It’s a beautiful morning!

Don’t you just love days like this–the peace, the wonder of that great big ocean and all that goes along with it. Geez, makes one so glad to be alive.

But nefarious forces are fast at work here at Topsail Island. Ah Ha! That wascally wascal from SHARK’S BREATH, Eleanor, is about to be exposed for the horrible parent she is.  Here’s a little snippet from the book:

Jimmying a trailer door was the easiest thing in the world. Making it up the shaky steps of the back entrance was harder. Twice Don nearly slipped on the slime and mold that had grown there.
The term trailer trash came to mind as he opened the door and stepped inside to the overwhelming stench of cigarettes and pee. Shaking his head, Don noticed the stack of soiled sheets piled on the washing machine in front of him; he was tempted to open the washer door and throw them in. But he didn’t. Rather, he moved stealthily down the hallway to the living area.
From the picture Lev had painted of Eleanor, Don could only imagine the punishment her daughter Tiffany had received from her mother for wetting the bed. If I had a mother like that I’d probably piss my pants too, he thought.

Still working on the book, going kinda slow–may as well blame the hurricane–but SHARK’S BREATH should be on time for Spring. Thank you readers!

Changes, we all live through them. We all have to deal with them, accept, complain–whatever. The next generation won’t give a damn about the way WE lived, they are concerned with their own way of life–hey, that’s just the way it is. But I like to think when it comes to Surf City and Topsail Island, that I got the best. The above photo is of myself and my sister, Mary Ellen, when the sand dunes where everywhere-that’s where we played if we weren’t running through the marshes, climbing old water oaks and the bumble bee towers. If you wanted a treat you could walk up to the Cooler and get a fancy soft serve ice cream from Miss Inez. You didn’t need a license to surf fish, so I did lots of that, and then Lewis Williamson always had a lower price for kids to fish on Barnacle Bills Fishing Pier. If you wanted an inexpensive floating device for the ocean, my father would sell you an inner tube at the Surf City Texaco station.Those of us who were military brats got to go to the VFW with our parents and listen to music, dance, and play outside on trees and tire swings, fish in the marsh and catch frogs. Weekends we went to South Topsail and the skating rink, then we played putt putt. One thing about Topsail Beach, they have kept the place looking much as it did back in the day. (Thank you Topsail Beach please don’t sell out).

Yes, change happens. I guess priorities factor into that change. Who is calling the shots and their agenda is what determines it. I’ve lived enough places to know that greed should never be the determining factor. The island itself should be that. Oh well, I could go on and on, but will save that for later, or you could read the Topsail Island Trilogy and find out what it was like once upon a time. Thank you for reading.

Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones.

A long time ago there was a town called Surf City, where the land was such, beneath the ocean, that it made the fishing plentiful for all who cast a line into the water. There was a little swing bridge that opened to residents and visitors alike; it made a welcoming sound as the cars passed over it. The small, little, town was friendly and peaceful and welcoming to all who came there. Children played in the sand dunes and the marshes and life was pleasant. God looked at it and said it was good. The city planners agreed with God and said that Surf City was Everyman’s island, where anybody could afford to visit.

Fast forward thirty years: there is only one fishing pier in Surf City left from the time when it was known as the Fisherman’s Paradise. The sand dunes have been destroyed to make way for houses that have people in them only 8 months of the year. The marshes are not protected and many have been destroyed to make room for even more houses. Much of the shell fishing has been destroyed too, because of the houses and roads built and some groups are even fighting the rights of fishermen to fish.  Gone is the little old bridge that ushered folks into a certain way of life. Rather, there is a newer bridge–bigger and better and more conducive to the ever growing population.

God looked at this and…well, let’s keep God out of this since when it comes to the development of Surf City it is evident that He wasn’t even considered.

I never get tired of seeing this. There’s nothing better than shrimp right off the boat. And now a recipe for  Shrimp Creole.

sauté onion, garlic and celery in a saucepan for a few minutes until tender, add chopped bell pepper (just a little). add diced tomatoes and one small can of tomato sauce, heat and stir for awhile, then add shrimp and continue to cook for about 5 minutes. Serve over your favorite rice.

Okay, so I don’t give amounts, but then I usually play that by ear. Besides amounts depend upon how much you want. Whatever the amount, it is yummy.

February 10, The Mermaid’s Book Corner, located at the Mermaids Purse in Surf City is having a meet the author luncheon – shrimp creole will be on the menu along with turkey chowder. Looks like we have around 7 authors. More to come on this after Christmas.

QUOTE: “I never talk about books in progress. I could decide to change it to a series of seafood recipes, after all.” Guy Gavriel Kay

Writer’s Tip: Well, I do talk about books in progress, but Mr. Kay has a great idea. As a writer, you can always change your mind.

This is a totally untouched photo. Isn’t the scene beautiful?–made perfect just as it is. Most things are made perfect, it’s idle hands that come along and screw them up-wanting bigger, faster, more, more, more–lest we forget, all those things do not make one more honest, kinder, or more self aware.

