Edith Maxwell's Blog, page 272

Wicked Wednesday: Dru Ann on Stick at Crime Bake

The fabulous book blogger and cozy mystery reviewer Dru Ann Love won our contest to accompany the Wicked Cozies to Crime Bake on a stick. (You can find Dru’s blog here and on Facebook here.) We’re happy to report that Dru Ann had a wonderful time. In fact, you could say she was the Belle of the Ball.

Here are but some of the photos of Dru-Ann-on-a-Stick at the New England Crime Bake.

Dru Ann arrives at Crime Bake and finds Robin Templeton, Liz Mugavero and Sheila Connolly at the bar.

Next Dru Ann spots guest of honor Craig Johnson talking with Julie Hennrikus.

 

Sherry and Jessie are so glad to see Dru Ann!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Roberta Isleib aka Lucy Burdette is so happy to see Dru Ann!

Shari Randall is surprised to see Dru Ann at Crime Bake.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dru Ann gets her sheriff’s badge.

 

Dru Ann talks with author Vicki Doudera.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dru Ann visits with author James Hayman.

Dru Ann stops by to see the mock crime scene room and solves the case.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After seeing so many authors it’s time for lunch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dru finds Barbara Ross.

Then Dru runs into Barb’s husband Bill Carito!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After a quick cup of coffee Dru decides it’s time to get ready for the banquet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dru hopes to do some line dancing in her red boots.

On the way to the banquet Dru stops to have a drink with private investigator and author John Nardizzi.

Julie Hennrikus makes sure Dru has a cowboy hat for the banquet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flat Dru Ann and Flat Craig are looking for Flat Stanley to go have a drink.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dru shows off her bareback riding skills.

Time for the banquet.

 

 

 

It’s time to partee!

Dru stops by to say hi to Hank Phillippi Ryan

Sheriff Edith, Dru Ann, Shari Randall, and Kim Gray!

Sheriff Edith cuffs Dru. What was the crime?

Dru and the girls party down.

All the Wickeds, regular guests, and fan Dru Ann!

 

After an action packed weekend Dru is happy to go to bed.

Readers: Did any of you spot Dru Ann at Crime Bake? Who’s up for going on a stick to Malice Domestic?

Filed under: Stick with the Wickeds, Wicked Wednesday Tagged: Barbara Ross, Bill Carito, coffee, Craig Johnson, Dru's Book Musings, Edith Maxwell, hank phillippi ryan, James Hayman, Jessie Crockett, John Nardizzi, julie hennrikus, Kim Gray, Liz Mugavero, lucy burdette, Mock Crime Scene, New England Crime Bake, red cowboy boots, Roberta Isleib, Robin Templeton, Shari Randall, sheila connolly, Sherry Harris, Vicki Doudera

Cops

By Sherry who’s freezing in Northern Virginia

On Saturday I graduated from the Fairfax County Citizens Police Academy. It’s a ten week course every Thursday night from 6:30 -10:00. I thought it would be easy to sum up my experience but it’s not. We laughed — a lot. I came close to tears more than once. The county is big 1,200,000 people, It’s highly educated, and for it’s size has little crime. The department is actively looking for new officers. One of the guys in our class is planning to apply. Others are joining the Police Auxillary and some the Citizens Advisory Council of their local division. I’ll share some of the highlights with you.

Our first night was at the academy where the recruits do much of their training.

 

 

 

Mock robbery.

The bad guy runs away.

After observing a mock robbery we were asked to describe the robber. Our descriptions were wildly different but almost all of us could describe exactly what the gun looked like.

I thought the motor division would be boring but learning about traffic stops and the proper way to approach a car was fascinating. If you get pulled over things will go a lot better if you remain calm. Keep your hands on the wheel until the officer approaches. Tell him you are going to reach for your registration or license before you do it.

We learned how the officer stands to use the vehicle to protect themselves. The bikes weigh over 900 pounds.

