The Mighty Pen
This month I'd like to tell you a story about The Mighty Pen.
A couple of weeks ago my friend Evy Robinson from Iowa came across a fountain pen set that belonged to her mother-in-law and thought it might help inspire my writing. It arrived in all its beauty complete with a sticker on the back listing Parker Pen and all the patents for it. The pen holder is an inlaid fish that reminds me of words flowing.
The arrival of the old pen brought back memories of how creating the word on the page has changed for me over the years from fountain pen to typewriter to computer. I remember sitting in a chair in the living room with a legal pad writing stories long-hand. Once written, I’d type them up on a cranky old manual typewriter. I moved from the Stone Age into modern times when we finally got an electric typewriter. It, too, was cranky, shedding keys at random. It spent a lot of time in the shop. After that, it was an Epson QX-10 computer complete with floppy disks that failed if there was too much static electricity in the room. I now have a slick laptop with a keyboard that has a shaky “m” key but otherwise works better than the old QX-10.
Liza the main character in my newest novel, The Death of Goldie’s Mistress was originally born of the legal pad and manual typewriter. In earlier versions she had no computer—probably because her author didn’t have one. Now, my modern-day Liza owns a laptop and a smartphone. She has become far more competent with technology than I will ever be.
All the keyboards, word processing and even AI can’t compare to the feel of ink from a great fountain pen on quality paper. No, I don’t want to go back to those ink-stained days or the days of pounding on a manual typewriter, but I do miss the connection between the hand and the words flowing from it. Thank you Evy. The pen set has a prominent place on my computer desk.
The Death of Goldie’s Mistress is Here!
The official publication date is March 11, 2024. You will have the opportunity to meet Liza Johnson, her persistent neighbor Mrs. Wilkens and Charlee, who might be a real ghost or might be just a voice in Liza’s head. They are about to find out what happened to Ramona.
This is what Lori Robbins, award winning author of the EnPointe Mysteries has to say about the book:
“Prompted by her irrepressible 84-year-old neighbor, Liza agrees to investigate the death of a former student. Haunted by her own childhood trauma, Liza finds help and inspiration in Charlee, the voice of her dead sister, who appears intermittently to guide her pursuit of a killer. Rounding out Liza’s unlikely band of co-conspirators is Goldie, a cat whose personality is rendered in comedic detail. . . With an abundance of red herrings, a host of well-placed clues, and a satisfying conclusion, The Death of Goldie’s Mistress is a must-read for mystery fans.”
The Death of Goldie’s Mistress:
Liza Johnson, at loose ends on summer break from teaching fifth grade, is drawn into intrigue when her 84-year-old neighbor, Mrs. Wilkens, insists that Ramona, Liza’s former GED student, has been murdered. Everyone assumes Ramona, a recovering addict, died of an accidental or intentional overdose, but Mrs. Wilkens is out to prove them wrong. Liza is urged to act when the voice in her head of her twin sister Charlee, who died at age four, tells her, Help Mrs. Wilkens. Spurred by the irrepressible Mrs. Wilkens and Charlee, Liza finds herself embroiled in an investigation involving a failing church, a very ill pastor’s wife, and a secret within the walls of the parish house. Adding to the intrigue, she becomes the begrudging caretaker of Goldie, Ramona’s cat—the only witness to her death.
Read More about How Elizabeth Catherine became Liza
(and acquired an elderly neighbor,
a cat and a voice in her head.)
Thankyou Susan Van Kirk for featuring me on your blog!
Seattle Shakedown
I will be on a panel with amazing writers at the Left Coast Crime Conference, Seattle Shakedown, April 11-14 in Bellevue, Washington. If you are into crime and mysteries, this is a great way to meet your favorite authors
For Fans of the Cabin by the Lake Mysteries Death of a Dream Catcher Is Coming in May!
It’s summer on Lake Larissa, but the season is marred by a drought and persistent forest fires. As Jamie decides to take the next step with the love of her life, Jim Monroe, she discovers that he had an older brother who disappeared twenty years ago. Once again, she is thrust into Northwoods intrigue.
A Note About Reviews
Your reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes and Noble, and other sites are a gift to me. Thank you.
Best,
Linda