It turned out to be a beautiful day on the beach today–I enjoyed a lovely walk on the north end of the island hoping to find some cool shells–no luck. Still, the walk was pleasant–always pleasant–keeps the wheels turning. Still working on SHARK’S BREATH–here’s a little excerpt:

“Will that be all?” The waitress asked, glancing at the napkin laid across the barely eaten food on his plate.
August Temple nodded a yes and handed her a fifty dollar bill. “Keep the change.” He added.
“My—big spender, huh. His ex-wife slid her eyes to his wallet, then glared angrily at him. “Where did you get all the money Auggie?”
“I work for a living.” He returned the glare, softening his expression immediately as the tiny fingers of his daughter pressed against his.
“Daddy,” the lashes of her eyes fluttered as she giggled, “are you still sick?” her sad eyes pleaded.
“No, I’ve been feeling much better.” He patted his thin stomach, then tousled the child’s thick dark curls. ‘I think I ate some bad food,” August’s eyes slide to his wife’s, then back to his daughter’s.
Tiffany smiled broadly showing her teeth, her eyes twinkled. “Good, I don’t want you to be sick, Daddy.”
“Don’t worry about me, little bug. I’m doing just fine.
The little girl glanced from her mother then to her father, “Do you have lots of money? Mommy says if you—“
August’s eyes glared again at his wife. “Sweetie, I wish I did, But no, I don’t have a whole lot, but if you really need something, I’ll try to get it for you.”
Rising from the table, the trio exited the doors of the Fish Hook Grill, walking into the parking lot.
Releasing her mother’s hand, the four year old reached for her father’s. “Can I stay with you tonight,” her tiny voice asked.
Sweeping his daughter into his arms, August smoothed the hair away from her face. “Sorry, little bug, I’ve got to get up real early in the morning—going down to Charleston. Have to go to work.” He paused, receiving a long hug, “But I promise—as soon as I get back from shrimping, you and me are going to spend lots of time together.” Avoiding his wife’s steely gaze, he settled his daughter back to the ground and squatted before her.
She was so pretty, so delicate. Her face beamed lovingly up to his; her perfect small mouth turning upward into a smile. “Kisses, Daddy.”

QUOTE: ” There are several kinds of love. One is a selfish, mean, grasping, egotistical thing which uses love for self-importance. This is the ugly and crippling kind. The other is an outpouring of everything good in you — of kindness and consideration and respect — not only the social respect of manners but the greater respect which is recognition of another person as unique and valuable. The first kind can make you sick and small and weak but the second can release in you strength, and courage and goodness and even wisdom you didn’t know you had.” John Steinbeck

WRITING TIP: If you love writing it does exactly what John Steinbeck says, “releases in you strength and courage and goodness and even wisdom you didn’t know you had.”

The lion always kills the gazelle

Just one of those days perfect for watching your favorite movie, reading your favorite book, or writing about nefarious characters. Today reminded me of the second book in the mystery series, BRIDGE TENDER. It was in this book that I introduced Estelle. If you’ve read any of my mysteries you’ll be familiar with her. She’s a real piece of work. Since I’m working on SHARK’S  BREATH (fifth in the series) I like to go back and tweak my memory–I found this little excerpt and wanted to share it with my readers. It’s from Hank–remember good old Hank. Now, I think he wasn’t such a bad guy compared to Estelle. And I can relate to him here–what home means.

EXCERPT: “walking out to the pier, he studied the thick marsh grasses growing between his house and Pamlico Sound. They stretched maybe a hundred yards before him. The area was reminiscent of Topsail but it was different. There were fewer homes along the waterfront, fewer piers fingered out into the briny expanse. Still, it reminded him of his home. But then, any place along the southern Intracoastal Waterway had that feel of life beginning and dying. It was there, in the marsh and the tides, the smell of what wasn’t any longer, of what was and what was going to be.

All along the coast there was that. So being there among the reeds and grasses, close to the water, felt like home, but it wasn’t.”

QUOTE: “We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch, we are going back from whence we came.” John Kennedy

WRITING TIP: Don’t be afraid to sound stupid or silly, mundane or maudlin. When you read your work back to yourself, it may be perfect.

Here’s the new book! Oh yes, it’s a book for the kiddies.

Tommy Turtle comes to Topsail and has been doing so for many years. Hopefully this little endeavor will inform young readers and at the same time allow them to entertain themselves by coloring the pictures within. Ages 2 to 10 might enjoy this little story.

Don’t worry grown up folks. SHARK’S BREATH  is still a work in progress and will be out in the spring. If you remember me mentioning a book called SAVING THE WORLD, this book is also in progress, but will probably not be out for another year.

quote: “Dear Ocean, thank you for making us feel tiny, humble, inspired and salty-all at the same time” –  Apefit

Writing tip: please sign up for my Creative Writing class this coming Feb. 4 at Cape Fear Community College on Hwy210. They are signing up now. I promise it will be fun and…you might even learn something.