Trisha Sugarek's Blog, page 110

Read my novel...FREE..."Women Outside the Walls" (part 66)

(continued)           “Sorry, hon.”

“Officer, you all right?” Sandy continued to poll the hostages.

“Yes, sir.  Sorry 'bout this, sir.  I had an unauthorized back up weapon and the prisoner got it.  I’m sorry, but he was going to cut Mrs. Lancaster.”

“We’ll worry about that later, Officer. You did the right thing given the circumstances.” She turned to Joe.  “Mr. Washington? Do I have that right?”

“Yes, Ma’am.” Joe replied.  “And I don’ want no part of this mess.”

Nodding, Sandy turned back to Charlie.

“You through checking your little group of kiddies, Sandy? God, you sound like my first grade teacher.” Charlie laughed.

“Charlie, what are we going to do?” Sandy asked shaking her head.

“I don’t know that you can do much… but me, I’m gettin’ outta here. Ya say ya can help me. So, start talkin'.”

“We all want this situation to end well. Get your daughter home. These nice ladies get to go home.

You serve the rest of your time out peacefully.”

“Sounds like a fairy tale I used to tell Chels when she was little.”

“Put the gun away.”

“Like hell I will!”

“I'm no threat.  I’m here solely to help.  I can't talk to you down the barrel of a gun.  Come on, put it away.”

Charlie stared at Sandy for a few moments.  He lowered the gun to his lap and then, sighing, tucked it into his belt.

“Okay, so the gun’s put away.  Don't nobody give me a reason to get it out 'cause if I hav'ta, the Duchess here she gets it first.”

“No one’s going to give you any reason to use the gun, Charlie.  I want to talk to you about your daughter and how we can help find her.”

“Start talkin’.”

“What did you and your daughter like to do together? You know, before you were sent here.”

“Oh, come on, Sandy.” Charlie scoffed. “What is this, Negotiating, 101? Get cozy with the felon?”

“Not at all. It helps all the people who are looking for Chelsea to get a feel for the type of kid she is. Will she run when we approach her? Has she been in much trouble as a teen?”

Charlie shot a look at Alma. “Not that I know of.  A few times she skipped school.

Stayed out all night at a girl friend’s house. That one I didn’t know about until now. Her mother seemed to think that was okay and didn’t bother tellin’ me.”

“She get good grades?”

“Yeah, she’s always been really smart.” Charlie bragged.

“She’s a good kid, Ms. Gerrard.” Alma said.

“What about Chelsea's younger years?  I’d like to hear how she spent time with you before your trouble. Did Chelsea like the zoo?

My two are crazy about the place.  Every weekend it's, "Mommy, can we go see the animals?"

Sandy had hit a nerve. Charlie’s face softened thinking of his baby daughter and his freedom to be with her.

“Yeah, Chelsea too.  When she was little we'd go to the zoo all the time.  She loved the snakes. Never could understand that,

a little girl lovin' snakes.”

Sandy laughed.  “Mine too…only it’s spiders with Susie.”

The tension began to drain from the room.

“How about you, Sandy, what else ya do with your kids?” Charlie asked. “That is when you ain’t talkin’ down bad guys like me?”

“Oh, you know the usual parent stuff. Soccer Mom, play board games, read bedtime stories. I must have read Harry Potter a dozen times.” She laughed. “Help with homework, watch old movies…”

“Oh yeah? Old movies?”

“Yeah, we love them.”

Charlie was a big fan of old black and white movies and he had collected quite a few when he was a free man and working off shore.

'Let’s test this broad; see if she knows jack-shit about some of the classics,' Charlie thought.

“What’s your favorite?  And don’t make me puke by sayin’ ‘It’s a Wonderful Life.’”

Sandy laughed. “No. That's a little too saccharine for my taste. Actually, it’s an old one from the forties with Charles Boyer as the bad guy.  Ever heard of ‘Gas Light’?”

Charlie was surprised.  She pulled one out that he had never heard of.  “Naw, don’t know that one.”

“Charles Boyer is a real bad ass.” Sandy told him. “He wants to get rid of his wife by driving her crazy.”

“Yeah, I can relate.” Charlie glanced over at Alma. “Only she’s drivin’ me crazy.”

Ignoring Charlie’s dig at Alma, Sandy went on with the thumbnail sketch of the story.

“Ingrid Bergman plays the wife. Boyer’s a great villain. And Angela Lansbury is the young housemaid. You know her from 'Murder She Wrote'? What a cast! I’m certain you’d like it.”

“Oh yeah, that Lansbury broad was a looker when she was young.”  Charlie reached down and taps Kitty on the top of her head in mock affection.

“What’s your favorite flick, Duchess?  I bet its ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’.”  Charlie laughs again. “Starring that tall, skinny broad, what‘s her name?

Kitty doesn’t speak.  Charlie leaned down, menacingly.  “I asked you a question, Duchess.”

