THE
JOY OF STORY
John
M. Daniel’s Blog
June
18, 2016
Greetings, writers and
readers, storytellers and avid listeners. This week I’m pleased to have as my
guest mystery writer Sally Carpenter, author of the Sandy Fairfax Teen Idol series.
Sandy
Fairfax is an amateur sleuth. That means he’s not a cop or a private
investigator, just somebody who has a habit of stumbling over dead bodies
(figuratively speaking) and getting caught up the risky business of figuring
out whodunit, chasing down the killer, and seeing that the villain is brought
to justice.
Sometimes
in the amateur sleuth subgenre, this adventure happens entirely against the
poor protagonist’s will, but it goes with the territory that the amateur sleuth
is nosy enough, and has a conviction about right being better than wrong, to
overcome fear and pick up the gauntlet fate has thrown down.
The
chase is on, and our hero is one to root for, a sleuth whose final advantages are
bravado, honor, and a good set of wits.
Sally
Carpenter’s amateur Sandy Fairfax has just what it takes.
§§§
Inside the Mind of a Teen Idol
by Sally Carpenter
I have four books in the series. In book one, Sandy’s been
out of circulation for many years and is attempting to launch a comeback. This
is where fiction meets reality. All real-life teen idols experience an
explosive but short-lived career in their early twenties and then fall into
obscurity. However, when the idol is in his late thirties, nostalgia kicks in
for the older fans, and he’s discovered by a younger generation, and his career
is renewed.
Sandy is passionate. He admits that he follows his heart
instead of his head. If he wants something, he goes full tilt for it. When he
gets his teeth into a murder case, he won’t let go.
He loves classic cars and guitars as well as all types of
music. He used to love drinking until he realized that was really an addiction;
now he’s clean and sober. He loves performing, not just for the acclaim but he
truly enjoys making people happy. He couldn’t go into another line of work
because he’d rather be on a stage.
Sandy has a strong sense of justice. He’s a “reluctant hero”
as he was thrust into amateur sleuthing against his will and better judgment.
However, now that he’s solved several crimes he finds it rewarding. He’s
determined to bring in the killer, even if he doesn’t like or even know the
victim.
Sandy’s a “speed freak.” He drives fast and he craves
excitement. He likes the mental challenge of finding the killer and the thrill
of the chase. Solving crimes helps him feel worthwhile and needed; he’s more
than just a pretty face on a lunchbox.
As for flaws, in book one he’s a mess. He’s just quit
drinking cold turkey and as a result he’s cranky and moody. He has a short
temper and lashes out when provoked. As a result of having people gush over
him, Sandy possesses a monster-size ego.
Like every real idol except for Donny Osmond, Sandy’s
divorced. Sandy was an idol during the years when a man’s libido is at its
strongest. As a result, he doesn’t have a mature attitude about women or
sexuality. He was promiscuous in his youth, although that’s tapered off. Over
the years he’s had a number of neurotic girlfriends. Now he’s found a lovely,
emotionally secure woman and he wants to remain true to her. But don’t expect
any graphic sex, as cozy mysteries are PG.
In the first book Sandy had a bad attitude about Buddy Brave,
the character he played on TV. He’s permanently typecast, and even now the
character continues to dog him. However, by book four he’s learned to accept
Buddy as an important part of his life. By book four Sandy regains a sense of
pride about the boy sleuth—and for his own detective work.
Sally
Carpenter is native Hoosier now living
in Moorpark, Calif.
She has a master’s degree in theater from
Indiana State University. While in school her plays Star Collector and Common
Ground were finalists in the American College Theater Festival One-Act
Playwriting Competition. Common Ground
also earned a college creative writing award, and Star Collector was produced in New York City.
Sally also has a master’s degree in theology and a black belt
in tae kwon do. She’s worked as an actress, college writing instructor,
theater critic, jail chaplain, and tour guide/page for Paramount Pictures.
She’s now employed at a community newspaper.
She writes the Sandy Fairfax Teen Idol series: The Baffled Beatlemaniac Caper (2012
Eureka! Award finalist for best first mystery novel), The Sinister Sitcom Caper, The Cunning Cruise Ship Caper and The Quirky Quiz Show Caper.
She has short stories in two anthologies: “Dark Nights at the Deluxe Drive-In”
in Last Exit to Murder and “Faster Than a Speeding Bullet” in Plan B: Omnibus. She
also wrote chapter three in the Cozy Cat Press group mystery Chasing the Codex.
She’s
a member of Sisters in Crime/Los Angeles. Reach her at Facebook or scwriter@earthlink.net.
She blogs at: http://sandyfairfaxauthor.com
and ladiesofmystery.com
Buy links: (print) http://www.amazon.com/Quirky-Quiz-Show-Caper-Fairfax/dp/1939816874/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1461006336&sr=1-2&keywords=quirky+quiz
§§§
Calling
all published authors—
I feature a guest author
the third Saturday (and week following) of each month. If you’re interested in
posting an essay on my blog—it’s also a chance to promote a published
book—email me directly at jmd@danielpublishing.com.
§§§
Call for submissions: Your 99-Word
Stories
The
deadline for July’s 99-word story submissions is July 1. The stories will
appear on my blog post for July 9
note: this 99-word story feature
is a game, not a contest. Obey the rules and I’ll include your story. I may
edit the story to make it stronger, and it’s understood that you will submit to
my editing willingly. That’s an unwritten rule.
Rules for the 99-word
story feature are as follows:
1. Your story must be 99
words long, exactly.
2. One story per writer,
per month.
3. The story must be a
story. That means it needs plot (something or somebody has to change),
characters, and conflict.
4. The story must be
inspired by the prompt I assign.
5. The deadline: the
first of the month. Stories will appear on this blog the second Saturday of the
month.
6. I will copy edit the
story. The author of the story retains all rights.
7.
Email me your story (in the body of your email, or as a Word attachment) to: jmd@danielpublishing.com
THIS MONTH’S PROMPT FOR
NEXT MONTH’S 99-WORD STORY: Write a story inspired by this sentiment: “Yes, I love you, but you’re going to have
to choose between me and that animal.”
§§§
See you next week, I hope!
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