A Bird in the Hand (24 page)

Nevertheless, when they felt threatened by yours truly and spouse, Louise cooked up the plan to cook my goose. Literally. I was supposed to have been found inside the house as it merrily burned itself to the ground.

Too bad she had such nitwits for sons. I pray that wherever they ended up, she isn't too hard on them. After all, they were just following the orders from a warden of a mother. As for Avery, I would think that anywhere would be better than here, sharing his life with said warden.

Life, in my humble estimation, is to be lived to the fullest. My dear husband thinks so as well. I can hear him calling me from the front porch where he's parked our new tandem bicycle preparatory for an afternoon's ride.

Let it be known that I refused to get on it until a few modifications were made, namely a basket for Trixie to ride along with us, a cup holder for me, and a padded backrest so that I could lean back and enjoy the ride. Feet elevated, of course.

It's a good thing that Greg has developed such strong legs. He'll need them.

WRITING TIPS

Finding Your Own Voice

William Shakespeare said it, your mother advised it, your conscience chides you to follow it, and Ralph Waldo Emerson added his two cents when he said, "To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to change you is quite an accomplishment." And to that I say a hearty, "amen!" Why would I ever want to be someone other than myself? And yet…

When I first began writing in earnest, I experimented with various styles of the authors I most admired. The results were lacking, to say the least. I was so intent on channeling the prose of Agatha Christie and Georgette Heyer and even Maud Hart Lovelace that I completely lost my own voice. It took a very honest high school teacher to suggest that I "quit trying to copy others and do my own work" that shook me out of that rut. Thus began the search for my style, my particular manner of using words and phrases to create on paper what I could see in my mind's eye.

And here's my suggestion for you: Take a look at the scribblings you've done without thinking. Do you find yourself using a more formal tone or are you partial to colloquialism? This is a great indicator of the type of writing with which you're most comfortable. Start with that! Your voice is unique, and that's what others want to hear from you.

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Journaling 101

Even if you haven't been one who keeps a journal, you can still begin without much preparation. A spiral notebook (Caro's preferred vehicle for recording thoughts) or an elegantly bound leather book: Either one will suffice. Begin by talking about yourself—a topic you should be familiar with—and comment on a positive aspect. Do you like to sing? Is gardening a favorite past time, or perhaps baking? Just writing about these activities will get that serotonin stirring! Before you know it, an entire page will be filled with new ideas for that next garden, or lyrics to a song, or a recipe you'd like to try. In other words, journaling is a wonderful way to let off some steam or to plan your next adventure!

Here are some prompts to get you started on your road to journaling…and writing:

Scents are a strong part of the memory process. Write about a time when the smell of baking cookies reminded you of someone special.

If a magic wand was waved over you, who would you become? (Caro would love to be the famous mystery writer, Agatha Christie.)

We tend to use our five physical senses to describe our ideas or thoughts. Here's a challenge: Use emotion-charged words to describe something. Instead of a colorful sunset (you can see color), make it fiery! In place of a loud noise, call it explosive! This gives your writing "movement" and allows you to move past clichéd word choice.

If you could change just one aspect about the world you live in, what would that be? (Who knows? This might become the catalyst you need to step out and make a lasting contribution, something that Caro is determined to do with her books.)

Finally, just write. It's as simple as that. Getting thoughts down on paper and giving them form is the first step—and you can do it!

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Creating Characters Who Speak

Dialogue and character creation are part of the fun when writing a book. I've based a lot of my characters on real people—"based" is the operative word—and that gives me a foundation on which to mold them. If you've ever thought about writing a book, start with your characters; they often decide for themselves where they'd fit best.

Using that handy notebook, create lists of personality quirks, actions which are unique, and physical descriptions. When you're ready to begin writing, you've got enough information to cobble together a distinctive character that readers will remember.

The same method works with dialogue. I keep a running list of phrases and words I overhear that are interesting. I never know when I'll need something to spice up a character's conversation, and it certainly gives it a more realistic flavor. (And yes, I've met a few folks who speak much as Caro and Gregory do—and I've filled pages with examples.) The trick is to keep your eyes and ears open: You never know when you'll "meet" your next character!

Note: If you don't have a "fancy" journal and would like to have one, you can create it yourself. The internet is full of great sites that will guide you through the process. Whatever type of journal you prefer, use it! In no time at all you will have discovered that "voice" that is yours alone. And that, dear reader, is what the world needs more of.

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Dane McCaslin, author of the new Proverbial Crime mystery series, resides in the state of Arizona with her very patient husband. She has been writing all of her life: poetry, short stories, journals, letters (yes, those old-fashioned epistles that require pen and paper), and now she brings her talents to the cozy mystery genre.

In addition to being an author, Dane McCaslin is an educator. She currently teaches advanced language arts classes for grade 11; additionally, she teaches beginning writing classes at the local university. Being an educator is an important part of her life, and passing on her passion for reading and writing is one of her great joys.

To learn more about Dane McCaslin, visit her online at:
http://www.danemccaslin.co

* * * * *

Proverbial Crime Mysteries
:

A Bird in the Hand

Other works:

Murder at the Miramar

Becklaw's Murder Mystery Tour

Legend

* * * * *

If you enjoyed this Proverbial Crime Mystery, check out this sneak peek of another funny, romantic mystery from
Gemma Halliday Publishing
:

CHICKEN SOUP & HOMICIDE

by

JANEL GRADOWSKI

CHAPTER ONE

"Are you ready to rumble?" Chef Jake Sawyer asked the question in a booming sports-announcer voice. The Chicken Soup Showdown would begin in a few hours, and Amy was ready. Or at least she kept telling herself she was ready in a fake it until you make it kind of way as she walked around the civic arena and tried to enjoy the Eat Local Expo. Chef Jake pointed the faux microphone, a wooden spoon, toward her. "Who's going to take down the egomaniac, Chef Britton?"

