The opening scene takes place in the Hacienda Hotel in New Port Richey, a winter haven for silent film movie actors, such as Gloria Swanson. The hotel is a beautiful setting with large oaks and dangling Spanish Moss set in tropical Florida.

The Hacienda, once a lively place for snowbirds and senior proms is in need of repair. I wanted to bring attention to this historic hotel and the stories it has to tell.

The opening scene is a poker game between, crusty Florence Carter, two political hacks, and a rather unusual character named Hoinky (Bobby Mack). It's not your typical poker game. The participants are playing for titles to a limestone mine and coastal swampland. Except for Hoinky, he wants to marry Florence and wagers a her a marriage proposal.

I seriously considered making the opening scene the prologue, however, I feared people would not read it. You need to know a bit of the area's history and where Dale Carter, one of the protagonists, came from.

I get a lot of feedback regarding Florence Carter. Readers instantly latch onto her persona. My first home was purchased from a 92 year old woman with a personality similar to Florence's. I paid $27,000 and $4 for radiator covers. She squeezed every dime out of a situation.