The Newbie and the Mud Flood
Hi – Newbie to the Stiletto Gang here!
Joining a busy, successful blog is a bit like stepping into
a cocktail party that’s going full blast. Bubbling conversations, inside jokes,
and shared history. What do you do? You paste a smile on your face and dive
right in!
a cocktail party that’s going full blast. Bubbling conversations, inside jokes,
and shared history. What do you do? You paste a smile on your face and dive
right in!
I’d planned to carry that analogy through this post, but Itook a left turn at abnormal this morning and waded through a ton of mud and
downed trees to make sure the beaver dam hadn’t ruptured.
Hmm, that’s a different story.
Perhaps I should back up a bit. I live in the Cascade
Mountains, up above Seattle. Before we moved to the mountains, we transferred
to Washington (well, actually we transferred to a small town in eastern
Washington) from South Carolina.
Mountains, up above Seattle. Before we moved to the mountains, we transferred
to Washington (well, actually we transferred to a small town in eastern
Washington) from South Carolina.
When people heard about our
planned move, everyone said, “I love
Seattle.”
Because clearly Seattle is the only thing in Washington,
right?
right?
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| Bookwalter Winery ~ http://innovatewashington.org/ |
We love Seattle too. But there’s the whole rest of the state. Eastern Washington is the complete opposite
to Seattle. It’s conservative, sunny and dry, and home to fabulous vineyards
and wineries. There’s access to tons of
outdoor recreation…and a dearth of restaurants.
to Seattle. It’s conservative, sunny and dry, and home to fabulous vineyards
and wineries. There’s access to tons of
outdoor recreation…and a dearth of restaurants.
As an author, I often see conversations, characters (oops, I mean interesting people I encounter), and
settings in terms of story potential. And I knew there was potential here.
settings in terms of story potential. And I knew there was potential here.
Once we settled into eastern Washington, I had to write a story set here. A story about a woman who came
home, not as a failure with nowhere else to go, but as a woman who loved her
nutty parents and put her ambitions on hold to bail out the family and their business.
Then because I write mysteries, there had to be a dead body and a puzzle for my amatuer sleuth to solve!
Besides, I could have fun with the wineries, Native American casinos…and assorted farm animals.
So – ever been to Washington? Ever had a flood tear up your
property?
property?
My latest book released last week. So About the Money romps through eastern Washington. Or as Patty Smiley, author of the Cool Cache series said, “CPA Holly Price juggles dodgy clients, flakey parents, ex-lovers and a murdered friend before she gets to the bottom line in this fast and fun read.”
When Holly Price trips over a friend’s dead body, her life takes a nosedive into a world of intrigue and danger. With an infinitely sexy cop—Holly’s pissed-off, jilted ex-fiancé—threatening to arrest her for the murder, the intrepid accountant must protect her future, her business…and her heart…by using her
investigative skills to follow the money, before the killer decides “CPA” stands for Certified Pain in the Ass…and the next dead body is Holly’s.
Visit with Cathy at her website http://cperkinswrites.com
Cathy, welcome! It's so good to have you with us. I visited Seattle this summer and learned what a beautiful state you have. Now, I'm ready to return and learn about the eastern half of Washington. Best wishes to you in your writing, your life, and you're being a member of the Stiletto Gang!
Thanks for the warm welcome Paula!
We love driving into Seattle – the drive is always gorgeous – and we always find something fun to do. Since you visited in the summer, you know how green and lush all that (in)famous rain makes the city.
Welcome, Cathy! Hope you are managing to stay dry!
Thanks Julie!
After yesterday's torrential rains, I woke up to snow this morning. It's never dull!
Welcome to The Stiletto Gang. We're delighted to have you. Skipping the fact that I've been in, above, and sort of sideways from Seattle, did you have any flood damage? Hope not.
Hi Debra
I'm envisioning that "sideways" to Seattle. Islands, mountains, boat…
Re the flood – we keep saying it could have been worse! Keeping the culverts unclogged (a glamorous job) helped with the pressure on the dam. It would have been a complete wreck if the dam gave way!
Other than that (and a whole bunch of mud), we lost two foot-bridges and the road to the river washed out. All "fixable."
Welcome from me to the Stiletto Gang! Great post. Have a grandson and family living in Washington, a couple of friends in Bellevue, and I've been to Seattle. I live in Central CA, in the foothills of the Sierra. Glad you've joined us.
Hi, Cathy, and welcome. I once lived in Vancouver, British Columbia, and often drove south to Seattle, have been up and down the Wet Coast…but never to eastern Washington. I didn't even know it is historically dry. And a mud disaster does not sound like fun. At least you've got more writing material. Write on!
Kay…in Houston for 25 years…where the natives are fascinating too!
Hi, Cathy, and welcome. I once lived in Vancouver, British Columbia, and often drove south to Seattle, have been up and down the Wet Coast…but never to eastern Washington. I didn't even know it is historically dry. And a mud disaster does not sound like fun. At least you've got more writing material. Write on!
Kay…in Houston for 25 years…where the natives are fascinating too!
Hi Kay
Vancouver is another beautiful city.
I love the Washington shoreline – the drama of the sea stacks and the creatures in the tidal pools. Ironically enough, seagulls are a nuisance in eastern Washington since they follow the Columbia River inland. I'm sure you're familiar with all manor of sea birds in Houston.
Hi Marilyn – We'll have to entice you to cross the mountains!
Then again, if you live in the foothills of the Sierra, you're probably used to "high desert" and flash floods.
Welcome, Cathy! Great to see you here. Best wishes on your new release!
Thanks y'all! Hope to see you both at Left Coast Crime!
Cathy, so glad to welcome you to this talented and supportive group of authors and our wonderful readers. Can't wait to hear more about your adventures living in the mountains, and your characters' exploits wherever they romp in eastern Washington.
Thanks for inviting me to the party, Marjorie!