Elisa Keyston's Blog, page 3
May 4, 2019
Some fun trivia about Arriving from Arkansas!
I’ve been posting some fun facts, trivia, and behind-the-scenes info about Arriving from Arkansas on my Facebook page over the last few months, so I wanted to share it here as well!
Real-Life Women Prospectors in Nevada
Josie may seem to be a very forward-thinking character with her determination to become a self-made woman, but there were real-world examples of Victorian and Edwardian-era women with the same dream. Her story was loosely based on the lives of real women who made their fortunes in the Nevada silver mines. Two of these in particular were brought to my attention, which led to the brainstorming of the series: The first of these was Maggie Johnson, who moved to Virginia City sometime in the 1870s and by the 1880s was running her own successful boarding house as well as owning a stake in several prosperous mines; and the other was Josephine Pearl, who made her fortune in Nevada in the early 1900s, and who was the inspiration for Josie’s name.
However, these two were far from the only independent women who made fortunes for themselves in the silver hills and gold fields of Nevada. Upon doing more research, I discovered Eilley Bowers, who became a millionaire as a divorced woman in the 1860s, using her silver claims and money from her divorce settlement to build a mansion to rival Winthrop Manor; and Ferminia Sarras, a Nicaraguan woman who came to the US in the 1860s and soon made a name for herself as a spirited prospector who made her own way through the Nevada desert—wearing pants!
You can learn more about these and other remarkable, independent women of Nevada history at the Nevada Women’s History Project.
The Washoe Zephyr
Rattlesnake Ridge is frequently mentioned as being very windy. The wind in western Nevada is well-known for being very strong, particularly in the summer. Legendary American author Mark Twain lived in Virginia City for several years in the 1860s, and he described the wind, commonly known as the “Washoe Zephyr,” in his book Roughing It:
But, seriously, a Washoe wind is by no means a trifling matter. It blows flimsy houses down, lifts shingle roofs occasionally, rolls up tin ones like sheet music, now and then blows a stage-coach over and spills the passengers; and tradition says the reason there are so many bald people there is, that the wind blows the hair off their heads while they are looking skyward after their hats. Carson streets seldom look inactive on summer afternoons, because there are so many citizens skipping around their escaping hats, like chambermaids trying to head off a spider.
Read the full passage here—it’s hilarious.
Family Inspirations for Arriving from Arkansas Characters
One of my favorite characters to write in the book was Adeline Brown, the reverend’s wife. She was inspired by one of my own ancestors, a brawny frontierswoman also named Adeline. I don’t know much about Adeline, but her photo as well as her husband’s hangs in my family’s entryway. Like Mrs. Brown, great-great-great-grandma Adeline doesn’t look like she’s a woman to be trifled with.
(Unfortunately, Adeline’s photo is water damaged. I’m hoping at some point to have her portrait restored, but we’ve been having trouble finding someone local who can restore a large photo like this, and we’re hesitant to send it out due to its age.)
Adeline wasn’t the only character who emerged from my family’s history. The Percheron stallion that once belonged to Josie’s uncle Gideon is based on a family horse named Jungo, who was purchased by my great-great-grandparents in 1902, when my great-grandfather was 6. His pedigree also hangs in my family entryway. As you can imagine, my house looks something like a museum. 
May 3, 2019
It’s here!
Today’s the day: Arriving from Arkansas is available now! You can get the ebook on Amazon for $0.99 for a limited time (regular price $4.99), or read it for FREE in Kindle Unlimited!
If you’re not a digital reader, you can also get the book in paperback today! The print and ebook listings haven’t linked up yet on Amazon, but for the time being you can find the paperback here.
The release of Arriving from Arkansas also marks the launch of the Pioneer Brides of Rattlesnake Ridge series! Every Friday now through June 7, a different book in the series will become available. I can’t wait for you to read the other books in the series and meet all of our spunky, independent heroines.
