Countdown to Better Off Friends: 1 Week! The Events, Giveaways Galore and HUGE THANKS!

Hello all! I remember when I finished the page proofs for Better Off Friends in May thinking it was going to be FOREVER until the book would finally be out. But we are almost here! We are ONE WEEK away from Better Off Friends being out in the world!

I've already talked about the inspiration,  characters, and setting, so I thought I'd have this last pre-release blog post be about where you can pre-order a copy of the book, where you can see me this spring, AND where you can win one of EIGHT signed books being given away! That's right, it's the PAR-TAY post! Plus, I have a special note for each and every one of you below (see Final Thoughts). 

SIGNED BOOKS!

Since I can't be everywhere at once, the lovely folks at Boswell Books in Milwaukee are currently taking pre-orders for anybody who wants a SIGNED, PERSONALIZE copy of Better Off Friends (or any of my books!). I'll be there on the 25th signing away, so if you want a signed book give them a call at 414/332-1181.

EVENTS! 

Below are the current list of events I'll be doing this spring. I do know I'll for sure be in Los Angeles and Philadelphia area, but don't have that information yet. As always, keeping checking my EVENTS page for updates. 

Tuesday, February 25, 2014 7:00 p.m. Better Off Friends launch event! Boswell Books 2559 N. Downer Avenue Milwaukee, WI 53211 For more information Wednesday, February 26, 2014 6:30 p.m. Reading/signing Books and Company 1039 Summit Ave. Oconomowoc, WI 53066 There'll be CULVER'S CUSTARD, so bring your sweet tooth!  For more information Friday, February 28, 2014 4:30 p.m. Reading/signing Bookstall 811 Elm Street Winnetka, IL 60093 For more information Monday, March 3, 2014 7:00 p.m. Presentation/signing for WUD Publications Lit Fest University of Wisconsin-Madison Union South 1308 W. Dayton Street, Madison, WI 53716 I'll be talking more about the publishing process at this open to the public event, but also answering any and all book questions! A Room of One's Own bookstore will be selling books afterwards. Tuesday, March 4, 2014 6:00 p.m. Presentation/signing Portage Public Library  253 W. Edgewater, Portage, WI 53901 For more information Tuesday, March 18, 2014 7:30 p.m. Reading/Signing WORD bookstore 123 Newark Avenue, Jersey City The Mutual Admiration Society Reading with Kate Brian (Hereafter), Susane Colasanti (All I Need), Michelle Hodkin (The Evolution of Mara Dyer), David Levithan (Two Boys Kissing), and Rebecca Serle (The Edge of Falling) For more information Sunday, March 23, 2014 1:45-2:30 p.m. Signing Books of Wonder 18 W. 18th Street New York, NY 10011 For more information This is part of The New York City Teen Author Festival, click here for the full schedule of events. Wednesday, April 2, 2014 6:00 p.m. Teen Author Reading Night NYPL - Jefferson Market Branch 425 Avenue of the Americas (at 10th Street), NYC I'll be reading along with Claudia Gabel and Cheryl Klam (Elusion), Gwendolyn Heasley (Don’t Call Me Baby / The Art of Goodbye), Emmy Laybourne (Sky on Fire), Marie Rutkoski (The Winner’s Curse), Jennifer E. Smith (The Geography of You and Me), and Jess Verdi (The Summer I Wasn’t Me). For more information Saturday, April 26, 2014 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. TeenBookCon Alief Taylor High School 7555 Howell Sugar Land Road Houston, TX 77083 For more information

GIVEAWAYS GALORE!

I'm so fortunate that a group of awesome Wisconsin bloggers are not only reviewing and doing blog posts this week leading up to the release, but each will be giving away of a signed book. That's right, EIGHT CHANCES TO WIN A SIGNED BOOK! (HUGE thanks to Liza at WhoRuBlog for spearheading the #BetterOffInWi blog tour!)

Feb 16 Liza – WhoRuBlog – Review & some more recipes & giveaway of a signed book

Feb 17 Sarah – Novel Thoughts  - Review and and giveaway of signed book

Feb 18 Jaime and Erin – Fiction Fare – Quotes from the book with Wisconsin references & giveaway of a signed book

Feb 19 Andrea – Mrs. Payan Reads – History of Culvers and giveaway of a signed book

Feb 20 Erica – The Book Cellar – (still to be determined) & giveaway of a signed book

Feb 21 Heidi – YA Bibliophile – Irish references and giveaway of a signed book

Feb 22 Rachel – As told by Rachel – Pictures of places mentioned in the book from Wisconsin and giveaway of a signed book

Feb 23 Kelly – Belle of the Literati – WHEN HARRY MET SALLY: Can girls and boys be friends? Kelly is asking her friends for for their thoughts!

Feb 24 Jillian – Heise Reads and Recommends – Reviews from Students & giveaway of a signed book

FINAL THOUGHTS!

I keep having to pinch myself that my FIFTH book is about to come out. Not only that, this Thursday will mark my third anniversary as a full-time author. Three years ago, I thought I'd take a year off to write and see where that would lead me. Never did I think I'd still be doing it three years later. It isn't easy being a full-time author (hello health care premiums and paying loads in taxes!), but it's the best job. I don't take it for granted for one minute. I have no idea where I'll be in a year, but I do know this: each and every day I wake up and get to have the best job in the world, and it's because of YOU. Authors are nothing without people to read their books. Thank you for making my dreams come true.

XOXO, Elizabeth