“What is that roar?” Nemo asked, ears perked up, tail at half-mast.
“It’s just the FedEx truck,” I told him. “Maybe they’ve brought good news!”
Ever alert and watchful, Nemo grumbled as I opened the door and took the box the polite FedEx man handed me. Was it what I thought it was?
Tearing into the box, I pulled out the packing and there they were–twenty of those lovely and long-awaited cozy mysteries. The best part? They were mine! Twenty beautiful, shiny, new covers of By the Fright of the Silvery Moon smiled up at me.
Embarrassed by my lack of musical talent, Nemo slipped back into the family room as I did a little jig and sang, By the Light of the Silvery Moon.
They arrived at such an opportune time because today is Cozy Critique Day! The Critters will get the first official look at this latest mystery of Ned McNeil’s.
A finished book represents so many things and so many people, a lot of decisions, a lot of edits and mind changes. This book, although fiction, has a bit of Oklahoma history on its pages. There really was an old-time outlaw who really did rob a Mexican mule train of its money and, sad to say, killed all the people on that ill-fated journey across the Rio Grande, plus some of his own men too. Now, that was a pretty mean and dastardly man. That much was true. What wasn’t true was the name I gave him and I sort of imagined the feelings he might have for his mother, and…well, let’s face it–I imagined a whole lot of it. But, that’s what a fiction writer does.
How can all that out-lawery be in a nice, warm and fuzzy cozy? Well, you know, there’s got to be a mystery, else there would be nothing to solve. And this blended in very well with Ned McNeil’s problems and the people who knew about that long ago outlaw.
Research is one of the most fun parts of writing. And, as you know, I like history anyway. I hope you do too.
Since he had seen me through dealing with a noisy truck and a mysterious package, Nemo retired to the deck. It had been an exciting day, a day when a box of history mixed with mystery arrived on my front porch.
I’m HaPpY for ya Blanche! I would have danced a jig with you..I did sing ‘by the light of the silvery moon’ just night before last! Looking forward to curling up in my big ole comfy chair this fall with that book!
Thanks, Jan. I would have accompanied your singing on the piano, or I could have been your echo. You know, “By the light (echo: not the dark, but the light) of the silvery moon, (echo: not the sun, but the moon)
I’m really glad you like my books!
It’s funny that you should mention that song! Every time I see the title of your newest book, I hear a Barbershop quartet singing!! “By the light (by the light, by the light) of the silvery moon…”
Now, that’s a good sign. I hope that quartet is all in tune