To celebrate the series launch, Sweet Promise Press is running a Historical Happily Ever After Giveaway! They’re giving away some cute Western-themed goodies as well as a $25 Amazon gift card. Check it out here!
Thank you so much to everyone who has supported the series so far! In particular I want to thank all the wonderful readers from Booksprout and the Sweet Promise Press Readers Group for their kind early reviews. I’m so glad that Arriving from Arkansas has been so well received, and I hope you’ll enjoy the rest of the books in the series!
May 2, 2019
Tomorrow is the big day!
Tomorrow is the release of my first novel, Arriving from Arkansas, as well as the kickoff for the Pioneer Brides of Rattlesnake Ridge series! I’ll be back tomorrow with another post with more info and a link to an awesome giveaway my publisher is sponsoring, but in the meantime, be sure to check out the series trailer:
April 16, 2019
The Pioneer Brides of Rattlesnake Ridge are available now for preorder!
I’m so excited to announce that the entire Pioneer Brides of Rattlesnake Ridge series is available now for preorder on Amazon! The series kicks off with my book, Arriving from Arkansas, on May 3, with another book in the series to follow every week until June 7.
Book One: Arriving from Arkansas by Elisa Keyston
Josephine Lane arrived in Rattlesnake Ridge under false pretenses. As far as the townspeople know, she’s simply the new cook for the local boarding house. Nobody has to know the secret her late uncle shared with her before his death or how that same secret could make her the wealthiest person in the state of Nevada.
Jim Griffin works hard as a foreman at the local lumber mill. He also works hard to keep his real identity as an undercover lawman hidden as he closes in on his brother’s murderer. When the killer gets close, the last thing Jim needs is a distraction–especially the pretty blonde cook at the boarding house.
Jim and Josie’s separate secrets just might bring them closer than either could have predicted. But will they be able to resist falling in love when so much is already at stake for the both of them?
Coming May 3, 2019 from Sweet Promise Press!
Book Two: Coming from California by Catherine Bilson
When Daisy Jackson applied for the role of Rattlesnake Ridge’s new schoolmistress, she may have omitted a few important details, like her young age and lack of teaching experience. And it certainly doesn’t help that the town council holds her mixed-ethnicity against her, too.
Luke Rockford fell head over heels the very moment he laid eyes on Daisy, but he wasn’t the only one. His rival, Deputy Grant Watson also set his sights on the pretty teacher. The arrogant lawman is accustomed to getting what he wants, even if he has to bend the rules to claim it, from the job promised to Luke to any woman in town.
With so much to do before the school year begins, Daisy hardly knows which way to turn. Can she put down roots and fall in love before the town council runs her out of Rattlesnake Ridge?
Coming May 10, 2019 from Sweet Promise Press!
Book Three: Moving from Maryland by Christine Sterling
Gracie Pickett followed her dreams of being a physician all the way to Rattlesnake Ridge. Learning the trade was the easy part, however. Convincing the small pioneer town that she’s up to the job is the tough part, especially when a rude, arrogant, oh-so-handsome widower and his three adorable boys seem to make it their mission to make her new life far more difficult than she ever anticipated.
Barrett Wright is busy managing his understaffed ranch while also hoping to find a wife to tend to his rambunctious sons. When the town council tasks him with finding a new doctor, he finds the perfect man for the job–until he learns the new doctor is a woman! Barrett is determined to see Gracie replaced with someone more suitable, if only he can tear his eyes away from her long enough to get the job done.
Gracie has no intention of giving up her new practice. When an accident puts her medical skills to the test, will she be able to prove to her biggest rival that she’s the right person for the job… and his heart?
Coming May 17, 2019 from Sweet Promise Press!
Book Four: Riding from Richmond by Nan O’Berry
Caledonia McBride thought war destroyed her chance at happiness. But then an ad for marriageable women offers hope for a second chance, and soon letters from a lonely rancher fill her heart. Ready for a second chance, Caledonia pulls up her Virginia roots and travels west toward the promise of a new beginning.
