Interview with Bantryd from Sea Changes by Gail Graham

AUTHOR: Can you tell us a bit about yourself, Bantryd?

BANTRYD: I’ll be fifteen next month, but I look older. I live at the bottom of the sea with my Uncle Xaxanader. I’m a vestigant. I’m the last one, you know. That’s why they’re all so protective. I’m the only link we have between my world and yours.

AUTHOR: What’s a vestigant?

BANTRYD: Vestigants can breathe air or water, so they can move back and forth between the real world – I mean, our world — and your world. Not that any of us are particularly interested in your world. I don’t mean to be rude, but we’re much more advanced than you are.

AUTHOR: How do you mean?

BANTRYD: We don’t spend all our time trying to find food, the way you do. We already have enough of everything we need. So we can focus on more important things, on history and philosophy and ideas. We spend our lives developing our minds and our higher senses, accumulating wisdom.

AUTHOR: And what do you do with all that wisdom?

BANTRYD: We preserve it. We create Tellings, places where wisdom is stored. We know everything that ever happened.

AUTHOR: Yes, but what do you do with it? Do you build tall buildings? Do you send rockets to the moon? What do you do with all your wisdom?

BANTRYD: See, that’s what I mean? You don’t even know the difference between knowledge and wisdom. Knowledge is what you learn.. Everything that’s alive accumulates knowledge, or it couldn’t live. Whales have knowledge. Coral has knowledge. But wisdom is different. You don’t seek wisdom because you want to do something with it. You seek it for its own sake. (A pause) I don’t think you seek it at all, in this world. I didn’t think it would be like this, you know.

AUTHOR: What did you think it would be like?

BANTRYD: I don’t know. More advanced, I guess. More like us.

AUTHOR: Why did you come?

BANTRYD: It was because of my parents. They were vestigants and when I was a baby, my mother had to come here, to your world. But she never came back, so my father went looking for her. He didn’t come back, either. So that’s why I came. I need to find my parents. At least, I need to find out what happened to them. Xaxanader wouldn’t let me come alone. It said it was too risky. But then Sarah said I could come back with her. She said she’d help me.

AUTHOR: But Sarah thought she was dreaming.

BANTRYD: Yes, I know. But she wasn’t dreaming, was she? Here I am. And you’re here, talking to me.

AUTHOR: I suppose I could be dreaming, too.

BANTRYD: But you’re not! You know you’re not. I don’t know what’s wrong with the people in your world. You don’t see anything, your minds are so closed. I can’t imagine what it would be like to live the way you live. And you’re all so angry with one another. You don’t get along. And the place is a mess. Your world, I mean. It’s ugly.

AUTHOR: You’ve only seen a tiny piece of our world. There’s a lot more to the world than Sydney, Australia.

BANTRYD: Now you sound like Sarah. That’s what she keeps saying. But you know what? I think Sarah would be a lot happier with us than she is here, in this ugly place. Xaxanader thinks so, too. He’s hoping that’s what will happen, that she’ll come back.

AUTHOR: What do you think will happen?

BANTRYD: I don’t know. I haven’t read your book, yet. But anything is possible.

Sea Changes by Gail Graham

When Sarah’s husband dies suddenly, she is left with no anchor and no focus.

Grief is an ever-present companion and counseling a weekly chore with minimal results, but when Sarah decides to end her life her suicide attempt takes her to an underwater world where she finds comfort and friendship. Afterwards, back on the beach she wonders – Was it a dream? Was I hallucinating? Or am I going mad?

Her efforts to make sense of the experience lead to Sarah’s becoming a suspect in the alleged kidnapping of a young heiress. Now her worlds are colliding – and the people she trusts are backing away, not believing a word she says. She must decide what is real and what is not. Her life depends on it.

