Winter As a Character
Welcome to
Over a Cup of Coffee
Join me for a cup of coffee and the latest on my writing and life.
Winter As a Character
Growing up in Minnesota, I thought when the groundhog saw his shadow it was a good thing. It meant we only had six more weeks of winter. We lived on the flat prairie. The only place to go sledding was fifteen miles away, where you could slide down the banks of Lake Traverse onto the ice. The wind sometimes swept the dirt from the fields across the snow turning it an ugly gray color. We called it snirt.
The winter I was ten, my older brother Jerry had a Minneapolis Star newspaper route. I helped him deliver the bulky Sunday papers and he paid me a whopping fifty cents. (I think I came cheap.) I remember the day after a large snowfall when the temperatures dropped below zero. I was so bundled up, I could hardly walk and none of the sidewalks in town were shoveled. At one point, newspaper in hand, I simply fell over into the snow and wondered if I’d ever get up again.
I’ve found winter to be fascinating. The excitement of an approaching snowstorm and whiteness and calmness afterward. The cold that can be so bracing and refreshing and yet so deadly.
Because of its drama and diversity, I love to set some of my books in the winter. In both Death of a Snow Ghost and the upcoming Sheriff Red Mystery And the Lake Will Take Them, winter becomes a character driving the story. Like a classic villain, winter can be beautiful and alluring and also dangerous and deadly.
From the Archives
Me in my blue snowsuit not enjoying the cold. Maybe this is when I decided Winter needed to be a villain.
Goodreads Giveaway!
Sign up on Goodreads for a chance to win a Kindle copy of my new book, And the Lake Will Take Them. Hurry, though. The contest closes on February 23rd.
Due for Publication on March 24th and Available for Pre-order Now!
And the Lake Will Take Them
Many thanks to bestselling author LynDee Walker for her review of And the Lake Will Take Them.
“An outstanding series kick-off! Readers will love Sheriff Red and absolutely devour every layer of masterful misdirection in this twisty mystery. A satisfying read that weaves through cold cases and drug deals on the way to finding a missing girl and catching a killer.”
—LynDee Walker, author of Fear No Truth
Authors Love Reviews!
Please feel free to write a review or give a rating to any of my books. Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Goodreads. I appreciate that you took the time to do this. ☺
And a Final Note
My husband Jerome died of vascular dementia in December. I was fortunate to have him for fifty-seven years—this man of humor, intelligence, and kindness. He was known for making lists—The 100 Greatest Songs of the Rock and Roll Era and The Fifty Greatest Movies of All Time. He was a technical writer and editor who wasn’t afraid to tell me when my writing was flawed, and he always knew the right punctuation. Dementia is a mean disease, but even in the end, he had a sparkle to his eyes and a smile. Godspeed, Jerome.
Until next time, enjoy your coffee, and hug your loved ones.
—Linda