Lea Wait's Blog, page 116

What’s Different? The Challenge of Paying Attention

Kate Flora: I’ve written about this before, but being in a new place reminds me again of how important it is for writers to be attuned to our surroundings. As we’ve done for several years, we are spending the month of March in Florida. Still carefully socially isolated but living and working in a very different location.

The other day, I went out for a walk around the neighborhood. I was wearing shorts and a tee shirt. Flip flops. A hat and lots of sunscreen. And I was walking past small streets of unfamiliar houses, looking at the ways people have used trees and shrubs for their landscaping. Looking at the lawn art, the placement of chairs and benches, the way people landscape those little islands of shrubs and trees in the middle of their lawns. What looks inviting, what looks static, what gives privacy and what just looks like came off a landscaper’s truck.

It was when a few big gusts of wind went by that I realized how different these shrubs and trees sound from the ones I’ve been walking past on my almost daily walks up north. At home, the pine trees sigh as the wind blows through them, and in winter, there are few other leaves left on the trees. Those that are left, mostly oak leaves, are crisp and dry and rustle and rattle loudly when the wind blows. If the wind stirs these northern trees and shrubs, the result is more likely to be bare branches knocking and rubbing, or entire tree trunks creaking if the wind is strong.

(An aside: once, during a late winter/early spring wind storm, I heard an ash tree truck torque and split with a sound like an explosion. It was very tall and right by my house, and I called a tree company with the question: Is there such a think as a tree emergency? They came and took down the tree, to the delight of two small boys who got to watch, and reported that it could very well have become a tree emergency. I was right to make the call.)

The path to the beach

So. Back to Florida. Here the leaves are often large and rubbery and make a rubbery flap when they move. Or long and leathery and fern-like, like palms and palmettos, and they rub and shift with crisp, bright sounds. They sigh and hiss and crackle. If I were going to set a story in Florida, I would have to do a lot of research to make the setting feel authentic. To know what sights and sounds I would need to put in my character’s head.

The birds are different, too. Across the pond, the young osprey mewl like babies and the parents call back. Cormorants and pelicans land in the pond with enormous splashes. Something farther down the pond shrieks like it is being murdered. The crows are loud and everywhere the doves coo and mutter. Through binoculars, I watch the unwanted green iguana sunning itself in someone’s back yard, and I call the police to ask if they still care about this invasive predator.

After a year of being masked, and being only in places where everyone else is also masked, where what we’ve seen of one another is our eyes, our unkempt covid hair, and bulky winter coats, it is a surprise to realize I am seeing people’s whole faces when I take my end of the day beach walk. We are few and politely distanced. But it is kind of a shock to see whole faces. Tanned faces. And people are smiling, as though we are all overjoyed to have the chance to go free again.

Often when I am teaching, I tell my students that a key to understanding, and creating, characters begins with understanding what is “not you.” How is that person different in appearance, attitude, experience, education, world view, vocabulary, etc. The same examination of differences works for places. How is this place different, and how do you render that visceral and credible for your readers?

 

Weekend Update: March 13-14,2021

Next week at Maine Crime Writers there will be posts by Kate Flora (Monday) and Kaitlyn Dunnett/Kathy Lynn Emerson (Tuesday) and a group post on Thursday.

In the news department, here’s what’s happening with some of us who blog regularly at Maine Crime Writers:

John Clark just got word that all three of the stories he submitted have been accepted for the 2021 BOULD Awards Anthology, which will be published in late November.

 

 

An invitation to readers of this blog: Do you have news relating to Maine, Crime, or Writing? We’d love to hear from you. Just comment below to share.

 

And a reminder: If your library, school, or organization is looking for a speaker, we are often available to talk about the writing process, research, where we get our ideas, and other mysteries of the business. We also do programs on Zoom. Contact Kate Flora

The Day the World Ended

Today is the first anniversary of The Day the World Ended. On this day last year my wife and I drove to Salem to the Peabody Essex Museum (PEM) to see its special exhibit of Jacob Lawrence’s “Struggle,” several dozen wonderful paintings reimagining iconic scenes in American history with Black figures inserted. On I-95 in Massachusetts we were surprised to see overhead alert signs directing us to an 800 phone number for information on Covid-19. The word was familiar from recent news stories, but why the Commonwealth of Massachusetts was providing information about it seemed a bit odd. It was odd, too, that the PEM was nearly deserted. The entrance staff welcomed us especially warmly, as if we were doing a big favor by coming out.