About the Author

Gail Graham’s previous novel, CROSSFIRE, won the Buxtehude Bulle, a prestigious German literary award. CROSSFIRE has been translated into German, French, Danish, Finnish and Swedish. Three of Gail’s other books were NY Times Book of the Year recommendations. Gail lived in Australia for 32 years, where she owned and operated a community newspaper and published several other books, including A COOL WIND BLOWING (a biography of Mao Zedong) STAYING ALIVE and A LONG SEASON IN HELL. She returned to the United States in 2002, and now lives in Tucson, Arizona.

You can visit Gail online at www.gailgraham.net.

Excerpt from Sea Changes by Gail Graham

She doesn’t have to get up if she doesn’t want to. She doesn’t have to do anything. Propped against the pillows, she watches the changing patterns of light filter through the branches of the tree outside her window. She could lie here until Friday and nobody would know or care. But that would be giving up. You’re not supposed to give up. You’re supposed to keep trying, whether you feel like it or not. If you keep going through the motions, sooner or later, something will kick in.

So she gets up and dresses, even though she’s not going anywhere. She puts on clean underwear and clean, pressed clothes. Her appointment with Kahn isn’t until Friday, but that’s not the point. You can’t spend the day in your nightgown.

There’s nothing much in the newspaper. There rarely is. It’s Australia, only eighteen million people in the whole country. Sitting at the kitchen table with a second mug of coffee, Sarah tackles the crossword puzzle. It was years before she mastered Australian crossword puzzles, which contain fewer words than their American counterparts and are shaped differently, more like skeletons than grids. The spellings are different too.

She hasn’t eaten since yesterday and she ought to be hungry, but isn’t. French women don’t get fat because they don’t eat unless they’re hungry. Sarah looks in the refrigerator, but nothing tempts her. She needs to go shopping. Later, perhaps, when it’s not so hot. She wishes she had a ceiling fan, or better still, central air conditioning. Nobody in Sydney has air conditioning. They don’t think it’s necessary, not with the beach so close. Nobody has central heating, either. They say it doesn’t get cold enough, but it does.

Sarah picks up a novel from the library and tries to concentrate. It’s not a very good novel, although it’s supposed to be a bestseller. That doesn’t mean anything, these days. Everything’s a bestseller. The protagonist has left his wife, is having an affair, has just learned he’s got cancer. He’ll probably die at the end. Sarah thinks he deserves to die and dozes off on the couch. When she opens her eyes, damp and sticky with the perspiration of an afternoon nap, it’s already getting dark.

The telephone rings. Nobody calls her, except telemarketers and sometimes Kahn, when he needs to cancel a session. If it rings five times, the machine will answer it. Five, six, seven. maybe she’s forgotten to turn the machine on.

Interview with Stefano Vasco Terenzio from Synarchy Book 1: The Awakening

It is a rare thing to be a reporter and get a moment alone with Stefano Vasco Terenzio . Today, for whatever reason, he has agreed to come into the studio and give us ten minutes. We were so excited when he agreed, we posed the question to fans of Stefano, and a few members of his family, “if you had one thing to ask him, what would it be?”

Let’s get to those questions, and his answers. This is Jah Rah Shiloh and I am here right now with the man, Stefano Vaso Terenzio. Mr. Terenzio, it’s a real pleasure. Since you’re the authority on the matter, can you introduce yourself?

S.V.T.: You’ve got the name right. I was the head of the Terenzio family, and Governor of Alcyone Island.

Jah Rah: We know your time is short so, we’re going to jump right into the questions our listeners had for you first. What was the scariest moment of your life?

S.V.T.: When I got kicked into the Hudson River. I wasn’t ready to go yet. I knew I had more to do, that this was all wrong. There was also someone I wanted to see again, say good-bye to.

Jah Rah: What was going through your mind, when you made the deal to work for the Anunnaki?

S.V.T.: That this was what I was here to do. That my existence culminated on that moment. That’s the day I really started playing this game of chess. It was terrifying and exhilarating. I can’t explain to you how much I savoured every moment, and every move I made after that.

Jah Rah: Did you ever think about joining the Brotherhood instead of turning on them in the end?

