Building Mysteries with Help from Nancy Drew

With my debut novel nearing publication, I'm getting all excited to share my story with the world! 

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Yep. That's basically me. Of course, since I'm writing mysteries here, I should probably tone it down a bit.
 

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That's better.

Anyway, to get to the crux of the matter here, I'm going to talk a little bit about my inspiration for Decaf & Drones, the first book of my Northwoods Barista Mystery series, to be released next month with Three Worlds Press.

I grew up reading Nancy Drew. At one point, my childhood bookcase contained nearly  every book in the series, from The Secret of the Old Clock up through the 80’s and 90’s spin-offs. Most of those are still sitting in my childhood home (sorry, Mom!), but I love to return to the series- they’re like a comfort food, but in book version. 

Modern mystery novelists always pull me in with their unique storylines and compelling characters, but I have to say my earliest mystery manuscripts always bore an uncanny resemblance to the Nancy Drew series. When I began seriously writing mysteries, I knew that I wanted to bring back elements from this beloved series in my own unique way: an amateur-detective you can cheer for, her dependable best friends, unique small-town settings and seemingly-impossible-to-escape final scenes. 

Though my main character, Jordan Nimsby, isn't much like Nancy (think more of an overly caffeinated version of myself mixed with a non-sociopathic Sherlock Holmes and hearty dashes of Stephanie Plum and Phoebe Buffet), she is a spunky chick who likes to solve mysteries, drink coffee and kick butt. I hope you enjoy reading about her wild adventures! 

When Life Is Crazy

Some people have told me I'm too busy. They make a great point. I am currently working part time as a virtual English teacher, attending graduate school full time, and caring for my 13-month-old son when not in the classroom. Add to that list the fact that I'm in the process of having my debut novel published, as well as doing additional writing on the side, and, yes, I suppose life is a bit hectic. I admit I do sometimes feel like this:

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But then I take charge, like so:

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I am quick to dismiss the idea that I have taken too much onto the heaped buffet platter that is my life this autumn. In fact, I thrive on a fast-paced, crazy schedule. Chalk it up to growing up with three sisters and the drama of fighting over clothing and bathroom privileges. Or it could be a trait I picked up during college, where I secured myself 2-3 unique jobs at all times. For the most part, however, I think it is an ingrained part of my personality. I like to tackle multiple problems at once, and I feel most productive when faced with a full schedule.

Even within the writing realm, I prefer having multiple works in progress floating around. That way I can dabble here and there where I please for a few minutes before running off to tackle the next "to do" on my busy schedule. Honestly, I don't know how else to write. If you have advice, let me know. It has always been this way for me, writing a bit in a first person science fiction piece in the morning, revising a different novel for a few minutes mid-day, then jotting off two pages of a third person short story before bed.

Now, I don't know that I recommend being constantly on the go. It certainly leads to a scattered brain, as I often find myself misplacing various items related to my different responsibilities or racing from one place to another with about two-point-five seconds to spare. It does help to have wonderful family and friends to lean on for support (and for the occasional hour or two of freedom from commitment). Still, it is one of many ways to function, and...so far, so good.

#PitchWars Mentee Bio

I'm so excited to participate in #PitchWars alongside hundreds (thousands?) of other awesome writers! So, without further ado, here is my #pimpmybio. You can find other wonderful ones here.



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Yes, that is my happy dance ;)

A little about me: I'm a writer (duh- do people still say "duh"?), English teacher at a virtual school (that makes it sound like my job is fictional, but, trust me, the students are real), soon-to-be graduate student, mother to one amazing little one-year-old and wife to a pretty awesome handyman. Here are five other, randomly selected facts:

 1. I studied abroad in Scotland for a semester (and, as a result, fell in love with castles).

2. I'm obsessed with coffee. You know, in case the name doesn't imply that already ;)

3. I tried learning to surf on my honeymoon, but I failed miserably. (My husband was a natural, which I chalk up to his being born on a tropical island. Jealous!)

4. Despite my epic surfing failure, I do love to snowboard. As I live in Northern Wisconsin, we do get our fair share of snow.

5. Despite my love of nature, I'm afraid of spiders. And those creepy bugs that look like twigs but are really not...yeah...



 And here's a little about my manuscript, complete with some fun gifs!

My book is a young adult science fiction that involves aliens discreetly landing on Earth...


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...action scenes...


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...and some creepy brainwashing...


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 Don't hurry off, though! I assure you there is also some nerdy humor...


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...beautiful music...


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(Okay, slightly more beautiful, I promise!)

...and an amazing and diverse cast of characters! Hopefully, that sort of thing sounds intriguing to you. Thanks for reading!

Disclaimer: Please forgive any issues with the gifs. This was my first attempt to make a blog post as cool as many of the others in this contest.

Post-Baby Changes No One Mentions

As my little guy approaches his first birthday next month, I'm feeling rather reflective. His birth brought about a whole world of change in different life arenas- emotional/mental, physical and spiritual. I anticipated some adaptations, though, as usual, life didn't go as expected!