After viewing the paintings we were browsing in the gift shop when a series of alerts from The New York Times came rushing to my smartphone. I felt embarrassed that the beeps might disturb the handful of staff in the otherwise empty shop, but as the alerts became more frequent, even frantic, several staff came to ask what was happening. I read out the first: New York’s Metropolitan Museum was closing immediately because of Covid-19. Other cancellations followed: NBA games, NY City Schools, etc. As we drove home, even more alerts came through, and by the time we were back in Maine we realized that something really serious was happening. We gave that day the name we still call it, perhaps too melodramatically: The Day the World Ended.

Of course the world didn’t end in mid-March of 2020, but now a year later it definitely feels like the world we knew ended then. We’ve now had our second vaccine shot; the rate of vaccinations is swiftly growing as the case and death reports decline, and for the first time in a year we are hopeful that the worst is behind us. But the sense that we experienced some sort of end-time persists.

I just read Rumaan Alam’s Leave the World Behind, a perplexing novel that imagines an unspecified global catastrophe from the point of view of a family of four taking a vacation in a rental house on Long Island (the other one, in New York). The novel, a finalist for the National Book Award, was written before the plague struck, but it’s eerily resonant with our current situation. Alam never specifies exactly what happened, for which he has been roundly criticized in the mixed review the novel earned, but you can’t help feel that he was on to something
The novel reminded me of John Updike’s Toward the End of Time (1997), which recounts the reactions of a man living on the North Shore following the end of a war with China and the environmental damages it inflicted. Both novels depict bizarre scenes in which herds of deer suddenly appear as symbols of natural catastrophe. As a student of 17th and 18th century American Puritanism, I was reminded of sermons and letters predicting the end of time that so many people then earnestly expected—indeed, welcomed.

Just as it took only a few years for novelists to tell stories around the events of 9-11, I’m sure we’ll soon see fiction anchored in the 2020 plague. It’s impossible to imagine how the narratives will develop, but the event is too massive to be ignored. If I were writing a story about the plague—which I’m not and don’t plan to—I know that it would begin with a drive on I-95 as we watched overhead alerts, a near-empty PEM, a flurry of messages from the Times, and then the realization that the world (as we knew it) was ending. Frankly, I think I’ll be reluctant to read plague novels when they appear, but in the end I probably will because I need fiction to help me understand and cope. In the meantime, I look forward to dining out, visiting museums, and especially gathering friends for meals and lively conversations, all signs that the world did not, a year ago, end.

My Five Reasons…

As a writer of romantic suspense, along with being a member of Maine Crime Writers and Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance, I’m also a member of the Maine Romance Writers. MRW’s newsletter occasionally has a feature called “My Five,” in which members list five items about anything—favorite children’s books, crazy Christmas gifts, a spouse’s foibles, writing challenges/successes/ frustrations, etc. So the opportunity to write mine came at a critical time in my writing career. A down time.

After my first book for Silhouette Intimate Moments was published in 2001, I went through a three-year drought before selling again. Then the next four books breezed through the submission process. Silhouette loved me. My books finaled in contests. Breaking All the Rules (now Dark Rules) was a top seller. Deadly Memories (now Dark Vengeance) http://getBook.at/DarkVengeance was a Romantic Times Top Pick and nominated for Best Silhouette Intimate Moments of 2006. But after that book, I hit the skids again. The next submission was rejected. I figured I’d run out my string with the anti-terrorism series so I tried something different. That submission was rejected. And the next.

In the meantime, I was working on a stand-alone romantic suspense set in Maine, longer and more complex than the “category” novels I’d been writing. However, getting an agent and selling a stand-alone title is tough. As the publisher evolved and Intimate Moments became Silhouette Romantic Suspense and then Harlequin Romantic Suspense, they shortened the word count and changed the balance of suspense to romance, making it a lot less suspense and a lot more romance. This further meant we weren’t suited for each other.

