At the Printing Press

Where… Wait, did I just see Hugh?

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I’d heard that April Hayman had been looking for her hero, Hugh; that somehow or other, he had disappeared from the pages of her book, The Pilot Falls, and that she couldn’t find him. Of course, I’d heard that, but I never expected to do more than hear about it.

It’s been a really wet summer. I know that I live in the desert and that most people don’t associate desert and wet, but it really has been! As in there are days that the roads are flooded, the ditches and retention areas are lakes, and goodness, there is more green around here than usual. Last year, for instance, the sun had scorched about everything in sight by the end of June, I think. Anything the sun left, wilted from lack of rain. Not this year, though.

I don’t tend to carry umbrellas, for the mere fact that there is no where convenient to put a wet umbrella when you go indoors to shop and people don’t always want a dripping mess in their entry way. Also, my umbrella does not have a hooked handle – if I had a classic umbrella with a hooked handle, things might be different. As it is, instead of an umbrella, I tend to make a dash from car to door, and hope for the best. (Usually using myself to shield any books I may have in my grasp.)  

On this particular wet day, while driving in my car, I had to stop partway to my destination, because I was sure I had a flat. Avoiding the puddle of water that nearly resembled a ditch, I parked just ahead on the side of the road to do some investigation, but due to the downpour, I rather ran to the passenger side of the car in a rush.

No flat, but I bent down, hoping I wouldn’t get too wet, to double check what looked like a screw in one of the tires. As I stood, I nearly jumped out of my skin. Standing in that puddle that I’d avoided, where literally no one had been a moment before, (not that I saw – but I was running) stood a man. A tall man.

Actually, I think tall may be an understatement, but perhaps I was just that startled. He immediately reminded me of Goliath of Gath, his light hair plastered against his forehead with the rain. He watched me, looking rather confused or surprised – I certainly couldn’t tell which one.

The rain started to drench my hat, and I glanced toward the driver side of my car.

“Where are you from?”

I jumped. His voice certainly matched giant stature. “I’m sorry?”

He shook his head, gesturing toward me. Or, more specifically, my dress. “What time are you from?”

“Time?” I know I stared. It may be rude to stare at a stranger, but I couldn’t help it. “I’m sorry. I have no idea what you’re talking about.” I took a step back toward my car, starting to shiver.

“It doesn’t matter.”

A crash of thunder made me jump and look up. When I looked back toward my confusing giant, he’d disappeared. Where he went is beyond me.

The rain started down faster with another crash of thunder, and I took the opportunity to bolt for my car. As I started to fasten my seatbelt, I looked down at my dress again, now mostly drenched by the rain. It’s my 1920’s dress. April’s missing Hugh is from… the 1920’s. And he… Did I really just talk to the man and utterly not realize it until it’s too late? I grabbed my phone. I better message April and let her know.

I haven’t seen him since, but maybe someone else has. Denise, perhaps? You could go check with her.

I Won’t, Didn’t, Haven’t Spilled…

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The beans, that is. After all, I was too distracted to even respond properly to my interrogator, much less say something I wasn’t supposed to. The first sentence I even understood him to say, just made me blink!

“Did you hear me, darlin’?”

The elderly gentleman who frequents one of my favorite coffee shops and has “Veteran” stamped all over him, smiled after his question. I just caught the smile when I looked up at him from the map I had been studying.

“I… I don’t think so, sir.”

With another grin, he took the seat opposite me. “I saw your Lost Dutchman’s Secret mystery is coming out soon.”

I nodded. “Yes, sir. In November, LORD willing.”

“I mean, I don’t read a lot of fiction, but my wife read the first one in the series – something by a Havig? Last month.”

“Chautona Havig.” I said it softly, but his hearing is still keen. I caught sight of a woman reading a book across the room. I could just see the gold letters emblazoning Sarah Sundin as the author. I pulled my thoughts back to the conversation in front of me.

“Right! And my wife, she wants the next one in the series by Marji Laine. The one coming out this week – what’s it called?”

“A Giant Murder.”

“Right! The Jack and the Beanstalk mystery. My wife is so excited about this series.” He leaned forward against the table. “I hear tell a rumor though, that your publisher has something else going on behind the scenes?”

I blinked again, trying not to think of Agatha Christie or even Perry Mason. I didn’t want to accidentally voice what I was thinking – he might think it had something to do with the rumor he wanted confirmed.

“My wife wanted me to ask you about what they have going on.”

“I’m afraid I don’t have anything to tell you.” This time, I started thinking of the time Mr. Holmes solved the case of the red-headed league. I banished the thought.

“Come on, darlin…” He calls everyone darlin’. “Just something for my wife?”

“I’m sorry.” I pushed my copy of Lord Peter Whimsey’s first mystery back into my bag, beside Alice in Wonderland and my vintage copy of Pinocchio. I looked back at him and smiled. “I don’t have anything.”

