December 29
The holidays are over. Like many of you, I attended school concerts, church concerts and services and Christmas brunches with friends. But now the part I like the least is starting to happen. Many begin taking down their colorful holiday lights. I wish they’d leave them up until March when it starts getting lighter earlier. It’s so dark.
December 20
Since I can’t really run around Christmas shopping, I’m grateful that I can do most of my shopping online. That leaves lots of time for writing.
December 15
It’s strange having the holidays off. Usually I’m flying and my family is very understanding and willing to coordinate family gatherings around my schedule. This year, although I’m hobbling around a bit, I get to enjoy them all.
December 12
Took this picture from the air. What does it look like to you? It’s the sun, but what a strange view.
December 11
To make sense of my last post, I just found the picture. But I think I could expand on this concept for a great mystery.
December 10
Way, way back in 2015, my last trip before our house burned down, I had a great trip with a great crew. We had a long layover in Boston and went to Frost. Ice walls, ice furniture, ice bar, ice glasses, ice decorations. Thanks Carolyn, Faz and Keith for a special experience.
December 5
I’ve started a holiday based mystery but I’m having a hard time, since Christmas is my favorite time of year. It’s hard to think of evil deeds in the month that means so much of the opposite. Guess I’ll pass.
December 3
I really miss flying. Did I mention I was having a knee replaced. Lots of fun. Not.
December 1
Bette Midler was born on this day. What a talent!
November 25
Don’t panic but it’s a month until Christmas. When shopping, scale back just a bit and buy two of everything. One for the person you bought the gift, and one for someone else, possibly a stranger. It will make you smile big.
November 23
Today most people in our nation are taking time to be thankful. For me, and probably most, it’s about family. How blessed I am that they all live closeby and we can be together. But for everyone, there should be gratitude for the privilege of living in the United States of America. If you’re complaining, try living somewhere else. See what you think then. If you like it better, stay there.
November 15
What a great gal to fly with. Thanks for a great trip, Wanda.
November 11
There are 50 days remaining until the end of the year.
November 8
I did it again. For some reason this date is stuck in my head as the birthday of a very dear friend. The actual birth date is November 2. Sorry Bob. However, missing dates could be the basis for a mystery. I’ll have to think about that.
November 5
I’m still working on a novel based on the life of a very dear friend of mine who is now 98 years old. It’s a fascinating story but very difficult to write because she lived in a time that I never witnessed. We’ve had many conversations and I’ve taken volumes of notes; but it will still require massive research.
November 1
This month is considered the last month of autumn. For most of us in the Midwest, the bright colors are gone and if we don’t have snow yet, we will soon. But it’s also National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month; a nasty disease that took my mother. Know as much as you can about this disease.
October 31
It’s Halloween again, the second most decorated season of the year. I’ve never written a mystery tied to Halloween but I think I will for this year.
October 20
I just learned something interesting about Daylight Savings. According to one expert, there are approximately 24% more heart attacks the week after Daylight Savings start, than any other time of year. It appears the brain does not react nicely to changing the fixed times. Hmmm.
October 17
The aforementioned flight attendant who is also a hypnotist shared a quarterly journal from the Hypnotists Guild. It is fascinating. I can see all sorts of stories. Thank you Colleen.
October 14
Did you know that as glaciers melt, bodies from past generations are being found. Read “Ice Flight” to find out more.
October 12
Flight attendants are full of stories and I’m a copious note-taker. Much of this information will find its way between the pages of my books. I’ve flown with women and men who are former teachers, nurses, lawyers and corporate executives. I’ve also flown with some who are currently interior designers, furniture re-finishers, hypnotists, essential oil experts, florists and musicians. The stories just keep coming in.
October 1
Remember the flight attendant who showed me the Unknown Destination on the airport monitor. Well, I just found out I’ll be out of work for a few months starting in November. Knee replacement. Sounds like a good time to write a book.