We spent an evening with the helicopter division. And were lucky the helicopter landed long enough for us to get to see it. As they gave a presentation about the helicopter it came and went twice. It can fly up to 178 mph. They fly 3000 missions a year. 80% of the missions are police related — missing people, crimes, screams in the woods (most commonly caused by a fox.) 10% are med vacs — these take precedent over crimes. The other 10% are things like training runs and deer population census.

We got to climb around in this.

Inside of the SWAT vehicle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A foam bullet the SWAT team uses.

We spent an evening with the SWAT and EOD (explosive ordinance division) guys. The SWAT guys use controlled violence — they usually knock and announce — yelling — Police Search Warrant. They serve high risk warrants and 16 people serve the warrant. The officer told us unlike in the movies, they move quietly, aren’t screaming the whole time, and try to keep people calm. The EOD officer brought his cute dog, Moose, who roamed the classroom and fortunately didn’t alert by anyone. A dog can clear a room in 30 seconds and a building in 30 minutes. They get more smells on warm days.

 

Last Saturday we had to be at the gun range and track by 7:50 am. The windchill was 19 and we were spending most of the morning outside. I confess I thought about skipping the whole thing but fortunately didn’t. Our class was divided into two groups. My group went to the track first. Here’s a diagram of what it looks like. The corners are much sharper in reality than they appear to be here! We had to wear helmets to ride in the cars. Most of the men in the group were hoping to drive but I was grateful we went around the track with the instructors. The first time I rode in a Crown Vic. We were up to 104 in minutes and flying towards a turn. I thought we would fly off into the woods but the instructor slammed on the brakes and we squealed around the corner. Next we rode in the new Ford Interceptors. They said the ride would be smoother but I didn’t really notice it — there’s not a lot to notice at high speeds. It was exhilarating and terrifying all at once.

After we finished at the track we headed over to the gun range. I’ve never been around guns. I remembered in one of the classes the officer said he could empty his thirteen rounds in 2 1/2 seconds — I think I got that right. After our safety briefing we headed out to the range. Now I was excited and scared. It was loud — even with our ear protection. We used Sig Sauer guns. First my instructor handed it to me unloaded and ran me through what to do. I have to say using the sight was interesting. Then he put the bullets in — I was afraid I’d accidentally shoot him. I shot twice and hit the target both times. Then I told the instructor, “I’m good.” Guns scare me. But I’m thinking my target would make a good front door decoration — I could change it up for various holidays — a little greenery around Christmas, a heart for Valentine’s Day, a flag for the fourth — what do you think?

Our last events were graduation, which the chief of police came to, and then a potluck. I know I could never be a police officer. I’d empty my gun at the first thing that startled me or run screaming. The police officers that spoke to us loved their jobs. They work under tough conditions without enough pay. I don’t think any of them would trade it for the world.

If your city offers such a program I highly recommend taking it. I learned a lot, got a few ideas for my next novel, and realized the job is even harder than I imagined.

Readers have you attended a citizens police academy?

 

Filed under: Sherry's posts Tagged: Fairfax County Citizens Police Academy, Fairfax County Police Department

Opening Lines

Late-breaking news: Our frequent commenter Gram won the copy of Bluffing is Murder that Edith offered in her Inspiration post last week. Congrats, Gram! Have emailed you.

Write an opening line for this picture:

Edith: O.M.G. So that’s where my damn husband was all this time. The man who can sleep anywhere. Harold, wake up already, would ya? Uh-oh. Is that a box of razor blades on the floor?

Jessie: Janet had been concerned for some time about Terry’s fainting spells. She thought about calling the police but then she remembered the incident in Boise and decided this was one mess she’d rather clean up herself.

 Julie: Time for a bath, he said. Time for a bath with a toaster, she thought. And so it was done.

Liz: I knew my day was about to start off badly when I saw the lifeless arm hanging out of my bathtub.

Sherry: That’s the last bar of soap he’d ever ask me for.

Barb: Julie–I think you just wrote a great micro-flash story. For me:

“Someone’s been sleeping in my tub,” said the Papa Bear.

