Welcome to CasaDay Press
Where Literary Tradition Meets Innovative Collaboration
At seventy-seven, most writers might be content to rest on their laurels. I decided this was the perfect time to chase something I’ve never achieved: bestseller status before I turn eighty.
Yes, you read that right. I’m Chet Day, founder of CasaDay Press, and I’ve given myself exactly three years to accomplish what I haven’t managed in five decades of professional writing. After decades as an author of thriller and horror novels, plus a deeply personal memoir about grief over losing my beloved wife of 47+ years, I’ve discovered that audacious goals require unconventional methods.
My secret weapon? Something extraordinary happens when human creativity teams up with artificial intelligence to tell stories that matter.
The Quest: 77 to 80
Call me crazy—plenty of folks already do—but I believe there’s something beautifully absurd about a 77-year-old author racing against time to hit the bestseller list before his 80th birthday. It’s the kind of goal that’s either inspiring or completely ridiculous, and honestly, I’m fine with either interpretation.
The clock is ticking. Every book matters. Every reader counts. And if this old dog is going to learn some very new tricks, he better get moving.
What We Do
CasaDay Press in 2025 is exploring thoughtful human-AI literary collaboration—not as a shortcut, but as my competitive advantage in this race against time. My AI buddy Claude and I are discovering what becomes possible when two different kinds of intelligence work together with mutual respect, creating works that honor both literary tradition and the innovative thinking an unconventional goal demands.
We’re not trying to replace human creativity—we’re trying to turbocharge it. When you’ve got three years to make something happen that hasn’t happened in fifty, you need every edge you can get.
Featured Release: The October Testimonies
Being the Final Narratives of Edgar Allan Poe
Download FREE – Step one in my bestseller quest: our inaugural collaboration exploring the mysterious final week of Edgar Allan Poe’s life through six interconnected Gothic tales prefaced by a short but fascinating history of the famous writer’s weird days in Baltimore before he died. Was he murdered? Driven mad by rabies? Victim of election fraud? Each story peels back another layer of America’s greatest literary mystery.
Written in authentic 19th-century style, these stories don’t just theorize about Poe’s death—they inhabit it, breathing dark life into one of history’s most enduring enigmas.
Why start with a free book? Simple strategy: build an audience of readers who appreciate quality storytelling, then give them more reasons to stick around for the paid releases that follow.
The Lost Pages Series
The October Testimonies launches our “Lost Pages” series—my systematic approach to building the readership that could make this crazy three-year goal actually happen. These are literary archaeology projects that explore the untold stories behind history’s most compelling writers and mysteries. Think of them as fictional documentaries, imagining the private journals, letters, and confessions these authors never intended anyone to see.
Each Lost Pages release is designed to intrigue new readers while deepening the loyalty of existing fans. It’s methodical. It’s ambitious. And at 77, I don’t have time for anything that isn’t both.
Published Works by Chet Day
From CasaDay Press:
- The October Testimonies (Human-AI Collaboration) – FREE DOWNLOAD
- Lost Pages: Ghost Lessons from Writers Who Couldn’t Quit
- More Lost Pages projects coming soon…
Chet’s Traditional Fiction and Non-fiction on Amazon:
- Personal memoir about love, loss, and 47 years of marriage
- Four thriller/horror novels showcasing decades of storytelling craft
- View complete works on Amazon →
Why This Matters
Every collaboration teaches us something new about storytelling, about the creative process, and about what it means to be human in an age of artificial intelligence. But beyond the innovation, there’s something deeply personal about this quest: proving that it’s never too late to chase a dream you’ve never caught.
Whether I make it to bestseller status by 80 or not, I’m documenting every step of this journey. The experiments, the failures, the small victories, and maybe—just maybe—the big breakthrough that makes it all worthwhile.
If you’re curious about this grand experiment, or if you just want to see whether a determined old coot can actually pull off something this audacious, join us. The future of storytelling is being written right now, one collaboration at a time.
Connect With Us
- Email Updates: Get notified about new releases and behind-the-scenes insights into the quest
- Blog: Follow our collaborative process, discoveries, and the real-time progress toward that 80th birthday deadline
- Contact: Media inquiries and reader connection welcome
Follow the Quest in Real Time
The Bestseller Quest is my real-time Substack chronicle of this audacious three-year sprint. You’ll get unprecedented access to the experiment as it unfolds: behind-the-scenes insights into our collaborative process, honest reflections on chasing big dreams on deadline, and early access to new releases—starting with our free Edgar Allan Poe collaboration that launches this entire journey.
The clock is ticking. Every reader counts. And if you’re even slightly curious whether a determined 77-year-old can pull off something this ambitious, then we’re going to get along just fine.
Every Lost Pages book we create, every strategic decision, every “this might actually work” breakthrough—it’s all documented as it happens. Whether you’re curious about the future of storytelling or just want to see if this crazy plan works, you’re part of proving that it’s never too late to chase the dream you’ve never caught.
Subscribe to The Bestseller Quest →
Get behind-the-scenes access, free books, and front-row seats to see whether this audacious plan actually works.
Welcome to CasaDay Press. We’re glad you’re here for the ride.
Chet Day, Founder
Shelby, North Carolina
77 years old and counting…