Lilah and the Locket

2007-12-17T17:16:00.000-08:00

Lilah and the Locket (Cape Hatteras Series - 1954)

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The first morning of Kristie’s vacation she jogs along the beach with her German shepherd, Lilah. At the base of the Cape Hatteras lighthouse, Lilah finds a human bone below the sand dune. Kristie’s plans for a quiet week are forgotten as she joins in the investigation. Ocean breezes blow across the Outer Banks of North Carolina and Kristie uncovers a personal connection to the murder victim and her locket.

She meets a handsome government worker named Nathan who is working to complete the National Seashore project in 1954. Do his co-workers know something about the crime? Will Kristie and the Deputy find the guilty party? Join Kristie on the rugged shores of Hatteras in the search for a murderer.

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Author's Note and Prologue

2007-11-17T17:37:00.000-08:00

Author's Note

The Civilian Conservation Corps work mentioned in this story actually took place. In the 1950's, this work was completed and the Cape Hatteras National Seashore opened to the public. Multitudes of people vacation along the Outer Banks of North Carolina each year.

The characteristics the Outer Banks make it difficult to protect the area from nature. They are basically a chain of sand bars along the east coast of North Carolina. The Atlantic Ocean lies on the east and Pamlico Sound lies to the west. At times the ocean water washes into the sound and back to the ocean. This makes the area very vulnerable to bad weather and hurricanes.

The beating surf and fierce undertow cause serious erosion which threatens the coastline. Local inlets shift from south to north with each passing season. Over the years, especially fierce hurricanes have closed some existing inlets while they create new inlets. Hatteras Inlet and Oregon Inlet are the most notable examples.

People and events from real life and my imagination inhabit this story. It offers a glimpse into the rugged coastal experience people enjoy when they visit the Cape Hatteras National Seashore and the Outer Banks of North Carolina. It also illustrates the changes in this stretch of coastline in the last fifty years.

Prologue

Anyone who has read much non-fiction or history about the Outer Banks of North Carolina should be familiar with David Stick. He has written numerous books about the region. These books tell us why this stretch of the eastern seaboard is called the graveyard of the Atlantic. The reader learns about various events and people over several hundred years along with his personal experiences living in this picturesque area.

He is best known as an Outer Banks historian. Many documentary specials about the area contain at least one interview with David Stick. In addition to being a renowned historian, he was also the first licensed real estate broker on the Outer Banks. His company, Southern Shores Realty, was instrumental in developing the town of Southern Shores between 1956 and 1970. This is the same town where he served as mayor.

But, was David Stick the only person in his family to assist in the development of the Outer Banks? If we research back a little further we learn about his father. David Stick followed in the footsteps of his father Frank Stick. In 1929, Frank moved to the Outer Banks. He was an artist and became an entrepreneur on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

In the 1930's Frank Stick knew Dare County was on the brink of bankruptcy. He wasn't the kind of man to stand back and watch the area go belly up. Love for the area prompted his desire to discover a way to regenerate the Outer Banks in addition to finding a way to protect and preserve the natural beauty of the area. Was there a way to bring in tourism revenue while still being able to preserve the things he loved about the area?

One of the biggest problems on the Outer Banks was transportation and the difficulty in getting from one area to another. To remedy this immediate problem, better roads and more bridges were needed. In truth, any paved roads would be a big improvement. Travelers were met by sandy paths which led in all directions and many went in circles. Many areas along the lower Outer Banks were isolated from the upper Outer Banks and the mainland. Bridges were a more effective way to connect the barrier islands which make up the Outer Banks. Sporadic and slow ferry service could only transport a limited number of people per day.

The barrier islands presented various difficulties. These flat and low-lying sandy islands had no protection from the rough surf that eroded the sand and would wash out any new roads.

Frank Stick worked with Washington Baum and they made some progress. Mr. Baum chaired the Dare County Commission and could help the project. In 1928 a toll bridge linked Manteo and Nags Head. This allowed people to travel from the mainland to the beach. Soon, a toll bridge connected lower Currituck County and Kitty Hawk. This provided two routes for tourist to reach the upper portions of the Outer Banks. Although, there was still no good way to access the lower section around Buxton, Hatteras and Ocracoke.

