Memories!

How many of you read Nancy Drew of Trixie Beldon. I did! I did! (my had waving wildly) I couldn't get enough of them. One year when I was a young teenager I went to visit my brother and his wife where he was stationed at Myrtle Beach, S.C. While he was at work on the base there wasn't much to do (they only had one car, you know, newlyweds) so there was a little store right up the road. They had Trixie Beldon books. I know I read at least three or four during the week I stayed with them.

You're not going to believe this. Well maybe you will, but I'm going to give you evidence by posting pictures. I went to a mall in Alabama and they had a Books-A-Million. I was just going up and down looking at books when lo and behold there was the whole set of Nancy Drew books. I had to have one! On a whim I asked them if they had any Trixie Beldon books and they had two left. Now they only have one:)

I read a few passages from Nancy Drew and it was so funny. We just don't talk like that anymore. I'm not sure I ever did. But when I was young I couldn't get enough of mysteries. I guess it was natural for me to write them. I want to tell you the story of how I got started writing cozies. First,as an adult cozies have always been my favorite genre. One of my favorite writer's was Anne George. She lived in Birmingham, Ala. She didn't start writing until she retired from being a school teacher. She wrote eight books before she died from heart failure. I knew I wanted to write like her.
I finished my manuscript for "Death in Dahlonega" after years of working on it. I had family to take care of while I was writing. I then discovered American Christian Fiction Writers and Margaret Daley. I learned about Christian Fiction and decided I wanted "Death in Dahlonega" to be Christian Fiction. I rewrote my manuscript - didn't have to change too much. There were a few *&^ words from the crusty editor, Harv, that had to come out. So that's what I did. "Death in Dahlonega" is not a young adult book, but cozies remind me of Nancy Drew and Trixie Beldon. My Trixie is named after Trixie Beldon.  I want to write a few passages from Nancy Drew's "The Secret of theOld Clock" and see if it brings back any memories for you.

     As Nancy drove into the camp, a group of girls gathered around her car. Helen came running out of a cabin to greet her chum.
     "Girls, it's Nancy Drew!" she exclaimed joyfully and made introductions. Nancy did not know any of the campers, but in no time they made her feel warmly welcomed.
     "Nancy," said Helen, "park your car back of the dining hall, then come have lunch."
     "That sounds wonderful." Nancy laughed. "I'm nearly starved!"
     First, she was escorted to the main building where she met Aunt Martha, the camp director, and registered.
     "May she stay with me?" Helen asked.
     "Certainly, dear. And I hope you have a splendid time, Nancy."
     "I'm sure I shall, Aunt Martha."
     As the two girls walked off Nancy told Helen about selling the charity-dance tickets and gave her the money paid by Mr. Topham.
     "He surely was generous!" Helen, commented feeling he did it more for soical prestige than sympathy for the cause."
     Nancy scarcely had time to deposit her suitcase under her cot and freshen up after the long ride when lunch was announced by the ringing of the bell. Campers hurried from all directions to the dining hall. The food was plain but appetizing and Nancy ate with zest.
     The meal over, she was rushed from one activity to another. The girls insisted that she join them for a hike. Then came a cooling dip in the lake. Nancy enjoyed herself immensely, but the Crowley mystery was never far from her mind.

I'd love to hear from you and let me know if this triggered some memories and if so what were they?

HAPPY READING!

DEBORAH MALONE

eborah has worked as a freelance writer and photographer, since 2001, for the historical magazine Georgia Backroads.
She has had many articles and photographs published during this time. Her writing is featured in "TAles of the Rails? edited by Olin Jackson. She has also had a showing of her photoraphs at Floyd Meical Center Art Gallery as well as winning several awards. Her debut cozy mystery "Death in Dahlonega," a winner in the ACFW Category Five Writer's Contest, is now available.

She is a current member of the Georgia Writers Association, and a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. Deborah has been nominate for Georgia Author of the Year 2012.

She has an established blog, Butterfly Journey where she reviews Christian Fiction. http://www.deborahsbutterflyjourney.blogspot.com/

You can also catch her at Sleuths and Suspects where she reviews mysteries.

http://www.sleuthsandsuspects.blogspot.com/