Meanwhile, another stand-alone manuscript made finalist in a contest. Validation someone thought I could still write! At that point, writing the My Five prompted me to re-motivate myself. Maybe my thoughts will help someone else who’s hit a low point. Here are My Five Reasons to Keep Writing, in reverse order:

FIVE – If I stopped writing, I would have to get a real job so I can avoid cleaning out dust bunnies and pulling weeds.

FOUR – I have stories to tell and characters in my head that won’t go away and leave me alone. All my life, I’ve suffered from occasional insomnia and occupied my mind during the long nights with my stories. Writing down the stories for others makes those sleepless hours worthwhile.

THREE – Belonging to writer groups has given me acquaintances and friendships with other people who have characters and stories in their heads. I’ve always felt out of step but I feel a sense of belonging more in writing groups than anywhere else. Also, writer groups and writing conferences are always motivating and inspiring.

TWO – The excitement and joy when the words sing or the scene rocks or the plot comes together or the characters become real people. If all of those collide, wow!

ONE – The absolute thrill of holding my published book in my hand and seeing it on a store bookshelf or listed online. It’s my baby that I sweated over for months and sent off into the big world.

Along with that is the thrill of receiving emails from readers who enjoyed the book and ask about the next one. Knowing there are readers who want more sends me back to my computer to experience TWO again.

Since then, the book set in Maine, Primal Obsession, was published by a small press. After that I began publishing independently. I received the rights back from the small press, and have released Primal Obsession independently. The contest finalist became On Deadly Ground,  the first book in my Devlin Security Force series.

During the past few years, I’ve received the publishing rights back for all five of my Silhouette/Harlequin books. I’ve updated them all and re-issued them as The DARK Files series, and I’ve added a fifth, Dark Vision. Readers and online reviewers seem to like them, so my books are selling. I’m working on an addition to the Devlin Security series, tentatively titled “Genuine Fake,” so overall now I’m experiencing numbers ONE and TWO of My Five.

If you’re a writer, what is one of your motivators? If you have another creative outlet, what drives that?

Getting Constructive Feedback

People ask me all the time about what it takes to publish a novel. What’s the best steps to take? How do I go about it? One of the first things I tell them is to join a writing group.

I’ve been in many writing groups throughout my career. Some were good and some not so much. I’ve been in one for the last three years and my small group is amazing. Lately, we’ve been meeting via Zoom, but hopefully that will change now that restrictions are loosening. It has helped me become a better writer in ways I’d not anticipated. And my fellow members are so interesting and amazing writers. One edits numerous sailing magazines. Another writes ad copy and writes blogs. The newest member was a detective in NYC for twenty years. What an incredible group to get feedback from.

Do you need a writing group? In my opinion, every writer would benefit being in one. Not just any group though. It’s important that you find one that is a good fit for you and where the members are thoughtful and respectful of each other’s work. A good writing group nurtures the individual rather than criticizes and puts the writer down. They find the good in a manuscript while gently coaxing the writer to make important changes where needed.

What to look for in a good writing group.

1. Experience. You want to join a group with some experienced writers who have also been in a group setting before. People who have been in a group understand how to criticize without being too judgmental, as well as praise the writer where praise is needed. Experienced members can also put you at ease and give you vital feedback in a supportive and positive environment

2. Diversity. By this I mean you want a group with different types of writers. Diversity in this regards allows you to see different styles of writing and incorporate that in your manuscript. Good writing is still good writing, but if someone who writes romance really enjoys a chapter of your crime novel, then you know you’ve done a good job holding their attention.

3. Dedication: There’s nothing more frustrating than showing up to group only to realize that half the members have not showed up. Or have not read your submission, even though you spent hours reading and critiquing their submission. A group is only as good as its members and so a policy of some sort attendance policy makes sense. Ask the group leader about the dedication of its group members. If the attendance policy is not enforced, I would think twice about joining.

4. Rules: There should be some rules if a group is to be successful. They don’t need to be hard and fast, but you don’t want to join a group where chaos and disorder are routine, otherwise you’ll be wasting your time. For example, each person should be allowed a limited amount of time to speak without interruption. There should be a limit as to how many pages a person can submit to the members each meeting or else members will submit hundreds of pages. And each person should be allotted the same amount of time to critique a submission or else meetings can quickly get off topic. It always helps to have one person be the moderator, Keeping time and gently coaxing members to follow the rules. More importantly, all criticism should be based solely on the work and not be personal attacks.

