Behind the Scenes - The Mill Mountain Star

When we were planning the second volume of Virginia is for Mysteries, I looked at the map in the front of the book and realized most of the stories in the first volume centered around Coastal and Central Virginia. The requirement for stories in the mystery anthology was to feature a historic or popular landmark from the Commonwealth of Virginia. I wanted to set my story in the western part of the state.

My mother grew up in Roanoke, Virginia, and I remember her and my grandmother talking about the star on the mountain top. I finally got to see it when I was in the third grade and later as an adult when we did a book signing in the downtown area.

The neon star beautiful and big enough to be seen from miles around. I did some research on the history, and it became the setting of my story, “Spring Cleaning.” In the story, it's a symbol for Douglas Weimer, who is having issues at work. He laments that he’s been demoted and forced to give up his office with a view of the neon star that’s been atop the mountain since 1949. Douglas, a medical records manager, gets more than he bargained for when he’s moved onto a new team and receives a project with a drop-dead delivery date. His assignment in Roanoke, Virginia, gives new meaning to work deadlines.

Check out Visit the Blue Ridge for more information on the star that started out a Christmas decoration commissioned by the local Merchants’ Association. The City of Roanoke’s website also has some history on the star and its lighting over the decades. At one time, the town used the color of the star to indicate fatal traffic accidents in the valley. The star can be lit red, white, and/or blue.

Volume three of Virginia is for Mysteries is slated for publication this fall. Look for my story, “Derailed,” about the Church Hill Tunnel disaster in Richmond, VA.

Check out Virginia is for Mysteries and Virginia is for Mysteries Volume 2 at your favorite book retailer.

Behind the Scenes - The Poe Statue in Richmond, VA

Yes, there is an Edgar Allan Poe statue in RVA (Richmond, VA), but I made up the one in GLITTER, GLAM AND CONTRABAND.

In my Delanie Fitzgerald series, Chaz Wellington Smith, III’s infamous strip club, the Treasure Chest, is located on the corner where The Southern Literary Messenger once stood (15th and Main Street). While Poe was an assistant editor at the magazine at that location, the Treasure Chest is made up. Parts of the real building were preserved and are part of the Shrine at the Poe Museum in RVA. This is a must-see spot if you’re in Richmond. The collection of artifacts is vast, and the staff are so knowledgeable on the author’s life and works. My favorites are the “Unhappy Hours” held in the Enchanted Garden in the warmer months. They also offer walking tours of Poe’s Richmond. And if you visit, you must meet Edgar and Pluto, the museum cats.

I am fascinated with the Poe sites around Richmond, including his mother’s grave at the historic St. John’s Church (where Patrick Henry gave his famous speech).

Years ago, I read an article in the newspaper about time capsules in some of the monuments. I thought it would be interesting to have Delanie investigate, so I put a Poe Statue on the corner near Chaz’s business. He asks her to look into why someone is trying to dig around the statue. It turns out that there’s an online rumor of valuables hidden in the time capsule.

The real statue of Poe is located on the grounds of the state Capitol. The Father of the American Mystery is seated in a chair, and it was relocated to the other side of Capitol Square in 2017.

If you’re not able to visit, check out the Poe Museum’s website. There’s a wealth of information online. There are also lots of good blogs and podcasts about Poe’s time in RVA. One with lots of pictures is J.W. Ocker’s OTIS (Odd Things I’ve Seen). Gretchen Kelly’s “RavenTrekking” is also a good overview of the Poe sites.

Check out the adventures of Delanie, Duncan, Margaret, and Chaz in the Delanie Fitzgerald Mysteries wherever you buy your books.

Behind the Scenes - Sears Catalog Homes

I have been fascinated with the Sears Catalog homes for many years. Way before the days of Ikea and online shopping, people could pick out a house from a catalog and order it. All the pieces and parts arrived by railcar, and it was ready for assembly on your lot. It was a brilliant marketing plan for a retailer who sold household goods and appliances. They also dabbled in real estate and loans over the years. Check out the links for more information on the history of these homes, many of which are still standing in communities across America. From 1908-1940, Sears and Roebuck sold over 70,000 of these.

