen have dogs instead of cats. But I am a cat lady! (Well, I’m also a dog lady. But I think I’m a bit more of a cat lady.) So seeing kitties take the spotlight was wonderful! I loved seeing how Zachary was changed by his cat. Marilee was such a likable heroine. Everyone at the fire station was so funny and reminded me of the dynamic of real firefighters and police officers (my uncle is a retired firefighter and my dad is a retired cop). This was a definite favorite!
Overall rating: 
September 21, 2019
Just a few more days!
Just a few more days until the release of Alexandra’s Riddle! I’m so excited to share this book with you all. It’s been a long time coming! I’ve been sharing behind-the-scenes looks at the story on my newsletter, so if you haven’t signed up for that, be sure to do so!
In the meantime, I wanted to let you all know that if you prefer physical books rather than ebooks, the paperback is available for preorder now! You can get it from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and more. (I mentioned IndieBound in my newsletter, but for some reason the listing still isn’t up there. Not sure what the holdup is there, but it should be live by Tuesday at least!)
Right now I’m working on the next Northwest Magic book, which is actually a novella. Old Flames will be available for free exclusively to newsletter subscribers, and I know everyone is eager for it! It’s a little later than I’d anticipated due to some minor health problems this summer, but I expect that it should be available in the next month or so. I’ll be sure to send the download link out to current newsletter subscribers as soon as it’s ready, and all future subscribers will get it automatically. So don’t worry, you haven’t missed it!
Thank you so much to all of the early readers who have read Alexandra’s Riddle so far. I’m so happy you’re all enjoying it! I can’t wait for everyone else to be able to read it on Tuesday!
August 20, 2019
Alexandra’s Riddle is available for preorder!
I’m so excited to announce that Alexandra’s Riddle, the first book in the Northwest Magic series, is available for preorder now! I can’t wait for you all to read it and meet Cass, Matthew, and all the other fun characters who have been living in my head for so long!
About the BookCass is a drifter. When she inherits an old Queen Anne Victorian in rural Oregon from her great-aunt Alexandra, all she wants is to quickly offload the house and move on to bigger and better things. But the residents of the small town have other plans in mind. Her neighbors are anxious for her to help them thwart the plans of a land developer eager to raze Alexandra’s property, while a mysterious girl in the woods needs Cass’s help understanding her own confusing, possibly supernatural abilities.
And though little surprises Cass (thanks to her own magical powers of prediction), she never could have anticipated her newfound feelings for the handsome fourth-grade teacher at the local elementary school—feelings that she thought she’d buried long ago. Cass has sworn off love, but Matthew McCarthy is unlike anyone Cass has ever met. If she isn’t careful, he could learn her secret. Or worse—he just might thaw her frozen heart.
But falling in love could spell danger for both of them. Because it’s not just the human residents of Riddle that have snared Cass in their web. Cass’s presence has caught the attention of the fae that dwell in the woods. They know she has the Sight, and they don’t want to let her go…
About the Series
Lose yourself in the magical forests and charming towns of the Pacific Northwest, where picturesque Victorian homes hide mysteries spanning decades, faeries watch from the trees, and romance awaits… for those bold enough to seek it.
With its unique blend of small-town romance, cozy mystery, and light fantasy, the Northwest Magic series is sure to delight anyone who believes in faery gifts and happily-ever-afters. Read FREE in Kindle Unlimited and get lost in the magic now!
June 21, 2019
Official release date for Alexandra’s Riddle
I finally have an official release date for Alexandra’s Riddle! It will be releasing on September 24, 2019 through Caleo Press. The preorder should be available sometime in August, and I also hope to have ARCs available around that time. (Interested in being an early reviewer? Sign up for my ARC team! It will also be available on Booksprout.)
While Alexandra’s Riddle is the first full novel in the Northwest Magic series, I’m hoping to have the stand-alone novella Old Flames available this summer. This novella will be available for free to newsletter subscribers, so if you’d like to read it, be sure to sign up for my newsletter. I’ll keep you all posted on the progress of both these books as I have more info available!
June 3, 2019
Giveaways, parties and more!
It’s been a month since the release of Arriving from Arkansas, and I’m so happy that readers have seemed to enjoy it so much! The Pioneer Brides of Rattlesnake Ridge series was a labor of love from six talented authors, and the fact that readers have come to love the town we built and the characters we dreamed up means so much to me. Thank you!
In other news, the last book of the series (for now), Drifting from Deadwood, launches this Friday, and to celebrate the full series launch, all six authors from Season One are going to be taking over the LitRing VIP Readers Group on Thursday, June 6 and Friday, June 7. If you’re on Facebook and will be free either of those days, please stop by! We’d love to have you. My takeover time is from 4:00-6:00 PM EDT (1:00-3:00 Pacific) on Friday, June 7. But if you can’t make it during my hours, there will be plenty of time to visit with the other five authors during those days!
In addition to the LitRing author takeovers, the series launch giveaway from Sweet Promise Press is still ongoing. Enter to win an Amazon gift card and a bunch of adorable Western-themed swag. The giveaway is open through June 14, so be sure to enter while you still have a chance!
Finally, as I prepare to switch gears from historical romance to contemporary with the launch of the Northwest Magic series this summer, I’ve teamed up with BookSweeps to co-sponsor a giveaway of Small Town Contemporary Sweet Romance! Enter to win over 30 books and a new e-reader, plus get access to bonus free books available to everyone who enters. You can find it all here!
That’s it from me for now, but watch this space for info about the Northwest Magic series launch this summer, as well as the audiobook version of Arriving from Arkansas, coming soon!