These are the some of the checklist items to look for when thinking about joining a group. If you’re living in Maine, the MWPA has a comprehensive list of writing groups throughout the state. I would highly recommend joining a writing group if you want to kick your prose into higher gear. Feedback is extremely important to writers, especially new writers still looking to establish their voice. Be prepared to develop a thick skin, and try and view criticism not as a personal attack but as a tool to help you get better. Without criticism, you’ll never know what you’re doing wrong or what in your work needs to be fixed. Different sets of eyes will point to weaknesses in your writing. Good feedback will help you straighten out bad habits, realize the holes in your plot and heLp you improve your character development.

So go out and find your people. It will not only help you improve your skill set, but you mind make some new friends for life.

Getting A ‘Read’ on Young Adult Fiction-Early Spring Edition

John Clark sharing some of the great young adult fiction titles recently published. There have been so many, I can’t keep up with them, although not for lack of trying. Here are thumbnail reviews of recent reads that impressed me.

Game Changer by Neal Shusterman
Reading the author’s acknowledgement at the end of this book solidified my first impression of the story. Double the amount of imagination one finds in most books were poured into this one. It starts out innocently enough with Ash hitting the opposing team’s quarterback hard. Nothing unusual about that, until an icy sensation is followed by things suddenly being different. In the first world shift, stop signs are blue. Every time he lands a hit in a subsequent game, it creates a new world. It takes him a while to figure out what’s happening, in part thanks to some very odd skateboarders. How he manages to pull his world into a semblance of normal (if there is such a state) makes for a gripping read. I particularly liked how certain other characters changed in each shift. The end result isn’t pretty, but is extremely satisfying. In the world we currently occupy, this might not be as fantasy-like as we think. Thank you Neal for a terrific book.

The Initial Insult by Mindy McGinnis
Mindy has never left me disappointed and I’ve real all her books. This is no exception. Swirling questions, a girl who can’t/won’t remember what happened the night her best friend’s parents vanished, mean and plentiful fallout afterward, a drunken and ultra-mean grandfather, a town still ruled by the ghosts of a small number of families. All that plus a plot that builds like the wall Tress is creating in the cellar of an abandoned house in an insane, but desperate effort to get answers. It ends in a swirl of ambiguity, but that’s going to sweeten the pot while we await the second book. A winner!

The Girls I’ve Been by Tess Sharpe
If you take three teens who have all been severely hurt by parents, drop them into a complex friendship that also involves romantic ties, then put them in the lobby of a bank for a seemingly uneventful deposit of funds from a charity event, you’re at the start of this incredibly good story. Two bank robbers start what becomes a back and forth look at Nora’s, Iris’ and Wes’ lives leading up to the soon to go south event in the bank. While most of the earlier chapter events focus on the insanely complicated and confusing years that Nora and her mother (if you could call her that)ran cons, what happened to the other teens also factors into how everything shakes out. It’s tension-filled, painful, and forces you to keep reading, even when you’re cringing at just how awful Nora’s earlier years were. In sum, one heck of an adventure.
I also highly recommend her first book Far From You which came out in 2014.

Amelia Unabridged by Ashley Schumacher
Two teens haunted by ghosts of those they loved. Amelia’s best friend Jenna died in a car crash shortly after a painful situation that left them estranged. Reclusive and mysterious Nolan, a famous author while still a teen, is haunted by his two younger sisters. Amelia’s haunting seems to be propelling her in an unimaginable direction while Nolan’s are holding him in a very painful stasis. Her obsession with his two books about a magical world called Orman is heated by the arrival of a limited edition copy of the two books, sent from an obscure book store in a small Michigan town. What follows is magical, painful at times, and ultimately beautiful. Reading this was like waking after a particularly vivid dream, one that haunts you in a very emotional way. A terrific read!

Seventh Sun by Lani Forbes
A rich, but cruel world, Customs that bind everyone, especially those in the nobility and a selection process where those not chosen are condemned to be sacrificed to appease the gods. No wonder it’s difficult for Princess Mayana to remain sane. She cares about most of the other princesses who make up her competition for the emperor’s hand, while also suspecting their society is based upon lies. Following her through the marriage selection process makes for fascinating reading and the book ends just beyond one major cliffhanger. I’m so glad I ordered the sequel as soon as I closed the cover on this one.

