Life is What Happens

Life is What Happens

Hello Friends,

Welcome to all the new readers of this newsletter. In my last Over a Cup of Coffee, I wrote about the sudden change in my life when my husband (and wonderful first editor) suffered a brain bleed. The good news is that Jerome is doing well and hopefully will be back soon to showing me where the commas go.

I’m optimistic that 2023 won’t be another year of exploring the health care system. It’s never a good sign when you have a 911 emergency and the paramedic walks in the door, looks at you and says, “You’re Linda, aren’t you? I was here last time.” 

Next Up

Death of a Fox the fourth Cabin by the Lake mystery is with my editor Shawn Reilly Simmons at Level Best Books. It’s on schedule to be released in May 2023. In it, we find Jamie entangled in a mystery involving an abandoned TB Sanatorium set in the Northwoods of Minnesota. Does a ghost roam the crumbling halls of the building? What secrets does the old hospital keep? If only the walls could talk.

In researching the book, I found that a number of actual sanatoriums existed in rural Minnesota. Since standard treatment involved exposure to fresh air and sunshine, the country setting was a perfect fit. Some were public hospitals and others were private facilities built for people who could afford the care. Despite the fresh air, many young and old died until effective antibiotic treatment was instituted after World War II. In the fifties and early sixties long-term hospitalization for TB waned and the sanatoriums closed.

In our own family grandmother Mary Norlander lost two children to TB. We have a treasure trove of letters her twelve-year-old daughter Mabel wrote to Mary in 1906. Mable was hospitalized for treatment in St. Paul, Minnesota many miles away from the family farm. The letters are filled with the sweetness and hope of a young girl. “Oh Mama, will it not be fun, though, when I can write and tell you when I can come home. And Mama dear, I pray to God that will be soon!” Mable died two years later at the age of fourteen, but her letters live on, a priceless gift to our family.

On Editing

Most writers will tell you their manuscripts go through many versions, many edits and many changes before they reach the printed page. Even then, mistakes happen. Years ago, I attended a writing workshop where a newly published mystery author told us about the importance of going through the galleys (the final stage before the book goes to press.) She had a scene where the main character was at the window, looking through the blinds. The sentence was supposed to read, “Theresa stood peeking through the blinds.” Instead, the typesetter had accidentally dropped the “k” in peeking. Fortunately, the author caught it before the book went to press and saved Theresa from significant embarrassment.

In my own mysteries, Jamie Forest does freelance editing and claims to know where the commas go. I’m not as confident as my protagonist. I rely heavily on my editors and sometimes drive them crazy with my erratic comma behavior. 

From the Family Archives

This must have been my first book tour with my brother Jerry providing encouragement. I wonder if anyone showed up?

Reviews Mean a Lot

If you have read and enjoyed any of my Cabin by the Lake mysteries, please consider writing a review for Amazon, Goodreads or other media. The more reviews, the more exposure. The more exposure the more likely Jamie Forest will have other murders to solve.

If only Munchkin could have written a review—oh well. (Photo courtesy of Gabriel Valjan and his famous cat.)

Until next time, 

Linda

Have a wonderful 2023!