Lost in the Light
Page 29
About the Author
Mary Castillo grew up in National City, CA and fell in love with the giant Edwardian mansions perched on the hills overlooking Las Palmas Park. She was raised in a haunted house and one would think she'd know better, but every time she watches Ghost Hunters, she requires an escort through the dark house to bed!
She is the author of Hot Tamara, In Between Men, Switchcraft and novellas published in Orange County Noir, Names I Call My Sister and Friday Night Chicas. In case you're wondering, yes, she is already working on the next adventure with Dori Orihuela and no, she won't reveal what happens with Gavin.
Stay in touch at www.MaryCastillo.com, or check out her Pinterest Board dedicated to Lost in the Light for photos and research materials that Mary collected during her journey.
Mary is on Facebook at www.facebook.com/marycastillo and Twitter @MCastilloWrites.
Acknowledgements
Every book begins as a solo trip into the unknown. As I go along, feeling my way through the dark, I meet people who influence and inspire changes in the story. Or, they confirm that my instincts were dead on.
This story was seeded by the tales told by my Grandma Nana (Great Grandmother Eduvijen Holguin Melendez) and my Grandma Margaret Melendez Castillo. My Grandma Nana arrived in National City in the 1920's with her ornery grandmother and little brother. I have photos of her on the tidelands, but as far as I know, she didn't operate a bootleg operation. But she did marry Alex Melendez, who inspired the name of my business, Reina Books. When I was a baby, he walked around Westside National City with my picture and told all the old ladies that I was his reina. By the way, he didn't break his neck in a well. That happened to my Great Grandmother Inez Vasquez's second husband. However, my Grandma Maria Mendez may have dabbled with a bootlegger or two in her time. Her rebellious spirit inspired Anna Vazquez.
Mary Allely, formerly of the National City Public Library's Local History Room, helped me locate my great grandparent's addresses in the 1926 city directory, and pointed me to the oral histories given by a few Mexican Americans who lived in the Westside barrio, including my Great Uncle John Mendez. Hearing his voice from across the decades, reminiscing about his mother who worked for one dollar a day, seven days a week in a laundry was truly a magical moment in which I saw how far my family had come.
I'm also indebted to Sergeant (ret) Dean Carr of the National City Police Department for his open and honest discussion of post traumatic stress disorder and procedures following an officer-involved shooting. Thank you to Blair Stephens of the San Diego Police Department who answered mundane questions with patience and good humor. After having been in Dori's head for two years, I appreciate the work of police officers everywhere.
I am grateful to the independent author community where everyone generously shares their expertise. Literary Agent Leslie McLean started me on the indie author path when I took her online seminar. After her presentation, I wanted to cry with excitement. Instead, I ate chocolate and then got to work on my business plan! I'm also grateful to Debra Holland for her workshop on self-publishing through the Orange County Chapter of Romance Writers of America.
Thank you to my editors, Ryan Gilmore and Jennifer Mahal, who taught me the finer points of guns and commas, respectively. I had hoped they would let me get away with a few things but they gave me the push to make this story even better than I had imagined.
Most of all I am grateful to you, dear reader, for holding this book in your hands. You will never know how much I appreciate that you choose to read this story.
Love,
Mary
Books by Mary Castillo
The following titles are available in print and eBook format:
Lost in the Light
Switchcraft
In Between Men
Hot Tamara
Novellas
"2:45 Out of Santa Ana," Orange County Noir
"Till Death Do Us Part," Names I Call My Sister
"My Favorite Mistake," Friday Night Chicas (available in print only)
Contents
Copyright
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty One
Chapter Twenty Two
Chapter Twenty Three
Chapter Twenty Four
Chapter Twenty Five
Chapter Twenty Six
Chapter Twenty Seven
Chapter Twenty Eight
Chapter Twenty Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty One
Chapter Thirty Two
The Dori Orihuela Paranormal Mystery Series Continues
About the Author
Acknowledgements
Books by Mary Castillo