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Jade Bones by Lani Forbes
Bad news/good news to begin. I finished the first book just days ago and immediately ordered this. Upon reading it, I realized my impression that this was a duology was wrong and another book will come sometime down the road. That’s the bad news. The good news is that this is a seamless transition from the end of the first book, is smooth as glass, and introduces not only a new player, but adds some very interesting twists. Mayana and Ahkin weave a very tortuous way through the underworld, one that is filled with frightful challenge after frightful challenge. Meanwhile on the surface, Yemania has been conscripted for a new role, while meeting a young man she should hate and fear. Instead, her natural goodness and impulse as a skilled healer take over. It’s as good a middle book as one could ask for. I just wish I could get my hands on the third one ASAP.

A Curse of Ash and Embers by Jo Spurrier
Imagine your dad died and your stepfather detests you. All you get is verbal abuse and the dirty jobs. Then a letter arrives and you find you’ve been hired at a mysterious place far away. When you arrive, ghosties and beasties come after you and you discover your new job is as a helper for a witch who just semi-vanquished the one who taught her. A dandy fantasy. At first, the use of contemporary language seemed odd, but that changes quickly. Both Elodie and Aleida are great characters, there are beasties aplenty, a magical orchard, dandy fights and a very smooth plot flow. I’m so glad I ordered the sequel before I finished as I’m raring to read it.

Daughter of Lies by Jo Spurrier
As good a sequel as you could ask for. Elodie’s basic goodness and compassion slowly force Aleida to not only look inside, but realize that change toward, shall we say, chaotic good isn’t such a terrible thing. Sly humor, interesting new players and plenty of action make this a fast and very enjoyable read.

Girl From Shadow Springs by Ellie Cypher
You get just enough about the world away from the icy wasteland to frame it and that’s done nicely. So is the Flats and it becomes as much a character as Jorie and Cody the deeper they go into it. The story is extremely well crafted and one that’s easy to visualize in your head while reading it. Plenty of action and interesting use of different ways of using the same language between the two teens adds authenticity. Endless action and tension, coupled with a nifty plot reveal made this one of those books I had to read in one sitting. I’ll be very much interested in subsequent books by this author.

Cousins by Karen McManus
Twisty, involved, with diabolical aspects both current and in the past. Three cousins who haven’t seen each other in years are summoned to the island owned by the reclusive grandmother who disinherited their parents ages ago. Why have they been offered cushy resort jobs and why won’t she meet with them? Add in twisty secrets their parents have and you’re set to go. It’s a very satisfying read with some unexpected surprises (for me, at least) near the end. It’s the kind of book I’ve come to expect and enjoy from this author.

Savage Cinderella by P.J. Sharon
A fast and intense read about a girl who is the ultimate survivor and the boy who finds her in a mountainous forest in Georgia. Plenty of suspense, a human monster and an inhuman savior. Edge-of-your-seat finish. A very good book tor teens liking adventure, but equally good as bibliotherapy for those dealing with the trauma of kidnapping or sexual assault.

Weekend Update: March 6-7,2021

Next week at Maine Crime Writers there will be posts by Joe Souza (Monday), John Clark (Tuesday), Susan Vaughan (Thursday) and William Andrews (Friday).

In the news department, here’s what’s happening with some of us who blog regularly at Maine Crime Writers:

 

 

 

An invitation to readers of this blog: Do you have news relating to Maine, Crime, or Writing? We’d love to hear from you. Just comment below to share.

And a reminder: If your library, school, or organization is looking for a speaker, we are often available to talk about the writing process, research, where we get our ideas, and other mysteries of the business. We also do programs on Zoom. Contact Kate Flora

The Easter Tree

If I am absolutely honest, this past year in captivity has not bothered me as much as it might have. Even before Covid, my kids were worried that I was turning into a hermit. Oh, I took a bath every day. Put on lipstick. Some combination of clothes. But if we weren’t off on some foreign travel adventure, I stayed pretty close to home. I got out into my yard. There were occasional trips to T.J. Maxx. But much of my days in the Before Times were spent at my desk, trying to eke out words.

Now, whether the words have been worthy is a matter of some debate. I can’t tell you how many articles I read about creative people who were having difficulty creating during various pandemic and political crises. My own writing slowed down a lot last year. I’d like to blame that on outside drama rather than old age, LOL.

