Emma Lovett leaves her philandering husband and crosses the country to begin her teaching career at a high school in Pinewood, Colorado. There, she meets Leslie Parker, a fellow teacher given to quoting Shakespeare to fit all situations, and the two become fast friends.
Arriving at work early one morning, Emma discovers the body of the school custodian, a man who reminds her of her late father. When the police struggle to find the killer, the ladies decide to help solve the murder. Their efforts lead them to a myriad of suspects: the schizophrenic librarian, the crude football coach, the mysterious social studies teacher, and even Emma’s new love interest.
As Emma Lovett discovers the perils of teaching high school, she and Leslie learn more than they ever wanted to know about the reasons people kill.
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Kelley’s Konundrum Guest Blog Post:
I never used to journal. I’ve always loved writing, but diary entries into little bound books with teensy little keys to lock them never appealed to me. When I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1994, I found therapy and solace exploring my feelings in writing, and actually had my first pieces published in nonfiction anthologies about how I was dealing with the disease. But still I didn’t journal. Didn’t like it.
So what, in essence, is blogging? Daily journaling, diaries about everything, a ubiquitous bulletin of thoughts in my head as they occur—broadcast everywhere. And everyone is telling me how great it is, and how I have to do it. Because I have a book coming out, and in this technological world, blogging is a marketing must. Nobody’s gonna want to read my book, no matter how good it is, until readers can get to know me and love me. Or hate me, I guess, but there must be feelings acquired about me, and the best way to do that is through a blog. AKA a journal.
Crap.
What am I going to do now? I have feelings, but I don’t want to categorize them for the masses. If that nifty little locked book didn’t float my boat back in the second grade, at least I could shove that one under a pillow. This “book” gets launched into cyberspace, for tons of people I’ve never seen to help them acquire feelings I’m not sure I want them to have. Crap!
After I thought about it for a while, and sort of reconciled a blog to myself as a necessity in my new and wonderful life as a writer, I started tumbling toward a NEW apoplectic fit: what should I write about? I couldn’t believe anyone would care about what I wear to work in the morning, because I could stay in my PJ’s if I wanted to—my office is a chair in the corner of my bedroom.
Sure, the MS is a good topic, but that’s just one. Chronic illness is relevant to many people, but has little or nothing to do with my debut novel, which is a cozy murder mystery called Death by Diploma.
Nobody in the book has a chronic illness, as a matter of fact there’s not a sneeze to be found. Plus I can’t talk about that one topic ad nauseam on a blog, or at least one that’s meant to market me. The entire me, and not just one aspect.
What could I write about? It was a puzzle. An enigma. An unknowable constant that just…that just….wait…just a minute…
Bomm bomm BOMMMMM!!
It hit me right there. I am a mystery writer. Life is an eternal mystery, and I am always wondering things: What’s that actor’s name? Why does that happen? Who wants to grind bees? Perfect blog focus, and I call it Kelley’s Konundrum. The one about ground bees was the first one, and the blog can take the road with any question I think about during the week.
And I guess it’s okay, if people want to acquire feelings—good or bad—about me through the blog. Because I want to tell you a story, and you might have to get to know me before you’re ready to hear it.
I’d love to hear your views… 🙂 Until next time: Stay Mystified!
Kelley
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About the Author:
Kelley Kaye taught High School English and Drama for twenty years, but her love for storytelling dates back to creating captions for her high school yearbook. Maybe back to the tales she created around her Barbie and Ken — whatever the case, the love’s been around for a long time.
Kelley is married to this amazing man who cooks for her, and they have two funny and wonderful sons. She lives in Southern California.
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Thank you Charline for allowing me to stop here on my tour! I really appreciate it! I’d love to hear comments from your readers about this blog post. Stay mystified! 🙂
You are such a delight to know Ms. Kelley – always a bright light and a sharp wit! Thanks for sharing your talent with the world! Excited to read your latest!
Why, thank you, Ms. Wendy Wu! You’re very sweet. Your support of me and of books is super appreciated!