S.V.T.: No, actually. I don’t take orders well. My entire life was spent working my way to the top of the hill. But beyond that, the more I thought about it, the more the very idea simply annoyed me. C’mon, I can appreciate what the Anunnaki and the Brotherhood were about to do but, without choice what fun is it?

Jah Rah: DCS, the lady tasked with telling your family’s story, never exposes your second or first wife’s name to us. Can you tell us?

S.V.T.: My first wife’s name was Selene. She killed herself. My second wife’s name doesn’t really matter. But, you may find out one day.

Jah Rah: Speaking of DCS, do you feel Synarchy Book 1: The Awakening adequately tells the story of how your family got started in their quest?

S.V.T.: I don’t expect anyone to be able to identify the motives and moves my family made with 100% accuracy. But, for a writer, she does all right. It’s worth the read.

Jah Rah: If you had one piece of advice for you son that you didn’t write for him in your journal what would it be?

S.V.T.: When you’re playing the game remember, it doesn’t matter if your enemy suffers, so long as you win. And when you step away from it, strip away your layers and self delusions and simply, love. Completely. Life is easily navigated after that. But, he figured that out for himself. Smart boy.

Jah Rah: That’s good advice. Stefano, we’ve asked your brother and sister, Julian and Liliana, the same question. Carissa couldn’t be reached for comment.

S.V.T.: She’s mad at me. I forgot her kids’ names again.

Jah Rah: Oh. Well, at any rate, we were able to reach JT and Liliana. Here are their questions for you. Your brother wants to know, looking back on things, knowing what you know now, did you really think it would be this much fun?

S.V.T.: You would ask me that question, Julian. No, I didn’t actually. I knew I’d enjoy it, never like this. But, I’ve always said the ending doesn’t matter, it’s inevitable. It’s all about the moments before that, that lead us here.

Jah Rah: Right on. Your sister, Liliana, wants to know, if you had it to do all over again, what would you do differently?

S.V.T.: You, little sister love looking back and questioning the decisions you’ve made. What would I do differently? You remember the day you told me you wanted to quit? Instead of talking you out of it, I would have let you.

Jah Rah: Can you tell us why, Stefano?

S.V.T.: Because then she would have taken a real sniff of the other side. My sister and I, Jah Rah, are two very similar creatures. She would have been back.

Jah Rah: I hope she’s listening, maybe one day she can verify that for us. Last question. If you had one message to impart to the rest of the world, what would it be?

S.V.T.: They’re playing you because they can. Because that’s their job, their purpose, the only thing they know how to do. You’re taking it because you refuse to open your eyes, and not because that’s your purpose. Your purpose is to get a clue, and remember that the power lies within you. Take it. Or someone else will.

Jah Rah: Wise words. Thank you for stopping by, Stefano. This is Jah Rah Shiloh and I’m outta here, but don’t touch that dial. Mad Martha is on next with the Doctor who cloned Free Willy.

Synarchy Book 1: The Awakening by DCS

Thirteen bloodlines, The Brotherhood, fanatically loyal to their gods, the Anunnaki, have controlled the planet since his-story was written. In 1925 Stefano Vasco Terenzio, head of the Terenzio crime family makes a deal with the Anunnaki to solidify his control over the American Mafia. Clever and manipulative, Stefano’s true goal was to put his family in a position so one day they would be able to turn on their masters.

Two generations later, the shockwave he ignited was still being felt. Now, as the world inches closer to 2012, time is running out. The only thing in the Brotherhoods way is Terenzio, a family now divided as a truly epic battle begins that will determine whether mankind continues existing in a world of lies, or shatters the chains that have held it prisoner since his-story was written.

Shocking yet hopeful, Synarchy slowly unravels the tightly laced reality we have created for ourselves. Blending the metaphysical with conspiracy, fact with fiction, debut author DCS has opened up a world that will force you to rethink everything you believe about your own. The knowledge within provokes the question; do you really want to know?

About the Author

DCS was born in Alexandria, VA, and now lives in New Orleans, LA. Synarchy Book 1: The Awakening is her debut novel. A self taught world student, her studies cover the 2012 mystery, quantum mechanics, metaphysics, parasphysic science, conspiracies and strange phenomenon.

