Deception in Strange Places (A Kelly O'Connell Mystery)
Page 21
There is front was a big red A and a teacher’s scrawled comment, “Nice job.”
“Please take it home and read it.”
The last thing I wanted to do was read that novel, but I felt guilty about Elisabeth. I had not treated her with the courtesy I hoped someone would someday show my girls. On the other hand, I fervently hoped my girls would not be so bold and push themselves into other people’s business.
Reluctantly, I told her I’d read it in the next few days and get back to her.
“Thanks. You’ll love it. Got to run. I’m working on a second novel.” And she was gone with a flippant wave to Keisha.
That night I sat up in bed reading. Mike was propped up next to me with the latest book he’d found about Fort Worth history. When I yelled, “She can’t do that!” he asked calmly, “Who can’t do what?”
“Smedley. She’s changed the names, but otherwise her so-called novel is word for word account of what happened with Sheila and Bruce Hollister. She hasn’t changed one thing. The child has no imagination. What kind of creative writing teacher gives an A to something like this.”
“Probably,” he said drily, “one who doesn’t recognize that it’s not fiction because he or she doesn’t get involved in murders and kidnappings like you do.”
“Mike, you haven’t even said it this time,” I accused.
“Said what?”
“That you want me to stay out of trouble.”
“I know it’s futile. ‘Night, Kelly.” He turned out the light and was snoring in seconds, while I fumed over what to say to Elisabeth Smedley.
THE END
To My Readers….
I hope you enjoyed Kelly’s latest adventure…or misadventure. Kelly can’t seem to stay out of trouble.
I told myself several years ago that if I could have one mystery published, I’d be happy. That one book was Skeleton in a Dead Space and it came about because of two things. There is a dead space in the kitchen of my 1922 house—deep cabinet on one side, oven on the other, but in between a cabinet with shelves barely deep enough to hold a row of canned goods or two rows of spices. We wondered forever what was behind those shelves; one friend begged me to let him drill a hole but I refused. We have since concluded the kitchen was remodeled around an old chimney that was left in place. Who knows? It may be holding the house up.
Don’t tell me inspiration isn’t part of writing. One day I was at a stop sign, staring at a house across the street that was being remodeled. Suddenly I thought, “There’s a skeleton in a dead space in that house.” And that’s how Kelly O’Connell came to begin her adventures.
Now, I have five books in the Kelly O’Connell Mystery series and two in the Blue Plate Café series. So much for writing one mystery! I’m having too much fun.
Kelly’s historic Fairmount Neighborhood is very real, close to where I live. I’d love to take you on a tour to view the Craftsman houses, have lunch at the Grill, and see everything but Kelly’s actual house—which exists only in the pages of her books.
Kelly may exist only in her adventures, but I hope you like her because one of my daughters describes Skeleton in a Dead Space as “highly autobiographical.” I just never get into the situations that Kelly does.
Thanks for keeping up with Kelly, Mike, Maggie, Em, Keisha and all the others.
~Judy Alter
Connect with Judy:
Web page: www.judyalter.com
Blogs: Judy’s Stew, Potluck with Judy
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ABOUT JUDY ALTER
An award-winning novelist, Judy Alter is the author of five books in the Kelly O’Connell Mysteries series: Skeleton in a Dead Space, No Neighborhood for Old Women, Trouble in a Big Box, Danger Comes Home and Deception in Strange Places. With Murder at the Blue Plate Café, she moved from inner city Fort Worth to small-town East Texas to create a new set of characters in a setting modeled after a restaurant that was for years one of her family’s favorites. Murder at Tremont House, second in the Blue Plate Mystery Series, appeared in February 2014.
She is currently at work on another Kelly O’Connell adventure. In addition, Judy is working on a stand-alone mystery, The Perfect Coed.
Retired after twenty years as director of a small academic press, Judy is the mother of four and grandmother of seven. She lives in Fort Worth, Texas, with her Bordoodle, Sophie. You can look for Judy at www.judyalter.com or on her blogs, “Judy’s Stew” and “Potluck with Judy”.
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