Susan Keene's Blog: A book is a dream you hold in your hand
January 9, 2023
Accidents and New Novels
I hope I didn’t lose all of you. I’m not going to go into detail, but I had some back problems and spent many months in bed. I hope that is a good enough explanation. You have all had problems of your own and I don’t need to bore you with it. The most important thing is I believe I’ll learned to control it.
Now to more pleasant subjects.
Last year is the first time in ten years I didn’t publish a book. I’m making up for it now.
The fifth Arizona Summers book is coming along nicely. I love writing those. They are like not working at all. In the new one, Keith, the chief of police and Arizona’s romantic interest is accused of murder.
Arizona and her friends are left to solve the mystery and find the killer themselves while Keith sits in jail, without bond and the State Police run the investigation.
It has been a while since I’ve written a Kate Nash book. I’m feverishly trying to finish it, but like the rest of you, I don’t know what is going to happen until it happens.
It might sound strange, but when I begin to write the world goes away and the characters take over. Sometimes when I read it later, I wonder where it came from. I can only look up up and say ‘thanks’.
In this Kate Nash mystery, the jury who acquitted a serial killer thirty years before begins to get murdered. Kate and Amy take over the case from the St. Louis Homicide squad because Covid has ravaged their ranks, and no one is available to give the murders the time they deserve: much less find the killer.
The man was guilty, and everyone knew it, yet the jury let him go. Why start killing them after all these years?
My third endeavor is the new Kindle Vella platform. The stories are written in episodes until they are finished. At a later date they will be published in book form. I have one up. Mysteries of Madison Woods. I put one up every Wednesday. The first three episodes are free.
If you want to give it a try you can find it at amzn.to/3YDhcOc
As always, my books are free on Kindle Unlimited.
I’ve missed you guys and hope to not leave you hanging again.
Now to more pleasant subjects.
Last year is the first time in ten years I didn’t publish a book. I’m making up for it now.
The fifth Arizona Summers book is coming along nicely. I love writing those. They are like not working at all. In the new one, Keith, the chief of police and Arizona’s romantic interest is accused of murder.
Arizona and her friends are left to solve the mystery and find the killer themselves while Keith sits in jail, without bond and the State Police run the investigation.
It has been a while since I’ve written a Kate Nash book. I’m feverishly trying to finish it, but like the rest of you, I don’t know what is going to happen until it happens.
It might sound strange, but when I begin to write the world goes away and the characters take over. Sometimes when I read it later, I wonder where it came from. I can only look up up and say ‘thanks’.
In this Kate Nash mystery, the jury who acquitted a serial killer thirty years before begins to get murdered. Kate and Amy take over the case from the St. Louis Homicide squad because Covid has ravaged their ranks, and no one is available to give the murders the time they deserve: much less find the killer.
The man was guilty, and everyone knew it, yet the jury let him go. Why start killing them after all these years?
My third endeavor is the new Kindle Vella platform. The stories are written in episodes until they are finished. At a later date they will be published in book form. I have one up. Mysteries of Madison Woods. I put one up every Wednesday. The first three episodes are free.
If you want to give it a try you can find it at amzn.to/3YDhcOc
As always, my books are free on Kindle Unlimited.
I’ve missed you guys and hope to not leave you hanging again.
June 16, 2022
Collecting Dogs
The country is full of hidden surprises. DR and I were on our way to a discount store in the middle of nowhere. The directions went like this. Drive 4 miles to Highway Z. Follow the road until you come to the first low water bridge, if there is a road there, turn left. If there is no road going to your left continue on Z until you come to the second low water bridge and turn left. Follow the road around the horseshoe curve and up the hill to the next horseshoe curve to the right. You will see the store down the road on your right.
It is only open Thursday through Saturday.
We got into one of the farm vehicles, a 1992 GMC Suburban and off we went. We didn’t get four miles down the main road until we came upon a Bassett Hound laying in the middle of the road.
DH stopped and jumped out to check to see if the dog was injured.
The dog began wagging its tale and eventually got up. I said, “She wasn’t injured, she was taking a nap on the warm pavement.” I got back in the car. So far as I was concerned, the dog didn’t need us anymore.
DH disagreed. “It’s a female and I believe it hasn’t been long since she’s had a litter. I think her milk is dried up. We need to take her with us.”