He shook his head with another grin. “Well, I can say I tried. I told her you’d keep it to yourself though. You have fun with that new story you’re plannin’ out, darlin.”

I blinked once again. “I didn’t say I was planning a new story.”

The man laughed this time, nodding at my map as he stood. “You didn’t have to. Enjoy your day.” With a tip of his hat, he walked off.

And as you can see, I won’t, didn’t, and certainly haven’t spilled the beans. You can go see if Sandy did, if you like. I promise I have done no such thing. (And while you’re at it, sign up for the GIVEAWAY, since Marji’s book really IS live this week, and we like to celebrate by giving things away!)

May I Present: Café Chocolaté!

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When Charles Dickens wrote Nicholas Nickleby and Martin Chuzzlewit, he published them as serial novels in the newspaper. He did this with other stories as well, and people looked forward to the monthly installment with anticipation. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle released the famous Sherlock Holmes stories in a similar fashion in the Strand.

The idea of a serial story always fascinated me. I don’t know why, but I always wanted to try my hand at it. Possibly, because two of my favorite authors had done so. There aren’t any newspapers around to publish in, but my blog would do as well. Still, though I toyed with the idea over the years, I never brought it into reality. Until now.

Today, I am excited to announce that my new blog serial Café Chocolaté is, LORD willing, set to release its first installment on Friday, February 7th! Each installment is planned to be one chapter long. Unlike Mr. Dickens, I plan to put up a new one every week, instead of once a month. So, mark your Fridays!

It’s an ordinary Tuesday morning. The regulars are settling in with their coffees and their laptops, when an explosion rips through the air. No one can see what happened nor can they get out of the café. Stranded and perplexed, the people need answers. What caused the explosion? Where are the police? Why isn’t the man in the corner moving? And when will that woman stop screaming?

I’m really enjoying this story. I’m getting to know new characters and having so much fun with older, already established characters. Like I said in my writing update, if you’ve read Grandmother’s Letters you’ll get to see a couple of old friends in Café Chocolaté! If you haven’t, I think you’ll like them anyway. At least, I hope that you will!

In the meantime, isn’t my cover lovely? Perry Kirkpatrick makes such beautiful ones – someday, I hope I learn enough from her to do as well as she does.

Now, I really must get back to work. I’ve got another chapter to type up, another to write, and Patrick Quill is calling my name…

To the KING be all the glory!

Announcing…

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I’m excited to announce a collection of Christmas novellas coming to a Kindle near you! LORD willing, coming in November, it will only be available for a short time! If you want to add it to your Goodreads profile, here is the link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48056260-a-very-bookish-christmas

The collection includes four novellas by four authors:

Molly and Anna by Sarah Holman
Gingerbread Treasures by Rebekah Jones
Sylvie of Amber Apartments by J. Grace Pennington
Love, Jem by Kate Willis

Each story is loosely based on a classic story, with a main character who loves that same story. My story is, obviously, Gingerbread Treasures.

“It all started five years ago with the gingerbread men…”

Oliver Breckenridge is fascinated by the email he receives from the niece of an old friend. Emily Willis, whose father disappeared six years prior, writes that four gingerbread men, annually delivered at Christmastime, have disappeared from her house–along with her dog. Intrigued by the curious case, Oliver flies across the pond to the States to investigate.

A last minute arrangement allows him to stay with young Alex Lewis, who also acts as his chauffeur and assistant as Oliver begins his enquiries. While meeting Emily in person increases his resolve to solve the case, it isn’t long before his interest in the mystery suddenly plummets. An unreliable colleague from his past is entangled with the case, casting doubt over the tale of the missing gingerbread men and the treasure they supposedly lead to.

At Alex’s pleading, he agrees to stay to help locate Emily’s missing dog, but the further they delve into the search, the more they are drawn back to the gingerbread men and their treasure.

This Christmas mystery was inspired by the Sherlock Holmes case, The Sign of the Four.

I’m so excited about this project! Watch out for A Very Bookish Christmas in November! It’s going to be so much fun!

To the KING be all the glory!

Shadow Sister – A Review

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Shadow Sister by Katherine Scott Jones
Released August 28th, 2018

Working on her father’s vineyard allows Sarah Lanning to bury memories of a lost love and a career that might have been. But then her fractured family receives word that her estranged sister, Jenna, is dead, leaving behind an unexpected request: that Sarah travel to Bolivia to scatter her ashes.

Accompanied by pilot Chase Maddox, Sarah embarks on an Andean journey that tests her devotion to home and exposes Jenna’s secret life. Each staggering discovery creates new mysteries—until the last, which leaves Sarah questioning everything she understood about family loyalty. At a crossroads, she must decide whether truth is worth the cost of forgiveness—and whether she can lay claim to a future of happiness without it.

Bittersweet and bold, Shadow Sister explores the mysteries of the human heart and the bond of unquenchable love.

