Piper Punches's Blog
May 27, 2021
Humans Learn from the Stories We Tell and the Stories We Read
Mary Catherine Bateson, a historian and anthropologist, once said, "The human species thinks in metaphors and learns through stories."
How true is this? I don't agree merely because I am a writer, but because I am a reader and a lover of fiction. There's plenty to learn by reading non-fiction, but I've learned the most about myself and people by reading fiction. There's something about entering a fictional world that relaxes a person's judgement and makes them more willing to put themselves into another person's shoes. In fiction, we glimpse people's motivations, their desires, their fears, and find ourselves opening up to their experiences.
I read a few non-fiction books a year, but unless there's a story that grabs me, I usually end up abandoning them. I always go back to made-up stories to find the truth about humanity and myself.
The Murder Lawyer
February 10, 2021
Excerpt from The Murder Lawyer
Today, I thought I'd share an excerpt from Part Two of The Murder Lawyer. The setting for this part of the story took place at the Kirkwood Missouri Pacific Depot. If you're from the St. Louis area you might recognize it!
Excerpt from 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘶𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘓𝘢𝘸𝘺𝘦𝘳:
The yelling at first distant and garbled gets louder, clearer. He hears the sharp voices shouting his name. They tell him to get down, get on his knees. Put his hands on his head. He remains still, breathing evenly. He fixes his gaze on the playground across the railroad tracks. It’s where so long ago he took his children on Sunday mornings. Long before all-inclusive playgrounds and safety regulations changed the landscape. Back when metal slides in the summer were conquered and braved by adventurous five-year-olds. When teeter-totters and roundabouts were a child’s delight and parents’ nightmares. He recalls the time when Jason, only five or six, had lost his shoe and nearly his foot under the long-gone roundabout. How do thirty years fly by so fast? Wasn’t it just yesterday that he watched his children climb the jungle gym wearing their Reebok shoes and Jordache jeans? He recalls the way pride and relief filled his chest, worked its way into his fingertips and his hair follicles. Pride because he worked hard to give them this life. His American children. Relief that he and Linh survived long before Jason and Samantha were even imaginable.
The textbooks and history call people like him Boat People, refugees from Vietnam’s ravished cities after Saigon fell. That’s the term Samantha used when she did a project on the Vietnam War for her middle school history project. The images she glued onto poster board took Sam by surprise. To see how his life looked like from someone’s camera, a bird’s-eye view of horror and retreat. The images were one dimensional, but not his memories. He remembers running away from poverty and death’s lingering stench, piling onto over-crowded boats and watching their homeland become a speck in the distance and then disappearing forever. He recalls the pirates and the storms that threatened to capsize the boats every day as they floated toward refugee camps in Southeast Asia. He hates to remember those camps. Weeks spent living in conditions where food, water, and shelter were constantly fought and killed over. Once Sam and Linh were on their way to America, he finally felt the weight of an uncertain destiny fall from his shoulders.
Now what has he done?
His life since fleeing Vietnam had been one of reinvention and newfound joy. Owning a business, buying a home with indoor plumbing and electricity, and watching his children grow into successful people, were his and Linh’s greatest achievements. Last month, he’d become a grandpa for the third time. This is the life he envisioned that kept him moving forward. That made him so much more than just another boat person with a sad, tragic past.
The voices are on top of him now.
He looks down at the gun lying next to his feet and raises his arms slowly, placing his palms on either side of the back of his head.
What has he done?