I shook my head, “no, if she’s still wandering around here on the way back we can pick her up.”
The window on the truck was down. She closed the door and leaned on the sill. “What if we come by and she’s dead. Let’s take her now.”
The truck had three rows of seats. DH walked around to the back and opened the hatch. The dog spryly jumped in laid down. Before she could close the door, a Jack Terrier and a black and white puppy about three months old jumped into the back and laid next to the Bassett.
We both stood there wide-eyed. We’d been bamboozled. When we took a good look at the three dogs it became clear, they were a family; mom the Bassett, Dad the Jack Terrier, and their baby who had the coloring of her dad and the short legs of her mother.
We pulled the truck over to the side of the road and went to look again. Those dogs had no intention of getting out of the car. “Let’s take them with us,” DH said.
I looked at them one last time and turn toward the front seat. “I don’t think they have any intention of getting out.”
We went to the store which was super interesting. Lots of MRE’s (Meals Ready to Eat). Chocolate chips for fifty-cents, can goods and a huge number of items.
Before we went in the store, we opened all of the windows in the car and back hatch in case the dogs had changed their minds and wanted to go home. They were all asleep in the back seat when we came back.
On our way home we stopped where we found the dogs and knocked on doors to see if anyone owned them or knew where they lived.
No one had seen them around and thought they’d been dumped by the side of the road.
For days we read the paper and checked for Lost Dog signs.
We took them to the vet who told us grocery stores weren’t the only things hidden down country roads. Seems there are many puppy mills within fifty miles.
According to the vet, the two adult dogs were pure bred. The male was intact and the doctor said the two probably got together and when they had the puppy they were dumped.
We had everyone spay and neutered, named them Zoi, Jack and Odie May and kept them.
They all lived good and happy lives here on the farm. Zoi and Jack lived to about fifteen and Odie, the puppy, is fifteen now.
It is only open Thursday through Saturday.
We got into one of the farm vehicles, a 1992 GMC Suburban and off we went. We didn’t get four miles down the main road until we came upon a Bassett Hound laying in the middle of the road.
DH stopped and jumped out to check to see if the dog was injured.
The dog began wagging its tale and eventually got up. I said, “She wasn’t injured, she was taking a nap on the warm pavement.” I got back in the car. So far as I was concerned, the dog didn’t need us anymore.
DH disagreed. “It’s a female and I believe it hasn’t been long since she’s had a litter. I think her milk is dried up. We need to take her with us.”
I shook my head, “no, if she’s still wandering around here on the way back we can pick her up.”
The window on the truck was down. She closed the door and leaned on the sill. “What if we come by and she’s dead. Let’s take her now.”
The truck had three rows of seats. DH walked around to the back and opened the hatch. The dog spryly jumped in laid down. Before she could close the door, a Jack Terrier and a black and white puppy about three months old jumped into the back and laid next to the Bassett.
We both stood there wide-eyed. We’d been bamboozled. When we took a good look at the three dogs it became clear, they were a family; mom the Bassett, Dad the Jack Terrier, and their baby who had the coloring of her dad and the short legs of her mother.
We pulled the truck over to the side of the road and went to look again. Those dogs had no intention of getting out of the car. “Let’s take them with us,” DH said.
I looked at them one last time and turn toward the front seat. “I don’t think they have any intention of getting out.”
We went to the store which was super interesting. Lots of MRE’s (Meals Ready to Eat). Chocolate chips for fifty-cents, can goods and a huge number of items.
Before we went in the store, we opened all of the windows in the car and back hatch in case the dogs had changed their minds and wanted to go home. They were all asleep in the back seat when we came back.
On our way home we stopped where we found the dogs and knocked on doors to see if anyone owned them or knew where they lived.
No one had seen them around and thought they’d been dumped by the side of the road.
For days we read the paper and checked for Lost Dog signs.
We took them to the vet who told us grocery stores weren’t the only things hidden down country roads. Seems there are many puppy mills within fifty miles.
According to the vet, the two adult dogs were pure bred. The male was intact and the doctor said the two probably got together and when they had the puppy they were dumped.
We had everyone spay and neutered, named them Zoi, Jack and Odie May and kept them.