In 1933, Frank Stick unveiled his plan. Cape Hatteras would be the focal point of a National Seashore that would extend over 100 miles. It would begin just south of the Virginia state line and extend past Cape Lookout, NC. The small villages scattered along the coastline would remain separate from the National Seashore. Several wildlife refuges were located throughout the area.

The first paved highway would extend the full-length of the seashore and bridges would link the islands in order for tourists to experience everything the area had to offer. Large sand dunes could provide protection for a paved road and would be aesthetically pleasing. Bridges would provide a better way to link the islands. The plan offered a chance to increase tourism and provide thousands of jobs.

What better time to promote this idea, than in the middle of a nationwide economic depression? The government saw the plan as a wonderful way to provide employment for thousands and they bought existing bridges in the area and removed the tolls. The Cape Hatteras National Seashore Commission bought land needed for the project. There was some animosity about how this was handled by people who owned property in the area which would become the National Seashore.

Frank Stick headed various projects on Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands. One of the first priorities was to build 115 miles of sand dunes to protect the islands and future roads. The project required 600 miles of fence, 140 million square feet of grass, with two and a half million small bushes and shrubs to build the dunes and anchor them against the forces of nature that would assault them. When the dune line was complete, they built paved roads.

During this time, the United States was experiencing a major economic depression. Untold numbers of people were unemployed in 1932. The people of the United States were desperate for some relief and they needed to find work.

New York governor Franklin D. Roosevelt planned to protect the environment, by putting the masses of unemployed people to work. He called an emergency session of the 73rd Congress to announce his plan. Thousands of unemployed young men joined the peacetime army to fight the destruction of our natural treasures. Over three million men worked on the various projects.

Work camps were set up and myriads of young men traveled to areas of the country for specific types of work. The Civilian Conservation Corps were born. This story focuses on one project: the creation of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore in North Carolina.

I've been reading a lot about how the seashore came into being and it was a fascinating time with a wide variety of people who were involved. There were different reasons why these people worked to help the seashore be formed. But, I think that is a story for another time.

Before the project could be completed, World War II broke out in Europe. The war forced the United States government to shift its focus. One of the many projects they abandoned was the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. The government workers returned to complete the project in the 1950's.

Chapter 1 - August 31, 1954

2007-11-16T17:39:00.000-08:00

Chapter 1

(August 31, 1954 _ Early Morning)

Sunshine glimmered across the top of the powerful waves that pounded the coastline. Storm clouds scattered across the rough sky. Lilah, my German shepherd and constant companion, accompanied me down my creaking steps which led to the beach. Patches of sea foam mingled with seaweed and crushed shells, collected along the surf line. Some broken branches littered the beach to the north and the south. Lilah raced along the ocean's edge and splashed in the churning water.

I jogged beside her, salt water soaking my legs. The stiff morning breeze was a contrast to the gale force winds from the night before. Hurricane Carol moved without hurry toward the North Carolina coast, then blasted past Cape Hatteras overnight. News reports earlier that morning stated the winds could top 100 miles per hour at the height of the storm when it reached New England.

Lilah stopped ahead of me and batted a sand crab with her paw. They danced along the water's edge and I lowered myself beside a piece of driftwood to watch them play. Lilah's tail whipped back and forth as she pranced in one direction and then the other. Her bark blended with the roar of the waves crashing onto the shore. The crab raced past her and disappeared into the sand. Terns and gulls performed their own dance overhead. The caw of the birds mixed with the pounding waves.

"Come on girl." I called to her, before I stood and resumed my jog.

Soon she splashed beside me and we journeyed closer to the Cape Hatteras lighthouse. A man stood in the distance, but I couldn't see who it was. As we got closer, he bent over and poked around the base of a sand dune.

Lilah barked and ran toward him. He straightened and turned away. When we got closer, I recognized Ben Mallory from the Park Service project. He was probably checking the sheet pile groins and the dunes behind the lighthouse. The area was prone to erosion even though his crews worked to get it under control.

"Mr. Mallory." I called out, but his stocky body moved further away.

Lilah ran toward him and reached his side. She nudged his hand with her nose, but he ignored her. Lilah barked and continued her attempts to play.

"Leave me alone." His voice was impatient.

"Lilah, come." Patting my leg, I called to her. "Come." She returned to me and rubbed her cool nose on my hand. I turned my attention to Ben. "Mr. Mallory, how are you this morning?"