Excerpt from 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘶𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘓𝘢𝘸𝘺𝘦𝘳:
The yelling at first distant and garbled gets louder, clearer. He hears the sharp voices shouting his name. They tell him to get down, get on his knees. Put his hands on his head. He remains still, breathing evenly. He fixes his gaze on the playground across the railroad tracks. It’s where so long ago he took his children on Sunday mornings. Long before all-inclusive playgrounds and safety regulations changed the landscape. Back when metal slides in the summer were conquered and braved by adventurous five-year-olds. When teeter-totters and roundabouts were a child’s delight and parents’ nightmares. He recalls the time when Jason, only five or six, had lost his shoe and nearly his foot under the long-gone roundabout. How do thirty years fly by so fast? Wasn’t it just yesterday that he watched his children climb the jungle gym wearing their Reebok shoes and Jordache jeans? He recalls the way pride and relief filled his chest, worked its way into his fingertips and his hair follicles. Pride because he worked hard to give them this life. His American children. Relief that he and Linh survived long before Jason and Samantha were even imaginable.
The textbooks and history call people like him Boat People, refugees from Vietnam’s ravished cities after Saigon fell. That’s the term Samantha used when she did a project on the Vietnam War for her middle school history project. The images she glued onto poster board took Sam by surprise. To see how his life looked like from someone’s camera, a bird’s-eye view of horror and retreat. The images were one dimensional, but not his memories. He remembers running away from poverty and death’s lingering stench, piling onto over-crowded boats and watching their homeland become a speck in the distance and then disappearing forever. He recalls the pirates and the storms that threatened to capsize the boats every day as they floated toward refugee camps in Southeast Asia. He hates to remember those camps. Weeks spent living in conditions where food, water, and shelter were constantly fought and killed over. Once Sam and Linh were on their way to America, he finally felt the weight of an uncertain destiny fall from his shoulders.
Now what has he done?
His life since fleeing Vietnam had been one of reinvention and newfound joy. Owning a business, buying a home with indoor plumbing and electricity, and watching his children grow into successful people, were his and Linh’s greatest achievements. Last month, he’d become a grandpa for the third time. This is the life he envisioned that kept him moving forward. That made him so much more than just another boat person with a sad, tragic past.
The voices are on top of him now.
He looks down at the gun lying next to his feet and raises his arms slowly, placing his palms on either side of the back of his head.
What has he done?
February 8, 2021
How The Weeknd Influenced The Murder Lawyer
True story, if The Weeknd didn't exist, it's quite possible that The Murder Lawyer wouldn't exist as it is. Let me explain...
Summer of 2017, my family and I traveled to Toronto. While we were there, my oldest daughter wanted to drive through the neighborhood where The Weeknd grew up, Scarborough on Queen St. While driving down the street, I saw this shop. It was a lamp shop called Sam The Chandelier Man. The name struck me and right away I knew it would make a great story. It turned out to be Part Two of what would become The Murder Lawyer.
So, if we weren't checking out The Weeknd's home turf I wouldn't have seen this shop. And, I wouldn't have written the story that ended up in The Murder Lawyer. And, I wouldn't have had the chance to correspond with the daughter of the real-life Sam a year later when she happened to see one of my Facebook posts. I am always amazed at how the Universe connects us in weird and amazing ways!
Summer of 2017, my family and I traveled to Toronto. While we were there, my oldest daughter wanted to drive through the neighborhood where The Weeknd grew up, Scarborough on Queen St. While driving down the street, I saw this shop. It was a lamp shop called Sam The Chandelier Man. The name struck me and right away I knew it would make a great story. It turned out to be Part Two of what would become The Murder Lawyer.
So, if we weren't checking out The Weeknd's home turf I wouldn't have seen this shop. And, I wouldn't have written the story that ended up in The Murder Lawyer. And, I wouldn't have had the chance to correspond with the daughter of the real-life Sam a year later when she happened to see one of my Facebook posts. I am always amazed at how the Universe connects us in weird and amazing ways!
January 8, 2021
The Moment that Planted the Seed for The Murder Lawyer
Often, I get asked how I come up with my stories.
𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑴𝒖𝒓𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝑳𝒂𝒘𝒚𝒆𝒓
is a book whose seed was planted over 20 years ago inside a Law & Society class at Saint Louis University taught by Judge Jimmie Edwards, now St. Louis City Public Safety Director. It was in this class that Judge Edwards told us that everyone deserves a defense. Without a proper defense, our criminal justice system doesn’t work. Judge Edwards, the chances are high that you don’t remember me, but those words have stuck with me for two decades, and they ring truer than ever in today’s climate. Those words planted a seed and eventually became the inspiration for
𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑴𝒖𝒓𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝑳𝒂𝒘𝒚𝒆𝒓
.
𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑴𝒖𝒓𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝑳𝒂𝒘𝒚𝒆𝒓 is a book that challenges our ideas of justice. It's not a legal procedural book, but a novel that examines the reasons people make the choices they do and asks you to consider how justice is best served.
📷 Credit: Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑴𝒖𝒓𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝑳𝒂𝒘𝒚𝒆𝒓 is a book that challenges our ideas of justice. It's not a legal procedural book, but a novel that examines the reasons people make the choices they do and asks you to consider how justice is best served.
📷 Credit: Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
November 11, 2020
NOTE TO READER
When you pick up a book, do you immediately go to the first page of the prose, or do you read the front material? Specifically, do you read any notes to the reader?
Before I started publishing my books, I didn’t pay attention to front material like notes to readers, and I only read back material such as acknowledgments sporadically. Instead, I dove right into the story. What could any of the front material offer?
Actually, as a writer, I’ve come to learn that notes to readers are quite valuable. Now, not every book has reader notes included in its front material, but those that do are there for a reason.
The reason I bring this up is that I’m in the process of publishing The Murder Lawyer, The Complete Serial Novel, and unpublishing the individual stories that I originally posted on my website and everywhere ebooks are sold. The complete novel will include a Note to Reader because I want to explain the unique nature of this story and why it’s written as it is. My fear is that readers won’t read this section and maybe feel confused about how the story progresses.
From the beginning, I always knew the novelettes, or episodes as I liked to call them, would be put together in novel form. With the continuous story arc of Luna’s rise to local fame and how her sudden success affects her family, I believe the stories weave together seamlessly. Nonetheless, I want new readers to understand how The Murder Lawyer came to be, and that’s why I’m writing a Note to Reader.
So, again back to my question.
Do you read the Note to Reader?
This writer wants to know. This writer also encourages you to do so for any book where this front material is offered because you might miss out on something fantastic that will make your reading experience more enjoyable.
Want to know when The Murder Lawyer serial novel will go on sale and get pre-order information? Sign up here for updates!
Before I started publishing my books, I didn’t pay attention to front material like notes to readers, and I only read back material such as acknowledgments sporadically. Instead, I dove right into the story. What could any of the front material offer?
Actually, as a writer, I’ve come to learn that notes to readers are quite valuable. Now, not every book has reader notes included in its front material, but those that do are there for a reason.
The reason I bring this up is that I’m in the process of publishing The Murder Lawyer, The Complete Serial Novel, and unpublishing the individual stories that I originally posted on my website and everywhere ebooks are sold. The complete novel will include a Note to Reader because I want to explain the unique nature of this story and why it’s written as it is. My fear is that readers won’t read this section and maybe feel confused about how the story progresses.
From the beginning, I always knew the novelettes, or episodes as I liked to call them, would be put together in novel form. With the continuous story arc of Luna’s rise to local fame and how her sudden success affects her family, I believe the stories weave together seamlessly. Nonetheless, I want new readers to understand how The Murder Lawyer came to be, and that’s why I’m writing a Note to Reader.
So, again back to my question.
Do you read the Note to Reader?
This writer wants to know. This writer also encourages you to do so for any book where this front material is offered because you might miss out on something fantastic that will make your reading experience more enjoyable.
Want to know when The Murder Lawyer serial novel will go on sale and get pre-order information? Sign up here for updates!