“I don’t know…Kitty whispered and grasped at the first title that came to mind. “‘African Queen’?”

“It figures!  The broads all love Bogart, don’t they Duchess?” Charlie straightened up.  “What was that skinny broad’s name in ‘Breakfast’?  You remember her name, Gerrard?”

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The next segment will appear Wednesday. Hope you'll return to find out what happens next to the women inside the visiting room.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To receive my posts sign up for my   Go to the home page; On the right side you'll see a box where you can enter your email address. Click on "join my blog". You need to confirm in an email from 'Writer at Play' . Thanks!

Midwest Book Review loves "The World of Haiku"

The MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW gives "The World of Haiku"  glowing praise

 

                'The World of Haiku is a striking collection of original poetry; each poem consists of three haiku verses. Bold, pen-and-ink artwork embellishes each brief poem. The World of Haiku embodies the spirit of encompassing timeless observations in a fleeting moment of verse, and is a delightful treasure for any who enjoy contemplative haiku poetry.

©"Summer Woods" : a single leaf floats / deer creep along well worn paths / fish leap with delight // rings spread on the pond / katydids shout their presence / goslings paddle near // breezes stir the trees / the forest floor perfumes rise / a lone bird exults'

~~~Paul T. Vogel,Reviewer

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Tips on how to write this beautiful form of poetry.  Click HERE

A companion book,  "My Journal**Haiku" is also available to spark your poetry writing.

Read my novel...FREE..."Women Outside the Walls" (part 65)

(continued)      Inside the visiting room Charlie took the cell phone from his pocket and hit the speed dial key.

“Gerrard here.” Sandy spoke harshly into the phone.

“Guess who, Sandy?”

“Hey, Charlie, good news!  We’ve got your daughter’s picture out nationwide on the Amber Alert system and we've got the Atlantic City police department checking the casinos.  Also an APB’s out on Rick Santana.  That’s a pretty raunchy club he owns.”

“Yeah… tell me about it.  Big shot Rick hires only the best 'exotic dancers'.”  Charlie looked over at Alma as he said this. “Whatever he finds under any ole’ rock.”

Alma stuck her tongue out at Charlie.

“Ya find out anything?” he asked.

“It takes time, Charlie. I’m sure we can find Chelsea if you’ll be patient.”

“Well, time’s the one thing I ain’t got, Gerrard. And time’s runnin’ out for you too.”

“Listen, Charlie, let me come in there and talk.”

“Why?”

“I think we can accomplish more if we’re face to face. We need to work this out so nobody gets hurt and everybody wins.”

“Well… shit, why not? I’m feelin’ generous this morning. Come on in and join the party.  But ya better not try anything, see? We wouldn't want any accidents to happen, would we?”

“No definitely not, Charlie.  At least not because of something I do. I’ll be coming in unarmed. How about trading me for one of the women?”

“Ha!  You're a laugh a minute, Gerrard, you really are. Why should I?”

“Show of good faith.”

“I don’t gotta show you nothin’. No way.  No trades.”

“I’m coming in. No tricks. Okay?”

Charlie grabbed Kitty’s wrist and pulled her up and in front of him.  He continued to talk to Sandy on his phone.

“You just take it nice and easy, Sandy.  When you get into the lock down, make sure that outside door is closed before they open this door, ya got it?  When you get in, stay right by the door.”

“Whatever you say, Charlie.”

The outside door slid open and Sandy stepped into the chamber.  The door slammed shut and instantly the inner door began to slide open.  Sandy stepped slowly into the visiting room and the second door noiselessly closed behind her.  Almost simultaneously Charlie and Sandy disconnected their cell phones.

“Alright, Gerrard, turn around real slow. Lift your coat so I can see if ya gotta a gun.” Charlie told her.

Sandy lifted the hem of her jacket with both hands and turned slowly.  “No weapon, Charlie.”

“Now your pant legs.”

Sandy had anticipated this. Her back up weapon was holstered in a state-of-the-arts calf holster with a S&W Airlite revolver.  She reached down and raised the cuffs of her trousers to expose her ankles.

“Okay.” Pointing to a table several yards away from him he said, “Sit down over there.”

Sandy walked between the tables and sat where Charlie had indicated. “Mrs. Lancaster, are you all right?”

“Please!  Help me.  Make him let me go.”

“Shut up!  Did I say you could talk?”

“It’s going to be all right, Mrs. Lancaster.  Charlie, you can let Mrs. Lancaster sit down again. I came unarmed, as you can see. I just want to talk, work this out.”

“What?… now you givin’ me orders?”

“No, not at all.  It looks like Mrs. Lancaster is ready to drop and since you hold all the cards, why not let her sit down?”

“Jesus, okay! Another bossy woman in my life.” Charlie poked Kitty with his elbow. “Sit!”

Kitty flashed a grateful look at Sandy and sank to the floor once again.

“How’s everybody doing?  Mrs. Washington?”

“Please, ma'am… can't ya do sumthin'?  My kids is home waitin' on me. They’ll be so scared if’n I don’ come home.”

“Just hold on, Mrs. Washington.  This is going to be over soon.  Ms. Gaynor, how are you holding up?”