Maxwell Barringer is a good friend. When three well-meaning ranch hands accidentally bring a young woman to town to be the bride of a man who’s already married, he steps in to help his friends save face until they can raise the money to send her back to Virginia. The only problem is, the more he gets to know Miss Caledonia McBride, the harder it is for him to imagine her leaving.
As Caledonia settles into her new life at Rattlesnake Ridge, it’s only a matter of time before the truth comes out. Can Max untangle the web before he falls for the blue-eyed beauty?
Coming May 24, 2019 from Sweet Promise Press!
Book Five: Traveling from Texas by Patricia PacJac Carroll
Tess Cooper fled Texas after her father’s dying words warned that remaining would spell danger. Setting their sights on Rattlesnake Ridge, she and her brother look forward to making a fresh start, but that same family secret could ruin their new lives before they even arrive.
Jacob Winthrop has his hands full. In addition to raising his eight-year-old daughter and running a business, he’s also the mayor of Rattlesnake Ridge. Finding someone to mother his child would help, but he has no interest in making a commitment–until he meets Tess.
But secrets stand in the way, making fresh starts impossible for Tess, and she doesn’t want her troubles to hurt Jacob’s reputation. Can they overcome life’s obstacles for a future together?
Coming May 31, 2019 from Sweet Promise Press!
Book Six: Drifting from Deadwood by Ramona Flightner
Eleanor Ferguson has little faith in the promises of men after her husband’s death leaves her with a floundering ranch and two growing boys. Her top priority is to create a legacy for her sons, but a greedy neighbor has other plans. When a drifter answers her help wanted ad, she doesn’t expect to feel attraction for the handsome stranger.
Lance Gallagher drifts from ranch to ranch until life leads him to Rattlesnake Ridge, Nevada. He’s willing to work for low wages on the Ferguson ranch until the mines deliver on their promise of a payout. The more time Lance spends with Eleanor and her sons, however, the more attracted he finds himself to the lovely widow. Unwilling to risk his heart, he makes plans to leave.
Then tragedy strikes, forcing Eleanor and Lance to rely on each other. Can they overcome their fears and learn to trust in love again?
Coming June 7, 2019 from Sweet Promise Press!
April 9, 2019
Looking for reviewers!
Advance review copies of Arriving from Arkansas are going out soon, so I’m looking for readers to join my review team! If you’re an Amazon or Goodreads reviewer or a book blogger, you can read my books before anyone else—for free! You can sign up here:
I’ll have more news about Arriving from Arkansas and the rest of the Pioneer Brides series very soon, so watch this space!
February 2, 2019
Series cover reveal: The Pioneer Brides of Rattlesnake Ridge
You may have seen on social media last week that all six covers of the Pioneer Brides of Rattlesnake Ridge series have been revealed! Check out all the covers in their loveliness:
The series will be released on a weekly basis starting with my book, Arriving from Arkansas, on May 3. The books will be part of Kindle Unlimited. Here’s the release schedule:
Arriving from Arkansas by Elisa Keyston: May 3
Coming from California by Catherine Bilson: May 10
Moving from Maryland by Christine Sterling: May 17
Riding from Richmond by Nan O’Berry: May 24
Traveling from Texas by Patricia PacJac Carroll: May 31
Drifting from Deadwood by Ramona Flightner: June 7
Can’t wait? All six books are available for preorder now from Sweet Promise Press. If you preorder the full series set, you’ll get all six books on May 3 and won’t have to wait for the other books. This is also a great option if you’re not a Kindle user, as ebooks from Sweet Promise Press are compatible with any device.
Preorder the entire series now!
Arriving from Arkansas will also be available in print, most likely on May 3 as well (barring any hiccups). Watch this space for more information about Arriving from Arkansas and the Pioneer Brides of Rattlesnake Ridge series!