“Someone’s been sleeping in MY tub,” said the Mama Bear.

“Someone’s been sleeping in my tub,” said the Baby Bear. “AND HE’S STILL THERE!”

Sherry: Thanks to Bill Carito for indulging our crazy ideas for photos for Opening Lines. I think Jessie almost had a coronary when I turned to Barb and asked her if we had time to get Bill in the tub before a meeting. And in case you missed it you can catch Bill’s hand from Opening Lines last year by clicking here: Opening Lines.

 

Readers: Add your opening line!

Filed under: Opening Lines Tagged: opening lines, razor blades

Ask the Editor: Barbara Ross

Hi. Barb Ross here. This week we’re celebrating the launch of Best New England Crime Stories 2015: Rogue Wave from Level Best Books. So for Ask the Editor, I’m interviewing myself, Barbara Ross, one of the co-editors of the Level Best anthologies

Let’s get started.

Barb: Thank you for coming today. It’s lovely to have you. Tell us about your job at Level Best Books.

Barbara: Thanks so much for having me. I’m one of four co-editor/co-publishers at Level Best. We publish an anthology of crime stories by New England authors every November, which is launched at the New England Crime Bake. The four of us split the job of producing and selling the books. I manage the money and do the web and social media marketing. Kat Fast does the design, layout and manages the copy-editing and production. Leslie Wheeler manages contests, reviews and events, and Mark Ammons manages distribution.

But the key is that all four of us read every one of the 200 or so submissions and together we select the 25 to 30 stories that will appear in the book.

Barb: Interesting. What are you looking for in a story?

Barbara: I think, ideally, we’re all looking for the same thing—which is a marvelous short story that has a crime at its heart, that has a great hook in the beginning, a great twist at the end, has strong voice and is concisely written.

Barb: How can authors make sure their story stands out from the crowd?

Barbara: It helps enormously if the premise of your story is one we haven’t seen before. I always tell people if you’re submitting, think of a victim other than a spouse or lover, think of a motive other than revenge, and think of a weapon other than poison. It’s not that we don’t accept stories with those elements. In fact, we occasionally accept a story with all three. But if you send us a story like that, realize that you’re going to have a lot of competition from other similar stories. It will be that much harder to get in.

Barb: Do you ever accept a story that needs editing?

Barbara: No. We really don’t. The timelines are just so tight. If your story isn’t ready to go, we reject it. It’s too bad, because a lot of times we’ll read a story and say, “There’s something there.” But we don’t have time to help the writer figure out what it is. In that sense, as an acquiring editor, my job is very different from most of the people who’ve appeared on Ask the Editor, who are developmental editors.

Barb: What’s the selection process like?

Barbara: As I said, we all read and rate all the stories. There are usually four to six we all absolutely love, and those are immediately “in.” About half of what’s submitted isn’t for us, either from a quality or a subject matter perspective. Those are “out.” Then we’re dealing with the vast middle, and a lot of arguing ensues. We look at the stories that three of us loved, then at the ones two of us did. If one person absolutely loves something and will go to the wall for it, they can keep it on the list. I once had an author tell me he submitted to us because we ask for four hard copies. He figured he only needed one advocate.

Then we go away and re-read everything still on the list and come together again. We repeat the process, and once that’s over, we usually have about fifty stories left for twenty or so slots. That’s when we start putting a book together, in the sense that we’re looking for a balance of dark and light, short, medium and long stories, from each New England state. We look for different story types, traditional mystery, paranormal, noir, suspense, historical and so on. We also always include one to four first publications. We consider encouraging new authors to be part of our mission. We also include some “names,” which helps us sell the book and get the other authors read.

Finally we have a book. Then we argue about story order. Which we get really riled up about, which I find hilarious, because I never read an anthology in order. But research suggests about half of readers do, so it is important.

Barb: So if my story gets rejected, it may not mean it’s bad.