“I’m fine, Ms. Gerrard. Charlie don’t mean no harm to anybody.  He’s worried about our little girl. I tried to tell him how much trouble he's gonna be in.”

Charlie sighed wearily.  “Alma! For fuck’s sake shut up.”

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The next segment will appear Monday. Hope you'll return to find out what happens next to the women outside the walls.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Start your month off right!! DON'T MISS UPCOMING BLOGS. A NEW SERIES, "The Writer's Corner" INTERVIEWS with other best-selling AUTHORS!

I have had a wonderful response from other authors and plan on featuring an interview once a month . I have invited such luminaries as: Ann Purser, Susan Elia MacNeal, Mark Childress, Robert McCammon, Rhys Bowen, Dean Koontz, Sheryl Woods, Jo-Ann Mapson, Jeffrey Deaver, Elizabeth Gilbert, Walter Mosley, Nora Roberts, and many others.

So come along with me; we shall sneak into these writers' special places, be a fly on the wall and watch them create!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To receive my posts sign up for my   Go to the home page; On the right side you'll see a box where you can enter your email address. Click on "join my blog". You need to confirm in an email from 'Writer at Play' . Thanks!

What's in your St. Valentine's Day Box?

                 My St. Valentine's Day box is full of authors willing to take time out and be interviewed!  I am so grateful for the response that I have received thus far.  In January, British author Anne Purser contributed to "The Writer's Corner" with a charming and insightful narrative.

In February (just last week) best-selling author, Jo-Ann Mapson, 'stopped by' and shared with us......shared so much it was put into three parts. I love when that happens!

March's guest author will be Susan Elia MacNeal, whose Maggie Hope mysteries are also best-sellers.

There's nothing like checking my email one last time before bed and finding a reply from Mark Childress accepting my invitation.   I just heard from Jeffrey Deaver; and while he is buried with work right now he is willing to be interviewed later, sometime this summer.  Most authors have responded positively or (if schedule doesn't allow now)  by leaving the door open for later.

It doesn't really surprise me that the authors are relating similar experiences, in their interviews, that I have had in my writing life.

Jo-Ann Mapson said, "The “zone,” that wonderful, addictive, “I am but a vessel” kind of feeling only comes when it wishes, doggone it, but I always write in pursuit of it. It’s writer cocaine."

And when I asked Jo-Ann where she found her characters, she replied, "They come to me in brief images initially. I can’t quite see their faces, but I know their feelings....."

Ann Purser wrote about inspiration, "Inspiration? There`s a thing. Who knows where it comes from? A fevered imagination in my case......."

Susan Elia MacNeal wrote:  "I was absolutely mesmerized and there was a moment—a brief moment, outside the typists’ room (#10 Downing St.) —where I swore I could hear the typewriters, smell the cigarette smoke, feel the tension. It lasted a mere moment, but it changed my life completely."

If my readers enjoy "The Writer's Corner" half as much as I do then you are in for a real treat. I have seven authors lined up (to date) and another thirty have been invited.  And the invitation list grows daily.

My thanks to all the authors who will be visiting 'The Writer's Corner' in the months to come.  You have knocked me over with

your generosity!!

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Start your month off right!! DON'T MISS UPCOMING BLOGS. A NEW SERIES, "The Writer's Corner" INTERVIEWS with other best-selling AUTHORS!

I have had a wonderful response from other authors and plan on featuring an interview once a month . I have invited such luminaries as: Ann Purser, Susan Elia MacNeal, Mark Childress, Robert McCammon, Rhys Bowen, Dean Koontz, Sheryl Woods, Jo-Ann Mapson, Jeffrey Deaver, Elizabeth Gilbert, Walter Mosley, Nora Roberts, and many others.

So come along with me; we shall sneak into these writers' special places, be a fly on the wall and watch them create!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To receive my posts sign up for my   Go to the home page; On the right side you'll see a box where you can enter your email address. Click on "join my blog". You need to confirm in an email from 'Writer at Play' . Thanks!

Read my novel...FREE..."Women Outside the Walls" (part 64)

 Chapter 28

Sandy

                                Sandy Gerrard stood near the control room outside the visiting room. Her cell phone rang and she scrambled to get it out of her pocket.  “Gerrard here.” She listened for a moment. “Hey George.”

FBI Special Agent George Bryant was calling Sandy with an update.

“What does Atlantic City say? Is there any word on the kid?”

“Nothing yet I’m sorry to say. ACPD could be moving faster on this.” George replied.

“Do they know how urgent it is?"

“Yeah, they know.”

“Well, tell the detectives down there, we can only wait so long then we’ll have to get you guys officially involved. That ought ‘a light a fire under their butts.”

“They’re whining about budget cuts and available personnel. And they’re still callin’ it a missing persons case.”

“Christ on a crutch, it is no longer a missing kid. The minute this inmate took hold of a hostage and a gun, it became much bigger than a teen runnin’ away with some guy.”