September 25
We’ve enjoyed a beautiful fall. I’ve had flights out to the East Coast that give me the opportunity to see a New England fall. It’s still a little early for peak colors, but won’t be long. Flying around America allows you to fall in love with this diverse and fascinating country. I think it calls for a New England mystery, don’t you?
September 21
Continue searching for funding for my book based television series for children. What an extraordinary path I’m being led down. Who would guess the wide variety of people I’d meet who have offered encouragement, suggestions and, best of all, contacts. These contacts will eventually provide the key to the success of this series. I’m convinced.
September 14
Did you know that three passengers completely covered in black fabric led to my story “Groundstopped.” I hope you’ll share your thoughts with me about this subject.
September 12
As I’ve mentioned before, the inspiration for many of my stories have come from passengers and crew members. One passenger, whom I’ve mentioned before, is a scientist from Montana, who does research in Greenland for three months every summer. His generous information inspired the book “Ice Flight.” I’ve received numerous comments about the authenticity of global warming. Some say definitely, others are doubtful. I’m on the fence, however, I hope I gave some reasonable arguments in my book. Thanks for reading it.
September 8
If you have any information that could evolve as a fictional mystery, I would love to hear from you. Email me us at SusanEgnerAuthor (at) gmail.com.
September 5
Another passenger told me of a true incident that happened in her home town. That story is the basis for “Chemistry for Revenge.” I hope you enjoy it.
September 1
The previously mentioned couple offered to share their information with me as a basis for a fictional version of the story. They generously provided court documents, newspaper articles and their personal story. I hope I can do the story justice.
August 20
Though all the mysteries are, of course, fiction, they are based on some very real realities of our world today. Some have been presented to me through airline training. Others through my passengers. For instance, one of my passengers was to be featured on the Paula Zahn show because his brother was the victim of a serial killer.
August 17
While I continued to seek funding for a television series, please see www.woodfin.cc for more information, I began to write mystery novels about a flight attendant; a senior, and I mean senior flight attendant, with grandchildren.
August 15
I decided to become an airline flight attendant. You know this from previous posts. It’s been an amazing adventure.
August 12
I had given up an excellent career in an interesting profession to pursue this extension of my dream as a writer. But how to meet appropriate people?
August 11
In searching for funding, I found a man who was willing to fund the full $4 million at the time. The week that we planned to sign contracts and checks, the stock market crashed. He lost $9 million and I lost my funding.
August 10
My deepest desire is writing. Having said that, a series of children’s stories I wrote received an offer of a television series a number of years ago. However, in order to have the type of animation I wish, I must raise funding for the first season.
August 2
My daughter’s birthday, exactly one week after mine. Hard to believe she’s in her 40’s. She looks more like twenties. Anyway I prefer to think of her that way. Makes me feel younger.
July 28
My husband’s birthday. Time to buy a Pendleton, his favorite brand of shirt. And books. He devours books.
July 26
Enjoyed a wonderful birthday with family. Tomorrow is my anniversary and the next day is my husband’s birthday. We make it a big family gala whenever possible.
July 24
Now we’re teaching my sister how to bake this bread through emails and text messages.
My daughter shared a home made bread recipe that requires no kneading but must rise 18 hours. It’s a great bread with a crusty outside and dense inside. It’s great for sandwiches on trips because the bread doesn’t get wet and icky like store bought bread. My husband is the baker in the house and he’s becoming a pro at this bread.
July 15
Had some great friends from Maine visit us this summer. They were our first guests since the re-build of our house after the fire in 2015, two years ago this month.
July 12
Didn’t have the Fourth of July off, but was able to have a few days after to enjoy my grandchildren at the cabin. Swimming, evenings by the campfire making s’mores, sleeping out on the screened porch, breakfasts out on the deck at the Yellow Lake Lodge. Summer is sweet in Minnesota.
July 4
The public has really no idea what flight attendants deal with. I’ve been bitten by bedbugs, as have many flight crew in various hotels. One flight attendant was bitten by a spider, possibly a recluse. The swelled up to the size of a golf ball so the captain sent her to the medical office in the airport of that particular city. When they notices red streaks shooting up her arm, they sent her to a major hospital (not in Minneapolis) that kept her waiting several hours, saying they had no beds. Eventually she left, managed to get a flight home where she received proper care.