Emotionally & Mentally

My emotions still seem a bit more scattered than usual since my son’s birth, but I will continue to chalk it up to frenetic post-breastfeeding hormones and general sleep deprivation. Emotionally, I feel less centered on myself and more focused on Rayden: worries for him, concerns about him, hopes for him, happiness with him, etc. 

Though my world revolves around an infant these days, he also encourages me to dedicate myself more fully to my own goals. I know that the effort I put into my teaching and writing will make a positive difference in our family life over the years to come- both by providing us with more financial stability and by giving me more confidence and success to be a strong role model for the little dude.

Physically

Of course, things change physically; it’s inevitable after the epic events of labor and childbirth. I feel fortunate that healthy eating, breastfeeding and constantly running after and scooping up a needy baby all brought me back to my pre-pregnancy weight relatively quickly. I'm about 99% certain I won't be as lucky after future kiddos. Still, I both feel and look different than before, and my lower abdomen will likely never be the same. (Eh, it’s not like I ever wore bikinis anyway.)

Other issues have arisen since Rayden’s birth. Lactose is no longer a close friend of mine, for instance, and I have a lot of muscular problems that developed as a result of thirty+ hours of labor (and I know the OB nurses will tell you that most of that wasn’t active labor, but that doesn’t mean it wasn't intense!). I’ve learned from this whole situation about a topic in woman’s health that needs to be talked about: Pelvic Organ Prolapse. It is virtually unmentioned until you’re diagnosed- and then it is still relatively ignored. Seeing as how people talk about way more intimate things on everyday television, I think the docs could give ladies a head’s up about prevention, etc. at their yearly check-ups. Just sayin’.

Spiritually

Since my son’s birth, I feel a deeper connection to my faith. Throughout my life, I’ve typically gone to church every Sunday and prayed daily, but now it just seems more important than ever to keep grounded. I want my son to know that, as Catholics, we aren’t the bigoted, racist people that the media portrays us to be. We are some of the most loving people you could ever find, with a focus on truth, hope and Christ-like love. When you have a religion to base your morals upon, you are grounded in the reality of what is right and wrong, and I want Rayden to have that- instead of the flippant nature of reality that popular culture so often presents. I’m excited to raise this awesome kid in an uplifting family dynamic and positive community. I’m about 99.999% sure he’ll go far. ;)

10 Hilarious Habits of My 10 Month Old

I promised that I'd share more of the goofy things that Rayden does, so here we are! 10 more habits that are relatively bizarre, hilarious and/or kinda gross, but that certainly don't make me love the little cutie any less!

1. Licks the pages of books. In particular, he loves the "touch and feel animals" picture book that has different textures and fabrics on each of the animals. He's slobbered all over the pig and tried to pull out the hair on the sheepdog. 

2. Carries around a bulb syringe (nose sucker thingy, in layman's terms). Gnaws on the round part occasionally. Maybe it helps with the teething..?

3. Bites down on marble tabletop. The coffee table in our living room has a marble top layer and he tries to gnaw on the edges. Ow. We've moved him away, thinking it would hurt his little teeth, but he just keeps coming back for more.

4. Kisses his reflection. This isn't bizarre or hilarious so much as it is darn adorable, but when looking at himself in the mirror, he will sometimes give his reflection a smooch.

5. Dances by shaking his butt, shoulders and back, sometimes all at once, usually while sitting. Occasionally becomes too enthusiastic and tips over. I'll have to record it one of these days...

6. Searches for leftover food under the table. I swear, the kid gets plenty to eat, but after a meal he will always go back and check under his high chair for some fresh leftovers for dessert. I have to be a speedy cleaner and vacuum often.

7. Blows raspberries on belly buttons. He will climb over to people who are lying down, lift up their shirts and proceed to smack some slobbery raspberries on their bellies. He will also do this with his stuffed animals, despite their lack of belly buttons.

8. Double-checks to make sure he's causing trouble. When he goes by the television or other heavy and/or dangerous items, we always tell him "No", but before stopping, he will look back and make sure we say "No" a few more times while shaking our heads. He will shake his head as well, smile, and then continue toward the prohibited item. Sigh.

9. Attacks his favorite stuffed animals. Every morning, he will literally tackle his stuffed monkey with a huge hug as though he hasn't seen the thing in ages.

10. Ambles over to any and all electrical cords and outlets whenever they are in sight. Seriously, you can offer him the coolest, most colorful and noisy toy ever, but if there's an extension cord nearby, the toy might as well not exist. Definitely gets this from Daddy the electrician. Or he just wants to see if he can drive me crazy chasing after him anyplace that isn't childproofed. Perhaps both.

Baby on the Move!

Probably one of the most intimidating moments of being a new mother is realizing that the tiny, completely dependent person you gave birth to has a mind of his own. This mind, with its unique desires and opinions, starts to be unveiled rather rapidly once baby becomes mobile!