“I know, I know…” George said.

“And tell them I don't give a rat’s behind about their budget cuts or how thin they're spread.”

“I did, boss. They said they’re workin’ it as hard as they can.”

“Yeah well, tell ‘em to work harder! If we can find her and this Santana character, maybe I can talk Baldwin into giving up and letting the hostages go… and for Chrissakes, if you do get lucky and find Chelsea, bring her here immediately! I need her here pronto! If Baldwin sees his daughter’s safe he may stand down.”

“Roger that.”

“Okay, let me know if there’s any more news.”

“You’ll be the first call.”

Sandy hit the disconnect button and immediately dialed another number.  “Commissioner Randolph, please… yes, I‘ll hold… tell him it‘s Special Agent Gerrard.”

“Commissioner Randolph speaking.”

“Sandy Gerrard, Sir.”

“What have ya got for me, Gerrard?” a deep voice asked.

“What we have ascertained, sir, is that the girl’s mother works for this Rick Santana who’s had the hots for the daughter for some time. Now, both the girl and Santana are missing. To complicate matters, the mother didn’t report the girl missing for over a week. We may have a lead in Atlantic City. The ACPD is working that now.”

“And?”

“Nothing so far, sir. I just got off the phone with Special Agent Bryant. ACPD is treating this like a missing persons.”

“Let me make a phone call to the police commissioner down there. See if we can get them to change the status to kidnapping.”

“That would be very helpful, sir.” Sandy replied.

“What about the girl’s father? What’s he in for? Does he seem like he might take a deal that does not include his escaping?” Sarcasm dripped from his voice.

“Well, sir, he’s a pretty hard case. He’s in for murder; took a plea down to voluntary manslaughter. Killed some guy with his bare hands. Eight to fifteen. So far I’m not making much progress on getting him to stand down.”

“You told him we are pulling out all the stops to find his daughter?”

“Yes, I made that very clear, sir. But, he’s adamant! He wants out so he can find his daughter himself.”

“Well, that isn’t going to happen.”

“Yes, sir, I realize that we can’t just open the door and let him go. But, I am going to need more time with him.”

“Listen, Gerrard, the press is going to get this very, very soon. Then the real pressure will be on.”

“Understood, sir. I know there’s a lot of pressure. We're feeling it too. I’ve got five hostages and a very unstable situation. If we can just take it slow I think I might be able to talk him down.”

“Do you need any extra help, Gerrard? Maybe a male negotiator would be better in these circumstances.”

“No, Sir, I don't think so. It seems to amuse him that I’m a woman. I think I can work that to our benefit.”

“Roger. Call me with updates as things progress. You have forty-eight hours then I’m calling in SWAT.”

“Sir…”  Sandy held a dead phone. “Damn it!”

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The next segment will appear Friday. Hope you'll return to find out what happens next to the women outside the walls.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Start your month off right!! DON'T MISS UPCOMING BLOGS. A NEW SERIES, "The Writer's Corner" INTERVIEWS with other best-selling AUTHORS!

I have had a wonderful response from other authors and plan on featuring an interview once a month . I have invited such luminaries as: Ann Purser, Susan Elia MacNeal, Robert McCammon, Rhys Bowen, Dean Koontz, Sheryl Woods, Jo-Ann Mapson, Jeffrey Deaver, Elizabeth Gilbert, Walter Mosley, Nora Roberts, and many others.

So come along with me; we shall sneak into these writers' special places, be a fly on the wall and watch them create!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To receive my posts sign up for my   Go to the home page; On the right side you'll see a box where you can enter your email address. Click on "join my blog". You need to confirm in an email from 'Writer at Play' . Thanks!

The Writer's Corner..Interview with author Jo-Ann Mapson (part 3)

    Part III ** Interview with Jo-Ann Mapson** This has been a terrific interview with Jo-Ann.  She has generously shared her writing world with us and she always inspires me to be a better writer.

Q. Have you? Or do you want to write in another genre`?

A. I write some nonfiction, essays, and have been tinkering with a kind of memoir for decades. Occasionally I am moved to write a poem, such as one for my agent, when her beloved dog died, but I’m not very good at it because I don’t practice the habit.

Something that I find compelling these days is the issue of writing and aging. I’m not sure if anyone has written about this yet. John Updike died, Philip Roth retired, Rosamund Pilcher died, Evan Connell died, and it becomes a kind of reckoning; your name will be on that list sooner rather than later. Somehow it makes the act of writing seem more important, to get things right, to write something of substance rather than fluff, or “phoning it in,” as they say nowadays. At the same time, I sense myself detaching from it a tiny bit, but it isn’t frightening, it feels natural. Like a part of aging. You cannot beat Father Time.