His shoulders sank and he stood still. "Morning, Miss Connelly."

"Did you have any damage at your camp?"

He looked toward the work camp and shook his head. "Our main concern was flooding."

"Was that what brought you to the dunes?" I reached for the branch Lilah carried in her mouth and tossed it toward the water.

"You're mistaken." His tone was gruff.

Maybe I'd been too far away to see what he was doing. "I'm sorry. I thought you were checking the dunes."

"We all make mistakes." He started to walk away.

"Mr. Mallory, it was good to see you."

He lowered his head and mumbled. "Good_bye, Miss Connelly."

Sunshine shone through the remaining gray storm clouds. An early morning news report said the storm was moving toward New England at forty miles an hour and would make landfall that evening. Damage around Hatteras was minimal, but the report predicted New England would have more damage.

Lilah dug furiously in the sand. "Lilah, what are you after?"

I didn't see anything at first, but then something caught my eye and a scream escaped from my throat. I regained my composure and shooed Lilah away with my hand.

I tugged at her collar. "Lilah, sit." She usually obeyed me, but not that time.

It would be accurate to say she was like a dog with a bone, but that was too literal for me. She held a long bone between her teeth.

Lilah lay in the sand and played with it. It would be good to mark the spot where she found the bone and run home to call the deputy. I tried to get the bone from her, but she held fast to it and ran down the beach. Her tail wagged from side to side and she ran back toward me. Lilah dropped the bone at my feet and started to run along the water's edge.

I latched a finger under Lilah's collar. "We need to go home." She tilted her head at me and I patted her head. "We'll come back, but you will have to stay out of the deputy's way." She hung her head and her big brown eyes drooped. Did everyone talk to their dogs like they were human?

We raced to the house and ran up the rickety steps with care. Lilah climbed through her doggie door before I reached the screen door. I went straight to the phone. One ring, two rings, three rings. Where was the deputy when I needed him? He could be checking for damage around the island after the storm. Four rings.

"Hatteras deputy's office." A familiar voice said.

"Morning Zeb, is the Deputy Basnett there?" I grabbed orange juice from the fridge.

"Morning, Kristie. Deputy Raymond Basnett headed to the mainland for a couple of weeks. But, Deputy Tucker is having breakfast in the back." He enjoyed putting me off.

"I wish Deputy Basnett was here, but I need to talk with Deputy Tucker." I gulped the juice, sat the glass in the sink and filled it with water.

"Hold on." That was all he said before the receiver hit the desk with a clatter.

Lilah stood by her bowl, tilted her head to one side and then the other. She made that familiar noise that was between a whimper and a growl to indicate she was hungry.

The phone cord kept me on the other side of the room. "In a minute, Lilah."

"What's important enough to disturb my breakfast, Kristie?" His words sounded abrupt, but his tone was playful.

"Sorry to interrupt, deputy. Lilah and I ran along the beach this morning and she found something."

"Was it something interesting?" He prompted.

"I'm not sure, but it may be a human femur." I twisted the phone cord around my finger.

"Are you sure it's a human femur?" He sounded intrigued but skeptical.

"That's what it looks like, but I'm not sure. I marked the spot where Lilah found the bone and called you."

"Where should I meet you?" The excitement in his voice was obvious.

"Meet me at the foot of the dunes behind the lighthouse."

"I'll be there. Don't let Lilah dig around the area." With that, the phone went dead and I placed the receiver in the cradle.

I grabbed Lilah's leash, walked behind her and attached it to her collar. She shook her head and clawed at the collar with her paw. "This is the only way you can go. You wear the leash or you stay home."

The struggling stopped and Lilah sat with her back straight and still. She craned her neck to peer out the door. People had started to mill around on the beach and she barked at them. Several neighbors glanced toward my door and waved.

"Come on, Lilah." I held my supply bag in one hand, shoved my floppy straw hat on my head and held her leash in the hand. I grabbed a small bag of dog food on my way out the door and shoved it into my bag along with a bowl.

We jogged up the beach until we reached the spot where Lilah found the bone. After we looked around, we might need to call Sheriff Frank Cahoon, but that was up to the deputy. Whenever Deputy Basnett took any time off, Deputy Tucker was sent to us. The Cape had very little crime so it wasn't a big deal, but I'm glad the deputy was around that morning.

