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  • You've Got a Book in You

    "Elizabeth Sims proves herself a true writer's friend."

    —Jamie Morris, Director, Woodstream Writers
  • The Actress

    "Sims' wry commentary on life in Hollywood is dead-on."

    Publishers Weekly
  • The Extra

    "an intelligent thriller."

    —Jay Strafford Richmond Times-Dispatch
  • On Location

    "You just have to love Rita."

    Kirkus Reviews
  • You've Got a Book in You

    "Packs a twelve-week writing course into 280 pages."

    —Julie Compton, author of Keep No Secrets
  • The Actress

    "Intricate and surprising, this is a gripping read."

    —Kristine Huntley Booklist
  • The Extra

    "The two leads, Rita and George, are engaging and believable."

    —Hallie Ephron Boston Globe
  • On Location

    "Sims orchestrates the action—and occasional comic relief—for maximum impact."

    Publishers Weekly
  • You've Got a Book in You

    "The spark of inspiration to get started writing a book."

    —Hallie Ephron, award-winning author
  • The Actress

    "A page-turner from stem to stern!"

    Kirkus Reviews
  • The Extra

    "Goes down easy, like a perfect cup of coffee."

    Crimespree Magazine
  • On Location

    "A fast-paced, atmospheric mystery. Sims shines."

    —Melinda Bargreen The Seattle Times
  • You've Got a Book in You

    "The approach is always positive and well worth the price of admission"

    —Ellen Hart, award-winning author
  • The Actress

    "The fascination will keep you up late."

    —Jay Strafford Richmond Times-Dispatch
  • The Extra

    "An engaging thriller."

    —Harriet Klausner
  • On Location

    "As smart as it is compelling."

    —Michele Leber Booklist
  • You've Got a Book in You

    "It doesn't have the arrogant undertone found in other writing books."

    —The Book Depository
  • The Actress

    "Sims has a well-plotted and engaging winner here."

    —Melinda Bargreen The Seattle Times
  • The Extra

    "...and a lost beagle."

    Kirkus Reviews
  • On Location

    "Heart-pounding and page-turning."

    —Jay Strafford Richmond Times-Dispatch
  • You've Got a Book in You

    "In-depth, comprehensive and witty, but never complicated."

    —the office of LETTERS AND LIGHT
  • The Actress

    "Exhilarating! Elizabeth Sims provides a fascinating tale."

    —Harriet Klausner
  • The Extra

    "Brisk prose, facile storytelling, engaging characters."

    —Michele Leber Booklist
  • On Location

    "Rita's best role to date."

    —Lynne F. Maxwell Mystery Scene
  • You've Got a Book in You

    "I found great little gems of advice."

    —L.J. Sellers, bestselling mystery author
  • The Actress

    "Rita is a strong and believable voice."

    —Roberta Alexander The Mercury News
  • The Extra

    "A perfect blend of mystery, comedy and romance."

    —Rosa St.Claire Miami Books Examiner
  • On Location

    "A fabulous novel."

    —Harriet Klausner
  • You've Got a Book in You

    "Encouraging, practical and witty."

    —Gesa Kirsch, Ph.D., Professor of English, Bentley University
  • The Actress

    "A veteran mystery writer with a crackerjack tale."

    Seattle Post-Intelligencer

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newschat November 2004

Dear Valued Correspondent,

Yes, technically it's still autumn, though most trees I know have bared it all. I hope you're having a lovely Thanksgiving weekend.

It's official, I've signed a contract for the next Lillian Byrd crime novel, titled "Easy Street", tentative publication date November of next year. I'm working hard on it. In this one, Lillian attends the retirement party for Det. Erma Porrocks where she gets hired to do demolition in a house Porrocks just bought. She subcontracts one of the street people she knows from Greektown, Drooly Rick, to help her. While Lillian goes on an errand to the hardware store and gets into an argument with another customer who can't decide what shade of beige paint he really wants, something very untoward happens to Drooly Rick. Later Lillian finds a handful of odd treasure at the scene, and coincidentally meets a very interesting and sexy new neighbor, and she's off and running on another treacherous investigation.

The Insight Out Book Club, www.insightout.com, (a division of Quality Paperback Book Club) just published a hardcover version of "Lucky Stiff" for $14.95. I've been doing some promo for the book as well, talking to booksellers around the country and sending them my Virtual Booksigning Kits. For a list of the stores that received autographed bookplates and bookmarks, see http://www.elizabethsims.com/stores.shtml.

In my spare time I'm working on my holiday shopping list, and if you are doing this too, have I got news for you. My creative team, under my close supervision, has launched the store you've been waiting for. The Lillian Byrd Boutique opened this month to rave reviews for its fun and essential Lillian Lifestyle items. Check it out: http://www.cafepress.com/LillianByrd. Now merely by clicking your mouse you can buy cool Lillian-related items like the Elizabeth Sims Kept Me Up All Night coffee mug, Crime Story cards, a Detroit In Flames barbecue apron, even an Ace-Tek Golf Pro cap. And because you're on my special list of correspondents, here's a coupon code to use for $5 off any purchase of $50 or more: 5CPGIFT. This one's good through the 30th of November. Any gift you give from the Lillian Byrd Boutique will be met with squeals of delight, my creative team wishes to assure you. I'm drinking coffee from a Crime Story mug right now, and let me tell you, I've never owned a mug that made coffee taste as good as this one.

The renowned crime writer Ellen Hart recently interviewed me for a feature on her web site, www.ellenhart.com. The interview link is: http://www.ellenhart.com/reviews.html She's also posted interviews with Katherine Forrest, J.M. Redmann, and Sandra Scoppettone.

And there's new book out, "The Gay Detective" by Judith Markowitz (McFarland & Co.) that discusses my work among other writers. Judith interviewed me for the book last spring and we met at BookExpo in Chicago. She's a devoted fan of gay mystery fiction whose book is a solid current survey of the field. If you read it, you'll see that I earned the top spot for "most swearing by an author talking about writing."

You may know that I play percussion in the Port Angeles, Washington Symphony Orchestra. I recently began studying with Rob Tucker at Western Washington University, and realized that I need a mallet instrument at home to practice on. So I'm in the market for a decent used xylophone, 3.5 octave minimum, preferably lightweight. Synthetic bars OK. If you have one to sell, or know of somebody who does, will you please get in touch? You'd be doing me quite a favor, as the pawn shops of Port Angeles seem to be experiencing an extended drought of concert percussion instruments.

And on that note, I'll wish you the best as always, and my thanks for not deleting this message on sight. If you'd like to be taken off this list, just let me know.

Elizabeth


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