Here’s another thing: Every writer I know started out as a reader, and still reads. That’s what drew us to the habit in the first place. So when a new writer shows up on the scene and is so uncommonly great, why should there be jealousy or disgruntlement? It’s all being deposited in the great body of literature. This year I reread several books that I recall making me want to write, just to see if they held up. I was so thrilled to discover that they did! Mary Stewart, Rumer Godden, Henry James, even Danielle Steel’s first romance. I was delighted to discover that sense of timelessness that came with the reading.

I also read some new writers I really like: Tana French, who wrote Faithful Place and Broken Harbor, just plain WOW, that woman is brilliant, and I hope I live a long time so I can read all her books because she is just getting started. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce, those are a few writers I am keeping my eye on.

I recently hired Carolyn Turgeon to teach in the MFA Program in Writing at the University of Alaska Anchorage where I am core fiction faculty. She is an unassuming genius who takes fairy tales and wrenches them into strange and wonderful parables of women’s issues. She reinvents the core stories, which is what writing is, taking the old and telling it new. I’m all for new writers succeeding, pushing the boundaries of the form, and pushing me eventually out of a job. I absolutely love to work with budding writers. It is so satisfying to watch them succeed. I am standing there teary on the sidelines saying, “You go, Girl!” What a joy to be even a sliver of a part of that.

I am so blessed. I have a wonderful writing life, but there was much gritty scrambling to arrive where I am, and I know there’s more ahead. And I think that is the way it ought to be, earned rather than given, never taken for granted, so that when success happens, you realize the importance of it and relish your hard work coming to fruition.

 

http://www.joannmapson.com/

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Start your month off right!! DON'T MISS UPCOMING BLOGS. the NEW SERIES, "The Writer's Corner" INTERVIEWS with other  best-selling AUTHORS!

I have had a wonderful response from other authors and plan on featuring an interview once a month .  I have invited such luminaries as:  Ann Purser, Susan Elia MacNeal, Robert McCammon, Rhys Bowen, Dean Koontz, Sheryl Woods, Jo-Ann Mapson, Jeffrey Deaver, Elizabeth Gilbert, Maya Angelou, Walter Mosley, Nora Roberts, and many others.

So come along with me; we shall sneak into these writers' special places, be a fly on the wall and watch them create!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To receive my posts sign up for my Go to the home page; On the right side you'll see a box where you can enter your email address. Click on "join my blog".  You need to confirm in an email from 'Writer at Play' .  Thanks!

Read my novel...Free...."Women Outside the Walls" (part 63)

Chapter 27

Kitty ~ eight years ago

Kitty lay in the hospital bed, her face turned to the wall. The tears silently ran down her cheeks and quickly soaked the pillowcase.

Edward tapped on the door and walked in. Stepping quietly, he crossed to the bed and stood looking down at Kitty.

“Kitty, darling,” Edward whispered. “Are you awake?”

Kitty tried to pretend to be asleep….Why can’t he leave me alone? All of them, just go away and leave me to die… but the tears streaming down her face gave her away. Edward rubbed her shoulder tentatively.

“Kitten, turn over and talk to me, please?”

Wearily, she turned over and faced him. She hugged the sheet to her chest with both hands so she wouldn’t be forced to touch him.

“I don’t want to talk. There’s nothing to say.”

“But, sweetheart, you’ve been laying here for a week. Won’t you let me take you home?”

“No! I couldn’t bear to see the nursery.” She began to cry harder. “Oh, Eddie, I wanted this baby so much. I knew I was a little old to be pregnant but the doctor said I was in perfect health.”

She stared past his shoulder at nothing. “Did they tell you? It was a boy.”

Edward reached up and dashed the tears from his eyes. “Yes, Kit, they told me.”

“And I lost him. I killed our son.” Kitty cried.

“No! Darling, what are you talking about…? that’s crazy. You had a miscarriage. No one knows why these things happen. It’s not your fault.”

“Yes, it is completely my fault. My body betrayed us, killed our beautiful baby boy. Six months I carried him with no sign of any trouble. I was so happy.”

“I know, darling, I was too. But I guess it wasn’t meant to be.”

“How can you say that? There was nothing wrong, I tell you. Then he just got really quiet. He didn’t move, didn’t move at all. How can that be?”

“The doctors said it was an intrauterine death.”

At the word, ‘death’ Kitty flinched and fresh tears flowed down her face and unchecked, dripped off her chin.

“No one knows why.” Edward continued. “It just happens.”

“It’s not fair. We can give a child everything.”

“Kitty, we’ve been blessed with a fine son and daughter. Try to focus on them.”

“I don’t want to. I wanted this new baby. After all the other miscarriages I was so certain that this child would go full term….be in my arms in just a few months.”

“I know, I know.”

Silence stalked the room. Edward didn’t know what else he could say to her. He had no words to tell her how sorry he was.

“Kitten, Dr. Schlossmeyer is coming by to see you tomorrow.”

Kitty barked out a near hysterical laugh. “You think I’m crazy? That I need a shrink? Why? For mourning my baby? That’s rich, Edward. Why aren’t you grieving?”