Taking full advantage of the creative energy of New Orleans, she is hard at work on the second book in the Synarchy Series, The Ascension and several short stories loosely based off of a few characters from the book, but following more along the vein of the her txt based roleplay game, Synarchy 2012.

Visit www.synarchy2012.com to learn more. Also an active blogger and podcaster, you can learn more about the insanity that runs around the mind of a science fiction author on her blog at www.dcs-svt.com or listen to novel excerpts and the short stories by clicking on the Podcast link at www.synarchynovel.com.

Excerpt from Synarchy Book 1: The Awakening by DCS

The Fifth Planet…
The Second Time…

The stress of knowing what was to come weighed on him, even in his dreams. At least he was not alone. The change in frequencies had warned them but only a few remembered to listen. Messengers from God, from the true Source had come and were labeled outsiders, some were killed. The planet had become a manifestation of the darkest fears of its men and women.

Menes bolted upright. Sweat highlighted the tension from his temples down across his heavy jaw. His violent heartbeat added a menacing soundtrack to the images of his dream as they invaded his conscious state. Dragging his hands over his damp face, Menes shut his eyes to search out the 2D frequency that would return his energy level to balance and lower the spike in his blood pressure.

When the last bit of tension was exhaled he reopened his eyes, glancing at the sleeping woman next to him. Relieved she hadn’t woken, he carefully uncoiled from the silk bedding and padded over soft carpeted floors into the bathroom.

He moved easily without superficial light. The flecks of gold in the walls around him shimmered as if conducted by his steps. He raised his hand to pass over a cerulean crystal embedded in the marble, causing a tranquil glow to fill the room. When he stepped up to the sink, crisp cold water fell as if it anticipated his need. Cupping both hands under the steady flow, he splashed his face several times before meeting his image in the mirror.

Sighing, he dropped his gaze towards the faucet and the water stopped. He hated being unable to convince more of his people. It left him frustrated even though he tried to accept it for what it was. The tick of universal time brought the inevitable truth; his nightmare was a premonition of the future.

Menes carried that thought as he returned to the woman who still slept. When his eyes touched her his aura pulsed with a dim gray light; sadness. She would leave physically, returning to spirit until she chose whether or not to come back. Unfortunately, the scar of this event would be burned into her DNA, becoming a fear she must face in another lifetime should she revisit this dimension.

When he was back beneath the sheets, Menes drew her against him. For just an instant he slipped through his door in her shields like a scared child taking solace in the willing unconscious reassurance she gave him. The steady rhythm of her breath lured him back to sleep.

When next he woke it was to the sound of terrified screams, and the deafening rumble of the earth splintering around him. The end was here.

Interview With Sir Anthony Roxwell from Lizzie’s Rake by Hazel Statham

It is with great pleasure I welcome Sir Anthony Roxwell, friend and (sometimes) confidant of Maxim Beaufort, Earl of St. Ive.

Hazel: Good afternoon, your lordship. I’m so pleased you could find the time to visit us.

Sir Anthony: Good afternoon, my dear. It’s a pleasure to be here. Please call me Tony. Everyone else does. Can’t stand ceremony.

Hazel: Then Tony it will be! Tell me then, Tony, when did you first become acquainted with the earl?

Tony: We grew up together. My father’s estates march right alongside St. Ives’ and we played together as soon as we were out of leading-strings. Of course, his father was the earl then but I rarely saw him. We were left very much to our own devices and were rarely checked unless news of our escapades came to the old earl’s ears, and then we were brought most forcibly to heel.

Hazel: And you have remained friends ever since?

Tony: Of course! Max is the best friend a chap could have. Always to be relied on and never complains when things go wrong. I must tell you he’s a great brother to Peter, too. A more tolerant older brother would be difficult to find. He’s forever rescuing the young scapegrace from one scrape or another.

Hazel: And what of his feelings for Elizabeth Granger? Do you think there’s a genuine attraction there or is he just setting her up as his latest flirt?

