I had always heard that sometimes people talk out loud when they are under anesthesia.  I imagined that I would be one of those people, as I suffer from insomnia, and while in bed in a semi-conscious state, I do a lot of my plotting for my books.

I have had several procedures on my back lately, and I remember asking the anesthesiologist while waking up, if I had said anything unusual.

He laughed and asked what was I trying to hide.  “Nothing,” I assured him, “I was just afraid that I might have talked out loud about the murder I’m planning.  I haven’t got all the details worked out yet and thought I might have said something.”

“For her next book,” my son yelled.  “She’s an author.”  He was my chauffeur that day and was sitting in the recovery room with me.  “She’s had two books already published and is working on her third.  You can find her books on Amazon.”

Imagine my surprise when he quit entering my surgical data on his Ipad and quickly pulled up Amazon.  “Okay, here you are,  Fire Light Fire Bright and Dreams Never Lie.  That’s pretty neat.”

I was even more surprised the next day when one of the ladies from the recovery room called to check on me.  She wanted to know how I was feeling after my procedure.  I told her I was fine, I was already back at work.  Then she told me that they had ordered a copy of one of my books, and while she hoped I didn’t have to visit them again, if I did, would I autograph the book for them.

I ended up having to go back again a few weeks later.  Sure enough, they had a copy of Fire Light Fire Bright waiting for me.  I happily autographed it for them, then they all gathered around and posed for a photo of them holding my book.  What a neat bunch of people!

Fire Light Fire Bright

The small north-central town of Glenwood, Texas is being methodically burned to the ground. Every few days another fire. Acres of scorched pasture, and skeletal remains of the once majestic trees that surrounded the township attest to the skill of the arsonist. Sheriff Dodge Brewster is frustrated by his inability to find even a single shred of evidence.

Several teenage girls in surrounding communities have been brutally raped. When the rapist finally targets Glenwood, the girls are not only raped, but murdered also. Deep in the woods outside of town, a Vietnam vet lives as a hermit. The people of Glenwood accuse him of every misdeed that occurs. The arson, rape and murders are no exception. They are demanding that Dodge arrest the vet, but new evidence in a turn of events point to his own friend.

Will Dodge be able to prove his friend’s innocence? Will he have to arrest him? Or will he go along with the townspeople and arrest the Vietnam vet?

 

 

 

 

 

I love to watch fire, but only in the safety of a fire pit.  I’m actually pretty scared of fire.  Just the thought of a forest fire or a house fire is terrifying.  I can’t imagine why I chose to use fire as the backdrop of my book, (it had nothing to do with those scorching hot  fireman calendars either).  But it was pretty easy to write the story around.  Did you know the insurance industry actually classifies fires.  A friendly fire would be found in a fireplace, or a hostile fire could be a house burning, or a car that caught on fire.

As I was writing Fire Light Fire Bright, I knew right from the first page who the rapist was going to be, but the arsonist?  I had no idea.  I kept changing my mind, back and forth, back and forth.  I wasn’t 100% sure until I wrote the last chapter.

I guess that’s why I keep telling people that I hope the book keeps them guessing until the very end, because, it sure kept me confused.

Love fire? Hate fire?  Why?  Leave me a comment below.

Fire Light Fire Bright

The small north-central town of Glenwood, Texas is being methodically burned to the ground. Every few days another fire. Acres of scorched pasture, and skeletal remains of the once majestic trees that surrounded the township attest to the skill of the arsonist. Sheriff Dodge Brewster is frustrated by his inability to find even a single shred of evidence.

Several teenage girls in surrounding communities have been brutally raped. When the rapist finally targets Glenwood, the girls are not only raped, but murdered also. Deep in the woods outside of town, a Vietnam vet lives as a hermit. The people of Glenwood accuse him of every misdeed that occurs. The arson, rape and murders are no exception. They are demanding that Dodge arrest the vet, but new evidence in a turn of events point to his own friend.

Will Dodge be able to prove his friend’s innocence? Will he have to arrest him? Or will he go along with the townspeople and arrest the Vietnam vet?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fire Light Fire Bright is completely a work of fiction, however, there are a few things I borrowed.  One of the borrowed items was Fannie the cat.

She belonged to a friend of mine and did claw and scratch someone who babysat for her.  And yes, he did make the comment about trying to play with my friend’s Fannie.  Not quite as much fun as I tried to make it, but I did borrow the idea.

Another thing I borrowed was the description of the Judge.  He was my dad, through and through.  My dad loved chicken and dumplin’s, and coconut pie.  In fact, every year on his birthday, instead of a birthday cake, he always had my mother bake him a coconut pie.  He was a demon at checkers, only once in my entire life did I ever beat him at checkers.

It actually was at an I-hop that the “How do you spell your ex-wife’s name” really did occur.  My friend didn’t let her husband answer, she immediately piped up and said “I spell her name b-i-t-c-h.  No way could I write a book and not include that jewel.

Oh, also in Fire Light Fire Bright, I used the names of all of my grandchildren, except two. Josh is the main character in Dreams Never Lie and Levi, my great-grandson wasn’t born yet when it was written.  I’ll have to catch him later.

I have a sign in my office that reads:  I AM AN AUTHOR.  ANYTHING YOU SAY OR DO MAY WIND UP IN MY NEXT BOOK.

I save these little tidbits then use them at the appropriate times.  If you have a cute idea you’d like to share, please do.  I’d love to hear from you.

Fire Light Fire Bright

The small north-central town of Glenwood, Texas is being methodically burned to the ground. Every few days another fire. Acres of scorched pasture, and skeletal remains of the once majestic trees that surrounded the township attest to the skill of the arsonist. Sheriff Dodge Brewster is frustrated by his inability to find even a single shred of evidence.

Several teenage girls in surrounding communities have been brutally raped. When the rapist finally targets Glenwood, the girls are not only raped, but murdered also. Deep in the woods outside of town, a Vietnam vet lives as a hermit. The people of Glenwood accuse him of every misdeed that occurs. The arson, rape and murders are no exception. They are demanding that Dodge arrest the vet, but new evidence in a turn of events point to his own friend.

Will Dodge be able to prove his friend’s innocence? Will he have to arrest him? Or will he go along with the townspeople and arrest the Vietnam vet?