“Oh, Kitty I am.”

She ranted on as if he hadn’t spoken. “Didn’t you want this baby? That’s it, isn’t it?” She screamed, “You’re secretly glad it’s gone. I knew it!”

Edward reached for the call button and silently pressed it.

“What are you doing?” Kitty cried. She grabbed the cord and tried to wrestled it away from Edward.

“Just getting a nurse. I think you need some rest, darling.”

Kitty suddenly struck out at Edward, hitting him in the chest with her fist. Edward did nothing to defend himself.

“Goddamn you! You didn’t want this child. You wished him dead!” Kitty hit him again and again.  “I won’t be drugged. I want to feel this pain. I want to grieve for my baby….” Kitty sobbed.

The nurse came through the door with a small tray on which lay a syringe. Kitty crouched on the bed trying to make herself as small as possible.

“Get away from me!” she screamed.

“Mrs. Lancaster!” The nurse said. “You mustn’t get yourself this worked up. You’ll start to bleed again.”

Kitty screamed. “Get out of here! I don’t care! I wish I would bleed…to death.”

As she sobbed the nurse stepped to the IV tube and uncapped the syringe. She plunged the needle into the receptacle. As the sedative hit her blood stream Kitty’s shouts and cries subsided to a moan.

“I don’t care….I don’t want to live without my baby…leave me alone.”

Edward had stepped out of the nurse’s way and stood helplessly by the door, his face a mask of grief and loneliness.

“You should go for now, Mr. Lancaster.” The nurse told Edward. “She’ll sleep for several hours.”

“Yes, I’ll return a little later.”

He followed the nurse out the door and it softly clicked shut.

“I’m sorry, Edward.” Kitty mumbled. “I killed our baby, our sweet little boy. I’m so very sorry.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next segment will appear Wednesday. Hope you'll return to find out what happens next to the women outside the walls.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Start your month off right!! DON'T MISS UPCOMING BLOGS. A NEW SERIES, "The Writer's Corner" INTERVIEWS with other best-selling AUTHORS!

I have had a wonderful response from other authors and plan on featuring an interview once a month . I have invited such luminaries as: Ann Purser, Susan Elia MacNeal, Robert McCammon, Rhys Bowen, Dean Koontz, Sheryl Woods, Jo-Ann Mapson, Jeffrey Deaver, Elizabeth Gilbert, Walter Mosley, Nora Roberts, and many others.

So come along with me; we shall sneak into these writers' special places, be a fly on the wall and watch them create!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To receive my posts sign up for my   Go to the home page; On the right side you'll see a box where you can enter your email address. Click on "join my blog". You need to confirm in an email from 'Writer at Play' . Thanks!

Celebrating Black History Month!

     Hard to believe that it's been a year since we produced "Scent of Magnolia",  A Tribute to Billie Holiday, in celebration of Black History Month.  It's always a joy to hear Billie's music once again.

Composer, Gary Swindell's original song written for the show.

“Scent of Magnolia”.......'tells the story of a young woman who rose above poverty, rape, bigotry, prostitution and imprisonment to become one of the most memorable and celebrated artists of the twentieth century. The one woman show portrays the life of a black jazz singer in America during the 30’s. The script does not dwell on the sensationalism of her addiction to alcohol and drugs but chooses, rather, to celebrate the whole woman and her music.

Billie tells not only her story, but our nation’s story. She interjects her tale with her most famous music as well as some of her more obscure songs. In her own words, she talks about her struggle to succeed in spite of the segregation of that time and the difficulties she experienced singing with the great bands, most of which [image error]were white musicians. Without self-pity , she talks about the daily slings and arrows that are a part of bigotry. Billie takes complete responsibility for her life, her choices, and her actions. Her triumph was her music and her songs that will live on forever.'                                           Krystal Pitts as "Billie"

.......and Ben Rafuse as the 'piano man'

 

We have much to celebrate this year with people of color serving our country in the   military abroad, serving the community and nation in the political arena, serving us in the White House. The many musicians who gave 'birth to the blues'.

The literary giants and philosophers.....[image error]

It's taken us over eighty years to evolve to this point, since Billie Holiday struggled as a black woman to survive in this country. .......we still have a way to go but we, as a nation, have much to be proud of.

(Left to right: Maya Angelo, Walter Mosley, Tennessee Williams, James Baldwin)

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Start your month off right!! DON'T MISS UPCOMING BLOGS. A NEW SERIES, "The Writer's Corner" INTERVIEWS with other best-selling AUTHORS!

I have had a wonderful response from other authors and plan on featuring an interview once a month . I have invited such luminaries as: Ann Purser, Susan Elia MacNeal, Robert McCammon, Rhys Bowen, Dean Koontz, Sheryl Woods, Jo-Ann Mapson, Jeffrey Deaver, Elizabeth Gilbert, Walter Mosley, Nora Roberts, and many others.