They all lived good and happy lives here on the farm. Zoi and Jack lived to about fifteen and Odie, the puppy, is fifteen now.
June 9, 2022
Fun Memories
Fun Memories
My daughter, Molly, will have passed five years ago this month. Although I think of her every day, all the memories aren’t sad. Here is one I thought I’d share with you.
For several years we took the kids to Rockaway Beach for a week. They would swim during the day and in the evening, we would walk down the hill to the arcade and then have an ice cream.
One of the great aspects of the trip was that we didn’t have to get in the car one time for an entire week. But on the way there …
We bought Molly a camera for her birthday and her mission in life, during our vacation, was to validate every moment with a picture.
At the time, I drove a Mustang convertible and it could move. Sometimes on the straight-away, I’d lose track of how fast I was going.
The trip from O’Fallon to Rockaway Beach took about four hours (248 miles). Along the way we stopped several times for Molly to take a picture of this and that.
In Ozark, a State Trooper pulled me over. He said, “not only were you going twenty miles an hour over the speed limit, but I have been following you for five minutes and not once did you look in your rear view mirror.”
All I could say was, “really?”
“Where are you folks headed?” I told him and he said, “I’m glad I caught you on the way down. I feel like you will have a safe vacation now?
He went to his cruiser and came back several minutes later with a ticket for me to sign.
I quietly did what I was told and didn’t realize Molly had rolled down her window. She leaned her head out and said, “sir, would you mind handing the ticket to Mom again. I am making a memory book of our vacation and this is a big event.”
The officer grinned at her, gently took the ticket out of my hand and held it out again. “Tell me when you’re ready,” he said and handed me the ticket a second time.
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My daughter, Molly, will have passed five years ago this month. Although I think of her every day, all the memories aren’t sad. Here is one I thought I’d share with you.
For several years we took the kids to Rockaway Beach for a week. They would swim during the day and in the evening, we would walk down the hill to the arcade and then have an ice cream.
One of the great aspects of the trip was that we didn’t have to get in the car one time for an entire week. But on the way there …
We bought Molly a camera for her birthday and her mission in life, during our vacation, was to validate every moment with a picture.
At the time, I drove a Mustang convertible and it could move. Sometimes on the straight-away, I’d lose track of how fast I was going.
The trip from O’Fallon to Rockaway Beach took about four hours (248 miles). Along the way we stopped several times for Molly to take a picture of this and that.
In Ozark, a State Trooper pulled me over. He said, “not only were you going twenty miles an hour over the speed limit, but I have been following you for five minutes and not once did you look in your rear view mirror.”
All I could say was, “really?”
“Where are you folks headed?” I told him and he said, “I’m glad I caught you on the way down. I feel like you will have a safe vacation now?
He went to his cruiser and came back several minutes later with a ticket for me to sign.
I quietly did what I was told and didn’t realize Molly had rolled down her window. She leaned her head out and said, “sir, would you mind handing the ticket to Mom again. I am making a memory book of our vacation and this is a big event.”
The officer grinned at her, gently took the ticket out of my hand and held it out again. “Tell me when you’re ready,” he said and handed me the ticket a second time.
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April 16, 2021
Writing the Arizona Summers Mysteries is fun!
Posted on Apr 17, 2021 by Susan Keene No Comments Yet | Posted in Uncategorized
The Wedding Cake Murder
An Arizona Summers Mystery book 1
I’m having a great time writing the Arizona Summers Mysteries.
Arizona is a single, thirty something woman with bright red hair and a skinny body. She owns Moonstone Lake Cafe and Sunday Brunch, the oldest family owned restaurant in the state.
Arizona’s real love is solving crimes. The old police chief loved for her to help. When the new police chief took over, he made it clear she should run her restaurant and he would do the crime fighting.
Little did he know that Arizona knew everyone in town and they all confided in her. It didn’t take him long to realize she gathered more information in an average day in the cafe than he could in a week of sleuthing.
Then there is Emma, Arizona’s adopted mother who sometimes requires more babysitting than an average five year old.
Aunt Sandra, Emma’s sister and Arizona’s best friend, is a lovely widow who brightens up the town with her independence and smiling personality.
