This is one of the pictures I’m thinking about using for the cover of THE SNEAKY FREAKY. There are lots of poses to choose from so I may be putting others out there. Hope my readers can help me choose. Also, much of the story takes place in Sneads Ferry so I’m wondering if I should use a background shot of shrimp boats or a neat Sneads Ferry landmark or go back to Barnacle Bills or the old swing bridge, or an ocean shot- so many decisions to make. I really do appreciate any suggestions-love to please my readers. Thank you to those who have been reading my books! I know sometimes I do not get back to you through the blog page, facebook responses are better. Thanks again. Carol

This latest series, The Blue House Series, is nearly another book longer. THE SNEAKY FREAKY, is being wound up and I’m nearing the end of this 2nd in the series novel. This book takes place mostly in Sneads Ferry, but everybody knows that Topsail and the Ferry are kind of like kinfolk. The first book in the series, TOPSAIL ISLAND TANGO,  is out and available on Amazon. A few other stores on the island carry Tango, but it seems they are going faster than I can deliver them. Still I’m expecting deliveries soon.

I’m really enjoying working on the Sneaky Freaky, I like the characters and am getting such a blast talking to people from the 1960s era.  I thought I’d give you a little glimpse into what is going on.

EXCERPT:

She heard Pittikitie purring as he rubbed against the chair. Its one eye glaring with the flames and the other dull and milky. “You’re ugly as hell. You do look like a devil cat.”

Pittikitie mewed softly and jumped to Naomi’s lap. He lay curled there, purring, his warm body in competition to the fire. Naomi’s hand slid softly against the cat’s fur. “Sorry boy, I don’t mean anything by that. You can’t help being ugly no more than Roy can help that I don’t love him anymore.”

The words startled her.

Our old bridge brings back memories to lots of folks. It reminds those of us who have enjoyed Topsail Island for generations of a different time-a less hectic one for sure. My latest book TOPSAIL ISLAND TANGO, is set during that time, the 1960s, when despite all the chaos going on in the world at that time, Topsail existed in a kind of bubble, safe from all  the hatred filled vitriol of that day. Here’s a little excerpt from the book:

 It had been two weeks since the wedding, just long enough for Mim to say goodbye to her friends and family. And though it seemed like a dream, they were packing, getting ready to leave for Detroit. What at first had seemed exciting was now scary, and the eighteen-year-old felt unsure about the decisions she had made in the last few months. She wanted to wake up from this dream, to be a girl once again, to walk on the beach with her dog and run up and down the sand dunes. Most of all she wanted her father to wrap his arms around her and make everything right again. Oh, how she missed him, and wished he was there to guide her and make things right again.

I’m sure this was 1967 when short shorts were the thing and daughters loved their daddy’s. I sure loved mine. All kinds of things were happening then, riots, the Vietnam War, bra burning, assassinations-lots of hate going around then. But I think that here on the island, we lived in a protective bubble away from all the harshness that was happening in the 60s. Our lives were much simpler. 

In the first book in the Blue House Series, Topsail Island Tango, I try to bring back those days, but try as I might I I realized that perhaps things were not as simple on the island as I thought. 

Here is an excerpt from TOPSAIL ISLAND TANGO:

Pop’s was the place where you went to get a hot dog and Pepsi. There were dances on the weekends, mostly square dances, but it was fun and offered live music. Whole families went there to enjoy a night out with friends.

In the summertime Pop paid a few dollars to one of the local boys to work as lifeguard and to keep watch on the flood of swimmers that came from small neighboring farming towns like Clinton and Chinquapin, Burgaw and Wilson.

Marines and Sailors from nearby Camp Lejeune came to enjoy the beach, too. They were toned and curious young men, far away from their homes.

At Pop’s you could rent an umbrella to stick in the sand and shade yourself from the sun. You could rent inner tubes or rafts, beach toys, buckets and shovels for the kids, along with suntan oils and lotions, hats, beach towels, flip flops and all sorts of beach paraphernalia.

Downstairs there were even showers for the visitors. Pop’s had everything. The Mermaid Bar, just over the county line, had beer.

