@stevendbrewer@wandering.shop

#ScribesAndMakers Do you ever read out loud, either to yourself or someone else?

When my children were little, I read to them all the time. We read many books: Winnie the Pooh, Tom Sawyer, The Hobbit, the Lord of the Rings, Alice in Wonderland, and many more.

I sometimes offer readings and there are recordings of me reading that can be found.

The last thing I do when writing a story is to read it out loud to identify any place my tongue stumbles, so I can edit it. It's a really helpful trick.

"Milk? Or sugar?" she asked.
He shook his head. He templed his fingers in thought and said nothing for several moments.
Coral felt her tension begin to rise again.
"Will I ever see my mom again?" she asked, plaintively.
He laughed. "Please," he said. "No death flags!" (4/4) #wss366

The routine provided a sense of normalcy and the smell of the tea was relaxing. For the first time since discovering that her mom was missing, her heart wasn't racing with panic.
Jimmy finally came into the dining room. He seated himself while she poured the tea. (3/4) #wss366

While she waited, she got down the teapot and measured out some tea leaves into it. Then she got down two of the china tea cups and carried them to the table. When the kettle began to whistle, she poured the water into the teapot and carried it too out the table. (2/4) #wss366

Jimmy explored the rest of the house. He thoroughly studied every room, looking for any additional clues. Coral trailed after him for a while.
Eventually she grew bored and went into the kitchen. She filled the kettle, lit a burner on the stove, and set the water to boil. (1/4) #wss366

This sakura tree, probably of similar age to ours, is almost completely dead. But one small branch still flowers and leafs out.

Inside, there was no bar of soap, but rather a small electronic device.
"It's a camera," he said, pointing at the lens.
"In her bathroom?" Coral said, scandalized.
"It was pointed toward the open door into her bedroom. They probably wanted to monitor her daily routine." (3/3) #wss366

He proceeded to carefully check her bed, laundry hamper, and her bathroom. He studied all of the bottles and cosmetics on her #sink. Coral watched in silence.
"What's this?" Jimmy said. He pointed at a stack of packages of bar soap. He retrieved the one from the bottom and opened it. (2/3) #wss366

Coral opened her mouth to speak when Jimmy cut her off.
"Let's go check your place first, and then sit down to talk."
She led him silently to their house. He studied everything as they walked across the yard and then entered. She let him to Joyce's bedroom. (1/3) #wss366

#ScribesAndMakers What's a smell that has featured in your work?

Lady Cecelia is a botanist and can sometimes identify the odors of plants. Or, when they visit the town where the Kenderback distillery is located, she recognizes the smell of gin which is flavored with juniper.

"Whoever snatched your mom," he said. "They were professionals. Probably state actors. They watched from here for several days until they decided to take her."
"Who would want to do that?"
Jimmy stopped and looked at Coral. "How much do you know about your mom?" (3/3) #wss366

Coral felt it too. "What?"
"C'mere," Jimmy said. They walked to another room and he felt a side table in there. "See?"
"What!?"
"They cleaned everything they touched. They touched that table, but not this one."
"Who?" (2/3) #wss366

As they stepped in, Jimmy scowled. He moved the door back and forth and then inspected the hinges.
"It's just been oiled," he said, pointing.
He walked into the dining room that had windows oriented toward Joyce's house. He ran his finger along the table.
"Feel this!" he said. (1/3) #wss366

As they stepped in, Jimmy scowled. He moved the door back and forth and then inspected the hinges.
"It's just been oiled," he said, pointing.
He walked into the dining room that had windows oriented toward Joyce's house. He ran his finger along the table.
"Feel this!" he said. (1/3) #wss366

Whoa! Meagan Levison, an Executive Editor at Hachette Book Group, is also interested! She uses a custom domain which has now been reported for abuse.

He pointed at the dark house next to it. The curtains were drawn. The grass was unkempt. "Who lives there?"
"Nobody, right now," Coral said. "The old lady passed away and it's in probate."
"Who's been making trash?" Jimmy said, pointing at the trash barrel out front. "Her #ghost?" (4/4) #wss366

They walked around the corner and he looked down the street. As they walked, he studied the houses, yards, and parked vehicles.
"It's that one, right kid?" Jimmy said, pointing at a pink raised ranch.
"Yeah. That's our house." (3/4) #wss366

"Let's walk from here," he said, climbing out of the drop.
He slid a case out from under the seat of the truck, unlocked it, and pulled out a big, ugly automatic. He chambered a round, checked the safety, and slipped it into the waistband of his pants. (2/4) #wss366

After the ferry docked, Jimmy drove his truck onto the barrier island, the turned right and headed down the central highway.
"It's on the left up ahead, right?"
"Right," Coral said. "I mean left. Right."
Jimmy chuckled. He turned into the subdivision, then parked two streets away. (1/4) #wss366

"But she wasn't there in the morning. No note, no nothing. Which is not like her. When she still wasn't home when I got back from University, I came to look for you."
Jimmy nodded and thought for a moment, then asked, "Did she take her car?"
Coral shook her head.
"No. She was just gone." (2/2) #wss366