Nutmeg is a stray dog who adopted Arizona and made it her life’s work to keep her mistress well and safe. Nutmeg is most likely the world’s smartest and most intuitive dog. She, more often than not, figures out what is going on before anyone else.
Book one: The Wedding Cake Murder hit #1 is the Amazon Kindle store. Book two: The High Steaks Murder is also an Amazon Best seller and book three
Bonfires, Barbeques and Bodies will be released on April 22. Order yours today while they are on pre-order for .99
The link to each book is below.
https://amzn.to/34c4kop Wedding Cake Murder
https://amzn.to/3kLSFlW The High Steaks Murder
https://amzon.to/3gid9UO Bonfires, Barbeques and Bodies
And a big thanks to all of you who follow me and read my books. Without readers, we writers are nothing.
The Wedding Cake Murder
An Arizona Summers Mystery book 1
I’m having a great time writing the Arizona Summers Mysteries.
Arizona is a single, thirty something woman with bright red hair and a skinny body. She owns Moonstone Lake Cafe and Sunday Brunch, the oldest family owned restaurant in the state.
Arizona’s real love is solving crimes. The old police chief loved for her to help. When the new police chief took over, he made it clear she should run her restaurant and he would do the crime fighting.
Little did he know that Arizona knew everyone in town and they all confided in her. It didn’t take him long to realize she gathered more information in an average day in the cafe than he could in a week of sleuthing.
Then there is Emma, Arizona’s adopted mother who sometimes requires more babysitting than an average five year old.
Aunt Sandra, Emma’s sister and Arizona’s best friend, is a lovely widow who brightens up the town with her independence and smiling personality.
Nutmeg is a stray dog who adopted Arizona and made it her life’s work to keep her mistress well and safe. Nutmeg is most likely the world’s smartest and most intuitive dog. She, more often than not, figures out what is going on before anyone else.
Book one: The Wedding Cake Murder hit #1 is the Amazon Kindle store. Book two: The High Steaks Murder is also an Amazon Best seller and book three
Bonfires, Barbeques and Bodies will be released on April 22. Order yours today while they are on pre-order for .99
The link to each book is below.
https://amzn.to/34c4kop Wedding Cake Murder
https://amzn.to/3kLSFlW The High Steaks Murder
https://amzon.to/3gid9UO Bonfires, Barbeques and Bodies
And a big thanks to all of you who follow me and read my books. Without readers, we writers are nothing.
October 25, 2020
Halloween
Halloween
I love Halloween. Bonfires, hayrides, a reason to eat candy without feeling guilty. What is not to like?
This year it will be different. Kids will dress up, make snacks, watch movies and stay home.
I remember some Halloweens were so warm we wore shorts and others so cold we had to put on long johns under our costumes.
In Alton, Illinois, where I grew up, we had an annual Halloween parade. Almost consecutively since 1945, Alton had the parade. A couple years were skipped during World War II but mostly you could count on the town turning out to stand on the sidewalk and watch the scary floats go by. This year the tradition ends. The parade was cancelled due to Covid 19.
I’m not going to dwell on it because it is one of those circumstances of life I can’t control. I will tell you it makes me sad.
While looking up how some folks are going to spend Halloween, I came up with some interesting facts I thought I would share with you.
This year the most popular candies are Skittles, Reese’s peanut butter cups. M&M’s, Snickers and Starburst, in that order. They didn’t list my favorites which are any candies with good chocolate and caramel.
This is be the first Halloween since 2001 to take place during a full moon. Remember, you will now have werewolves in the mix.
The original name of Candy Corn was Chicken Feed. I’m sure glad I didn’t know that over the years. To me it takes the appeal right out of it.
Did you know the White House is haunted? Now, now, you know that isn’t what I mean. We’ll stay out of politics. Really, Eleanor Roosevelt saw Abraham Lincoln and others have seen Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands, Winston Churchill, Andrew Jackson, David Burns, and Abigail Adams.
If you would like more information on the hauntings at the White House, you can read about them on the internet at historychannel.com
Have a wonderful Halloween and if you started any new traditions because of the virus, drop a comment in the box.
I love Halloween. Bonfires, hayrides, a reason to eat candy without feeling guilty. What is not to like?
This year it will be different. Kids will dress up, make snacks, watch movies and stay home.