There are quite a few of these homes still standing in Hopewell, Virginia. We did a driving tour of the neighborhoods. The historic and nostalgic qualities of a bygone era are still apparent, while many have been refurbished for this generation. You can also find lots of groups on Facebook dedicated to preserving and showcasing these homes in a hosts of different states.

When I started my Delanie Fitzgerald series, I wanted her house to be interesting, so a Sears Catalog home, the 1939 Yates model was perfect. I needed a house for a single professional. In the novels, Delanie likes the historic details like the boards and building materials that are stamped with the model number and assembly codes. Delanie’s home is a two story, and the prominent feature on the front is the fireplace.

I took the liberty of putting Delanie’s house in the Winterpock neighborhood of Chesterfield County, Virginia. (I don’t think there are any catalog homes in the area.) A friend from church who is a retired state trooper did let me know after he read the book that there are some Sears homes in the Bon Air neighborhood of the county.

Check out the Delanie Fitzgerald Mysteries: Secret Lives and Private Eyes, The Tulip Shirt Murders, and Glitter, Glam, and Contraband. Delanie and her pals also appear in “Strut Your Mutt” in To Fetch a Villain.

Behind the Scenes - Renaissance Fairs

My sister and I went to our first Renaissance Fair in the nineties near Fredericksburg, Virginia. What fun. There were reenactments, jousting, crafts, demonstrations, and lots of singing. The venue had several vignettes that included a jousting ring, a Medieval ship on the pond, and a castle-like setting. I was amazed at the number of guests who arrived in costume. There were some theatre-worthy outfits.

Unfortunately, the fair we attended folded at that location. I’m hoping post-pandemic that the fairs and the fun will return. If you’ve never been, it’s an escape to another world with all kinds of characters and action-packed cosplay.

The RenList is a good source of information on schedules and events. This site also provides details on the themes and activities. The FaireFinder is also a wealth of information on Renaissance Faires, Pirate Festivals, Celtic Games, and Fantasy/Fairie Events.

I’m also fascinated by abandoned places. The Renaissance Fair near Fredericksburg, VA is listed on several of these type of sites. I love looking at the photos (especially of places I had visited). Renaissance Faires and the abandoned site made its way into one of my mysteries.

In THE TULIP SHIRT MURDERS, Delanie is investigating a lead on a stalker, and she meets a character who enjoys larping and Renaissance faires. Douglas Black, is very excited to share that he and his friends went on a quest to the abandoned site in Fredericksburg and pilfered artifacts and souvenirs.

Pop culture is always an underlying theme in my mysteries. Different activities, hobbies, and interests add flair to the characters. I also learn a lot during my research, and I end up adding things to my bucket list.

Behind the Scenes - Roller Derby

When I was little, I would watch roller derby on TV on Sunday mornings before church. Probably not the peaceful introspection my mom would have wanted, but I was fascinated with the game and the women athletes. I loved to roller skate in the seventies and eighties and thought it would have been so cool to try it. I’ve never been to an in-person jam, but it’s still on my bucket list after all these years. We have a local team, River City Roller Derby, and it’s definitely on my things-to-do-after-the-pandemic list.

In THE TULIP SHIRT MURDERS, sassy PI, Delanie Fitzgerald, tracks down a lead who is part of the roller derby scene. The skater agrees to answer Delanie’s questions if she’ll suit up and help the team out at practice when they are short a few members. And Delanie is braver than I am. After surgery for a ruptured Achilles tendon, I may be relegated to the audience.

I had a lot of fun researching the sport. The Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) site has a great overview (and anything you ever wanted to know about the rules). There’s a neat infographic and links to Roller Derby 101 videos.

I am fascinated with the jammers and the blockers. The jammers are the only ones who can score for their team, and they have the cool star on their helmets.

Check out the adventures of Delanie, Duncan, Margaret, and Chaz in The Tulip Shirt Murders.

Behind the Scenes - The Big 80s

I am Generation X. We were first generation “Sesame Street” and “M-TV.” Television, movies, music, and the mall scene were part of formative years, and we grew up with ever-changing technology. So, it was a natural fit for pop culture to play a key role in my mysteries and characters’ lives.

