I always knew that getting a book published would be difficult. It's probably why I have postponed getting into this field. Yes, I could go indie and self-publish. But, I worry that the three years of hard work just getting here would end up only on family and friends' kindles. I have the patience, I just don't know if I have the time to wait this game out. And, even though I am late to this party, I still want a career as a writer to define me.

You see, I have a health condition that can either sit dormant or get aggressive. Oh, I don't expect to fall off the perch anytime soon. I've felt quite well lately and plan to live another two to three decades, God willing. I also plan on completing a full series of The Athens, Ga Mysteries - whatever that means. No fewer than three books, for sure. I will ride the writer horse no matter how slow or fast that clock ticks.

In book one (now sitting on agents desks worldwide) I focused a lot on researching several elements that are key to the story. The book, Croaked: A Ribbiting Murder, started out as just a blurb. Four lines! Not the kind of blurb that would sell it, of course. It was just a form of guidance for me. Hated boss found in frog pond. Protagonist must solve crime while juggling mean, aging Mom no senior home will take. Use of endangered plant found nearby is stuffed up dead man's nose. Music, music, music. 

I admit, it wasn't much to start with, but it was a start. You see I had grown bored with my life. Doctors said I shouldn't work so I was put on disability. While my hands may shake and my balance is even more questionable at times, my mind was just fine. Well, quirky, but mentally fine. My memory likes to trip me up, but that's probably typical of someone who has six decades of life jammed into those brain cells. 

So, I pulled out all the ideas I have had in the past for the book I wanted to write. But those ideas needed researching. The place. Where? I talked to other authors about how they decided on their book settings. I asked about fictional v real. I got positives and negatives on both sides. Then one lovely lady triggered a bell. "If you could live anywhere in the world or outer worlds, where would it be?" She followed that up with, "What interests you? What would your dream life look like? If you can't actually go there, create it." Sage advice. 

Enter Athens, Georgia. It took me a test drive through the town that sits about 50 miles from my home to convince me that this was the place. The streets we drove down were flanked in hundred year old oak trees followed by blocks of sidewalks. The first houses I saw were homes probably built in the 40s or 50s called Craftsman homes. They had the welcoming open front porches that we think of as typically southern. That charm continued with the colorful choices on doors and gables. Colors ranging from deep purple, to brick red, to bright yellow. I loved it. 

Next was checking out the downtown area. No decent cozy leaves out the center of their town. Plus, I had to figure out where my main character would work. We drove up and down Prince Street, then onto Clayton, and curled around where the 40 Watt Club sits. The 40 Watt Club! Here (well maybe not this exact location) is where the roots of the 80s college music all started. I was excited. As a fan of college radio since I was in high school in the 70s, I felt that this was my first welcome to Athens moment. 

I went home and wrote out my outline for the book. More research was needed about Athens and the outer areas to fill in the blank patches in my outline. For years I have had a picture of the Iron Horse on my computer screen. I never really knew why. It was something I came upon just by happenstance. Never been there. Wasn't even sure where 'there' was. I saw a picture of this odd piece of art and fell in love. When I pulled up a search of  'places to see' in Athens, I was surprised to find the Iron Horse on that list. We had to have driven right past it when we came home the back way. Was this an omen? As a person who welcomes 'clues' and 'signs' of guidance, I once again marked this as an augural sign. 

Step by step, things just fell into place. I met the right people at the right time who offered valuable input regarding Athens, the music scene, and the lifestyle. It's those people who drove this book home and I couldn't be more grateful for their assistance. Plus, Athens has an allure that stands out from many southern towns.

Although the draft took several turns during the process of writing, editing, and rewriting, it did eventually end up with characters that were fun, entertaining, ruthless, and ornery (yes, I am talking about that mean mom). Who, by the way, I am told was hated by my beta readers up to the end when she became one of their top favorites. While I would have liked my MC to be the top fav character, it turns out that her assistant, Flo, the ex-cop, steampunk, moonlighting singer of a Concrete Blonde cover band wins hands down. It's the diversity of the town that makes the perfect setting for this series.

Patti