"The Notorious Noel Caper" by Sally Carpenter

Bowling for all abilities

By Sally Carpenter

Within cozy mysteries, all the characters seem to be in perfect health. They never get colds or sore throats or headaches or break their arms or suffer any maladies. They have 20/20 vision and good hearing. Occasionally a grandparent might use a cane. Characters who use wheelchairs are showing up more, but are still the exception.

In my Sandy Fairfax Teen Idol series, I added a major secondary character who is blind. I have poor vision, so this type of character hits close to home. Celeste Farmington, Sandy’s sister, first appeared in the third book. “The Cunning Cruise Ship Caper.”

It’s fun to view the world through her eyes, so to speak, and be aware of how she moves, speaks and reacts. I had a blind friend in college, so I use him as a reference to how Celeste acts.

She has a fold-up cane, but she doesn’t always use it. She isn’t at all like the blind character in the W.C. Fields movie who swung his cane around inside a store and breaks the merchandise. Celeste has darks glasses, but doesn’t always wear them.

Celeste feels uncomfortable in crowds, and hasn’t fully mastered good social skills. As a result, she can be blunt and demanding. But she’s sweet and her family loves her.

Despite her challenges, I’ve tried to find ways to work her into the stories. My latest book, “The Notorious Noel Caper,” opens with Sandy taking part in a celebrity charity bowling tournament. I couldn’t work Celeste into the scene—could I?

A little research proved that blind people can indeed bowl.

The American Blind Bowling Association Inc. was established in 1951. It’s open to legally blind individuals, including those with limited vision. The association maintains teams, leagues and tournaments with prizes.

Blind bowlers use the same standard lanes as sighed people, same rules, balls and scoring. The only difference is the use of a handrail, comprised of metal tubing, that stands about waist high and runs the length of the floor from the approach to the foul line. The rail is moveable, and is weighed down with bowling balls at the base.

The blower holds the rail with one hand and the ball in the other. The rail serves as a guide to keep the bowler in a straight path as she takes her steps to the foul line.

A sighted person assists by keeping score, calling out the numbers of the fallen and standing pins, and sometimes giving suggestions on how to throw the ball. However, the assistant never touches the bowler while she’s bowling or throws the ball for her.

Videos of blind blowers can be found on YouTube; simply type in “blind bowlers.” Bowling is one of the few sports in which blind people can participate, and those who do love it.

So, Celeste accompanies her brother to the tournament and joins her blind team mates, the Bowler Babes. Her presence adds a nice touch to the scene, gives Sandy someone to talk to, and demonstrates that blind people can live full, rich lives.

I’m giving away a free story to readers who sign up for my mailing list. Go to sandyfairfaxauthor.com and scroll down to the “Get My Story” button.

Sally Carpenter is a native Hoosier living in Southern California. She’s worked as an actress, college composition instructor, jail chaplain, movie studio page and is now with a community newspaper. She’s the author of two cozy mystery series, Sandy Fairfax Teen Idol (five books) and the Psychedelic Spy (two books), both with Cozy Cat Press. “The Baffled Beatlemaniac Caper” was a 2012 Eureka! Award finalist for best first mystery novel. She has short stories published in three anthologies. You can reach her at facebook.com/sally.carpenter.54. 

To purchase “The Notorious Noel Caper,” go to https://www.amazon.com/Notorious-Caper-Sandy-Fairfax-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B09CN1W7V1/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2MBYN26X5IDY7&keywords=notorious+noel+caper&qid=1634786090&sprefix=notorious+noel+%2Caps%2C194&sr=8-2

New Release

Kate Morgan, a single mother raising her eleven-year-old daughter, Mandy, in Storyville, Ohio, feels like she’s finally getting her life together, both professionally and personally. Her first mystery novel is about to be published and she and Chad Hollingsworth are engaged to be married. She’s looking forward to a bright future. Until the past comes back to haunt her.

Eleven years ago, a string of home invasions took place in Kate’s hometown, threatening the safety and security of the elderly residents. The burglaries stopped abruptly – until now.

And, eleven years ago, Bobby Benton, Mandy’s father, left town, never returning – until now. The police consider Bobby a person of interest in the crimes and, for the sake of her daughter, Kate is determined to figure out the identity of the perpetrator in order to clear his name. However, she quickly discovers that’s easier said than done.

https://tinyurl.com/ybgn8myf

Mystery and Mirth

We all know that laughter is cathartic. No matter what’s going on in our lives and in the world, a good laugh or even a chuckle has the power to make us forget about whatever challenges we’re facing if only for a short time. The more we laugh, the better we feel.

Kate, the main character in Secrets in Storyville has what she calls “a healthy sense of humor.” I have to agree with her because I found myself laughing out loud as I wrote many of the scenes in the book. I hope, as you escape into Kate’s world, you will too.