While I waited for the deputy, I considered Lilah's discovery. The bone looked like a human femur. If I were right, a dead body might be buried in the sand. It could be the biggest news to hit Cape Hatteras and Buxton since the crews returned to finish the work they abandoned almost fifteen years ago.

It could be a victim from any of the 1,600 shipwrecks off the coast. The Graveyard of the Atlantic often washed parts of human skeletons onto our shores. It was more common up the coast in Salvo, but The Cape got some of the remains. But, I had a feeling this was different. What an exciting way to start my vacation.

There were also a lot of shallow graves on Hatteras Island. How many times had people found parts of skeletons in their garden or flower beds? It could be something totally innocent, or it could be a mystery. I'd read some books about identifying a person from their bones. This would be a wonderful chance to use that information. Was it a man or a woman? Was the person old or young when they died? The skeleton might be an Indian, or a foreigner. There were so many possibilities and hopefully we would know soon. But, first we had to find the skeleton _ if there was one.

The drone of the deputy's truck engine interrupted my thoughts. He drove along the sandy path that led to the lighthouse. His face reflected a determination born from years of driving along our horse and cart trails. These paths were usually no more than a set of ruts. People on the Outer Banks learned to drive with a purpose and not to slow down until you reached a safe spot. Deputy Tucker parked with his front tires on a grassy area near the lighthouse. He climbed down from the truck and sauntered toward us, the familiar weather_beaten hat perched atop his head.

"What do we have here?" He said in his no_nonsense way.

I lowered my voice because several people walked toward us when they saw Deputy Tucker arrive. "I think there's a body in the sand." Reaching into my satchel, I withdrew the bone. "This is what Lilah found."

At the sound of her name, my shepherd raised her head and barked. I smiled at her, but turned my attention back to the deputy.

He turned the bone over and rolled it between his hands. His brows furrowed. "Did you find anything else?"

I motioned to the marker. "This is the spot, but I wanted to wait for you." Should I mention that I wanted to help him? "I brought my supply kit to help you dig up the body, if there is one. I'm off from work at the restaurant this week and would like to help." I raised my eyes to his face. "Especially since Lilah and I found the body."

He chuckled and clapped my shoulder. "All right Kristie. We need to cordon off the area and start digging. Remember, that bone might be the only item we find."

I reminded him, "Or, there might be a body."

What People Are Saying...

2007-10-17T17:41:00.000-07:00

Lilah and the Locket - Reviews

What people are saying about Lilah & the Locket

Reviewed by Anne K. Edwards, New Mystery Reader

If you are a mystery fan who likes sand in their shoes and the sound of waves and the scudding of clouds just offshore, you should definitely join Kristie Connelly and her dog, Lilah, as they stroll along the beach. Of course, your walk would be interrupted when Lilah turns up a human bone.

Thus begins the hunt for the identity of the body buried beneath the sand dunes put up to protect the island fifteen years ago. And for the identity of the murderer.

The unexpected involves Kristie on a level she hadn't expected when the body is identified by a tarnished locket found buried with it. Old memories bestir themselves and form links in a chain that leads to the killer.

Could Lilah's new friend be involved? Why does she find him so irresistible? What does Kristie think of him? Why does he suddenly appear just at this time?

These and many other questions will pull you along as the tension builds. The motive for murder will take you by surprise and look out for red herrings dragged across the path.

A cleverly plotted tale by talented author Nikki Leigh that provides a pleasant and satisfying read. Enjoy. I did.

http://www.newmysteryreader.com/small_press_mystery.htm#lilah%20and%20the%20locket

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On the Outer Banks of North Carolina, an Oceanside region subject to hurricanes and tidal waves, the Cape Hatteras National Seashore construction commenced in 1932 under the auspices of the Civilian Conservation Corps to preserve the area's topography and wildlife. World War II interfered, but in the 1950's postwar climate the project was resumed. In August 1954, the Outer Banks have been fortunately passed over by Hurricane Carol on her way to inflict damage on the New England coastline. Kristie Connelley, walking her German Shepherd Lilah near the lighthouse, sees Ben Mallory of the Park Service sifting in the dunes, but he tries to avoid her.