So come along with me; we shall sneak into these writers' special places, be a fly on the wall and watch them create!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To receive my posts sign up for my   Go to the home page; On the right side you'll see a box where you can enter your email address. Click on "join my blog". You need to confirm in an email from 'Writer at Play' . Thanks!

Read my novel...Free...."Women Outside the Walls" (part 62)

[image error]                          (continued) “Sure, baby. I know.”

“Washington, get on over here and sit in front of me ‘till your wife gets back.”

Alma and Hattie joined Kitty and the three women walked across to the rest rooms by the soda machines.

“Missus!” Charlie called to Hattie. All three women turned back at the sound of his voice.

“See this here gun? You wouldn’t want to do nothing that might cause your children to be fatherless. You get my meaning?”

“Yes, sir.” Hattie mumbled.

“Alma, leave the door open while you’re in there.”

“Sure thing, sugar.”

As the women filed into the rest room, Alma propped the door open with a trash can.

“Won’t ya let my wife go, Baldwin?” Joe asked. “She ain’t done nothin’ to you. And besides, she’s sick.”

“Not a chance, I got just the right number of hostages to keep control of that bitch-cop out there.”

The men sat silently. The sound of toilets flushing and water running could be heard. A few minutes later the women filed out and crossed to the tables in front of Charlie.

“Okay, did everyone behave themselves? Duchess, come on over here and sit down.” Charlie told Kitty.

She didn’t move but stood and stared defiantly at him.  Charlie barked out a laugh. “Funny things, bullets, they can fly across the room and get’cha.”

Kitty’s body slumped in defeat and head down, Kitty slowly walked over and slid down the wall beside Charlie.

“Now Missus trade places with your husband.” Hattie reluctantly walked over to Charlie. “Sit. Washington here’s the key to the handcuffs.”

Charlie tossed the key to Joe. “Uncuff him,” he indicated Brad, “and cuff yourself together.”

Joe walked over to Brad and did what Charlie told him. “Jus’ remember, Washington, I got your wife here. Any funny business and she takes a bullet.You and the pig got three minutes in there.  Take a piss and wash up if you want and get back out here. No talking. Leave the door open. Got it?”

“Yes. Just take it easy, Baldwin. I ain’t gonna do nothin’.” Joe replied.

“That’s for damn certain if ya got any brains.”

Cuffed together, Brad and Joe crossed to the restroom and went in. Inside the rest room Brad dragged Joe with him as he turned on the water at the sink. Under the noise of the water Brad whispered to Joe.

“Washington, ya gotta help me put a stop to this.”  They crossed over to the urinals and each clumsily unzipped their pants.

“Uh-Uh, not me, Mr. Brad. I’m stayin’ outta this mess.” Joe zipped up and waited for Brad to finish relieving himself.

They walked over to the sinks and Joe waited while Brad washed his hands and face. The cuffs rattled noisily against the metal sink. Then Brad leaned over to give Joe enough room to wash up. Brad kept his voice very low over the flushing of the urinals.

“This is gonna get worse before it gets better, Washington. None of us are safe with this wack-o, including you and your wife. Help me so we can all get outta here in one piece.”

“Sorry, Mr. Brad, I’m keepin’ quiet and doin’ what the man says.”

“At least fake it when you recuff me. Leave me loose so I can do something.”

Charlie yelled from the other room. “Hey! Time’s up. Get your asses back in here, now!”

Turning off the water, Brad and Joe grabbed some paper towels and dried their face and hands. Brad and Joe walked out of the rest room and crossed back to where Brad had been cuffed to the leg of a table.

“Great! You two read my mind. Uncuff yourself, Washington and secure Kowalski there. Now, les’ see. Who are the lucky ones to accompany me while I take a much needed piss?” Charlie laughed. “All that runnin’ water is making me need to go real bad. Toss me the key when you’re done Washington.”

Joe did as he was directed. As he locked the cuff to the table leg he gave Brad an apologetic look and shook his head. He then threw the keys, none too gently, to Charlie who caught them with ease. He chuckled.

“Nice fast ball for a negro, boy.”

Joe ignored him and walked over to Hattie.

“Okay then, my turn.” He smirked at Hattie and Kitty. “Sorry, ladies but you are going to have to go with me while I pee.”

“Wait just a minute, Baldwin. You ain’t takin’ my wife nowhere.” Joe told him.

“No other way I can see to keep control of all of you. Just be a good boy and we‘ll be back in a minute. I’m sure I don’t got nothing she ain’t seen before. Alma, you keep your eye on Washington. If he so much as blinks, you call me.”

“Okay, Charlie.” Alma said.

“Okay, ladies if you will just walk ahead of me.” Charlie directed, waving the gun toward the rest room.

Kitty and Hattie walked back across the room. Hattie reached over and quietly took Kitty’s hand. As they disappeared into the ladies room, Charlie could be heard telling the ladies, “You can face the wall if you don’t wanna look.” He laughed.

The two women faced the wall holding hands.

“It’s gonna be al’right, Miss Kitty. Just be brave for a little longer.” Hattie whispered.

“Shut up, no talkin’.”

Charlie finished at the urinal and crossed to the sink. He doused his head and face in cold water and rinsed his mouth out.