Here’s an excerpt from the book:

I pushed the button on my radio for our local oldies station. As I drove back to work, I cranked up the music and sang along to the strains of Frosty the Snowman.

The song reminded me of the “anatomically correct” snowman Bobby had built in our front yard when we were in our early teens. As long as I lived I would never forget the expression on my mother’s face - a combination of shock and rage - when she pulled into the driveway that day and saw the snowman.

She slammed her car door, stomped over to us, grabbed one of the two carrots Bobby had used – it wasn’t the one for his nose - and tried to pull it out. That carrot must’ve really been stuck because she yanked and yanked before it came out in her hand.

Bobby and I exchanged glances, trying so hard not to laugh out loud because we knew better than to do that. Somehow we managed to control ourselves until my mother had stormed into the house. Then we both lost it. Thinking about it now as I drove back to work, I couldn’t stop laughing. 

Any day now . . .

UPDATE 6/25: Secrets in Storyville was just released at amazon.com! Type the title in the search box and it will appear!
 
Self-publishing for the first time has been quite a journey for me. I didn’t expect it to be easy but I had no idea of the “glitches” I would encounter along the way. I did a lot of things right and a lot of things wrong – but, with each step I took, I learned.

 

I realized from the beginning that creating a cover was a daunting task. I didn’t even have Photo Shop on my computer but I was fortunate to have two good friends help me with that. I purchased the image for the front cover and my friend, Dave Griffiths, used his expertise to help me choose the colors and design. The same was true with the back cover. I provided the information and photo and my fellow author and friend, Marja McGraw, set it up for me. Lesson learned: Install Photo Shop before trying this again.

One of the things I did right was to take my time with the actual manuscript. In other words, not to rush to send it in. After rewriting, proofreading and editing numerous times, I enlisted the help of other authors to be my beta-readers. And yes, they found errors I hadn’t seen. So, I submitted a  “clean copy.” Crucial if you’re self-publishing because there will be no editor to catch your mistakes before the book is published.

The submission process was basically trial and error for me. Fortunately, the people at CreateSpace have been great to work with – and very patient. It turned out that the way I was accessing the Internet was not compatible with certain functions I needed to perform in order to load the cover and to check my manuscript. So, I was basically trying to do the impossible. I spent an entire day figuring out what the problem was – and reaching for the Excedrin. I sent my book for review three times before all the errors in formatting were eliminated. I ordered a proof copy in the mail after the second submission so I could double-check everything.

There were many times during the process when I shook my head and said, “Never again!” But, now that I’m close to holding my book in my hands, I don’t feel that way anymore. As Marja McGraw said to me in an email yesterday, “Inches. You’re inches from your destination.” And knowing that makes it all worthwhile!

Don't argue with a woman who reads

Here's an email my aunt recently forwarded to me. I hope it puts a smile on your face.

One morning a husband returns to the cabin after several hours of fishing and decides to take a nap. Although not familiar with the lake, the wife decides to take the boat out, since it is such a beautiful day.

She motors out a short distance, anchors, and reads her book.

Along comes a Game Warden in his boat.

He pulls up alongside the woman and says, "Good morning, Ma'am, what are you doing?"

"Reading a book," she replies, (thinking, "Isn't that obvious?") 

"You're in a Restricted Fishing Area," he informs her.

"I'm sorry, officer, but I'm not fishing, I'm reading."

"Yes, but you have all the equipment. I'll have to write you up a ticket. "

"For reading a book," she replies.

"You're in a Restricted Fishing Area," he informs her again.

"But officer, I'm not fishing, I'm reading."

"Yes, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment. I'll have to write you up a ticket and you'll have to pay a fine."

"If you do that, I'll have to charge you with sexual assault," says the woman.

"But I haven't even touched you," says the Game Warden.

"That's true, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment."

"Have a nice day ma'am," and he immediately departed.

MORAL: Never argue with a woman who reads. It's likely she can also think.

Mystery Author of the Month: Marja McGraw

The first book I read by Marja McGraw was Old Murders Never Die. I enjoyed it so much that I went on to read the rest of the books in her Sandi Webster Mystery series. Then, I proceeded to read her Bogey Man mysteries. I often refer to those as “feel good mysteries” because, if you’re having a bad day and you read one of them, you’re sure to feel better. If you don’t believe me, give it a try. Now, on to the questions I asked Marja.

Patricia: When did you know that you wanted to be a writer?