Tony: Really difficult to say. At first, I thought he’d taken against her, but I had it all wrong. He does so much to help the family, and does not count the cost. The children adore him, but it’s plain for all to see that Miss Granger has her reservations.

Hazel: She is uncivil?

Tony: Not outright. Though you can tell she does not agree with all he does. Although it was explained to her that he is not the cause of their current situation and is not responsible for her brother fleeing these shores, she sees not the difference and resents his presence. However, she confounded us all by willingly turning Badger over to him. She has a great fondness for the horse and I never thought to see her relinquish him into anyone’s care, let alone give him to Max, but one can never understand a female’s way of thinking.

Hazel: Then there are no signs of a match?

Tony: Well, you have me there. When I come to think of it, in unguarded moments when each believes themselves unobserved, I have oft noted they watch each other. I vow they would never admit it, but I have seen them! However, I must confess, I’ve never known a woman yet that can resist Maxim’s charm. He has a reputation with the ladies, don’t y’know.

Hazel: I have heard. Does that mean he’s not to be trusted?

Tony: So far he has not fallen in love so I can’t predict his actions when he finally takes Cupid’s arrow. He’s been courted and feted ever since he came on the town at the tender age of twenty so is it any wonder that he takes what is so freely offered?

Hazel: You think him not such a hardened rake as one would suppose?

Tony: He is my friend and I suppose I view him with an influenced eye, but to me, he is more the product of circumstance than a hardened rake. A more genuine fellow you would be hard pressed to find and to suggest he is a breaker of hearts is quite untrue. If he were to state his cause to be genuine, then I for one would believe him.

Hazel: You give your friend a glowing character.

Tony: Despite his reputation, he is a man to admire. I hope, in time, Miss Granger will view him in a more favorable light.

Hazel: I hope so too for theirs is an unpredictable relationship at best and I would wish to see them happy.

Tony: Although he would be reluctant to admit himself ready for the parson’s mousetrap, I do believe he would make an excellent husband if he found the right spouse.

Hazel: Although I cannot confess to any prior knowledge, it is to be hoped that he has already done so.

Tony: It is a prediction I am reluctant to make, though I hold out hopes. Now, if you will excuse me, I have books to catalogue. It is a task I pledged to do whilst Maxim and Peter are at the mill in Harrogate. I must confess that for once the sport holds no draw for me compared to the lure of the fine and rare tomes found in Briarfield’s library

Hazel: Then all remains is for me to thank you, your lordship, for agreeing to spend some time with me. I confess I shall watch our couple quite closely over the coming months for theirs is a story yet to be told.

Tony: Then goodbye, dear lady. The library awaits.

Lizzie’s Rake by Hazel Statham

Can a rake reform his ways and truly love? Lizzie’s head tells her one thing, her heart another.

Infamous rake and Corinthian, Maxim Beaufort, Earl of St. Ive, finding himself in possession of a property in Yorkshire, is unprepared for the changes it will bring into his life.

Irresistibly drawn to Elizabeth Granger, the former owner’s daughter, he attempts to help the family, finding himself filling the role of benefactor.

When the house is razed to the ground, he arranges for temporary accommodation for Elizabeth and her siblings on his estate and when Elizabeth rejects his proposal of marriage, he is nonetheless determined to win her over.

However, events and his reputation conspire to thwart his efforts and his course is one fraught with dangers.

Trust does not come easily and determined to protect her heart, Elizabeth struggles to resist her own longings. At times, their difficulties appear insurmountable but the earl is widely known as ‘The Indomitable’ and the name was not lightly earned.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Hazel Statham lives in Staffordshire, England. She started writing at fifteen and has written on and off ever since. She has always been fascinated by history and writes mainly in the Regency and Georgian eras, although she has had a short medieval story published. When she was a child, she often told herself stories and this just progressed to committing them to paper to entertain family and friends.

There have however, been gaps in her writing years where marriage and employment intervened, but now that she no longer works, she is able to return to her first love and devote her time to writing. She had her first two novels published in 2005.

