A Stranger at the Gate

A Stranger at the Gate

I was so lost in thought that I was halfway up my driveway before I noticed a long, black vehicle parked in front of the wrought iron gate. Another visitor? Jackie drove a double cab gray truck and Pat’s car was a small, blue compact. I pulled alongside the shiny SUV, admiring its sleek lines. […]

Poe No Mo’

Poe No Mo’

Something weird is in the air. It’s in my nose and ears and hair. Last night, I read a lot of Poe, and now, I can’t talk right no mo’. The things I say come out in rhyme; not just once, but all the time. The sun is shining, bright as can be; the whole […]

Everything I Need to Know, I Learned in a Cozy Mystery

Everything I Need to Know, I Learned in a Cozy Mystery

Cozy mysteries are fun to read and fun to write. If they were not, who would read or write them? As well as being fun, they are instructive. They’ve taught me several life lessons. Storms come in every life. There is no problem than cannot be solved. Perseverance  wins the day. Home’s hearth fires burn […]

Are Some Things

Are Some Things

Best Left Buried? This woman’s manner so rankled me that I had a tough time controlling my voice. “If the land is yours already, Eileen, do I need to deed it to you?” “Just to be sure there is no question farther on down the line, I think that might be a wise thing to […]

The Mysterious Stranger

The Mysterious Stranger

He moves on four white, silent feet along my neighbor’s sidewalk, this quiet, watchful newcomer. He sits on the porch a while, thinking about things. Where did he come from? Where is he going? Is he just out for a morning stroll or is he on a mission? Cats are secret, mysterious creatures. They keep their […]

An Unexpected Menace

An Unexpected Menace

I got out of my car. The place looked deserted but as I approached the nearer house, a tall, bony dog appeared around the corner. It growled. I stopped. The animal didn’t look in the least friendly. It bared its teeth, snarled and started toward me.      Everything I had ever read about unfriendly dogs […]