The Next Big Thing...

Are the Captain and I done looking for gold? Not on your life, dear readers. We're only finished with the Rocky Mountains for this year. But we're on a much bigger gold circuit on my 2012 MYSTERY TOUR, one that touches a few of the largest gold rushes in history. However, we are taking a side trip here on the west coast for the next couple of weeks to search for the GLORY B. ... which you can find out more about over on my ARMCHAIR TRAVELERS PORTAL. 

Meanwhile, tomorrow is the "big birthday party" for that most entertaining of all pigs, SASSY PANTS, who has been busy trying to make amends for some friendships she broke. To celebrate, I will be interviewing author Carol A. Brown over on LILLY'S BOOK CLUB page. And don't forget, you will be able to get many wonderful free gifts if you buy the book on this very special day.

So, if you have any kids (or friends) in your family, you might want to tell them.

I know I'm going to!

Hold Everything!

Well, dear readers, my ARMCHAIR TRAVELERS have voted, and we are changing direction to head west to the Rockies instead of north. Both destinations would have gotten us there, but each have entirely different things to look at. And what a surprise! As the Captain went over the maps for this route, we find we will be reaching the most southern prong of the Rocky Mountains, that stretch all the way down into New Mexico. Not only will we be in the mountains sooner, but we could be chasing down some legends and ghost towns by the weekend. Treasure hunts are underway, and we are anticipating adventure. So, stop by the ARMCHAIR TRAVELERS PORTAL if you get a bit of time.

coming from Harbourlight Books
"The beacon in Christian fiction."

Meanwhile, I'm getting ready to start work on another "Stella Madison Caper," while the first one, HOME BEFORE DARK, will be available July 13... just in time for some light summer reading. Well, maybe not so light. Things like this could happen to anyone, really, and who ever sees them coming? No one does, so, how is a person to cope? Find out next month when Stella makes her first appearance.

Does it feel like summer, yet?

It definitely does around here!

What's The Mystery?

We're off, dear readers, on the second leg of the MYSTERY TOUR, on a trail to the Rocky Mountains. What's the mystery? The answer is in our first ever video log, over at the ARMCHAIR TRAVELERS PORTAL (which you can still sign up for if you would like to travel along). Meanwhile, in honor of GOLD TRAP (my tale of high adventure and divine appointment) we are following a gold trail to some very mysterious places from which I will be bringing back souvenirs for contest winners. 

What kind of contest? Solving mysteries, of course. One for each destination of our journey. First stop, Victor, Colorado, where we will explore some back roads and local legends of lost treasure. Some of which are true, while others aren't. The trick is figuring out which ones. The first that caught my eye is called "The Ten Cent Treasure." If you can track down this legend and tell me whether it is true or false, I'll put your name in the Captain's Hat for the first drawing. You will get a Rocky Mountain Souvenir if you win this one, but more details on that, later.

During the MYSTERY TOUR, I'll be updating this blog on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, so, stay tuned. Oh, yes, and anyone who sends out the troops if I get lost will get a reward. 

Do you think this is a good idea, or what?

See you on Monday!

THE LOST TRAVELERS…

The last winner of theCaptain's Hat drawing has been posted. Many thanks to everyone who commented, I truly enjoyed meeting you all. And now GOLD TRAP is shortly to embark on a MYSTERY TOUR. But first, a few loose ends to sort out...

In the hustle of packing for the long journey ahead, I lost a day somewhere. Time definitely got away from me, but there's no need to worry, as I always find my way back sooner, or later. However, I have also misplaced some ARMCHAIR TRAVELERS along the way, and that is most disturbing. 

Pilot error (again!), I must confess, because I apparently don't know how to set the alert mechanism on my google docs form (any suggestions, please leave them in the comment area). This is truly worse than not being able to find my other self on Facebook (I still don't understand why there has to be three of me on there), because when it is only me that is lost, at least I know I'm all right. And that I will eventually get somewhere as long as I keep paddling. But to lose a little group of my travelers is entirely unacceptable. 

So, I will be doing my utmost to gather you all up over the next week, and if you don't hear from me with your ticket information by Friday, please send up a smoke signal over on my Facebook page… or twiddle me on twitter… or make a mention in the comment section of this blog, and I will paddle right over and pick you up. 

Let me encourage you not to be deterred by this little mishap. The nice thing about armchair traveling is that you get all of the adventure without any of the risk. And the only thing the Captain and I will require of you is -- if we don't show up at one of our destinations -- that you would please tell somebody and send out the troops. But more about that, later.

This second part of our journey will be by car, so that we can explore some of the backroads of Victor, Colorado. There is a bit of an unsolved mystery there, having to do with gold. Not to mention some very important divine appointments. So, hold onto your hats, dear readers… departure is only a few days away…

The MYSTERY TOUR begins... aboard the RMS TITANIC

Today begins a strange but wonderful glimpse into an event that took place one hundred years ago, dear readers... the historic launch of the RMS TITANIC, from Southampton, on April 10th, 1912. It will be a clearer glimpse than any that has ever been seen, possibly even if you had been there, yourself. Because, as with all such moments in history, one is often caught up in what they can only see and experience through their own personal perspective. What awaits you, now, is an account told from many perspectives, by the passengers, themselves, who -- for the first time -- will be coming together to share little-known facts and remembrances of that fateful voyage. 

And there will be others, too. Those "gentler travelers" who have joined their ranks over the years so that -- above all else -- we will not forget the people who boarded that "ship of dreams," only to meet a different destiny through the portals of disaster. They have something to tell us, if we listen close enough. Something that could effect all of us, if we dare to take the time. It is a virtual voyage brought to you by Janice Hanna Thompson, in honor of her soon to be released novel, QUEEN OF THE WAVES. 

So, come along with me, now, as I report on this fantastic event, every day, for the next five days over at my new TRAVELS WITH LILLY blog.

You may never see things quite the same, again...

Lilly Maytree's MYSTERY TOUR...

The time is fast approaching when the Captain and I will set out on our long-awaited MYSTERY TOUR. In honor of GOLD TRAP (my "book of the year"), we have some very mysterious places lined up to visit. It's a five month long journey that will take us to some of the most amazing spots you can find. We will be traveling by planes, trains, cars, and boats. Mostly boats, as that is the Captain's favorite. Sometimes, we will even be traveling with friends. Because things are so much better when you share.

Along the way, we will be keeping in touch through weekly video logs, and live chats from many unusual locations. And there will be activities and contests, too, all with our "Armchair Travelers" in mind. So, get your ticket and come along with us, dear readers! The festivities start this month, and all you have to do is click on the ticket, above, to sign on. As I always say, when you can't get away, yourself, armchair traveling is the next best thing.

Oh, yes... and don't forget to keep an eye on this blog over the next couple of days, because my first destination is going to be something I've never done before. Heavens, I certainly hope I can handle it. Actually, I have a sort of premonition about the whole thing, and sometimes wonder if I should listen to it, or just go ahead.

What would you do?