She has been married to her husband Terry since 1969 and they have a grown daughter and beautiful grandson. Apart from reading and writing historical novels, her other ruling passion is animals and until recently, she was treasurer for an organization that raised money for animal charities.

She currently shares her home with two lovely yellow Labradors named Lucy and Mollie, who are her constant companions. They are real sweeties, but it’s not always easy working at the computer with a large Labrador trying to get on your knee!

You can visit Hazel online at www.hazel-statham.co.uk.

Excerpt from Lizzie’s Rake by Hazel Statham

“Indeed you have, my dear,” he said earnestly, and she raised her eyes quickly to his face. He moved away as if the look discomfited him and there existed a silence between them, only the stamping of the horses’ hooves as they moved restlessly in the stalls invading the moment.

Suddenly turning and coming to stand before her, St. Ive asked quietly, “Do you still think of me as an intruder, Elizabeth? Am I still not welcome in your home?”

“Maxim…” she began, and would have turned away, but immediately his arm detained her, drawing her back to face him.

For a long moment his searching gaze devoured her face until, tilting back her chin with his free hand, he bowed his head and kissed her. As the gentle kiss turned more demanding and he drew her tightly to his chest, he became aware that her soft lips remained frozen beneath his and she held her delicate frame rigid within his embrace. The fear in her eyes cut through him and immediately he released her from his arms.

“Why?” she demanded, the instant she was set free, bewilderment heavy in her voice.

“Why?” he repeated softly, almost as if he spoke to himself, a slight smile on his lips, and after the briefest hesitation he said flippantly, “Because you have rain on your face, my dear.”

“Odious, detestable man,” she cried angrily, running out into the night, not even pausing to take up her lantern.

He stood watching as the dark downpour devoured her.

Interview with Granny Holmes from The Crypto-Capers in the Case of the Missing Sock by Renee Hand

I sat calmly in my cushy brown leather chair, staring out the only window in my office that faces the busy streets of downtown Naples, Florida. As I glance at my watch, I hear a soft rapping on my door. My guest has arrived on time for our interview. I quickly turned my chair around to face my desk, and rose.

As I sauntered towards the door, I hastily glanced at a mirror on the wall checking my appearance. Satisfied, I opened the door and moved to the side to allow my guest to enter. As the woman walked in, I was left completely speechless. She was a unique woman, with grayish white hair that looked as soft as a kitten’s coat. Her hair was wrapped tightly in a bun on the top of her head with chopsticks stabbed unceremoniously through it.

I closed the door and walked back over to my guest who had just sat down into a chair opposite mine. I reached out my hand in greeting and she accepted it. We shook hands for a few seconds before she introduced herself.

“I am Nellie Holmes, but you can call me Granny if you would like. I am apart of the detective team known as The Crypto-Capers.”

I then released her hand, which was now sore from her firm grip, and moved to sit back into my chair. As my eyes perused Granny’s appearance, I noticed how stray pieces of hair near her forehead were loose and wild as they framed her face. As she sat quietly in front of me, her eyes held a sparkle. The sight made me smile for it gave me an indication of Granny’s demeanor. She seemed as wild and unpredictable as her hair.

“Thank you so much for agreeing to meet with me, Granny.”

“My pleasure, dear,” replied Granny. As she smiled sweetly, she placed a large fuchsia pink handbag onto her lap. It matched her lime green polka dotted sweater nicely.

“That is a beautiful handbag you got there, Granny. Do you mind if I ask you what’s inside?”

“No, not at all!” Granny unlatched her handbag and began emptying the contents onto a nearby table as she spoke. “Well, as you know, I am a detective. My team and I travel all around the world solving cases. We are currently in the middle of a case in Naples, which is the only reason why I agreed to this interview. You will understand, won’t you, if I have to leave suddenly?”

“Of course,” I reassured Granny, as my gaze moved with interest to the items that now lay on the table. There were many items that caught my attention, while the rest left me confused.