Then Lilah scents a bone and pulls it out. It could be merely a bone from one of the 1600 shipwrecks nearby, or it could be evidence in a murder investigation, one of the few in which the presiding investigator is assisted by a vacationing waitress and her canine. The primary question is the identity, and whether the skeleton was placed there recently, or as long as fifteen years ago, before the CCC renovation work was abandoned. As Kristie works hand-in-hand with the Deputy and the local doctor, evidence is uncovered which brings the situation very close to home for Kristie and her family.

Nikki Leigh provides a fascinating story with a tremendous amount of historical insight. She had me racing along to discover the identity of the skeleton and to learn how it happened to rest under the dunes. Her inclusion of a heroine who is self-educated, determined, and curious made the story that much more exciting. Another true heroine in this story is the Shepherd, Lilah, for the case would neither have been instigated, nor completed, without her capable aid. I look forward to more Outer Banks historical mysteries by this intriguing author.

Overall rating:
Sensuality rating: Mildly sensual

Reviewer: Annie - May 29, 2007

http://theromancestudio.com/reviews/reviews/lilahlocketleigh.htm

She meets a handsome government worker named Nathan who is working to complete the National Seashore project in 1954. Do his co-workers know something about the crime? Will Kristie and the Deputy find the guilty party? Join Kristie on the rugged shores of Hatteras in the search for a murderer.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Nikiki Leigh’s new release, LILAH AND THE LOCKET, is a mystery set in the beautiful coast of North Carolina’s Cape Hatteras. I especially loved the location of the story, vacationing there myself, as I found Cape Hatteras to be a beautiful beach rich in history and bathed in charm.

Although LILAH AND THE LOCKET is a rather short read, it accomplishes what Leigh wanted it to do—tell a good mystery story with interesting characters. While Kristie Connelly was out jogging along the beach, her dog, Lilah, found a human bone. The discovery of this bone is going to unravel a fifteen-year missing woman mystery, with an ending that will surprise you.

I would recommend reading Nikiki Leigh’s LILAH AND THE LOCKET. It’s a short read with interesting characters and it takes place in a beautiful location. There’s even a touch of romance added to this story, making it just perfect for the romance reader!

Julie Kornhausl

http://romancereaderatheart.com/pubsandpromos/2006/oct06/LL_NL.html

****

Nikki Leigh has penned another beautifully written story. Lilah and the Locket has it all: delightful characters, a setting so real I could taste the salt in the air and an intriguing mystery that kept me captivated to the end. Even if I wasn't a fool for anything on four legs, I'd love Lilah and the Locket.

Nora Peterson

http://www.norapeterson.com/books4sale.htm

Past Imperfect - Available now at www.ebooksonthe.net

Retire Rich With Your Self-Directed IRA - May 2006 –

Pre- order now at Amazon.com

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The last thing Kristie Connelly expected on her first day of vacation was for her dog to find a human bone buried beneath a Cape Hatteras sand dune. Even more unexpected - that it would reopen a twenty-year old family mystery surrounding her father’s sister Marilyn.

As amateur sleuth Kristie begins to investigate, she discovers some people aren’t too willing to discuss Marilyn. What is Janet Jennings hiding? Does Mallory know more than he’s letting on? How does Nathan fit into the puzzle?

Join Kristie and her four-legged sidekick Lilah as they find new friends, unearth old betrayals, and discover the truth that’s lain beneath the sand for two decades.

Patty Lunt

****************

This was an interesting story that painted a colorful picture of Cape Hatteras and the inhabitants. Lilah and Kristie are quite a pair and I can see them solving future crimes. Mystery, romance and suspense are all included in the story.

Officer Mark Kearney, Crime Prevention Officer

Waynesboro (Virginia) Police Department

President, Book 'Em Foundation - www.bookemfoundation.org

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Kristie Connelly thought a week off of work would be relaxing. That was until her dog, Lilah, found a human bone on the beach. Now Kristie is knee deep in a murder mystery that involves a long lost family member.

Lilah and the Locket was a quick read with vivid scenery and a wonderful story backed by true events. I liked Kristie's ambition for being a woman of the 50's even though there wasn't much [leeway for women] of the 50's lifestyle. Although a satisfying ending, I craved a bit more of the budding relationship between Kristie and Nathan.