Barbara: Honestly, that has been the greatest lesson for me as a writer. Any story in that last group of fifty could be in the anthology. They’re all good. Even the fifty percent that go out in the first round often have something good about them.

Barb: Why do you only publish New England authors? It’s very annoying to the rest of us.

Barbara: I hear you. Being a regional publication gives us an identity and makes the anthology an easier pitch to bookstores. It also makes doing events much more feasible. But if you live outside New England, but have a story that takes place in New England, there is a way. You can enter the Al Blanchard contest (guidelines are here). We publish the winning story every year.

Barb: Thanks, Barbara. It’s been (sur)real. Does anyone have questions for Barbara? Lob them on in.

Filed under: Guest posts Tagged: Best New England Crime Stories, Best New England Crime Stories: Rogue Wave, Level Best Books

Inspiration

Edith: Delighted to have a new book out! Giveaway to a commenter today, too.

Thanks for all the congratulations, friends. It’s a huge thrill to have the second Lauren Rousseau book out, at last. Speaking of Murder, the first book, was my first completed mystery novel, and it will always have a special place in my heart.

I loved writing what I knew: I have a PhD in linguistics and remember the academic world well. I’ve been a Quaker for a long time, and was intrigued by how I could work that aspect into Lauren’s life without letting it take over the story. And her boyfriend Zach is a video forensics expert, using software that I used to write the manuals for.

With book two, Bluffing is Murder, Lauren  is on summer vacation at home in a fictionalized version of Ipswich, Massachusetts, where I lived when I wrote most of this book and all of the first. It’s a lovely place to be, with salt marshes, quirky characters, and one of the most beautiful beaches in the state. Lauren’s academic life doesn’t play as big a role in this book, but her facility with languages definitely does.

Several critical scenes in the book are set either on a fictionalized Crane Beach or at the Crane Estate, called Holt in the book. The Crane mansion, built in 1924, is a magnificent building now used for tours and weddings.

Richard Crane was a plumbing magnate who spared no costs to build a summer retreat away from the oppressive midwestern heat of Chicago. Parts of the building and its decor remind me of the opulence of Hearst Castle on the opposite coast. The fancy shower heads and sinks could fit into any modern house and all the toilets still work ninety years later.

I had the good fortune to go on the “Hot and Cold” tour a couple of years ago, which takes place in the back halls and stairways of the mansion, the realm of the maids and butlers. It was fascinating. We explored the pantries, the trunk room, the furnace area (hot), the rooftop, the ventilation system (cold), and much more. We traversed a hidden spiral staircase. We peeked into the old lift used to bring wood upstairs for fireplaces and checked out the dumbwaiter in a pantry the size of a small apartment.

Boy, did I come away with ideas. What if a body was stuffed in a trunk in the cellar? How about if Lauren was lured into the safe, a green-felt lined room used to store the considerable silver collection? Once the heavy door swung shut and the combination twirled, she’d have no way to call for help.



The antique elevator looked intriguing and dangerous with its door that resembled a jail cell door. That wood lift, with its pulleys, ropes, and rotting infrastructure. And the slanted concrete slab that coal slid down? Oooh.

So you’ll have to read the new book to see out how the mansion plays a role. I’ll give away a copy of Bluffing is Murder to a lucky commenter today! And did you know you can order it from Barking Rain Press for thirty-five percent off? Use this code at checkout: 96DA2F590CD7

Readers: What’s your favorite academic mystery? Mystery set on a coast? Ever read about a body stuffed in a trunk or locked in a silver safe?

Filed under: Edith's posts Tagged: Barking Rain Press, Bluffing is Murder, Castle Hill, Crane Estate, Ipswich, linguistics, second book, Tace Baker

Wicked Wednesday: What We Like About the Lauren Rousseau Books

Our celebration of the release of Bluffing is Murder, the second Lauren Rousseau Mystery by Tace Baker goes on. This Wicked Wednesday, we’re talking about what we like about the series.