June 19
Well, back to the orthopedic surgeon I met in May. I just flew with a flight attendant who had a rod put in her leg when she was 18. She gave me some new ideas to consider for the story. I love my job.
June 10
My husband and I went to dinner at TGI Friday’s and when a couple was called for a table before us; they gave us their table. I asked the waitress to let them order a drink on us. Later, just as we were finishing, a man came over to our table to thank us except it was the wrong man; but it was definitely the right man. The waitress gave the drink order to the wrong table but we’re so glad she did. The man was a Viet Nam War Veteran. What a great opportunity to say thanks.
June 8
The couple I mentioned in the last story has sent me all the information I need to write a fictional version of their story. Can life get any better than that.
June 4
You will not believe my next story. For a mystery writer, it’s a mystery. I was working aft and seated between a couple going to NY for their 37th anniversary. However, they were going as guests of Paula Zahn and would be taped on her show to be aired this fall. Subject: His brother was the victim of a serial killer. I won’t give the story away. You’ll have to watch the Discovery channel this fall.
May 27
Sat next to an engineer while deadheading (riding as a passenger) to my next flight assignment. He asked if I had ever visited the St. Anthony Falls Lab of the University of Minnesota. I said no. He said St. Anthony Falls runs right through the building and they give tours. He said it’s one of the creepiest places he’s ever visited and I should place a mystery there. Guess I’m taking the tour.
May 25
Haven’t been on my blog because I’m trying to finish three novels so that I can start three more. The ideas keep coming in. I had an orthopedic surgeon on my flight who said he always wanted a mystery written about something that would take place in surgery. If I would write it, he would help with the medical jargon. I can’t wait to start and hope to be ready by this fall. He lives in Boise.
May 20
If I can ever figure out how to put pictures on my blog, I will show you some of the sights and great people I’ve crossed paths with in the last few years. Hold on to that thought.
May 18
I have been flying with some of the greatest flight attendants. I just finished a trip with Wanda. She was great to work with, full of fun, very thoughtful and attentive toward all our passengers and a new treasure as a friend. Thank you Wanda.
May 17
I also forgot to mention my high school reunion in late April. I graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in Jacksonville, FL. We were saddened to hear that the name is to be changed. Even though Lee fought for the south (he lived in Virginia), he was against the war and against slavery. He was a man of honor and history and deserves to have his name remembered. How can we learn from the past if we try to erase it.
May 15
I forgot to mention the very nice St. Patrick’s Day I experienced in Jacksonville, FL, my home town. My high school friend, Kim, took me and the other flight attendant, Julie, to the beach to hear live music while sitting outside. Needless to say, we weren’t sitting outside in March in Minneapolis, so it was a real treat. Sorry for the belated thank you, Kim.
May 12
Had a long layover in Montreal. Formerly we had to stand on the curb, no matter what the weather was like, to wait for the hotel shuttle. Not anymore. Now we stay at the gorgeous Marriott, right in the airport. Sweet.
May 10
Just learned of a new mystery author who is a NY bestseller of Christian mysteries. Terry Blackstock. Entertaining stories.
May 8
Looking for hummingbirds, visit the Desert Museum in Tucson. Go toward dusk and see all the animals that come out when the sun goes down. Even hummingbirds.
May 6
Interesting how many passengers I’m meeting on flights who know friends of mine in Jacksonville. Bruce and Gerry used to live behind my friend Billy S. Small world
May 5
Had a passenger from Berwick, PA, who said the town is famous for Wise Potato Chips. He also said its a town where you can get away with murder. Must explore that for a future book.
May 4
Many springs in Minnesota are still a long way from green at the beginning of May. Not so this year. It’s been an amazing spring. The depth of the color green all around us makes me want to take out my crayons and see if I have as many shades of green. Doubt it.