Courtney E. Michel - www.michelfiction.com - Romantic Suspense For Every Day Of The Week

Idle Tuesday - Now Available! (09/05)
Month of Sundays, Book One: Time of Tragedy - Available 12/06
Month of Sundays, Book Two: Hour of Healing - Coming Soon!
All on a Saturday Night - Work in Progress

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Lilah and the Locket is the heartwarming story of a young woman, Kristie, and her canine companion. She is working with the help of local law officials to solve the twenty year old mystery of her aunt’s disappearance, after Lilah digs up a human bone from beneath the sand dunes. In the course of discovery, Kristie meets a man who might share her future, one who might also provide clues to solving the crime.

As the story begins, I was drawn into the words, which disappear from the page to play a movie in my mind. I walked the warm sands along the Outer Banks of North Carolina of the 1950s, exploring with Kristie and her German shepherd, Lilah, as she fought to solve the crime and bring the guilty to justice.

Reviewed by: P. June Diehl - Editor, Virtual Tales: http://www.virtualtales.com/

THE MAGIC & THE MUNDANE: A Guide for the Writer's Journey

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Kristie Connelly frequently walks Lilah along the beautiful North Carolina beach, but on this particular day, as they stroll toward Cape Hatteras, her German Shepard unearths something shocking. After marking the spot where the grisly find was made, Kristie hurries to contact the local police to report the incident.

At the site, Deputy Tucker and Kristie cordon off the area and carefully continue digging where Lilah dug up the human leg bone. When they are done, they have recovered a complete human skeleton. There is no evidence to identify the remains, but the location clearlyindicates the person was buried years before. The only piece of evidence is a locket Kristie finds nestled beneath the human rib. It strikes a familiar cord and brings the mystery way too close to home.

Lilah and the Locket by Nikki Leigh is a captivating short mystery that will keep you reading until the end. Ms. Leigh has penned her novella in ‘first person’ and I found it extremely well-written with descriptive phrases that pulled me into the story and made me feel as though I was walking on the beach right alongside the characters. I haven’t been a fan of novels written in this style, but I believe Ms. Leigh has changed that for me. If you are looking for a little mystery based on a location rich in historical value, then Lilah and the Locket will fit the bill. The secondary characters lend color to the story, personalize the plot and make for a satisfying read. The possibility of a budding romance between Nathan and Kristie make me hopeful that there will be a continuation on the horizon. (Hint, hintJ)

Reviewed by Ginger Simpson - http://www.gingersimpson.com

Spice of your life with Ginger

Historical, Suspense, Time-Travel, Humor… Ginger does it all

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Little did Kristie know that her vacation would be such an adventure. When her dog, Lilah, finds a human bone while cavorting on the beach in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, it is just the start. When detective work discovers that the body is that of a female killed fifteen years ago, Kristie joins forces with the local sheriff to find the guilty party. Along the way, she finds romance in the guise of Nathan, who is working with a crew to complete the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Who committed the murder? And why? And exactly who is the murder victim?

This is a light mystery in the vein of Nancy Drew that moves quickly but resolutely from digging up the bone to finding the answer. Nikki Leigh has invented a character who, since the title says Book 1 of the "Outer Bank Chronicles", we might hear from again. A short but satisfying read.

Reviewed by Alice Klein

http://www.simegen.com/reviews/list/30781.html

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A historical note: In the early 1930’s Dare County was about to go bankrupt. However, artist and entrepreneur, Frank Stick masterminds a plan to bring tourism without altering the majestic coastal landscape. The Cape Hatteras National Seashore in North Carolina was a part of the preservation of eastern shorelines; starting at the Virginia stateline descending down towards Cape Lookout, North Carolina. This project is handled by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), which employs many workers that help Mr. Stick’s vision become a reality. Now, in 1954, the National Seashore Project continues.

Published by Write Word, Inc., Lilah and the Locket: The Outer Bank Chronicles, Book 1 is a pleasant romantic mystery although, I am quickly caught up in the imagery of the North Carolina coast line; Kristie notes the sea foam “collecting along the surf line”, and then watches “terns and gulls” flying overhead. The mystery is fast paced as the suspense moves smoothly forward. Deputy Tucker and Kristie’s deductive reasoning is plausible while following leads, which steers them toward dead ends or provides a critical piece in the criminal puzzle. Though late in the story, Kristie and Nathan’s romance burns bright; sweet and charming. The characters are all amiable, whereas Kristie is convincing as an amateur forensic scientist; supported by her extensive reading and research into archeology. Nathan is caring and obviously values family; bringing his quilted blanket along on the job that his grandmother made for him, long ago. Even the dog, Lilah is enchanting, licking Kristie’s toes as they relax with Nathan on their first outing, together. A native Marylander, I can’t wait for the next book in this ongoing series.