I remember some Halloweens were so warm we wore shorts and others so cold we had to put on long johns under our costumes.
In Alton, Illinois, where I grew up, we had an annual Halloween parade. Almost consecutively since 1945, Alton had the parade. A couple years were skipped during World War II but mostly you could count on the town turning out to stand on the sidewalk and watch the scary floats go by. This year the tradition ends. The parade was cancelled due to Covid 19.
I’m not going to dwell on it because it is one of those circumstances of life I can’t control. I will tell you it makes me sad.
While looking up how some folks are going to spend Halloween, I came up with some interesting facts I thought I would share with you.
This year the most popular candies are Skittles, Reese’s peanut butter cups. M&M’s, Snickers and Starburst, in that order. They didn’t list my favorites which are any candies with good chocolate and caramel.
This is be the first Halloween since 2001 to take place during a full moon. Remember, you will now have werewolves in the mix.
The original name of Candy Corn was Chicken Feed. I’m sure glad I didn’t know that over the years. To me it takes the appeal right out of it.
Did you know the White House is haunted? Now, now, you know that isn’t what I mean. We’ll stay out of politics. Really, Eleanor Roosevelt saw Abraham Lincoln and others have seen Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands, Winston Churchill, Andrew Jackson, David Burns, and Abigail Adams.
If you would like more information on the hauntings at the White House, you can read about them on the internet at historychannel.com
Have a wonderful Halloween and if you started any new traditions because of the virus, drop a comment in the box.
February 2, 2017
A Visit with Author Lois Curran
met Lois Curran at the Ozarks Romance Authors last year and we met again when she joined Sleuths-Ink Mystery writers. We hit it off right away. Lois’ debut novel, Destined to Love Again came out last month on Amazon. I read it and recommend it highly.
Lois writes Christian fiction. Let’s take a look at what she has to say about her genre, writing and life in general.
Tell us about your novel, Destined to Love again.
Lois: It is a cozy Christian romance novel. It is much the same as any cozy romance only it is faith based.
What is the setting for Destined… and what inspired you to write it?
Lois: It takes place in Tampa. The idea grew from my nursing background. I developed the main character, Abby as an RN who leaves home to get away from painful memories and takes a position as a school nurse in a prestigious boarding school.
I love the cover. Did you design it yourself?
Lois: No, it was designed by Jaycee Delorenzo at Sweet ’N spicy Designs. I highly recommend her.
Do you write full time?
Lois: In January, I gave up my fulltime job as Director of Nursing at my county’s Health Department. I cut down to two days a week which gives me more time to write and do all the other things I love.
Speaking of things you love, tell us some of your favorite pastimes?
Lois: Scrapbooking, traveling, crossword puzzles and of course reading are at the top of my list.
Tell me five things you would like your readers to know about you.
Lois : They should know that I also write suspense. My new book is about ready and I hope it will be published soon. I took violin lessons for five years and I’m a chronic dieter. I have dieted off and on my entire life. If I hadn’t dieted I’d weigh five hundred pounds by now. The beach Is my favorite travel destination. I live in Missouri but I grew up in Salem, Oregon. My favorite romance writer is Terri Blackstock but I have many more.
Thanks Lois. If you would like to see Lois’ book just follow this link
http://amzn.to/2hdSVNs
Blub from Destined to Love Again
On the heels of a breakup from her long-time boyfriend, whom she now questions she ever really loved him, Abby Dennison leaves Orlando for Tampa. She walks away from the painful memories and a situation she knows displeases God.
In Tampa she takes a position as a school nurse in a prestigious boarding academy. She needs a second chance at life but doesn’t want a second chance at love. Then the school handy-man Sam shows gentle persistence and steady goodness as he tries to persuade her to go out with him.
She can’t deny the attraction, but she’s not ready to take the risk of dating someone new. Her heart needs to heal. She wonders if God might be preparing a future for her with the handsome Sam Ford.…However, is she willing to let go of the past to allow herself to love again?
Lois writes Christian fiction. Let’s take a look at what she has to say about her genre, writing and life in general.
Tell us about your novel, Destined to Love again.
Lois: It is a cozy Christian romance novel. It is much the same as any cozy romance only it is faith based.
What is the setting for Destined… and what inspired you to write it?