October 13, 2020
Announcing My Spooky Read for October
About a week and a half ago, I traveled to Arizona for a mother/daughter trip with my oldest. It was a much-needed getaway and the beautiful Sedona landscape did not disappoint. It seems, though, that while I was away the temperatures back home turned more toward autumn-like temperatures and when I returned so did the heat and humidity.
If you don’t know, I love warm weather and the hot, dry temperatures in Arizona were right up my alley, but there’s something also special about fall. Maybe it’s because I've lived in the Midwest all my life and am used to experiencing seasonal changes, but around this time of year, by body is ready to be wrapped in flannel and chunky sweaters.
Autumn, especially October, is the time of year when I start formulating a serious to-be-read list. With the days getting shorter and darkness arriving earlier each evening, there’s less distraction and the call to be outside is muted. I’m inside longer at night and have more time to read.
Can you relate?
Every October, I pick a spooky book to read because it’s Halloween and the one time out of the year that this genre piques my interest. Usually, I’ll read Salem’s Lot by Stephen King or Bram Stoker’s Dracula, but this year, I’ve decided to read The Shining. I watched the movie when I was little, but always on Channel 11, which meant it was heavily edited with oddly placed commercial breaks. Who knows what I’m talking about?
Anyway, my husband is a huge Stephen King fan and we have a large collection of King’s books, including The Shining. That’s the first book I’m going to read as part of my fall reading and today, as I write this, is the perfect day to start a spooky read because the wind is shredding the leaves from the trees in my backyard, it’s cloudy, and slightly cool.
But I have some questions for you:
Do you read spooky books during October?
What’s your favorite spooky book?
If you don’t know, I love warm weather and the hot, dry temperatures in Arizona were right up my alley, but there’s something also special about fall. Maybe it’s because I've lived in the Midwest all my life and am used to experiencing seasonal changes, but around this time of year, by body is ready to be wrapped in flannel and chunky sweaters.
Autumn, especially October, is the time of year when I start formulating a serious to-be-read list. With the days getting shorter and darkness arriving earlier each evening, there’s less distraction and the call to be outside is muted. I’m inside longer at night and have more time to read.
Can you relate?
Every October, I pick a spooky book to read because it’s Halloween and the one time out of the year that this genre piques my interest. Usually, I’ll read Salem’s Lot by Stephen King or Bram Stoker’s Dracula, but this year, I’ve decided to read The Shining. I watched the movie when I was little, but always on Channel 11, which meant it was heavily edited with oddly placed commercial breaks. Who knows what I’m talking about?
Anyway, my husband is a huge Stephen King fan and we have a large collection of King’s books, including The Shining. That’s the first book I’m going to read as part of my fall reading and today, as I write this, is the perfect day to start a spooky read because the wind is shredding the leaves from the trees in my backyard, it’s cloudy, and slightly cool.
But I have some questions for you:
Do you read spooky books during October?
What’s your favorite spooky book?
September 28, 2020
My Stories Don't Start at the Computer
My stories don’t start at the computer. That is where the writing is done, but it’s not where the story starts. My stories often start with a question because I am a questioner. I’ve never really outgrown the desire to ask questions and seek answers. I’m still that two-year-old who drives everyone around her crazy because I won’t stop saying, “But why?”
But when I ask questions the answers don’t always come right away. I need time and space for the answers to reveal themselves to me; to hear my characters speak their truths. It’s why I’m not always the fastest writer.
If you follow me on Instagram, you might have seen me post this photo.
I explained that out on a trail is where I have the freedom to think and uncover my characters' secrets. The wide-open space, the narrow trails, and the solitude allow me space to breathe and feel. I often need about five miles to let my body detox and get rid of all the negative energy that stifles my creativity. It’s enough time for the characters to feel comfortable speaking to me. Sometimes they have a lot to say. Other times they’re quiet, but in that quiet space, I find inspiration too.
The day I was on the trail in the photo, my characters wanted to talk to me. They started speaking to me about 3 miles into this hike because they knew I needed more time to hear them that day. Once they started talking to me, they didn’t stop, and that always excites me.