“Like 7-up, ‘the pause that refreshes’. He laughed.  Wiping his face and hair with paper towels he motioned to the women to precede him out the door.

A few moments later Charlie, finger combing his hair, followed Hattie and Kitty back out into the visiting area.

“Goddamn! That felt good. Everybody behave themselves, Alma?”

“Yes, Charlie. Nobody moved a muscle.”

“Good girl.”

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The next segment will appear Monday. Hope you'll return to find out what happens next to the women outside the walls.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Start your month off right!! DON'T MISS UPCOMING BLOGS. A NEW SERIES, "The Writer's Corner" INTERVIEWS with other best-selling AUTHORS!

I have had a wonderful response from other authors and plan on featuring an interview once a month . I have invited such luminaries as: Ann Purser, Susan Elia MacNeal, Robert McCammon, Rhys Bowen, Dean Koontz, Sheryl Woods, Jo-Ann Mapson, Jeffrey Deaver, Elizabeth Gilbert, Walter Mosley, Nora Roberts, and many others.

So come along with me; we shall sneak into these writers' special places, be a fly on the wall and watch them create!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To receive my posts sign up for my   Go to the home page; On the right side you'll see a box where you can enter your email address. Click on "join my blog". You need to confirm in an email from 'Writer at Play' . Thanks!

The Writer's Corner... Interview with author Jo-Ann Mapson (part 2)

Part II ** Interview with Jo-Ann Mapson

  Q. ‘What does the process look like…?’(continued)

A. Editing on the computer screen is entirely different than one the page. I realize that maybe due to the relative newness of computers. I wrote my first (unpublished) novel on a typewriter. It can take me a year or two to finish a book, but strangely I am writing much faster now that I am older. No reason to count the hours and the earnings, it’s never going to be profitable in all ways.

In other ways it probably looks like an older woman who is sitting on her butt, typing at the desk, frowning at the screen while the floor could really use some sweeping and dogs are racing through the house alerting the world that a bird has flown by or some such shattering news. I go what my husband calls “inward,” and everything else falls away. Once I came directly from the shower wrapped in a towel to write something important down, and hours later, there I was, starkers. Skype, you know? I am clothed these days.

The strangest part is that click of a computer key that sends it to my editor. It’s such a small thing compared to the year of work. This massive effort reduced to an electronic ping! When my editorial letter arrives, it begins to feel a little more real, on it’s way to becoming a book. I love rewriting. Just thank God for it every single day, because that is where good writing pokes its head up. Receiving cover art is another favorite stage for me. I love to see how professional people who cherish images the way I love words come up with the visual equivalent of my story.

It’s truly intoxicating seeing the transformation. I’ve been extremely lucky with my covers, haven’t I? When galley proofs arrive, I just am giddy with the thought that “that thing is done!” Yet I am generally in the middle of another book, so that moment is fleeting.

Q. Where/when do you first discover your characters ?

A. They come to me in brief images initially. I can’t quite see their faces, but I know their feelings. I see them in a place—say, in a Western bar, plain wrap rehab, sleeping under the stars, walking a greyhound, dying, arguing, crying, wherever—and I write toward that image because I absolutely, empirically have to know how they got there and what they are going to do next.

Q. What inspired your stories ?

A. I think I am most intrigued with the question: How do people go on after something tragic or life-changing occurs? I should confess, my husband is the one who actually told me this, quite recently. Had you asked me last year, I wouldn’t have been able to answer. He said, “Your life is that story, of how to go on, so it’s natural to me that you would write about that notion endlessly.” Stephen Dobyns has the most amazing poem called “How to Like It,” in the collection Cemetery Nights that for me is a perfect explanation for why anyone writes........

Join us to read the final part III of this riveting interview with best-seller author Jo-Ann Mapson.

 http://www.joannmapson.com/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Start your month off right!! DON'T MISS UPCOMING BLOGS. A NEW SERIES, "The Writer's Corner" INTERVIEWS with other  best-selling AUTHORS!

I have had a wonderful response from other authors and plan on featuring an interview once a month .  I have invited such luminaries as:  Anne Purser, Susan Elia MacNeal, Rhys Bowen, Robert McCammon, Dean Koontz, Sheryl Woods, Jo-Ann Mapson, Jeffrey Deaver, Elizabeth Gilbert, Walter Mosley, Nora Roberts, and many others.

So come along with me; we shall sneak into these writers' special places, be a fly on the wall and watch them create!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To receive my posts sign up for my Go to the home page; On the right side you'll see a box where you can enter your email address. Click on "join my blog".   You need to confirm in an email from 'Writer at Play' .  Thanks!