There is a crack in everything
Get ready to READ!
September came roaring in with a flurry of hot days. And yet, before we know it, the days will grow dark and cold, and everyone will want to curl up with a good mystery.
These are times when mysteries flourish. Agatha Christie rose to huge popularity during World War II–a time of great uncertainty and danger, as Britain endured German air raids, rampant loss of life, and commodity shortages. While battles raged, folks across the pond turned to their mysteries where the bad guys got what was coming to them, and good people and order prevailed. Such is the appeal of mysteries.
During September, I offer my favorite Emma Golden mystery THE DIFFICULT SISTER at deep discount, both on my website and at all the usual online outlets. The ebook is available at $1.99, regularly $6.99, and the paperback is just $9.99 plus shipping, regularly $16.99.
If you haven’t yet read THE DIFFICULT SISTER, please take the opportunity to do so now. Or, thinking ahead to the holidays, purchase some copies as gifts. It’s a great and terrifying adventure that leads amateur sleuth Emma Golden and her friend Melody into the milieu that is the southern Oregon Coast in search of Melody’s sister Aurora, aka The Bolter. Aurora has run off with so many men over the years that Melody has lost count. But this time is different. This time it’s sinister. Order now through September 30, 2020!
The loss of a loved one
Holden at five months with Mama Wynne. 2009 photo.
Our dear Holden Beauregard Peterson-Nedry passed away at 5 a.m. on August 24 at the age of 11. A Bloodhound/Great Dane mix, Holden was my granddog, my daughter’s dearest companion since she brought him home on July 3, 2009, and a friend to all who met him. There aren’t enough superlatives for this wonderful guy. We all are heartbroken.
And yet, we persist…
It appears my checked-out Muse has come out of hiding. She’s behaving very cautiously; however, tentative beginnings on the new novel have yielded 25 pages. Not much, but a beginning.
I am inching toward being a grandmother. “Spartacus’s” anticipated due date is 12/31/2020. Every day there is an exciting change or two, and I want to be there for every minute of it. This truly is the bright spot in a year filled with madness!
For the most part, I’ve done well during the first six months of the pandemic. I’ve walked more, I’ve gardened more, I’ve baked and cooked more. These things bring joy. Our gatherings, though well separated and small, have been frequent and joyous. And, I’ve read more.
One of my favorite recent discoveries is Icelandic author Arnaldur Indridason. I’ve read three of his Detective Erlendur series plus, most recently, Operation Napoleon, a stand-alone thriller that deals with the CIA’s shady dealings at the U.S. military base built in Iceland during World War II. The setting, the culture, the history of the U.S. occupation in Iceland during the Cold War, and Indridason’s terse yet empathetic voice are all reasons to like this author!
I’ll be back with more recommendations soon. Meanwhile, we all can find ways to make the best of our situation and live fully and joyously, even as we deal with seismic change.
Stay well, dear ones.
Judy