Lois: It takes place in Tampa. The idea grew from my nursing background. I developed the main character, Abby as an RN who leaves home to get away from painful memories and takes a position as a school nurse in a prestigious boarding school.
I love the cover. Did you design it yourself?
Lois: No, it was designed by Jaycee Delorenzo at Sweet ’N spicy Designs. I highly recommend her.
Do you write full time?
Lois: In January, I gave up my fulltime job as Director of Nursing at my county’s Health Department. I cut down to two days a week which gives me more time to write and do all the other things I love.
Speaking of things you love, tell us some of your favorite pastimes?
Lois: Scrapbooking, traveling, crossword puzzles and of course reading are at the top of my list.
Tell me five things you would like your readers to know about you.
Lois : They should know that I also write suspense. My new book is about ready and I hope it will be published soon. I took violin lessons for five years and I’m a chronic dieter. I have dieted off and on my entire life. If I hadn’t dieted I’d weigh five hundred pounds by now. The beach Is my favorite travel destination. I live in Missouri but I grew up in Salem, Oregon. My favorite romance writer is Terri Blackstock but I have many more.
Thanks Lois. If you would like to see Lois’ book just follow this link
http://amzn.to/2hdSVNs
Blub from Destined to Love Again
On the heels of a breakup from her long-time boyfriend, whom she now questions she ever really loved him, Abby Dennison leaves Orlando for Tampa. She walks away from the painful memories and a situation she knows displeases God.
In Tampa she takes a position as a school nurse in a prestigious boarding academy. She needs a second chance at life but doesn’t want a second chance at love. Then the school handy-man Sam shows gentle persistence and steady goodness as he tries to persuade her to go out with him.
She can’t deny the attraction, but she’s not ready to take the risk of dating someone new. Her heart needs to heal. She wonders if God might be preparing a future for her with the handsome Sam Ford.…However, is she willing to let go of the past to allow herself to love again?
December 21, 2016
Christmas Is Just Around the Corner
When I was a small child, something about Christmas unnerved me.
Last year I wrote a short story called Memories of Christmas Past about a woman who didn't like Christmas. It was cathartic.
When I had small children , I tried to hide my feelings about everyone else's favorite holiday.
(Mine has always been Easter, but that is a story for another day.) We had a tree in the living room, went to late service on Christmas Eve and helped Santa with his chores while he was in the house.
The day after, I took the tree and all the decorations down and replaced them with New Year's paraphernalia.
Now I have grandchildren, and since we go there for Christmas, I don't put up a tree. I do wrap a string of lights around the mimosa tree in the front yard so no one refers to me as the grouchy lady down the street.
To the people I interact with on a regular basis, I send a card.
For years I have wondered why am I so weird about Christmas? Since it was not an acquired dislike, I have to think something happened when I was a child that traumatized me during the Season.
Maybe it was Santa. He was at the grocery store, church, the mall, on TV, standing on a corner ringing a bell and a dozen other places all at the same time.
How could that be? His hair was long, short, curly and straight. He was fat, portly, skinny, smelled wonderful or rank, yet people tried to tell me he was one guy who was going to come down my chimney on Christmas Eve and leave me presents. Really?
He never disappointed. When my brother and sister and I woke up on Christmas morning, there were toys, candy and every sort of thing to make a child smile.
I might have been a weird child, or something as simple as that. But I am better now so I would like to wish you and yours a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Winter Solstice, or Festivus, or whatever you celebrate.
I send you the love, and light and hope for peace and prosperity for all.
Posted by Susan Keene at 3:59 PM No comments: Links to this post
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Last year I wrote a short story called Memories of Christmas Past about a woman who didn't like Christmas. It was cathartic.
When I had small children , I tried to hide my feelings about everyone else's favorite holiday.
(Mine has always been Easter, but that is a story for another day.) We had a tree in the living room, went to late service on Christmas Eve and helped Santa with his chores while he was in the house.
The day after, I took the tree and all the decorations down and replaced them with New Year's paraphernalia.
Now I have grandchildren, and since we go there for Christmas, I don't put up a tree. I do wrap a string of lights around the mimosa tree in the front yard so no one refers to me as the grouchy lady down the street.
To the people I interact with on a regular basis, I send a card.
