Friday, December 18, 2020

FEATURED AUTHOR: ELIZABETH PANTLEY


 

ABOUT THE BOOK

When Hayden was a child, she lost her cat. Adults told her the cat ran away, but she knew the truth. The mirror had taken her.

She knew because the mirror had given her a glimpse of an alternate world and had nearly pulled her in, so she was certain the cat had suffered that fate.

Twenty years later Hayden discovers the secret of the mirror when she is thrust into it. She learns of a world she never knew existed, and a family she never knew she had.

But danger brought her here, and it followed her. Now, Hayden is on a mission to remove the threat, so that she can begin her magical, meaningful new life in this enchanted world.


Book Details:
Title: Falling into Magic
Author: Elizabeth Pantley
Genre: cozy mystery
Series: Destiny Falls Mystery & Magic series, book 1
Published: November 12, 2020
Print length: 299 pages




GUEST POST BY ELIZABETH PANTLEY


A Day in My Life


As a mom of four kids my life used to be filled with mothering, and writing was wedged into corners wherever I found them, usually surrounded by Legos and picture books. Now that my youngest is in college, my days are a bit more flexible! Here’s what a typical day looks like for me now.

5:00-6:00 AM
 I wake up every morning without an alarm, excited about what awaits in the day ahead. My husband jokes that I skip to work every morning! You know what they say, if you love with you do you never have to work a day in your life? That’s me!

6:00-8:00 AM 
My office is at home, so I have a super short commute – down a flight of stairs. First thing I do is open my email and get far too excited about notes from bloggers, readers, and the companies doing the formatting or editing on my books. You’d never guess that I’ve had thirteen published books since every single one is like my firstborn child!

8:00-10:00 AM
 Workout and self-care time! Just like Hayden, the protagonist in Falling into Magic, I’ve transformed my physical fitness over the past year. I used to always be “too busy” to exercise, but I have found that time on my treadmill. lifting weights and doing a bit of yoga makes me happier and more productive. I follow that up with a steamy shower and then a gigantic bowl of protein oatmeal with fruit, and a mug of tea (extra cream and sugar, just like Hayden.)

10:00 AM to ???
 Playtime! By that I mean time to write! If I’m working on a manuscript my writing time could go on until bedtime, with a few breaks for tea, food and family. Not because I have any strict deadline, but because once I’m in the story my mind swirls with it. If I’m not typing, then I’m thinking about it and making notes on my phone, or pestering my family for their opinions on a certain scene. The characters and places become so real to me that they actually help to tell their own story.

6:00 PM
 Husband home from work, so time to take him for a walk. We enjoy strolling our neighborhood and catching up on the day. He then listens to my stories about all the great bloggers and readers I connected with that day, and what fascinating steps have been taken on my book. And he’s a great listener, luckily, because sometimes my chatter keeps going on right through dinner.

8:00 PM
 Wind-down time. Grab a cup of tea, a bowl of popcorn and read . . .  cozy mysteries, of course!



EXCERPT FROM FALLING INTO MAGIC

One

I woke up to twelve pounds of fluffy, grey feline sitting on my chest. Two intense blue cat eyes were barely an inch from my nose and Sassy’s warm, steady breath was in my face. There’s no telling how long my Himalayan had been there staring at me and waiting for her Person to wake up and serve breakfast, but it must have been a while. The tone of her meow was snappish. I reached up to pet the softest pair of ears in town and enjoyed the warm rumble of her purr. Forgiven for the moment, it seems.

Let’s see, today was Wednesday? Working at home had plenty of advantages but knowing the day of the week wasn’t one of them. That meant that my piece about green therapy was due in two days, and Luna and I needed to review the schedule for the next issue. “Okay you furry Himalayan battleship. Get off Mama so I can get out of bed and make some tea.”

Meow! “Yes, I hear you Snookums. I’ll feed you, too, not to worry. Since you’re nothing but fur and bones.” I tickled the spot on her back that made her do a little belly jiggle. I chuckled. My cat loved her meals, and she was not at risk of starvation.

I tamed my wild brown waves into a ponytail, slipped on my running clothes, fed Sassy, then grabbed my earbuds. I was so proud of myself. My daily run had become a habit that affected not just my body but my mind, as well. The ancient Greeks knew what they were talking about when they said healthy in body, healthy in mind. It worked for me, anyway. I’m not, and never will be a skinny carrot-eating runway model, but I have an abundance of energy for life, and I feel great in my skin. I think that’s what those old Greek guys meant. Ah, see what I mean? Running clears my head and apparently makes me a happy philosopher.

Excerpt from by Falling into Magic. Copyright © 2018 by Elizabeth Pantley. All rights reserved.



ABOUT THE AUTHOR



Elizabeth Pantley is the international bestselling author of The No-Cry Sleep Solution and twelve other books for parents. Her books have been published in over twenty languages. She lives near Seattle and is the mother of four and nana to one. She’s excited to present her first work of fiction.

Connect with Elizabeth:
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Buy the book:
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