My Review

Something niggled at the back of my mind after reading this book. The story, despite my struggles with the present tense author voice, did prove to stay interesting enough to keep my attention. The clues to Jenna’s secret did feel a bit put off and contrived, but only a very little. I rather liked Sarah, and the variety of nationalities and personalities among the characters themselves showed through quite well most of the time. While the descriptions felt a little too descriptive for my taste, I consider that preference, and I really was able to picture the vineyards, the slopes, and the Bolivian village with great clarity, thanks to the colorful manner used by the author.

After consideration though, I finally hit upon what bothered me the most about Shadow Sister. For claiming to have a Christian undercurrent – for the majority of the main characters having claimed Christ and mentioning Jesus on multiple occasions, – this book did not have an undercurrent of Christian worldview. One of the characters is touted as almost a saint by the words of several characters, but almost none of her actions are ones that stem directly from a Biblical framework. The book claimed to be centered in an area where women are regarded as property and are presumably ill-used by their husbands, but with one single exception, the “mistreatment” is never shown. Instead, the life of a wife and mother is downplayed, and the need for an education, the ability to hold down a job, and be able to “stand up to” one’s husband are the main things that are pushed for this Bolivian community. While, I won’t ever say one shouldn’t be able to read – it’s a grand thing and reading the Bible should be one of the chief pleasures for an able Christian – none of these things are pushed in the Bible. It’s not a requisite, while honoring one’s husband is, and the tone of the book pushed education above that Biblical mandate.

The ghost of Sarah’s sister passing around in two houses after death also threw me off. No where, do I see a Biblical framework for such a thing, though the book tried to make it link in with the story of Lazarus.

Perhaps my greatest issue with the book though is how the author dealt with the sin of marital infidelity. The Bible places strong emphasis on the importance of staying true to your own husband or wife. Jesus, Paul, the book of Proverbs… While one person mentions in, almost in passing, that “it was wrong” there was very little weight given to the sin. Sure, consequences are shown to an extent, but not really. It was almost excused. One of the people in question, treated with a pity that he in no way deserved. If this had been a secular book, I wouldn’t have been surprised and would have rated the book higher – I wouldn’t have expected a stronger moral compass. However, the claims of Christianity, led me to disappointment and sorrow at the way in which adultery and even fornication were handled. Why the characters fell into this sin doesn’t matter, they did it, and it should be shown as the sin that it is, if it is to be included in the story.

Also, the lying behavior of another character in another topic altogether was excused on account of fear. While I can agree that fear will lead to sin, it does not excuse it. Lying, even by omission, is bearing a false witness and is, therefore, a sin. Exodus 20:16. It should not be justified. Forgiven? Yes. Grace extended? Yes. Absolutely. I agree with the forgiveness shown, but the reasons behind a sin do not mitigate the sin. The lies allowed by this character caused deep wounds in those nearest them, which were shown very well. The writer handled betrayal and rejection well, I thought, up until the moment the reason for the sin seemed to wipe away everything else.

In conclusion, while an interesting story and even a good mystery, I could not recommend Shadow Sister.

Giveaway

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To celebrate her tour, Katherine is giving away a grand prize that includes a personalized signed print copy of the book, a Shadow Sister bookmark, a Frame-able print, Book-lover’s tea, 6 Handcrafted notecards, and a set of vineyard-themed playing cards!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click link below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/d25f/shadow-sister-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, September 4

Carpe Diem, September 4

Reflections From My Bookshelves, September 5

The Power of Words, September 5

Among the Reads, September 5

Fiction Aficionado, September 6

The Becca Files, September 6

RebekahsQuill, September 7

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, September 7

Bigreadersite, September 7

Just the Write Escape, September 8

Jennifer Sienes: Where Crisis and Christ Collide, September 8

Bibliophile Reviews, September 9

Living Life Free in Christ, September 9

Inspirationally Ever After, September 10

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, September 10

Texas Book-aholic, September 11

Livin Lit, September 11

Janices book reviews, September 12

Remembrancy, September 12

All-of-a-kind Mom, September 13

Inklings and notions, September 13

The Midnight Bookaholic, September 14

Pause for Tales, September 14

The Mimosa Blossom, September 14

Kelly Harrel, September 15

Two Points of Interest, September 15

A Baker’s Perspective, September 16

proud to be an autism mom, September 16

Godly Book Reviews, September 17

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 17

About the Author

Katherine Scott Jones grew up in cities on every U.S. coast and overseas as her family moved with her father’s Navy career. Seattle became home when she married her husband twenty-eight years ago. After graduating Whitworth University with a degree in communications, she established herself as a freelance writer before turning her hand to fiction. She blogs about books that celebrate beauty at www.katherinescottjones.com. Katherine and her husband have two teenage children. Shadow Sister is her second novel.

To the KING be all glory!