Over the last few months, I’ve made a lot of progress with The Murder Lawyer series, my children’s journal, and a new standalone novel publishing in late 2021. Some of the progress is public, but most of it is behind the scenes. Still, as much progress as I've made and how receptive I've been to hear my characters speak to me, I’ve also felt stifled, held back, and I'm unsure why.
Later this week, I’m headed back out on the trail to shake off whatever weird energy is messing with my creativity and soak up the good vibes of Red Rock Country. My oldest daughter and I are headed to Sedona, AZ to hike, and I can’t wait to hear what my characters have to say to me on the trails.
I drove around Sedona once in 2015 on my way from Flagstaff down to Phoenix. I remember seeing the red rocks in the distance, but, at that time, I didn’t know about Sedona’s energy; its magic. Nature didn’t speak to me then the way it does now.
Does nature speak to you? Where do you go when you need answers to your questions? I’d love to hear from you.
But when I ask questions the answers don’t always come right away. I need time and space for the answers to reveal themselves to me; to hear my characters speak their truths. It’s why I’m not always the fastest writer.
If you follow me on Instagram, you might have seen me post this photo.
I explained that out on a trail is where I have the freedom to think and uncover my characters' secrets. The wide-open space, the narrow trails, and the solitude allow me space to breathe and feel. I often need about five miles to let my body detox and get rid of all the negative energy that stifles my creativity. It’s enough time for the characters to feel comfortable speaking to me. Sometimes they have a lot to say. Other times they’re quiet, but in that quiet space, I find inspiration too.
The day I was on the trail in the photo, my characters wanted to talk to me. They started speaking to me about 3 miles into this hike because they knew I needed more time to hear them that day. Once they started talking to me, they didn’t stop, and that always excites me.
Over the last few months, I’ve made a lot of progress with The Murder Lawyer series, my children’s journal, and a new standalone novel publishing in late 2021. Some of the progress is public, but most of it is behind the scenes. Still, as much progress as I've made and how receptive I've been to hear my characters speak to me, I’ve also felt stifled, held back, and I'm unsure why.
Later this week, I’m headed back out on the trail to shake off whatever weird energy is messing with my creativity and soak up the good vibes of Red Rock Country. My oldest daughter and I are headed to Sedona, AZ to hike, and I can’t wait to hear what my characters have to say to me on the trails.
I drove around Sedona once in 2015 on my way from Flagstaff down to Phoenix. I remember seeing the red rocks in the distance, but, at that time, I didn’t know about Sedona’s energy; its magic. Nature didn’t speak to me then the way it does now.
Does nature speak to you? Where do you go when you need answers to your questions? I’d love to hear from you.
September 14, 2020
What’s In My Fridge!
Hello, hello!
It’s another week and that means another blog post. This week, I was inspired by a recent email from Rachel Hollis. Do you follow her or get her emails? If you do, then you probably saw in her latest email that she gives us a sneak peek inside of her refrigerator.
Well, after watching her short video, I started thinking. Why are all celebrities showing us their perfect refrigerators? Certainly, they can’t look like that all the time.
So, I was inspired to put together a little vide...
September 7, 2020
It’s Cover Reveal Day!
Guess what today is? It’s cover reveal day for the 8th story in The Murder Lawyer series.
Creating a compelling cover image isn’t always easy, and I usually give my cover artist an idea of what I want and let him roll with it. The Murder Lawyer series is different. I’m creating these covers myself because it’s more cost-effective since they are ebook titles and I’m trying to release them more frequently.
So, I hope you like the cover. Also, stay tuned for the release date. It’s coming very soon!...
September 1, 2020
Today I’m Answering Readers’ Questions!
Last week, I wrote a blog post and sent an email asking readers what they wanted to know about me. It didn’t have to be about writing or reading. I was literally an open book. 
