Joyce > Recent Status Updates

Though we fiction writers at times like to cast a bit of a bad light on the occasional character representing law enforcement within the pages of our stories, it is no reflection on those outstanding folks in real life who serve. We would be lost without you.

Since we patronize Rite Aid here at home, I called the pharmacist at the Camden store. I explained the situation, and the pharmacist made my daughter an appointment with a local physician within the hour. That is old-fashioned neighborliness at its finest.

The village of Youngstown in this book is somewhat of a collage of the lovely villages we frequented: Camden, Rockport, and Rockland. I borrowed many of the street names and the Chapel of the Innocents, as well as the enthralling cemeteries.

From Acknowledgments:

While we were there, we learned many things about the folks who populate the proud state of Maine. Hardworking, enduring ... but most of all, caring about others as well as about this planet. The atmosphere was steeped in tradition and history. Exploring homes dating back to the early 1700s was utterly fascinating.

The truth is what it is, but sometimes it was not what it seemed.

For Sarah, the truth was, it was time to get over the past and make herself a future.

A serial killer is never truly random. There is always a distinctly similar motive driven by his compulsion.

I needed to satisfy the urge, but I didn't want to eliminate anyone who contributed to society. You never know when someone might turn out to be the one who invents the cure for cancer or who turns around global warming.

As much as she had no desire to spend the rest of her life in prison, she had a greater desire not to spend eternity in Hell.

"Is that a no?"

Fury blasted her nerve endings. "That's the mother of all no's, Conner."

No one was immune to fear.

Sarah's entire genetic makeup, all that she was, had resulted from the combination of deceit, uncontrollable urges, and lies.

if the trigger for one or more of those bad traits - and all addicts had triggers for their vices - was ever tripped, would there be any turning back?

Some say that we make our own choices regardless of DNA. Their opinion is that those who make the wrong choices use their genetic history as an excuse. Others insis that we do what we're hardwired to do with no real free choice. Bottom line, in my assessment, inheriting the DNA of a killer puts the potential into play.

It was the only dress she'd brought on the trip. It was her stock packing item. Wrinkle-free, slinky material. No buttons, no zipper. Just stretchy, clingy material that looked elegant without maintenance.

"Tagging along after a group that is never going to invite you in or settling for less than what you deserve is self-defeating." Sounded as if Mommy wasn't happy with her daughter's choices in associates. But then, what mother of a teenager was?

She could educate the lady in the ways of small-town America. The smaller the town, the smaller the minds.

Sarah had come to terms with the idea that she didn't have the proper foundation for building a relationship. The Popes, the Conners, all had something she didn't: a childhood that included the necessary pattern for developing relationships.

The families were devastated. I heard about the troubling financial problems they were having prior to the tragedy. I couldn't take away their pain, but I could lessen the stress in other areas. It was the right thing to do.

August smirked. "I know every square inch of her."

Rage detonated in Kale's blood.

"I don't need a formal introduction to know an @$$hole when I meet one."

~~~~~

(mini-spoiler!!!)

Each time, Sarah hid in the closet or under the stairs waiting for Mommy to finish up and find her.

"I see you're up to your old tricks," Lex said with a pointed glance at Conner "There are other ways of gleaning information, Sarah. You don't always have to do it on your back."

his black trench coat unwrinkled and gleaming like he'd only just pulled it off the rack at Nordstrom's.

Too bad he was all show and no tell. "A sense of humor would be wasted on me, just like that puny set of balls is on you."

When Lex exited the house, she would demand answers. She wouldn't get them, but maybe a confrontation would cause him to screw up and let something slip. She could hope. That strategy had worked for her before. If it didn't, there was always bribery.

Sarah felt for this girl. She had no one looking out for her. Sarah had bought her own big chunk of real estate in that lonely state.

no one in this God-fearing village would ever suspect their divine communications link of such a thing.

Some would call Sarah's tactics unconscionable. But that was the way this game was played. She planted the doubts and suspicions and then the reactions began. Just like tipping that first domino. All the rest were helpless to do anything but fall.

sometimes the best counseling and most earnest prayers aren't in alignment with God's intentions. Our view is limited, and we must rely on His. He always has His reasons, and ours is not to question why.

Sarah turned back to Conner, who was ready to exchange knuckle imprints with one of the cameramen.

Lots of teenagers ticked church services off their must-do lists as soon as they were old enough to make their own choices.

It was far too easy to become dependent. She didn't like being dependent. Dependency fostered weakness.

Does Alicia have any enemies that you know of?

Everybody likes her, I swear. She's the most popular girl in school.

I guess when you're that gorgeous, you get used to the jealousy. After all, whenever there's a winner, there are always losers, too.

Trust me, the bark is bigger than the bite. Many of the rumors you hear are blown way out of proportion. New York is just a bunch of little villages clustered together, that's all.