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Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Welcome to Frances Devine

Tonight it's my privilege to welcome another Heartsong Presents: Mysteries! author, Frances Devine. Like me, she experienced loss at the same time as one of her greatest writing triumphs. I'll let her tell you her story.

In this blog, I have been processing the loss of my daughter to suicide. The experience of loss of universal. What significant loss have you experienced? How has it impacted your writing?
My mother went to be with Jesus a few months before I got my first contract. She was 98, and had been reading my stories since I was nine years old. Although it was bittersweet because I couldn’t share the joy with her, I think of her often when I’m writing and feel like she’s cheering me on.


What central truth did you learn through your loss?
We need to remember to cherish our loved ones while they are with us.

Do you write to escape your circumstances or to process your feelings? Or both? Please share examples.
Sorry, I’ve no idea. I write because I love to write.

You have recently published "Miss Aggie’s Gone Missing." Please tell me a little about your book.
Victoria Storm has recently inherited Cedar Lodge, her ancestral home in Cedar Chapel, Missouri, now a boarding house for a half-dozen opinionated, young at heart seniors. When Miss Aggie Pennington-Brown, one of the boarders, disappears on the same cold, January day the Cedar Chapel Bank is robbed, Victoria and the seniors don’t think it’s a coincidence. With help from Victoria’s childhood nemesis, Benjamin, and roadblocks thrown at them from the local sheriff, she and the boarders stumble from one adventure to another, searching for clues in an attempt to solve the crime.

Footnote: Andrea Boeshaar interviewed me today at The Write Word For Women - http://writeword4women.blogspot.com/ Stop by and check it out! Thanks.

6 comments:

Susan Page Davis said...

Sounds like a fun book, Frances. Reminds me of a Sarah Orne Jewett story where the woman leaves to go to the World's Fair without telling anyone, and when she finally comes home her neighbors are out raking the town pond for her body. Nice to learn about your writing journey.

Darlene Franklin said...

You made it, Susan! Thanks for your persistence.

Unknown said...

Can't wait to read it!

Deb said...

Hi Darlene, great post. I went over and read your interview also. It was a great meme. I hope you're having a sunny day on the inside. Deb

Lynette Sowell said...

Frances, thanks for sharing that! Your story sounds like a lot of fun, too. :)

Mary Connealy said...

Sorry I didn't get here yesterday, crazy day.
I'm loving these cozy mysteries. They're so fresh and fun and to me, there's not much out there like them.