For years I have wondered why am I so weird about Christmas? Since it was not an acquired dislike, I have to think something happened when I was a child that traumatized me during the Season.
Maybe it was Santa. He was at the grocery store, church, the mall, on TV, standing on a corner ringing a bell and a dozen other places all at the same time.
How could that be? His hair was long, short, curly and straight. He was fat, portly, skinny, smelled wonderful or rank, yet people tried to tell me he was one guy who was going to come down my chimney on Christmas Eve and leave me presents. Really?
He never disappointed. When my brother and sister and I woke up on Christmas morning, there were toys, candy and every sort of thing to make a child smile.
I might have been a weird child, or something as simple as that. But I am better now so I would like to wish you and yours a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Winter Solstice, or Festivus, or whatever you celebrate.
I send you the love, and light and hope for peace and prosperity for all.
Posted by Susan Keene at 3:59 PM No comments: Links to this post
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December 4, 2016
The Idea for the Twisted Mind of Cletus Compton
The Idea for the Twisted Mind of Cletus Compton
This summer, for the first time in years, I had a schedule. This put me on a long, dark (more like pitch black), lonely road to my home several nights a week.
Being a writer, I should be able to describe to you what made the hair on the back of my neck stand up as I drove.
The road goes between one small town in the Ozarks to an even smaller farm community with only one viable business, a convenience store.
About a mile down this road you lose the light from the first town and the light from the quick stop ahead of you is not yet bright enough to be visible. All you have to guide you is your headlights.
There is no shoulder on the road. On one side, the back of fence of several farms flashes in the headlights. The other side is a hill goes up and disappears into the shadows, just past that is the railroad track.
In the last ten years, I have driven this road a thousand times, but this summer it triggered a recurring nightmare.
In my nightmare, I as drive down this road I spot something. I slow down to take a closer look. I spy a large wooden crate made of sassafras sticks tied together with yellow baling twin.
I turn the car toward the box so the light shines on it and slowly get out. The box is about 20 yards away. Should I go see if anything is in the box or should I stay close in case it is dangerous?
Something moves and I jump, trip over a rock and land on both hands and knees. From that position, I can see there is a small human chained to the crate.
At that point, I wake up.
I had this dream every night. It got so I hated to close my eyes.
One night when I woke up from my scary dream, I jumped up and went to my office where I wrote it down. That was at 2 am. At 6 am I was still writing and I was on chapter 6. That is how the Twisted Mind of Cletus Compton became a novel.
The funny thing is, after that night I never had the nightmare again.
Hum... leave me a comment and tell me what you think. Where did the dream come from? Why did it go away so abruptly?
This summer, for the first time in years, I had a schedule. This put me on a long, dark (more like pitch black), lonely road to my home several nights a week.
Being a writer, I should be able to describe to you what made the hair on the back of my neck stand up as I drove.
The road goes between one small town in the Ozarks to an even smaller farm community with only one viable business, a convenience store.
About a mile down this road you lose the light from the first town and the light from the quick stop ahead of you is not yet bright enough to be visible. All you have to guide you is your headlights.
There is no shoulder on the road. On one side, the back of fence of several farms flashes in the headlights. The other side is a hill goes up and disappears into the shadows, just past that is the railroad track.
In the last ten years, I have driven this road a thousand times, but this summer it triggered a recurring nightmare.
In my nightmare, I as drive down this road I spot something. I slow down to take a closer look. I spy a large wooden crate made of sassafras sticks tied together with yellow baling twin.
I turn the car toward the box so the light shines on it and slowly get out. The box is about 20 yards away. Should I go see if anything is in the box or should I stay close in case it is dangerous?
Something moves and I jump, trip over a rock and land on both hands and knees. From that position, I can see there is a small human chained to the crate.
At that point, I wake up.
I had this dream every night. It got so I hated to close my eyes.
One night when I woke up from my scary dream, I jumped up and went to my office where I wrote it down. That was at 2 am. At 6 am I was still writing and I was on chapter 6. That is how the Twisted Mind of Cletus Compton became a novel.
The funny thing is, after that night I never had the nightmare again.
Hum... leave me a comment and tell me what you think. Where did the dream come from? Why did it go away so abruptly?
A book is a dream you hold in your hand
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