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, Supplemental
Blog book giveaway:
To enter, go to the blog links below and post a comment there.
Valley of Betrayal by Tricia Goyer
In High Places by Tom Morrisey
Disclaimer: I had so many great experiences, I’VE PROBABLY FORGOTTEN A LOT OF STUFF.
I drove to Mount Hermon with my friend and local writer Marilyn Hilton. We had a great time talking on the way there and back.
I took the Career track, taught by my agent Wendy Lawton, Janet Kobobel Grant, Sally Stuart, and Karen Ball. It was awesome! I learned a lot and had a great time meeting and getting to know people better.
I met Cathy Elliott, the brilliant author who came up with the PHENOMENAL potential title for book 2 in my series (still under consideration by the Z powers that be).
I met Julie Carobini and her fab family. Her son Matt commented on my blog message board, too!
Had some great conversations about Asian Americans writing fiction with Russell Nakamura, who was probably the only male Asian American writer at the conference except for Gary Terashita (FaithWords editor). Nice guy (I mean Russell, although Gary’s a nice guy too).
Went to a restaurant on the Santa Cruz pier. Had DEEP FRIED SEAFOOD!!! The funnest part was that we only had two cars, so we crammed 6 people in one car and 7 in the other, which was Cyndy Salzmann’s rental. Poor Jim Rubart got stuck in the hatchback.
Stayed up late with Randy Ingermanson, John Olson, Tracy Higley, Steve Laube, Christine Tangvald, and several rotating others whose names I have shamefully forgotten.
Met Ron and Peggy Roloff, whose family is on the TV series, Little People Big World.
I finally met Beth Jusino face-to-face, and she rather randomly gave me a bag of organic blue corn chips she’d received from her roommate but couldn’t carry on the plane with her. It was received rather happily by moi.
The best news of all—my friend Sharon Hinck won the 2007 Writer of the Year award!!!
I posted pictures of Mount Hermon here.
Blog book giveaway:
To enter, go to the blog links below and post a comment there.
Valley of Betrayal by Tricia Goyer
In High Places by Tom Morrisey
Disclaimer: I had so many great experiences, I’VE PROBABLY FORGOTTEN A LOT OF STUFF.
I drove to Mount Hermon with my friend and local writer Marilyn Hilton. We had a great time talking on the way there and back.
I took the Career track, taught by my agent Wendy Lawton, Janet Kobobel Grant, Sally Stuart, and Karen Ball. It was awesome! I learned a lot and had a great time meeting and getting to know people better.
I met Cathy Elliott, the brilliant author who came up with the PHENOMENAL potential title for book 2 in my series (still under consideration by the Z powers that be).
I met Julie Carobini and her fab family. Her son Matt commented on my blog message board, too!
Had some great conversations about Asian Americans writing fiction with Russell Nakamura, who was probably the only male Asian American writer at the conference except for Gary Terashita (FaithWords editor). Nice guy (I mean Russell, although Gary’s a nice guy too).
Went to a restaurant on the Santa Cruz pier. Had DEEP FRIED SEAFOOD!!! The funnest part was that we only had two cars, so we crammed 6 people in one car and 7 in the other, which was Cyndy Salzmann’s rental. Poor Jim Rubart got stuck in the hatchback.
Stayed up late with Randy Ingermanson, John Olson, Tracy Higley, Steve Laube, Christine Tangvald, and several rotating others whose names I have shamefully forgotten.
Met Ron and Peggy Roloff, whose family is on the TV series, Little People Big World.
I finally met Beth Jusino face-to-face, and she rather randomly gave me a bag of organic blue corn chips she’d received from her roommate but couldn’t carry on the plane with her. It was received rather happily by moi.
The best news of all—my friend Sharon Hinck won the 2007 Writer of the Year award!!!
I posted pictures of Mount Hermon here.
Comments
Sigh. I'll just stay here in Texas for now.
It was so fun to meet you in person--you're everything your blog promises (but not as loud). Love the pictures. Thanks for chronicling the week for those of us who were too lame to remember our cameras.
Blessings on your new book!
Good luck as your writing adventure continues.
Blessings!
And I love CAMY ... missed being there.
_______
I want to repeat my "prophecy" to you in a public forum. Camy, you are going to be overwhelmed by the wild success of your debut novel. God has richly blessed you with a gift of story telling and an enthusiasm for the power of the written word. Now we all get to stand back and watch it take off!
Sounds like a fabulous time! Welcome back!! Hope you have gotten some rest by now. Cyndy Salzmann is coming to my neck of the woods tomorrow for a book signing. Though I am a bit disappointed that I won't be able to climb in her car with six other ACFWers. I don't know if there are even that many others in my area. LOL
I'll never forget that moment of you gasping in joy, while my befuddled brain tried to understand what was going on. :-)
What an amazing conference - and SO cool to catch up with you. You're a treasure.