キャミー・タング著「戌年」連載小説 プロのドッグトレーナーであるマリ・ムトウは、厄年を迎えている。 犬小屋と訓練所の改築をしながら、いつも不服そうにしている家族と同居することになった。母と姉に言わせれば、犬の毛とよだれかけにまみれる仕事は、家族にとって恥ずべきものだという。彼女は元カレを説得し、数ヶ月間犬を預かってもらうことにした。しかし、彼の兄は、数週間前に彼女が誤って車に追突した、怒り狂ったセキュリティ専門家であることが判明する。 アシュウィン・ケイトウは十分な問題を抱えている。叔母が玄関先に現れ、同居を希望している。彼は彼女にすべてを借りているので、断ることができません。母親が家を出て行った後、ネルおばさんはアシュウィンと弟を引き取り、愛のあるキリスト教の家庭で育てた。しかも、弟のダスティもアパートを追い出され、居場所を求めている。しかし、彼は犬を飼っている。そして、その犬の飼い主は誰だと思いますか？ しかし、旧友でオアフ島のノースショアでデイスパを経営する私立探偵のエディサ・ゲレロから依頼を受ける。マリの施設で奇妙な破壊行為があり、3年前に失踪したエディサの妹の財布を発見する。エディサはマリが危険な目に遭っているのではと心配する。警備の専門家であるアシュウィンがすでにマリを知っていることを知ったエディサは、忙しい若い女性を密かに監視することを彼に依頼する。 アシュウィンは、活発でのんびりとしたドッグトレーナーに不本意ながら惹かれていく。彼女は、幸せそうな母親を思い出させる。その母親の裏切りによって、彼は人と距離を置くようになったのだ。マリは、アシュウィンの冷たい外見を見抜き、彼が家族に忠実な男であることを認める。彼は、彼女のキャリア選択を批判するだけの母親や姉とは違う。 マリのバラバラな家庭とアシュウィンのバラバラな家庭の中で、過去を隠そうとする人たちから、彼らの周りに危険が迫ってくるようになる。彼らは、影で動く秘密に光を当てることができるのか？ 過去に発表されたパートへのリンクはこちら。 *** 第8章 - 恐ろしくも真っ白な不動産書類 『みんな仲良くできないのかな？』 マリは無用に力を込めて箱に本を投げ入れた。最近、なぜ彼女は人生の中で全員と言い争いをしているのだろう？もしかすると、これは本当に悪いアイデア
Captain's Log, Stardate 02.27.2006
Margaret Daley has been an enthusiastic encourager to me since I started writing and posting on the Steeple Hill discussion boards. She's got a bazillion books under her belt and just keeps coming up with ideas and churning out novels despite working full-time as a teacher.
Interview with Margaret Daley:
CT: Who do you write for--moms, singles? What do you want to say to that demographic?
MD: I write for both but I do deal with the dynamics of a family in a lot of my stories.
CT: Where would you like to see your writing going, in terms of genre and scope, in the next several years?
MD: I want to continue to write both Love Inspired and Love Inspired Suspense books but I also would like to tackle a longer story with many layers.
CT: Do your kids influence your writing at all? How? How about hubby? How about your students?
MD: Yes, my family influences my writing. What I do influences my writing. I think it would be hard to take me completely out of what I write. I often write about teenagers because I teach them. Their issues end up in some of my books.
CT: What was the funnest part of writing WHEN DREAMS COME TRUE?
MD: Revisiting the characters in Sweetwater was the best part of writing When Dreams Come True. I have enjoyed these five women and their families.
CT: What's your favorite scene from WHEN DREAMS COME TRUE?
MD: That's a hard question. I really enjoyed the scenes with Mandy, but I think my favorite was when Dane caught the buglers (the romantic suspense writer in me is coming out there).
CT: I also can't wait for when your romantic suspense HEARTS ON THE LINE comes out in June this year. How did you come up with the Ladies of Sweetwater Lake series idea?
MD: That was several years ago and honestly I don't remember except the concept just sort of evolved from the first story--Gold in the Fire and the characters I had in that book. I wanted to tackle some hard issues and I needed a support group to help these women through them. That's how I came up with the Circle of Friends.
CT: How did you choose your characters' names? And what can I send you that will make you name your next heroine Camy?
MD: I like the name Camy. I may have to use that name some day. I think some names come to me real fast while others I have to play around with until I get the right one.
CT: Yayayayayayayayay! I might get my name in one of Margaret's books! Wootwoot! What's your next novel to be released?
MD: Hearts on the Line will come out in June 2006. It is part of the Faith at the Crossroads series for Love Inspired Suspense. I wrote the last book and had to wrap up everything.
Then after that my last book in the Ladies of Sweetwater Lake Series will be out in October 2006--Tidings of Joy. This is Tanya's story.
CT: Writers' characters are like their children. 'Fess up--which is your favorite character from the Ladies of Sweetwater Lake?
MD: I'm not sure I can pick a favorite one. I like each one for different reasons. I supposed if I had to it would be Jesse Blackburn from A Mother for Cindy.
CT: If you were a fast-food item, what would you be and why? (This week, Camy wants to be a drippy Bacon Cheeseburger.)
MD: A hot caramel sundae--mmm, good and full of calories.
CT: What books do you like to read and why? Any other Christian authors you'd recommend?
MD: I usually read mysteries, suspense, thrillers and adventure books the most. My favorite author is James Rollins--pure adventure and suspense.
CT: Confession time: what's your weirdest habit?
MD: The sad thing is I don't think I have one weird habit. I might be the wrong person to ask. You probably should ask my husband or son.
CT: Do you cook and why or why not? What's your most famous (or infamous) dish?