A dedicated reader, Pamela Jenewein

http://romanceatheart.com/review/lilahlocket.html

An Interview With (the real) Kristie

2007-02-17T17:43:00.000-08:00

Lilah and the Locket

An Interview with (the real) Kristie

I thought readers might like to get a behind the scenes look and insider information about Kristie from Lilah and the Locket. Kristie and Nathan are real people and Lilah is their dog. I used information about each of them to create the main characters in Lilah and the Locket.

Kristie agreed to answer some questions for you and I want to share them. I hope it will give you some additional information about the story and the main characters in the story.

Kristie, Nathan and Lilah live in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and they vacation on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Rachel Deragon, the artist, who painted the picture for the cover also vacations there. We all have ties to the area and I feel that makes the story more special to each of us.

Feel free to drop me a note with your thoughts.

1 - You may not know this, but I had an idea for a murder mystery set at Cape Hatteras for a long time and I thought of that the moment I opened your entry envelope. This all started because you entered some pictures of your Shepherd Lilah in a fundraising event that I organized for the Charlottesville/ Albemarle SPCA. Why did you choose the picture of her at the ocean?

We chose the photo at the ocean because she just loves the beach and water. She goes everywhere with us and this was a picture of her first trip to the beach. She loves playing in the ocean and digging in the sand.

2 - I remember the day when I called to tell you that your picture was chosen for the story. But, I never got to ask what you thought when your family was chosen for the story.

We were thrilled. Our dog is like a child to us and to have a story written that included all of us was very special. What a great item to have on our bookshelf. And the way the book is written, with detailed about the things we do and the ways that Lilah acts, it just adds to how special it is to us. It's something we can always read and use to remember our special bond with Lilah even long after she leaves this earth.

3 - In order to make the details about the characters more "true to life", I asked you to fill out character worksheets for each of you. Can you tell us about filling out the character worksheets for yourself, your husband and Lilah?

We just tried to be as detailed an honest as possible. We really wanted the story to be true to who we are and how we act and react to different situations. It's not often you get to have a story written about you, so we wanted it to be a true reflection of us and our relationships.

4 - In what ways do the characters remind you of your family? Are there any aspects of the story that are more special to you and Nathan?

Well, you really took our personalities and put them on paper and that in it self reminds me of our family. Even down to the things that Lilah does on a daily basis, that fact that Lilah really does go to work with us, and my husband does work in construction. The interaction between the myself and Lilah in the beginning of the story is great. You really captured the true relationship she has with both my husband and I. I also really liked the way you incorporated Nathan and Lilah meeting and the relationship that develops between Nathan and I from his friendship with Lilah.

5 - Are you happy with the setting of the story? If so, why or why not?

Yes, we love the setting of the story. One of our favorite places to spend time is at the beach. We are there as often as possible fishing, playing in the surf with Lilah, and walking the beach.

6 - How do you think you will feel the first time you see the story about you, Nathan and Lilah in print?

I can't wait for that day! We'll have a lot of feelings... what you've done by writting this story about us is very special and something we'll always cherish. I can't wait to buy copies for my whole family for the following Christmas. I'm already getting requests for copies.

7 - Did you learn anything about the writing process from this experience?

I learned how important it was to give as much detail as possible in order to make the story really have a true impact and hold a special place within us.

8 - What do you think when you hear that several reviewers were captivated by the romance between Kristie and Nathan in the story?

It's very exciting. I've never had anything like this done for me or my family before and to hear that people love the idea, story, and the relationships that developed make the experience even more special. I love that people are interested in the romance between myself and Nathan. The way that the relationship falls together in the book is really cool because Lilah is a very important part of our lives and our romance very well could have developed in the way it is portrayed in the book. It shows what a strong bond the three of us have with each other. We are ecstatic!

I hope that you enjoyed getting to learn more about how this story came about and more about the real Nathan, Kristie and Lilah.

Nikki

Outer Banks Pictures

2007-01-17T17:45:00.000-08:00