by Jackie King
Long
before I wrote my latest mystery, THE CORPSE WHO WALKED IN THE DOOR, I had one scene pop into my head. The vividness of this scene, along with a number of what if questions, started my inn-keeper
series and birthed my character, Grace Cassidy.
I
was vacationing at a Bed and Breakfast in Northern California, and the mansion
had been built by a sea captain in 1870. My hostess was a professional
inn-sitter who said that she loved her job, loved traveling from place to
place, and loved working when she wanted. This woman, a Mrs. Smith, was booked
for two years in advance.
These
were a few of the questions:
What if I were stranded
in a strange town with no friends, no money, and no job skills? Oh, and let’s
throw in a corpse—a naked one—in my bed. Could I survive using my own determination, brains, and
moxie? These are the problems that started me writing my first Grace Cassidy story,
THE INCONVENIENT CORPSE, published in 2009. I felt impelled to write this novel
to find the answers. Then, just for fun, I added an older teenager and a
cat. I always have to have a pet and a kid in any story.
 |
| First Grace Cassidy Mystery |
Grace learns that she is made of a
tougher fiber than she had thought. With the help of her zany new friends, she successfully
earns her living as an inn sitter. Previously she chaired committees in social
circles, now she bakes, cleans, and entertains paying guests.
 |
| me at work, wearing my writing uniform |
THE
CORPSE WHO WALKED IN THE DOOR begins with Grace thinking that her life is almost
back in order. She’s worried that her 19-year-old son, Brand, is getting too
involved with the ditzy housemaid, Sandy Walker. Scary thoughts of becoming a
grandma too soon, plague her. But still, life is good.
Grace
is rebuilding her life and learning about the woman she really is, not the
cardboard caricature of her former self. No wonder she bored her husband
Charlie. She always did everything he expected. But that was in the past. Now she’s
surprising and delighting herself with this new persona. Being a woman is a lot
more interesting than being a perfect-lady, she decides.
Then
life interferes with her well-laid plans.
The
identical twin brother of her boss-from-hell, Wilbur Wimberly shows up at the
family reunion. This black sheep, thought to be long dead, stirs up memories of
deeply buried family secrets. Dangerous secrets. The Wimberly clan are snapping
at each other’s throats, and then Grace’s cat Trouble finds a dead body in a
bathroom. To make things worse her son is first accused of attempted murder and
then of rape.
Once
again, life unravels. Grace has a murder to solve and her son to defend.
I'd love to hear from readers!
Hugs,
Jackie
5 comments:
Jackie, your posts reflect the quality of your novels: clear, crisp, and enjoyable. Kudos to you.
Grace is such a dear character. You've done a great job creating her. She's spirited and kind and just the type of woman who would be super at managing a B&B. I like her son, too! Sweet boy.
Grace is such a dear character. You've done a great job creating her. She's spirited and kind and just the type of woman who would be super at managing a B&B. I like her son, too! Sweet boy.
Thanks, Bill. I appreciate the comment.
Debby, Your words mean a lot to me. I know that you always tell the absolute truth about writing.
Years ago, when I took a writing course from you, I learned that and so much more. I took in a chapter for review that I was so pleased with, read it aloud and sat back, waiting for your praise.
"All right," you said. "Now let me tell you how to fix this." And you did! Many thanks.
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