Marja: Oddly enough, when a friend talked me into trying it. My friend had moved out of state and (this is in the old days, before emails), I wrote letters to her. I told her stories about what was going on in my life and around me. She said she used to wait for my letters because they brought out all of her emotions; laughter, tears, joy and what have you. Eventually I moved to her area and she nagged me to try to write a book. It didn’t take much nagging, and since I love mysteries, that’s the direction I took. She receives a complimentary copy of every book thanks to her powers of persuasion. I’ve always loved writing stories, but this friend was my catalyst to actually trying a book-length story. What would we do without good friends?

Interesting story: My friend’s husband never read anything except the newspaper and hunting magazines. He saw “Old Murders Never Die” sitting on the coffee table and picked it up. He read it from cover to cover, and it was the first book he’d ever read. I’ll take that as a huge compliment.

Patricia: If, for some reason, you couldn’t be a writer, what profession would you choose?

Marja: Without a doubt, archaeology. If I’d had the opportunity, I would have attended college and that’s what I would have studied. In a way, it represents mystery to me; mysteries that are just waiting to be solved. I love history, too, so this would have been a “two birds with one stone” career.

I worked in civil and criminal law enforcement for several years and loved every moment of it, but I’m not sure I’d want to go back to that any time soon. The world has changed a lot since then, and even back in the day things could be dicey sometimes, and I was at the clerical end of things. Okay, sometimes I was called on for non-clerical duties, and honestly, that’s what made it fun.

Patricia: Do you have a bucket list, things you still want to do and/or places you want to visit?

Marja: Things I want to do would certainly include more writing. I’d love to meet some of the people I’ve met through the Internet in person. I’d really like to take a long train ride, to almost anywhere. Honestly? I think I’ve done most of the things that would be on my bucket list. It’s been an interesting life, even without doing a lot of long-distance traveling, and an interesting life can sometimes give a writer a different perspective on mysteries and storylines.

As far as places I’d like to visit, I’d like to return to Australia. The last time I was there I stayed with the relatives of a friend and, thanks to them, I got to see and do a lot of things tourists wouldn’t normally do, including when we visited Tasmania. Scotland would another place on my list.

There are more places I’d like to visit, particularly here in America, but Australia and Scotland hold the top two places on my list.

Thank you for letting me visit today, Pat, and I appreciate the interesting questions you handed me. 

About Marja:

Marja McGraw was born and raised in Southern California. She worked in both civil and criminal law, state transportation, and most recently for a city building department.  She has lived and worked in California, Nevada, Oregon, Alaska and Arizona.

McGraw wrote a weekly column for a small town newspaper in Northern Nevada, and conducted a Writers’ Support Group in Northern Arizona. A past member of Sisters in Crime (SinC), she was also the Editor for the SinC-Internet Newsletter for a year and a half.

She has appeared on KOLO-TV in Reno, Nevada, and KLBC in Laughlin, Nevada, and various radio talk shows.

Marja says that each of her mysteries contains a little humor, a little romance and A Little Murder!

She now lives in Arizona, where life is good.


 The Sandi Webster Series involves a female private investigator who becomes involved in both client situations and personal mysteries. From solving old crimes, as well as current cases, Sandi finds herself in some unusual situations, such as discovering a ghost town with a mysterious past that no one has stepped foot in for over a hundred years.

Sandi’s partner, Pete, adds a little more mystery and a touch of romance to the series. Her mother manages to create humor. Her friends are always on hand to help or hinder resolutions to her cases. This private eye never knows where life is going to take her next.

Sandi Webster Mysteries
#1 - A Well-Kept Family Secret
#2 - Bubba's Ghost
#3 - Prudy's Back!
#4 - The Bogey Man
#5 - Old Murders Never Die
#6 - Death Comes in Threes
#7 - What Are the Odds?

The Bogey Man Series is based on a Humphrey Bogart look-alike who wishes he could live the life Bogey did in his P.I. movies. An amateur sleuth and restaurateur, Chris Cross is married with a young stepson. The stories are told from the point of view of his wife, Pamela, who’s just as interested in solving crimes as her husband.

Their young son, Mikey (nicknamed Ace), would like nothing more than to involve himself in their mysterious lives, and on occasion he does manage to insert himself in their cases, as does Chris’s unusual mother.

Dig a hole to bury a dead bird and dig up a skeleton. Try to help some little old Church Ladies and dig yourself into a hole. Buy a vintage building for your forties-themed restaurant and find a dead body buried in the basement.

The Bogey Man Mysteries

#1 - Bogey Nights

#2 - Bogey's Ace in the Hole
 
#3 - They Call Me Ace
 
#4 - Awkward Moments

#5 - How Now Purple Cow

To learn more about Marja and her books, visit her at:

Website: http://www.marjamcgraw.com/

Blog: http://www.marjamcgraw.blogspot.com/

Books Available at: http://tinyurl.com/oxskns6 and you can request them at your favorite bookstore.