Barb: The Lauren Rousseau books are like cozies, in the sense that Lauren is an amateur sleuth, but they’re edgier. They’re not afraid to look at illegal drug use and other social issues. In that sense, Ashford is like a real New England town, not an idealized one, and I like that.

Liz: I really like that Lauren is a strong, independent woman, not afraid to speak her mind and make her own choices. She is definitely her own woman, and that makes going along for adventures with her exciting.

Jessie: I like that Edith brings so much of her own personal interests to these books. It is interesting to see the variety of tones and topics Edith takes on in her work.

Sherry: Lauren isn’t perfect. She makes mistakes like we all do. I find that interesting and it gives Lauren depth.

Julie: I like that Lauren is a complicated, intelligent woman. Edith gets to use her background in linguistics, which adds really interesting layers to the books. Really looking forward to this next one!

Readers, what do you like about the Lauren Rousseau books?

Filed under: Wicked Wednesday Tagged: Bluffing is Murder, Tace Baker

Happy Book Birthday–Bluffing Is Murder!

This week the Wickeds are celebrating two, count’em two, book releases in one week. Today we’re launching Bluffing is Murder, the latest Lauren Rousseau Mystery by Tace Baker, aka Edith Maxwell.

Here’s what this second-in-the-series book is about:

Summer promises to be anything but easy for Quaker linguistics professor Lauren Rousseau in this thrilling sequel to Speaking of Murder. With her boyfriend Zac returning to Haiti to visit his family, Lauren is on her own in Ashford, Massachusetts—and danger is never far behind.

“Still reeling from an attack by her student’s murderer, Lauren decides to brush up on her karate and finds herself drawn to handsome sensei Dan Talbot. During a run near the sea bluffs, she discovers the corpse of her insurance agent, Charles Heard, who is also a Trustee for one of the oldest land trusts in the country. Earlier that day, Lauren had a public argument with Heard over her policy— and is now a suspect in the case.Determined to clear her name, Lauren sets out to discover the real story behind the mismanaged land trust, the dead man’s volatile sister—and a possible link to her own father’s mysterious death more than a decade ago. But a near miss with a car, snippets of strange conversations in French and Farsi, slashed tires, and finding yet another attack victim on the beach make it clear that Lauren is also a target—and the killer is closing in.Can Lauren discover the killer before she becomes the next victim?

Barb: Congratulations, Edith, er, Tace! Your productivity continues to amaze me. I’ve read Bluffing, so I know what a treat your readers are in for. Here’s what I said. “In this page-turner of a mystery, linguistics professor Lauren Rousseau uses her smarts, her Quaker faith, and her summer vacation to bring a vicious murderer, and a secret from her own past, into the light.”

Liz: Yay Tace/Edith! So proud of you and your success, and can’t wait for this next one. I very much enjoyed the first Lauren, and can’t wait for this one.

Sherry: Another book, Edith! I’m amazed at the different voices in each of your books. I look forward to reading Bluffing!

Jessie: Congratulations, Edith on another release! It is fun to see all the sides to your career.

Julie: Congratulations Tace/Edith!! Looking forward to reading about Lauren’t next adventure.

Edith: You guys are awesome. Thank you!

Filed under: Book Release Tagged: Bluffing is Murder, Lauren Rousseau, Tace Baker

Happy Book Birthday–Rogue Wave!

This weekend was not only the New England Crime Bake, it was the launch of Best New England Crime Stories 2015; Rogue Wave, Level Best Book’s twelfth annual anthology of short stories by New England Authors. Barb’s been a Level Best co-editor/co-publisher for five years along with Mark Ammons, Katherine Fast and Leslie Wheeler.

What’s in store this year? Let’s take a look:

Cops, kooks, creeps and cons

Wily cats and wacky grandmas

Hoods, histories, and crafty whodunits

Nothing is spared by a Rogue Wave

Get swept up in this year’s tsunami of twenty-nine never before seen crime stories from a bevy of New England’s award-winning mystery writers joined by several of the region’s most compelling new voices.

