Does anybody remember that old song, Enjoy Yourself, It’s Later Than You Think? Well, we had all better enjoy this day because it’s the last day of summer and it is truly later than I can realize. As summer passes, I wonder what is the heritage of this season? What will I remember and look back on to mark this as special? What will you remember about this summer?
For all of us, these last few months before November are important because they mark a critical election and a moment of deciding the future for our country. For me, I’ll remember being able to spend more time with my grandchildren, welcoming a new member of the critique group and saying good-bye to another, the ending of Fran’s luncheons and the hope that she enjoys her new home, a neighbor moving out from across the street and another moving in, endings and beginnings.
This summer of 2016 marked the launch of my newest book, Grave Heritage. Presenting a new cozy mystery to the world is an exciting time. It is the end of months of putting onto paper the mysterious happenings surrounding two women amateur sleuths, Darcy Campbell and her mother, Flora Tucker. The title for this book came about because of Flora’s thoughtful comment that Darcy’s heritage was, at best, a grave one. Flora usually looked on the bright side of life with common sense and an upbeat attitude, but revelations about her ancestry caused Flora to question what she was passing on to Darcy.
As I finished writing Grave Heritage, I experienced a moment of sadness. I didn’t want to leave Darcy and Flora. I wanted to stay at their new house in Ventris County for a while. The only solution was to begin another book–right away! This is why there are three previous Darcy and Flora cozies: The Cemetery Club, Grave Shift, Best Left Buried. As I ended one, I quickly began another.
Life is a book of beginnings and endings. Seasons change; we pass from one moment to the next. Each of us has a heritage and each of us will pass on a heritage.
As others look back at us, I wonder what they will see?
For me, this summer included an opportunity to visit with family far away that i only see every few years! I enjoyed the time we had together with you and Richard and Linda and the help you provided!
And we enjoyed the time spent with Tracy, you, and Steven. Not the best of circumstances, but the love and caring are always there.