MD: I cook some of the time but usually my husband does. I'm writing in the evening when I come home from school. I have several dishes I make--shrimp gumbo, red beans and rice, a cabbage/beef soup.
CT: Any TV shows you love?
MD: I like Lost, Commander in Chief, Bones, Criminal Minds Crossing Jordan, Survivor, and Amazing Race.
CT: What magazines are on your coffeetable right now? Any strange ones? And will you confess if they're yours and not your husband's?
MD: I don't get many magazines. I get the RWR which is Romance Writers of America's magazine.
My husband gets Archaeology.
CT: You like to travel right? What's been your favorite vacations? Where are you heading for your next one?
MD: I love to travel. I hope to go to Hawaii this summer. I have a hard time picking a favorite place--I've loved a lot of places--Athens, Austria, England, Scotland, and Tahiti.
Camy here: Tomorrow--part two of the interview!
Bible in 90 Days: I'm behind. I'll pick up again tomorrow.
Writing: Um...no comment. [ducking and running away from Robin's whip. Good thing she's as snowed over by Genesis stuff as I am right now.]
Diet: I didn't count calories today. I feel guilty, but I'll get back on track tomorrow.
Margaret Daley has been an enthusiastic encourager to me since I started writing and posting on the Steeple Hill discussion boards. She's got a bazillion books under her belt and just keeps coming up with ideas and churning out novels despite working full-time as a teacher.
Interview with Margaret Daley:
CT: Who do you write for--moms, singles? What do you want to say to that demographic?
MD: I write for both but I do deal with the dynamics of a family in a lot of my stories.
CT: Where would you like to see your writing going, in terms of genre and scope, in the next several years?
MD: I want to continue to write both Love Inspired and Love Inspired Suspense books but I also would like to tackle a longer story with many layers.
CT: Do your kids influence your writing at all? How? How about hubby? How about your students?
MD: Yes, my family influences my writing. What I do influences my writing. I think it would be hard to take me completely out of what I write. I often write about teenagers because I teach them. Their issues end up in some of my books.
CT: What was the funnest part of writing WHEN DREAMS COME TRUE?
MD: Revisiting the characters in Sweetwater was the best part of writing When Dreams Come True. I have enjoyed these five women and their families.
CT: What's your favorite scene from WHEN DREAMS COME TRUE?
MD: That's a hard question. I really enjoyed the scenes with Mandy, but I think my favorite was when Dane caught the buglers (the romantic suspense writer in me is coming out there).
CT: I also can't wait for when your romantic suspense HEARTS ON THE LINE comes out in June this year. How did you come up with the Ladies of Sweetwater Lake series idea?
MD: That was several years ago and honestly I don't remember except the concept just sort of evolved from the first story--Gold in the Fire and the characters I had in that book. I wanted to tackle some hard issues and I needed a support group to help these women through them. That's how I came up with the Circle of Friends.
CT: How did you choose your characters' names? And what can I send you that will make you name your next heroine Camy?
MD: I like the name Camy. I may have to use that name some day. I think some names come to me real fast while others I have to play around with until I get the right one.
CT: Yayayayayayayayay! I might get my name in one of Margaret's books! Wootwoot! What's your next novel to be released?
MD: Hearts on the Line will come out in June 2006. It is part of the Faith at the Crossroads series for Love Inspired Suspense. I wrote the last book and had to wrap up everything.
Then after that my last book in the Ladies of Sweetwater Lake Series will be out in October 2006--Tidings of Joy. This is Tanya's story.
CT: Writers' characters are like their children. 'Fess up--which is your favorite character from the Ladies of Sweetwater Lake?
MD: I'm not sure I can pick a favorite one. I like each one for different reasons. I supposed if I had to it would be Jesse Blackburn from A Mother for Cindy.
CT: If you were a fast-food item, what would you be and why? (This week, Camy wants to be a drippy Bacon Cheeseburger.)
MD: A hot caramel sundae--mmm, good and full of calories.
CT: What books do you like to read and why? Any other Christian authors you'd recommend?
MD: I usually read mysteries, suspense, thrillers and adventure books the most. My favorite author is James Rollins--pure adventure and suspense.
CT: Confession time: what's your weirdest habit?
MD: The sad thing is I don't think I have one weird habit. I might be the wrong person to ask. You probably should ask my husband or son.
CT: Do you cook and why or why not? What's your most famous (or infamous) dish?
MD: I cook some of the time but usually my husband does. I'm writing in the evening when I come home from school. I have several dishes I make--shrimp gumbo, red beans and rice, a cabbage/beef soup.
CT: Any TV shows you love?
MD: I like Lost, Commander in Chief, Bones, Criminal Minds Crossing Jordan, Survivor, and Amazing Race.
CT: What magazines are on your coffeetable right now? Any strange ones? And will you confess if they're yours and not your husband's?
MD: I don't get many magazines. I get the RWR which is Romance Writers of America's magazine.
My husband gets Archaeology.
CT: You like to travel right? What's been your favorite vacations? Where are you heading for your next one?
MD: I love to travel. I hope to go to Hawaii this summer. I have a hard time picking a favorite place--I've loved a lot of places--Athens, Austria, England, Scotland, and Tahiti.
Camy here: Tomorrow--part two of the interview!
Bible in 90 Days: I'm behind. I'll pick up again tomorrow.
Writing: Um...no comment. [ducking and running away from Robin's whip. Good thing she's as snowed over by Genesis stuff as I am right now.]
Diet: I didn't count calories today. I feel guilty, but I'll get back on track tomorrow.
Comments
I'm glad to rediscover her now as a Christian writer and will certainly try to find some of her books.
And, yes, please, I'd like to win her book.
I love Margaret Daley's books and would love to enter to win this book!
-Jennifer Yates