From classic mysteries to dead celebrities–some light, some dark, some flat-out scary. some downright funny–Level Best Books twelfth annual anthology presents a veritable rogues’ gallery of the best in original New England crime writing. Surf’s up!

Rogue Wave authors lined up to sign, from our New England friend Dale Phillips and his Crime Bake report (http://www.daletphillips.com/crimebake.html)

Here’s what we like about the Level Best series:

Liz: I love these books. The diversity of the authors is rich and gifts readers with a completely different reading experience every time they pick the book up. The talent is immense and every year makes me proud to be a New England crime writer – one that is determined to finish a short story in enough time to be considered for the anthology one of these years!

Sherry: Every year I not only look forward to Crime Bake but also to the latest Level Best anthology of short stories. I’m not a short story writer and I’d admire those writers who can tell an intriguing tale in such a short amount of time. In every one there is something that makes me laugh and something that makes my heart pound. Congratulations to the editors and authors of Rogue Wave. I can’t wait to read it.

Co-editor Kat Fast with authors Louisa Clerici and Pamela Oberg

Jessie: I have a particular soft spot for short stories, especially when collected into an anthology. These little gems do all the work of a novel but in so much less space. The level of craft always astonishes me and I envy those who write them well. And, I also always love the titles of the Level Best series!

Edith: Such a treat to see the lineup of authors signing books on Saturday. I’ve been in one of those chairs three times in twelve years (out of more than eleven submissions) – all before I had completed a novel – and always felt honored. And my rejected story this year has found a home in a different anthology, so it’s all good, as Julie says. A certain Kate Carito and Gregory William Allen each had their debut short story pubs, too, and were delighted. My writers’ group pal Doug Hall’s story was accepted, as well – also his debut fiction publication. The volume kicks off with Al Blanchard Award winner Michael Nethercott – who we featured right here on the blog recently. Now that Crime Bake is over, I am adjourning directly to the couch to read the night away.

Readers: Which is your favorite anthology of short stories? Do you like short over long, or do you read both? Writers, did you start with short stories before going on to novels, or the reverse? Or do you only write in one format, like some of the Wickeds?

Filed under: Book Release Tagged: Doug Hall, Kate Carito, Michael nethercott, Short story

Wacky Weekend: What We’re Looking Forward to at Crime Bake

As New England writers, the New England Crime Bake is the Wickeds’ “home conference.” Some of us first met there. Most of us have been attending for years. It’s a great little conference, deliberately kept to 250 participants so it feels intimate, even though it sells out every year. The panelists, including the big dogs and the Guest of Honor, and the agents and editors hang out all weekends, so there’s plenty of time for informal conversations.

By the time you read this, most of the Wickeds will be on the road to the conference or will already be there, so today we thought we’d write about what we’re most looking forward to.

Barb: As the co-chair in 2012 and 2013, I had two goals for the conference. 1) That it would actually come off. And 2) that I would live through it. I’m happy to report that both were achieved both years. But this year, my duties on the programming committee largely done–barring of course, unforeseen disasters–I’m looking forward to kicking back, seeing my friends, and launching Best New England Crime Stories 2015: Rogue Wave, this year’s Level Best anthology. We’ll have 23 authors signing the book at Crime Bake, a record, I think.

Last year at the banquet.

Liz: Crime Bake has always been my fave writer’s conference. Every year I look forward to seeing familiar faces, making new friends, and generally being in the company of writers. The past few years attending as a published author has been so darn cool – I remember all the years I went and looked up to the authors on the panels. Now I’m one of them and it’s even sweeter. I love this job!

Edith: This year I’m moderating my first conference panel, and while I’ve prepared as much as I can, I’m looking forward to it being over at the end of Saturday morning so I can relax. I echo what Liz said: it’s a real treat to attend as a published author. And now, having gone for so many years, Crime Bake is like the first day of summer camp – greeting all my old friends, meeting some virtual friends in person for the first time, and hanging out in the bar with whoever is there (okay – that’s NOT like summer camp…). Sherry will be up from Virginia and Kim from Baltimore. And then there’s the banquet. How can you lose with costumes AND dancing?