I did finish and sell a book, which comes out in September. I edited it and started another, and had a release last July. It was difficult to concentrate with the woes of the world regularly pounding on the door. Like picking at a scab, or scratching a mosquito bite, I found it hard to turn away from one 2020 train wreck after another. Everyone’s hair was on fire on my Twitter feed. I unfriended a lot of un-and-misinformed people on Facebook.

I got a little depressed, although I am so very lucky—there’s a nice roof over my head, a beautiful garden, an unsatisfactory (barking, shedding) yet loyal dog. I keep in touch with my kids on FaceTime, and then there’s my husband who does all the grocery shopping, and most of the cooking, too. So, a lot to be thankful for.

We last went out to dinner on January 24, 2020. It was our 49th wedding anniversary. This January, my youngest daughter sent a pizza with 50 spelled out in pepperoni. Someday, we’ll go out to eat again. Travel. Go to a place that’s not a doctor’s office. We’ve now had our two vaccination shots, and are cautiously optimistic to celebrate Christmas at Easter with some of the family and the Easter tree.

Easter tree, you ask? Why not? I love to decorate the house for Christmas, but this year there was no one to admire the ornaments or rip open presents. I almost didn’t put up our artificial, pre-lit tree, but my husband noticed I was blue and decided I needed it, even if it was just the two of us and the unsatisfactory dog. He was right.

Our daughters and grandkids usually put up and decorate the tree Thanksgiving weekend, but they weren’t home. So, I rummaged around in the garage, found the right boxes, and got to work. I was immediately cheered up, although the star was never quite straight.

After I took the Christmas decorations down, I noticed I had a few hearts, and one thing led to another (Hello, Amazon). More hearts and flowers and cherubs arrived for the Valentine’s tree. So what if the neighbors thought I was nuts? They’d be more or less correct. This week, I hung bunnies and carrots and eggs on the tree in hopes that four-year-old Josephine will enjoy them when she finally comes to visit. The jury is still out about a Fourth of July tree, or a Halloween tree. I may decide by then I am cheerful enough.

What have you done during the pandemic to keep your spirits up and your reading and writing flowing? I did not make a single loaf of banana bread, or sourdough, for that matter. And in case bread and Easter trees are not your jam, here’s an article from the English magazine Country Living to help you deal with stress: 17 Easy Ways To Relieve Stress – Stress Relief Tips & Techniques (countryliving.com)

The Remarkable Margaret Maron

When I met Margaret Maron at Bouchercon in Raleigh in October, 2015, I not only had a fan girl moment, I announced to her that I was having a fan girl moment. She laughed and took my hand and told me how pleased she was to meet me. Maybe she said that to all the writers, but she made me believe it.

Margaret Maron and me, Raleigh, 2015

Though she was Guest of Honor that year at the largest U.S. mystery writers’ conference  and her many fans were circling, she made me feel like I was the only person she cared to speak with in that moment. We chatted for several minutes, and I left her side with not a doubt in my mind why she was so beloved in the mystery writing community.

Margaret Maron died on February 23, at the age of 82, leaving her husband, a son, a sister and two grandchildren, among other kin. She also is survived by an enormous family of fans.

Her stellar work will endure—two series that feature smart, tough-minded, grounded women. Ten books have as their protagonist a female NYPD homicide detective named Sigrid Harald. Twenty others feature Sigrid’s fictional cousin, Judge Deborah Knott of (imagined) Colleton County, North Carolina, a brilliant yet down-to-earth judge whose enormous extended family figures into every storyline. Maybe it’s because I’m a lawyer, but I love that series especially.

Bootlegger’s Daughter, the first Deborah Knott novel, won every major mystery writing award in 1992—the Edgar, Anthony, Agatha and Macavity. Readers fell head over heels for the only daughter of a notorious bootlegger who also had 11 sons. Deborah is salty, savvy and nobody’s fool. Having a legendary local criminal for a father complicates her bid for a judgeship, but the county voters evaluate her on her own terms and (eventually) elect her anyway. Kezzie Knott, her somewhat reformed bootlegger father, plays a role in all of her books, as do her eleven brothers, many sisters in law, deputy sheriff husband and young son. But for the most part, the books are about Deborah’s efforts to do justice in rural communities where the past is yielding to a very different way of life.