Amy smiled at the pro wrestling-style commentary. Chef Jake had delivered the questions with a smile and a wink, but there was a sharp edge to his description of their rival. The afternoon could get very interesting. What she had thought would be a friendly charity competition might not be so friendly after all. She had no idea what an amped-up wrestler sounded like, so she just answered in a normal tone of voice. "I have no idea who will win. I think we're all pretty evenly matched teams."

"Very diplomatic. I think you are a nicer person than I am." He swept his arm over the array of food samples on the table between them. "Would you like to try something?"

"I would love to." She studied the display for Nibbles & Noshes restaurant, Jake's foodie business baby. On the white linen tablecloth, small cups of walleye ceviche were lined up beside glistening cubes of braised beef short rib on tiny plates. She selected the fish, flecked with bits of purple onion and green jalapeños. The ceviche was perfectly tangy and spicy. She held up the empty cup in a toast. "Mmm…I could make a meal of this. I'm sure you've been busy keeping up with the demand for samples. Are you ready for the showdown, especially the talking-to-the-crowd part?"

He nodded and flashed another toothpaste commercial-worthy smile. His dark hair was twisted into a small knot on the back of his head. He had a full, closely trimmed beard and sapphire blue eyes that glittered in the harsh arena lighting. In short, he was so hot he could melt a stick of butter by looking at it, despite having dark moons under his eyes. Prepping for the Eat Local Expo must've been exhausting. He rolled his eyes and said, "I'm going to pretend it's just another dinner shift. I figure if I focus on one person, like I'm talking just to them, I won't get stage fright and freeze up. Are you ready to cook a meal in the spotlights?"

She had been trying to forget about the fact that they were going to be cooking in the theater at one end of the civic arena. It had 500 seats. Considering the event had sold out weeks earlier, whenever she thought about it, the nervous butterflies in her stomach turned into giant bats. So she and her best friend, Carla, were wandering around the expo, munching on food samples while Amy tried to distract herself from worrying. Hopefully her stomach would stop grumbling and settle down soon so she could concentrate on making soup and a salad for the competition. "I'm ready, but the audience-participation thing is freaking me out too. We're really supposed to try to get the audience wound up like they're at a game show? I'm not used to being a cheerleader while I cook. Rah, rah…I'm putting chopped celery in the pot."

He nodded as he chuckled and handed her a short rib sample. "I've cooked in worse situations. As long as Britton doesn't win, I don't care what happens. His partner from the herb farm seems really nice, but he's going down. "

"Do you think so?"

"Hell yes. Believe me, there will be nothing better than watching Britton get taken out by one of the underlings he tortured."

Tortured underlings? Chef Jake had animosity to spare. Sophie, the owner of Riverbend Coffee, was Amy's partner in the Chicken Soup Showdown. Before opening the coffee shop, Sophie had been the pastry chef at Cornerstone, the high-end restaurant owned by Chef Britton, the target who was in Jake's crosshairs. As Amy and Sophie worked on their menu for the showdown, Sophie told her about the acidic, local celebrity chef. Life behind the Cornerstone kitchen doors, ruled by the vindictive dictator, sounded about as fun as getting a root canal every day. According to the chef bio on the showdown's web page, Jake was a former sous chef at the restaurant. He must've had run-ins with the combative chef, too.

"We'll see soon enough." Amy deposited her empty glass and plate into the dirty dishes bin at the end of the table. "Good luck!"

She looked around and located Carla at a nearby table loaded with bouquets made of fruit. The shop talk about cooking, a chore that her friend tried to avoid as much as possible, probably drove her away from the Nibbles & Noshes booth. Amy nudged Carla's shoulder, then plucked a skewer of grapes and pineapple chunks from a grass-green vase. "I'm done talking shop. Ready to move on."

Carla grabbed a business card from the vendor. "These are really good. I needed a bit of fruit to counteract all of the sugar, bacon, and cheese I've eaten so far."

The Eat Local Expo certainly wasn't a health-food extravaganza. Braised pork belly, ultimate grilled cheese sandwiches, and dark chocolate tortes were more prevalent than fruit kebabs on the sample tables. Restaurants, bakeries, and food producers from three counties around Kellerton, Michigan, were offering little bites of their most decadent treats. Exercise-fanatic Carla did indulge in decadent food, but she was probably calculating how many extra laps she'd need to make at the health club's pool to burn off the calories.

Amy and Carla walked in silence for a bit, checking out samples and getting a nice dose of vitamin C courtesy of the fruit. Amy was grateful for the company. If she had been alone, she'd be wandering around wringing her hands and going a bit insane waiting for the showdown to begin. Or hanging out in the Riverbend Coffee booth bugging her partner and drinking all of the espresso samples. Not a smart thing to do unless she wanted to look like an infomercial for the side effects of consuming too much caffeine during the showdown. Even though Carla couldn't stay for the actual competition, she had rearranged her day to come to the expo and play mental health anchor.

"These sound good." Amy stopped in front of a table. What looked like balls of dirt nestled in fancy foil wrappers were lined up in front of a chalkboard that said they were Pecan Pie Energy Balls. She popped one in her mouth and chewed tentatively, hoping the vegan snack wouldn't taste like potting soil. As advertised, the treat was sweet and chewy. She grabbed another sample and handed it to Carla. "They do taste like pecan pie. They're supposed to give you energy. You should buy a case of them. They have to be healthier than the gallons of coffee you drink at work to keep your energy up."

Carla sniffed the snack then took a bite. She nodded. "These
are
really good, but I can't believe you're criticizing my coffee consumption. I've seen the stash of coffee beans in your pantry."