The Level Best authors at the Vampire Ball, Crime Bake 2010. Can you find Julie, Barb, Edith, and Sheila?

Mo Walsh is one of the first people I met at my first Crime Bake in 2005.

Sherry: In 2005 I attended my first Crime Bake. I knew one person — Julie Hennrikus and I didn’t know her well. I was terrified. Now it’s like Homecoming and there’s never enough time to catch up with all the friends I’ve made by attending. By Sunday evening when I return home I’ll be exhausted and have a sore throat from talking so much — it happens every year. But I’m always grinning from ear to ear.

Julie: This year I am the co-chair of Crime Bake. This is a great honor, and I am happy to dig in. I am excited to do my interview with Craig Johnson (the Guest of Honor), though I am also a wreck. I worked on my binder tonight–my script for the weekend, and I have no doubt that Steve Ulfelder (my co-chair) and I will be counting down the speeches over the course of the weekend. I can’t wait to see the other Wickeds (we will all be there!), and to meet new friends.

Jessie: I love everything about Crime Bake! I love the energy of so many like-minded people all in one place. I love the professionalism with which the event is orchestrated. I love catching up with people I only see once a year. I love that even having attended so many times the event still feels fresh while remaining familiar. And I especially love that I get to spend time with all the other Wickeds!

Reader: Do you have a favorite conference? A place that feels like “home”?

Filed under: Group posts Tagged: Best New England Crime Stories: Rogue Wave, Criag Johnson, Crime Bake, julie hennrikus, Mo Walsh, New England Crime Bake, Rogue Wave

Being Present with the Past

Jessie: in windy and increasingly leafless New Hampshire

Over the past several months I’ve been hard at work on the first book in a new series. It’s a historical mystery set in the late 1800s and the research has been such fun. I’ve attended seances, interviewed historians and visited museums. I’ve discovered a great many things in the course of my searchings, not the least is that the past is always present.

Last week I visited the delightful Saco Museum in Saco, Maine. The museum was featuring an exhibit on the Victorian era and I wanted to be sure to visit it before it closed later this month. There were many interesting things to see like a delicate and decorative chatelaine notebook made of intricately wrought silver covers enclosing pages made of ivory, quite similar to the ones seen here. There were fancy hats and their accompanying pins, hair jewelry made from the tresses of deceased loved ones and stereoscopes with their accompanying slides.

They even had a tandem bicycle built in 1897 with a placard explaining that at the time it was made, the bicycle was called a courting cycle. The idea was that the lady sat in the front and the gentleman sat in the back. His seat was not only raised higher but also had a set of handlebars that steered the entire apparatus. The lady’s set of handlebars was merely to help her to balance.

While it was delightful to have the opportunity to look at so many interesting and novel items, what struck me most was how many of the things I was seeing were not new to me at all. New England is filled with history and also with frugality. People here tend to take care of their things and are none to eager to discard them. Most of the homes I have spent time in over the course of my life have been filled with the same sorts of furnishings, tableware and accessories that were on display at the museum.

Everywhere I turned there were fainting couches, gate-legged tables and drop-fronted desks like the ones I grew up with. Which got me thinking. 

I thought about how people have changed and how they haven’t. About what entertains us. About how we seek to provide our families and ourselves with comfort. I thought about how we still love meals shared at long dining tables and evenings spent reading in cozy sitting rooms. I thought about the nights I’ve spent turning over in a creaking antique bed, huddled beneath an elderly quilt.

Today, I write notes in a trusty Moleskine and steer my own bicycle.But I adore hats and I would like to construct a mystery around a murder involving a hatpin.

Sometimes the notion of writing about other times feels daunting. And sometimes it feels like home.

Readers, do you find the past all around you? Which things from times gone by most tickle your fancy?

 

Filed under: Jessie's posts Tagged: hatpins, hats, historical mysteries, Moleskin, New England, past, Saco ME, Saco Museum, stereoscopes