Margaret Maron was born in North Carolina and returned there in the 1970s after living with her husband in New York City and Italy. Her deep roots gave her an understanding of her home state and its people, and her time away likely provided the perspective that allowed her to so beautifully capture modern life there, both the good and the bad.

With well-developed characters, strong, plausible plots and spot-on dialogue, a Margaret Maron book is impossible to put down. I discovered them years before I parked myself in front of a keyboard and began writing my own, and they have informed my work in so many ways. She created worlds in which I wanted to spend time, peopled by characters I’d like to know. She tackled critical issues of our time—race, poverty, addiction, sexual harassment and domestic violence—but never came across as preachy. She wrote with great empathy and power, yet her books were imbued with humor.

Whether we write cozies, thrillers or something in between, every Margaret Maron book provides all of us with valuable lessons on craft.

The final Deborah Knott book, Long Upon The Land, was published in 2015, the year I met her.  She’d announced it would be her last novel—she said she didn’t want to start repeating herself and was “more than done” with deadlines—allowing her fans to brace for the end.  The book moves back and forth in time from 1945 to more or less the present, and resolves not only a murder but knits up a few important loose ends for those of us who feel as though we’re personal friends of the Knott clan. I’ll say no more for those of you who’ve not read (or not finished) the series. But for me, Long Upon The Land is a satisfying end to her brilliant career.

If you’d like to read Margaret Maron’s obituary, here’s a link to the one that appeared in the New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/02/books/margaret-maron-dead.html

For those who’ve not had the pleasure of reading her books, I urge you to seek them out. They are available wherever books are sold, but I’ll bet she’d be especially grateful if you bought them from a local bookshop rather than a big chain.

Brenda Buchanan is the author of the Joe Gale Mystery Series, featuring a diehard Maine newspaper reporter who covers the crime and courts beat. Three books—QUICK PIVOT, COVER STORY and TRUTH BEAT—are available everywhere e-books are sold.  These days she’s hard at work on new projects.

 

 

 

And Then I Ran Away . . .

Kate Flora: With a bit of trepidation about Florida’s covid practices (and masking) and with only one Moderna shot for protection, last week Ken and I loaded up the car with shorts and tee shirts and our laptops and flip-flops, and headed south to spend the month of March on Sanibel Island.

Last March, as covid numbers rose and we could see and hear the neighbors around our rental pooh poohing the virus and declaring it to be a hoax or gathering in clusters as though there was no issue, we left early. Left the beach walks and the birds and the flowers and swimming in the pool and fled north. It was an eerie journey. In those early days, food outlets were closed, the rest areas were jammed and the roads were crowded with snowbirds heading north and Canadians trying to get home before the border closed. We made our normal three day trip in two, arriving in New York after driving all the way from Rocky Mount, North Carolina in driving rain to reports of snowstorms in New England. By Providence it was snowing, making our warm, beachy vacation quickly a thing of the past.

Who could have imagined it would be a whole year later and our worlds would still be so circumscribed? So cautious? That forays away from the house would still feel a lot like heading into battle, armed not with weapons but with hand sanitizer, wipes, masks with extra filters, and only on essential journeys.

Luckily, things went smoothly. Total compliance with mask wearing at the first hotel, along with social distancing, only two people or a family group to an elevator, and the first dinner away from home in a long, long time. Georgia was slightly less careful and masked, but we survived. A quick visit with friends (both with two doses of vaccine and social distancing) to enjoy a tour of Sarasota, then back on the road.

Today we landed in our rental house and unpacked. It will feel strange, and yet familiar, to sit on someone else’s stool at someone else’s counter, and see what story will become my task for March. Since I had so much fun writing Wedding Bell Ruse, my one and only romantic suspense, I might unearth an old short story about a match-making dog, and see where it goes. But during those long hours on the road, a short story, Ma Baker’s Revenge, has begun to emerge, so I’ll probably start with that.

There are big signs on the approach to the island that instruct people to wear masks. I expect this will still be a month of delivered groceries, not eating out, and carrying masks even to the beach. But after so many years of my Sanibel month in my life, I’m still looking forward to this partial escape from captivity and curious about whether my enthusiasm for writing, dimmed by this covid year, will return.