January 20, 2019
Release update
I’ve been thinking about my release calendar. My plan had been to try to put Alexandra’s Riddle out either right before or right after Arriving from Arkansas, so readers who find my writing through that series will have something else to read right away. However, I was talking to my publisher about it, and I realized that if I were to do that, it may backfire on me—you see, the next planned book in the Northwest Magic series after Alexandra’s Riddle is Old Flames, which is currently planned as a novella. It takes place chronologically before Alexandra’s Riddle (though every book in the series is a stand-alone, so you can read them in any order), and my intention was to make this a free release for my newsletter subscribers, as a thank you to my early readers and a means of introduction to the series for anyone else. However, I was not planning on making this novella available outside my newsletter—i.e., it’s not going to be on Amazon.
I realized that if I put Alexandra’s Riddle out quickly to coincide with Arriving from Arkansas, readers will then have a long gap between full-length books, especially if they don’t realize Old Flames exists. On top of it, I don’t want to start out releasing books rapid-fire only to disappoint readers who may expect books more quickly than I’m able to produce them. Based on my past writing experience and depending on the length of each book, I’m expecting to be able to get 3-4 books published per year. I don’t want to get people’s expectations up only to not deliver.
So what I’m thinking now is delaying the release of Alexandra’s Riddle by a few months so that Old Flames will be done or close to it by the time the first book comes out. Then I can get to work on the second full novel of the series, Fool’s Gold (synopsis and cover for that one coming soon), which I’m hoping to release sometime in the fall. At that point, the first “phase” of the series as I’d planned it (Cass’ story and the two McCarthy sisters, Laney and Taryn) will be done and hopefully released relatively close to each other. If readers enjoy the first two books and the novella, I have at least two more books planned for a second phase!
I hope this makes sense. I know I have very few readers right at this moment, so I feel like now is a good time to make adjustments to the schedule, rather than later when I have more people (hopefully) eager for a book to come out and who may be disappointed. If all goes according to plan, I am aiming for June 11 for the release of Alexandra’s Riddle, which I believe is the week after the last (for now) Pioneer Brides of Rattlesnake Ridge comes out!
December 26, 2018
A Very Hallmark Christmas
Happy Boxing Day! I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas. I had big plans for this holiday season, but then I got hit with a bad cold that knocked me and my family all out for most of the month of December. 
October 3, 2018
Introducing Caleo Press
I mentioned the other day that I’d found a publishing home for the Northwest Magic books. I’m excited to announce today that I’ll be publishing the series through Caleo Press, an indie romance publisher! They’re launching in January 2019, and I’m so stoked to be involved with this publisher in its beginning phases. They will be offering sweet romance, spicy romance, and erotica, though I’ll be sticking with the sweet section, thanks. 
September 26, 2018
Northwest Magic has found a publishing home!
I’m excited to say that my Northwest Magic series, which I had intended to solely self-publish, has found a home with a publisher! I’ll have more news about that in a few weeks, but I can confirm now that the first book, Alexandra’s Riddle, will be releasing in Spring 2019 rather than this fall, to accommodate the publisher’s schedule. I’m shooting for March or April, with Arriving from Arkansas then coming in May, and either Old Flames or the heretofore unannounced Fool’s Gold being the next book in the Northwest Magic series (still undecided as to which I’ll do first). The second Northwest Magic book will hopefully be released in the summer, depending on my schedule.
I’m hoping to get four books out in 2019, either the three Northwest Magic books and one Pioneer Brides book, or two Northwest Magic, one Pioneer Brides, and a mystery project.
After Alexandra’s Riddle, Old Flames and Fool’s Gold are released, I’ll take a step back and evaluate what I’d like to do next. If Northwest Magic does well, I have ideas for two more books in the series; if not, I’ll stop with those three and jump into either The One That Got Away (contemporary romantic comedy) or the Treasure of Cinque Taere series (historical romantic suspense), which is planned to be a trilogy. I also am planning on at least one more book with Sweet Promise Press, though that needs to stay under wraps for now.
