Finally!

Hey, I’m back. It’s only been . . . well, months.  Have been struggling with getting “Buried Alive!,” John Victor’s second adventure, edited and published. It’s available–right now!–online at Create Space’s Book Store.  Finally! But, before I get into that, there’s something exciting (at least for me and possibly for any of you who suffer with insomnia):  Over the counter medicine, prescriptions, and the usual suggestions have all failed me. But, there’s a cure that actually works for me!  Finally! My long-time friend, Erna D, told me about it on the telephone. You simply need a banana, a small saucepan and some water.  Cut both ends of the banana off. (I’m not sure why, but perhaps they’re bitter?).  Then place the banana–skin and all–into a saucepan, cover with water, and bring to a boil.  Let it simmer for ten minutes.  Then, use the water like tea (I add lots of cream and a little sugar).  Tastes great that way if, like me, you like a little bit of tea with your cream and sugar.  Anyway, drink your tea that tastes slightly like banana, and eat what you can of the banana–skin and all according to Erna–but with my stomach troubles I don’t bother with the skin.  I even mash the banana and add a bit to my tea. Reminds me of the consistency of extra pulp in OJ.  I end up falling asleep within half an hour, instead of struggling for two or more hours.

Getting back to “Buried Alive!,” the scene is set near Tucson, Arizona.  Our intrepid hero is literally buried alive in a crude cedar coffin somewhere beneath the Sonora Desert. And to make it interesting, his “coffin” is digitally connected to a live radio show. The radio host invites a bevy of professionals to communicate with John Victor, in an effort to pull elusive clues from his memory. Professionals like detectives, profilers, scientists, etc.  So they can find him before it’s too late.  An endangered plant is the basis for his being found. There are bits of trivia about the Tucson region, and most importantly of all, there’s information about the Bible. Between John Victor and one other character, bits of Biblical information is revealed, including info about prophesies that have actually been fulfilled–the chance for them being fulfilled is astounding–and about faith in its various forms.  Like with “The SEED,” John’s first adventure, “Buried Alive!” has intrigue, humor, a touch of romance, and faith-based information.  Speaking of “The SEED,” have I mentioned at least a hundred times that it was nominated by a professor for inclusion on Green Mountain College’s required reading list? And that it placed as a top-ten finalist in a national contest?  Well, right now, you can find “Buried Alive” by Ann Rich Duncan by Googling Create Space Book Store.  It’ll be available thru Amazon.com after April 10.  By the way, the ISBN #s are:  13:978-1496055538 and 10: 1496055535.  Here’s a pix of the cover:

More Adventure with John Victor!

Here’s a scene that’s a work in progress for the sequel to “The SEED”  . . .

Breebee Queen stepped further onto the sidewalk and turned questioning eyes toward the van that pulled up dangerously close. “John,” she muttered, “look at these clowns.” Her eyes opened wider when she saw the troubled look on his face, but before either of them had a chance to react, they were grabbed from behind and thrown into the back of the van.

Avery and Thomas scrambled in behind their two victims as Jack shoved the peddle to the floor. They zoomed up the street without a soul within sight to see the snatch. John’s head throbbed. He had been slammed into the side panel. It was all he could do to keep himself from falling over as the van careened back and forth as it sped away. Breebee rubbed her ankle and demanded, “What do you want? Why are you doing this?”

“Never you mind,” Thomas growled. “You just stay low and do what we say.”

“That’s a good girl, Breebee,” Averycrooned. A shiver of pleasure sped its way up his spine when he uttered her stage name. “Don’t be afraid, now. I ain’t gonna hurt you an’ I won’t let them either,” he whispered. “No way, little lady. I got good stuff planned for you.”

If you like the above scene, you’d like “The SEED”.  Check it out at www.annrichduncan.com!

Gardens of the Mind

What comes to your mind when you think about gardening? An aching back? Throbbing knees? Chipped nails?  Or, do you think about the end result . . . the sweet fragrance of delicate white Margaret Merrill roses bordering a front

crisp, sweet carrots

walk, the flaming red petals of Caroline Testout roses as they scale a wall, or the crisp, thirst-quenching crunch of your favorite cucumbers, or crisp, sweet carrots? For some, it’s reality–probably even BOTH realities–from toiling in their personal gardens to sitting down to a satisfying home-grown meal at the dinner table.

And then, there’s us writers, who must help you to smell, taste, see and experience the gardens in our novels.  For instance, on page 91 of my novel of suspense, The SEED (that can be found at www.annrichduncan.com) you get to “see” Dr. Bascomb’s gardens thru Evie’s eyes as she storms over the big hill:  . . . the contrasting foliar effects were further evidence of the owner’s skills in working with plant life–from the bursts of tall, waggling grasses to the sheared conical evergreens, every inch had been coaxed alive with the colors and the mingling scents of flowers and herbs. An assortment of climbing roses laden with cream, pink and deep red buds spilled from the tops of stone walls in anticipation of a riotous blooming season. And to Evie’s far left? The delicate Japanese honeysuckle vines released their sweet fragrance into the fresh country air to blend with the heady scents of lemon verbena and golden sage.  This scene takes place in Massachusetts, in the Berkshires, where you can see the tower on top of Mount Greylock (the highest peak in the state) in the distance.

Mount Greylock? Massachusetts? I spent twenty years in that area, working and raising my girls.  We lived in Adams, North Adams, and finally in Williamstown, before I moved to Vermont in 1998.  The Berkshires are beautiful and the Green Mountains of Vermont are gorgeous.  And then, there’s the Adirondacks in New York (where I grew up). They’re amazing.

A Novel Idea

Seed Baby on You Tube. Check it out on my website.

Watched a documentary today. About Nostradamus, the French astrologer from the 1500’s. It said he wrote while in a trance. Got visions and wrote them down. Wish I could do that. I tend to do research. Like with my new novel–a follow up to The Seed. Sort of.

Maybe it’s my public relations and journalism experience. Thing is, I need facts. Just the facts, ma’am. I look things up and weave them into the story. Like how did Tucson, Arizona get its name? It’s in the book. And, what could lead people to a victim who has been buried alive? How about an endangered species that a witness might have seen? So I looked up endangered species in the Tucson area. Got a good one. Which led to statistics about construction, human population, yata, yata, yata.

Each fact woven into the story. Heck, I even learned about the burial of Cochise, the great Indian Chief. And, one of the biggest mines in the Tucson region. Bisbee Queen? Nichols Turk’s Head Cactus? Arizona Sonora Desert Museum? Habits of the Monarch butterfly?  The veins and Petiole and other parts of a leaf? And, cedar used for Alexander the Great’s ships? It’s all there. Woven into a thriller. John Victor’s second adventure. Hmmm. I’ve got lots of facts, maybe I should sit down and envision the way to use them.  By the way . . . have you seen our You Tube video, called:  Seed Baby? It’s a spoof on biotechnology. Log onto my website:  www.annrichduncan.com and scroll down to the You Tube button. Do it now for a good laugh!