Geez, didn’t we look like a couple of ragamuffins back then. This is around 1957 or ’58. The little camera my older sister is holding is a Brownie. She took care of it and used it for years and years. She may still have it.

The building we are standing in front of was our home. It was originally an old WWII barracks  that Daddy made into apartments. I remember riding my tricycle down the long hall before the apartments were completed. Oh, there are so many stories. But I digress, this post is about audio books, something that no one ever heard of way back in the dinosaur days.

I attend several markets throughout the year and so many people ask me if my books are in audio form. Many people can no longer see well enough to read, and then others prefer to listen as they drive.  Because it is so very expensive to do so, I have not pursued turning my books into audio form. However!!! A friend of mine found a program that is much less expensive and so I’m going to give it a shot–see if I can finally get some of my books made into audio books. Wish me luck, please.  God bless you all and please stay safe and healthy.

This has been one crazy summer-the crowds, the heat, the rain, the crowds, traffic backups, covid. Did I mention the crowds? But this, this sight-this beautiful, peaceful morning sight erases so much blah, blah, BS. When I see this I am in the mood to be nicer, to try harder and to relax into things I love the most. So it’s off to another book, another story. It’s forming in my head and I’m vacillating between a couple of titles, but the time, the era is set- fixed in my head. It’s the 1960s. Wow! What a decade! Think of all the things that were happening then. What were you doing then? Were you even here? What do the history books tell you or friends tell you? ………………. And we’re off!

Amazon assures me that Tickler Chain will be here in a couple of days. I’m very excited about my new baby and hope my readers will enjoy the latest book too. I’ll be at Carolina Decor Wednesday and the South Topsail Market Thursday.  The regular shops on the island will have it soon and I’m available also on Amazon. Tickler Chain is the 7th book in the Murder by the Sea series. Here is a little excerpt:

The warmth of familiarity and knowledge of a goal, one she could reach, flooded through her body almost to ecstasy. Then in the throes of her passion, the course, consuming envelopment of fear descended upon her, it was as if someone had tossed a blanket across her entire body. The emotion gripped her stronger than she’d ever felt before. She felt lost, alone-so very alone and as if she had never existed.

Amazon says TICKLER CHAIN will be here on July 2, geez I hope they aren’t misleading me. Lately it has been taking so long to get stuff on time-seems to take forever. Anyway, the book is due here in a week or so. I’m thrilled,  my editor is thrilled, and I hope you, my readers, are too. I’ve loved writing the MURDER BY THE SEA series and it’s been hard keeping the series on the shelves of the local stores. Thank you so much! It is always so fulfilling to have return readers who follow the series.

As soon as the shipment comes in,  I will post it on my page. Thanks again for reading. Carol

Tickler Chain is at the editors and I’m busy selecting a proper photo for the cover. This is a maybe.This is another maybe. There is just so many to choose from. The chain you see in the nets is the tickler chain. It bumps along the sandy bottom and encourages the shrimp to jump into the net. Anyone have any preferences? Would love to hear from you.

The book is finished-TICKLER CHAIN is complete (except for a final re-write and editing). What comes next? Polishing the image in my head that will be the cover, is what comes next. But I’ve been chewing on that for several months already. What do y’all think of this picture? I like the foot, but is there enough  color? Should I have a net with a tickler chain attached-maybe a few hermit crabs crawling around? Of course the net has to be just so, and do the toes have the right color of polish on them? Is the foot girly enough? Should the shells and foot be in the water? Should there only be shells and a net? Remember, this is a murder story and so the cover cannot be bright and sunny, it has to be a bit on the ominous side. Decisions, decisions- pulling my hair out! Imagine going through this as I write–every paragraph, every page, every chapter is scrutinized by my never satisfied writer’s eye.

This is what is going on in my head now. Think of how tedious it will be to actually find a net, with a chain, near the water-at the right time of day and have just the right shells in the sand. On top of that, I have to be satisfied with the foot-and the polish, etc., etc., etc.

Now I know why a dog goes round and round before finally settling down in his comfortable spot. It has to be just right. I’ve started doing that too.