Around the 6-7 month mark, before my little guy could crawl but when he was feeling particularly frustrated with sitting wherever I happened to deposit him, was probably the most difficult time for both of us. He would cry and fuss a lot! He had no real way of communicating to me what it was he wanted and I couldn't always move him from one random place to another at the drop of a hat, hoping to get it right. I also felt bad that he could only rock back and forth but couldn't actually reach his goals; it was like his fledgling crawling abilities were mocking him.

He's been a crawler for about two months now, and the situation is very different. Now, he is suddenly an independent little man! He is typically as happy as a clam, crawling about the place and exploring new things. Along with that, though, he now cries and fusses whenever I attempt to hold him or buckle him into a car seat or stroller. Now that he has uncovered the vast potential of moving wherever his little heart desires, he wants his freedom- all the time!


On the one hand, I'm grateful to have an independent baby. He is curious, adventurous and has such joy and excitement for each new experience! It is entertaining to watch him scamper across a room or down a hall and see the world from his point of view. I feel that I am learning about who he is when he selects a particular toy over another or chooses which direction to crawl.

On the other hand, he is admittedly a bit of a troublemaker. In only his short time as a crawler, he has already decided that he would prefer to walk. He climbs up chairs, tables, dressers, people's legs, counters, boxes, etc. You name it- he will climb it. Then he will use it as support in his attempt to walk around. His legs are incredibly strong (we've dubbed him our "little linebacker", since he gained weight ridiculously quickly in his first months and has, what seems to me, unnatural strength for someone so small), but his balance isn't the greatest, so he easily topples over. I used to stand right behind him to catch him and protect him from the slightest fall, but I am learning to let him learn- and that occasionally means letting him tip back onto his bum when he tries to use the toy box to stand for the hundredth time. I figure that, as long as he is safe, this is probably an important lesson for him to learn. Still, it is a bit difficult to see him growing more and more independent. It's surely a sign of what's to come: years where "Mama" can no longer solve every problem with a cuddle and a comforting word and when his challenges become greater than a choice of whether or not to climb up the couch or to play with his stacking blocks. I guess I will just have to make the most of these crazy crawling moments while they last!

The Writer's Voice Contest Entry: NORTHERN NIMSBY VS. THE DRONES

 Query:

My novel, Northern Nimsby vs. the Drones is a 65,000 word cozy mystery.

After Jordan Nimsby’s perfect fiancée is murdered, her life enters a downward spiral until she hits rock bottom in her hometown of Eagle River, Wisconsin. Most people wouldn’t look at an explosion on the first day of a new job as the light at the end of the tunnel, but for Jordy, it means returning to a childhood passion: solving mysteries.

Living in a dusty cabin next door to her parents, working for an old rival and lusting after a high school crush, Jordy welcomes danger during her orientation at the Coffee Cravin’ Cabin.  Drawn by her inner detective, she dives headfirst into the bombing investigation- and right back to her high school BFF and resident rebel, Samantha Orwitz, who is now working as the lead detective for the local police department. The two combine their witty sarcasm and rambunctious personalities as they follow the clues from a series of unmanned drone attacks in nearby towns. The women chase an array of questionable characters and stalk down clues that lead from political conventions to creepy isolated cabins as they seek to unveil who is bringing destruction to the Northwood’s and why.  Leaving behind chaos and general mayhem, as well as the occasional cold brew and deep fried cheese curd, they become determined to survive the mystery without getting blown to bits themselves.

Northern Nimsby vs. the Drones has the potential to evolve into a series, and I have additional outlines in the works. I think the cozy mystery genre needs an adventurous Wisconsin gal with an offbeat personality and a hearty dose of spunk- Jordy is that girl! Previously, the majority of my published work has been freelance or for campus publications at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse; this is my first novel. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Sarah David

First 250 words:

I screamed when the eight-legged monster jumped from the shelf above the oven, missing my head by inches and my scrambled eggs by less. Fortunately, I quickly recovered and beat the spider to a pulp with my trusty old hiking boot. I shoved the tawny boot back in its place near the door before returning to the stove top and giving the eggs another poke with the spatula. One more joy of living in my parents’ sparsely insulated log cabin: bugs around every corner and crevice, preparing for attack. I was at least 72% certain that these creatures had a personal vendetta against me from day one, and their battle tactics seriously surpassed my own. For two weeks now it has been me (Jordan Nimsby) vs. the Evil Bug Bastards (or EBBs for short).

            Yes, that’s correct; my parents gave me an androgynous name. When I was about four or five, prancing around in princess costumes, it was a BIG deal; I wanted my name to be Anastasia or Katherine. Since those days, I’ve grown to love it. My friends used to call me “Nimsby” or “Nims” in high school; now, however, most of them call me Jordy, partially after one of THE best wide receivers in the NFL. Seriously, don’t interrupt a Packer game unless you’re bringing fresh cheese curds or kolatchze to share. You may laugh, but we don’t jest about our football, cheese and European baked goods here in Northern Wisconsin. Or our beer, for that matter…