In the first Delanie Fitzgerald mystery, Secret Lives and Private Eyes, the sassy Private Eye is hired by a tell-all author to look into the rumors that 80s rock star, Johnny Velvet of the Vibes, faked his death and was living incognito on a small farm in Amelia, Virginia. Delanie’s whisked back to the era of boom boxes, teen mags, mix tapes, and other pop culture memories from the decade of excess as she searches for what happened to the members of the Vibes. Could the handsome John Bailey really be the Johnny Velvet?

My mix tapes were full of Duran Duran, Culture Club, the Cure, Billy Idol, Cyndi Lauper, and A-ha. And my closet doors were covered in pictures of C. Thomas Howell, Rob Lowe, Ralph Macchio, Llmahl, and George Michael. I sported blue eye shadow, banana clips, braces, and shoulder pads. Delanie is a bit younger, but she experienced the Big 80s in elementary school.

Check out how it all began for Delanie and Duncan (and Margaret, the English bulldog) in Secret Lives and Private Eyes.

Behind the Scenes - Drag Shows

In Glitter, Glam, and Contraband, sassy Private Eye, Delanie Fitzgerald, is hired to find out who is stealing from the talent at a local drag show.

I had never been to a show before, and my writer friend, Rosemary Shomaker, organized an outing for a group of writers at Godfrey’s in Richmond, Virginia. We had so much fun, and brunch was wonderful. The banana-stuffed French toast tasted like dessert. And the talent was extremely generous with their time before and after the show. They answered a lot of my questions, and everyone wanted to be in a murder mystery.

I made up the club in Glitter, Glam, and Contraband, as well as the entertainers’ names. My characters, Amber Alert, Ana Conda, Ginger Snap, Kiki Jubilee, Cherri Bomb, Nova Cain, Paige Turner, and Tara Byte were a lot of fun to write. I gave each of them a stage persona with props. Ana Conda brought her boa to the show until it scared someone in the audience. Ginger Snap and Cherri Bomb were sexy redheads. Nova Cain was a naughty nurse, Paige Turner was a librarian, and Tara Byte was a computer geek.

While I was writing the book, I did a lot of research on websites like Ru Paul’s Drag Race. There are also a lot of good sites with makeup tips. I always learn interesting stuff while researching books.

The Gang from Godfreys with authors Fiona Quinn, Tina Glasneck, Rosemary Shomaker, and me

Check out all the adventures of Delanie and Duncan (and Margaret the English bulldog).

Behind the Scenes - Larping

Surprisingly, I do a lot of research for my mysteries (even though the books are fiction). For The Tulip Shirt Murders, my sassy PI, Delanie Fitzgerald, needs to interview a twenty-something who was accused of stalking. In their conversations, she learns he larps (live action role playing).

According to C. Don Wilson in the Urban Dictionary, This is a “form of role-playing game where the participants physically act out their characters' actions. The players pursue their characters' goals within a fictional setting represented by the real world, while interacting with one another in character.”

Originating in the 1970s, the activity gained popularity in the 1980s. According to Wilson, “The fictional genres used vary greatly, from realistic modern or historical settings to fantastic or futuristic eras. Production values are sometimes minimal, but can involve elaborate venues and costumes. LARPs range in size from small private events lasting a few hours to huge public events with thousands of players lasting for several days.”

According to the World of Geek, larping differs from cosplay in that larping involves action and reenactments. “Cosplay, from the words ‘Costume’ and ‘Play,’ is about costuming and re-creating the design of already existing/original characters.” (World of Geek). Cosplay usually involves less role-playing and action events like battles.

Larping often has rules, and participants “immerse themselves entirely in their character and act out their actions” (World of Geek).

In my story, the suspect, Douglas Black, invites Delanie to an event in a local park where his group or guild reenact Medieval life, including battles between warring factions. He tries to convince her to join him by offering to lend her a replica sword.

Popular culture is a large part of the Delanie Fitzgerald series. In her investigations, she meets all kinds of interesting people with unique jobs and hobbies, and it’s a fun way for me to learn about new things.

Check out the adventures of Delanie, Duncan, Margaret, and Chaz in The Tulip Shirt Murders.