“This is one of the many cameras that I have to take pictures of evidence with and so forth. The images go right to Morris, who is the computer genius of the group. He then takes the images and analyzes it. He is amazing with the computer. He also looks out for the group and keeps us well informed, as well as updated with new equipment. This book over here is a book of languages. I am a master of various languages and use it to keep my skills sharp.” Granny then held up a mass of yellow yarn. “And this—well—this is my knitting. To be honest, I am terrible at it, but I am determined to master it.” Granny unfolded the mass, which looked more like something from an ink blot test. I said nothing as I smiled politely. Surprisingly, Granny made no mention of the wad of zip ties on the table or the rectangular red brick. Instead, she smiled, her features expressing her desire to end the topic.

“Your profession is quite an interesting one. How did you fall into it?”

“I have the gift left to me by my grandfather. His name was Sherlock Holmes, as you know, he was a great detective. His amazing abilities of reasoning and deduction, as well as his keen eye for observation, run through the Holmes’ veins through and through. My son is a detective as well as my grandchildren, Maxwell and Mia. Max and Mia are apart of The Crypto-Capers team, along with me and Morris. At the ages of fourteen and twelve, they have managed to pass the rigorous tests of Scotland Yard and have proudly earned the detective title. Our team actually began because of their accomplishments. I travel along, not only to supervise what is going on, but to help solve crimes. I love the chase!” Granny’s eyes lit up with excitement.

“Can you tell me more about the specialties of your team?”

“You already know about Morris and I. Max is great at observation and detail, while Mia is our cryptogrammer. She solves majority of the cryptograms that we come across. She is amazing at deciphering code.”

“Speaking of that, how do you find these cryptograms?”

“The cases we solve are unique in nature, which is why we are so busy. When certain items go missing or are stolen, we are asked to find them. Usually our clients are important and wish for us to use as much discretion as possible. We are a trustworthy group if nothing else. Usually cryptograms are left behind, or they fall from someone’s pocket. Or, as in most cases, the cryptograms are intercepted. Cryptograms are messages written in code, a communication between people about something. How we come about them varies, but when we do, we are always able to solve them and get our man, or woman.” For the first time I noticed the strange watch that Granny wore on her wrist.

“Your watch does not look like an ordinary watch.”

“That’s because its not, dear. This watch is a way for my team to communicate to one another. No matter where we are we can talk and tell each other what is happening, we are rarely left in the dark. Also, our watches can do some pretty amazing things. I even think that I have floss in mine. No wait, that is steel cable.” My eyes opened wide in amazement. Before I could ask another question, a voice came through on Granny’s watch phone.

“Granny, he’s coming you way!” Before I could say a word, Granny held up her pointer finger.

“If you could excuse me, dear,” spoke Granny excitedly as she began to shove the items that were on the table back into her handbag. She then closed the handbag, rose abruptly from her chair, and dashed to the door. My mind was left reeling with what was going on, then I realized something. The Crypto-Capers team must feel this way all the time.

Curious, I moved towards the window and opened it, hoping to see what was going on. Then I saw it. A man was running on the sidewalk towards the front of my building coming from the right. He was pushing people out of his way causing all sorts of chaos. I felt compelled to do something, but I didn’t have to.

When the man reached the sidewalk in front of my door, all I saw was a smear of pink. Granny had used her handbag to take out the man. Now I know why Granny kept a brick in her handbag, for moments like these. I began to shake my head and smile.

I saw Granny dig her hand into her handbag and pull out a zip tie. She then proceeded to tie the man’s hands behind his back. With strength I wouldn’t have expected, I saw Granny lift up the man by his arm in one smooth motion and lead him down the street where it looked like the rest of her team was waiting. Before she left she gave me one final wave. The perfect ending to an interesting interview. I had my story.

For more information about The Crypto-Capers Series please check out the author’s website at www.reneeahand.com. Books can be found anywhere books are sold, including www.amazon.com and www.bn.com

The two books in the series available now are:
The Case of the Missing Sock ISBN# 978-0-87839-304-6
The Case of Red Rock Canyon ISBN# 978-0-87839-309-1