The
cave is dark and damp. A tall gaunt man in an oversized t-shirt and corduroys,
tip-toes next to his meddlesome Great Dane. As they round the corner a ghostly
figure appears; but in their haste to get away they all collide and Shaggy and
Scooby Doo see it’s not really a ghost at all.
That
was my first taste of mystery and suspense. I was only six years old when I
discovered that suspense is built upon carefully placed clues. These
breadcrumbs provide mysterious tales with logical explanations. There were
three constants growing up in my house- God, Country, and mysteries. My mother
had the entire set of Agatha Christie, the complete set of Nancy Drew and too
many other mystery authors to name. I also grew up in a Christian home and had
family members who had served in the military. How did I process all of this?
The Celia Kelly Series.
Because
of my love for books, writing seemed to be the best creative medium for me.
Although it was actually cinema that inspired me to create my first mystery
series. My husband was working away from home and I was devouring
mystery-suspense movies in his absence. Before long I was deducing plot lines
from the opening credits. I decided to create a story that not even I could
figure out until the end. I began to form an original character in my mind and
thus, Celia Kelly was born.
When
I decided to create the Celia Kelly Series, I wanted something fast paced;
something as a reader you had the opportunity to discover the mystery as it
unfolded for her. The message had to be clear, no matter what the obstacle or
how high the mountain there is always a way over or through! Although reading
can be an escape from reality, I also like walking away with a better
understanding of the world around me. Often times, I think books can teach us
something about ourselves that we didn’t know before. That’s one opportunity I
hope to give others with the Celia Kelly Series. When the going gets tough,
Celia Kelly looks up and relies on her faith in the face of adversity.
I’ve
learned that there is a great responsibility that comes with being an author.
Most believe that media reflects society. To a certain extent that is true. I
believe that media, (books, TV, movies) can influence society for the better.
When
writing about the military one thing always stands out. The military is a life
of service. That’s something everyone can relate to no matter what
job they are in. No matter what our job or what walk of life, it is our
responsibility to serve others in some way and make a difference. I write about
heroes because I believe each of us deep down has the opportunity to be
somebody’s hero in some way.
I
have a blog called CN Salutes where I interview those who serve and have served
our country. I find myself in awe of every selfless story. Soldiers leave
everything to protect all that we stand for as “One nation under God”. While
soldiers are over there they have families here serving on the home front.
Those families sacrifice being with their loved one. They share their family
with the entire nation. That’s service! I have been blessed by their example.
I
am most proud of my family. I am a wife, mother and grandmother. My husband,
Glen, and I raised our children in Montana. God blessed and allowed us to raise
four amazing individuals who now have careers and/or families of their own.
Our
oldest daughter, a teacher, is married and they have a daughter. My youngest
daughter is married to an Army Black Hawk Pilot and they are raising three
boys. My daughter Melissa and son Kyle live in LA, California. Melissa is a
photographer married to comedian Dave Coulier (Joey Gladstone from Full
House/Fuller House) and Kyle is writer, director, producer and owner of Bring
Media Production Company.
I
love being a mother and now I am enjoying being a grandmother. The best thing
about being a grandmother is its all quality time- just me and them. It is the
best and I can’t really explain it in a way that does it justice, it has to be
experienced!
Age
has taught me that we get distracted by life and often forget why we are here. We
all have gifts given by God that make each of us unique and necessary to the
world around us. There are many ways we can be an example to our peers and
minister to others daily. When you feel compelled to help fill a need, you are
being driven to serve. It’s our responsibility. Serving others is what
gives us purpose and direction.
So
how do I translate that into military, mystery, suspense? Life itself is a
story. Sometimes mundane, sometimes filled with action. We don’t always know
what may be in store for us next. I want to remind people that with faith, the
extraordinary is done by ordinary people every day. So like Shaggy and Scooby,
even if you don’t know what’s just around the bend inside the cave? There is
always hope or at least a logical explanation. There is always faith. God
doesn’t only know where you are headed, He’s right beside you every step of the
way.
