Goodreads asked Valarie R. Austin:

What mystery in your own life could be a plot for a book?

Valarie R. Austin This mystery occurred in the 1950's. My distant relative had an unexpected and very curious death when she was in her late 20's. She had been a very popular bartender at a local tavern. She was outgoing and warm to her patrons who were primarily male. Her success as a bartender was assured because she was beautiful and always the life of the party according to my other relatives. Therefore, she made a great living in a occupation that did not have many women in its rank.

Curiously, her illness and death came on suddenly. She experienced delusions and lost a phenomenal amount of weight. She was hospitalized for a short period of time and died in the hospital. At her funeral, the people occupied every seat in the church. There was standing room only; so, the remaining mourners spilled out into the church yard. My relatives stated the scene resembled a famous celebrity or politician's funeral.

The speculation about her death continues to today because my relatives never found out the diagnosis for her illness, especially since there was no autopsy. Many think that she was poisoned by a jilted lover or a rival for another man's affections. The whole mystery fires my imagination for a book plot.

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