April 30
Looks like bumpy summer flying is starting early. We have really had some stormy skies. Today, after flying four bumpy legs around the storms, the captain informed us that we could no longer go around, that we would have to go right through the storm clouds. We decided to say a crew prayer. The captain later said it was the most amazing thing, the clouds literally parted and while we watched amazing lightning storms on both sides of the plane, our flight was as smooth as silk.
April 28
Did I tell you about the flight attendant who suggested I look at the monitor for flight information in the Newark Airport. Under U, it had two flights with flight numbers, gate numbers and times for departure. Guess where both were going? Unknown Destination. I’m halfway through my next book, “Destination Unknown.”
April 25
According to the previously mentioned pilot, it wasn’t the first time a gun interfered with a flight instructor’s lessons. It seems the student wanted to commit suicide by shooting his instructor while in the air. Stay tuned. That’s a book waiting to be written.
April 23
Flew recently with a pilot who told me that back in the 90’s when he was a flight instructor, a war veteran on the ground tried to shoot him out of the air. A bullet went through his knee. Can you imagine being the student who is told, “You need to land this baby while I work on stopping the blood flow.” The student successfully landed and the instructor was rushed to the hospital.
April 21
I am captivated by the studies on what receding glaciers/ice bergs are revealing. If you’ve never looked it up, I recommend that you do. Receding glaciers re revealing incredible ideas for mysteries.
April 19
Working hard to finish mystery that takes place in Greenland. I hope to submit it to an Amazon contest. This book has been so much fun to write. The research alone is fascinating.
April 17
I often read how writer’s are crippled by writer’s block. I’m not sure exactly what that means but if it means they have no new ideas, they should take a new job as a flight attendant. I could write 24/7 and not catch up to all the ideas presented to me.
April 16
I recently finished a trip with a former flight instructor, returned to her position as a flight attendant. She read one of my books during the four-day trip and found a blaring error. I was so grateful that she would share that with me, allowing me to go online and make a correction. Thank you MJ
April 15
I’ve received some responses about the title of my Greenland mystery, part of the Casey Click series, but will wait for more. Please let me know what you think.
April 9
It feels like an early spring in Minnesota. We’ve had very warm temperatures and I’ve been able to sit at a table on my deck and write. The warm sun seems to enhance my desire to write.
April 5
I recently flew a flight with a flight attendant who wants to come up with the next idea for a Casey Click novel. We chatted about ideas on various legs of our flights and then we’d each go to our own hotel room for the night. By the end of the trip, she had found perfect subject matter: the relationships between some pilots and some flight attendants. At first it sounded cliche, but the more she told me, the more I jotted down in my notebook. (All names changed to protect the innocent) .
April 3
I’m currently working on a mystery that I kiddingly say is based on a pilot I know. Of course it’s not because my character is a serial killer, but whenever I see this pilot, he (also kiddingly) asks me how many he’s killed so far. I know, it sound ghoulish but writers of mystery walk a different path than, say, your romance writer.
April 1
My mystery that takes place in Greenland is being edited now but the title has been changed. We have two and would like readers to respond by email to su@woodfin.cc with the one you like best. Without knowing the storyline, just as a title, which works for you? Ice Flight, Carved in Ice or Ice Landing. Look forward to hearing from you.
March 20
Sometime ago, I mentioned that a flight attendant suggested I look at the airport monitor in the Newark Airport. On the monitor it listed two flights with the destination listed as unknown. I loved it and immediately thought of a book I could base on that. It’s working title is “Destination Unknown” and is about half written. I’ve finished the mystery in Greenland with the working title of “Top of the World” and the pilot mystery I previously mentioned, which is also half-finished, has a working title of “The Wingman Killer.” Stay tuned.
March 19
I just returned from a 4-day trip and was it packed with interesting experiences. I met a man who works for a company that implants tracking devices in fish. Do you know that they anesthetize the fish before performing this 3-minute operation. Not a career I had heard of when finishing high school. Who aspires to operate on fish? I was flabbergasted. Then he proceeded to tell me about an expert on sharks who Disney consulted with while producing “Finding Nemo.” Surely there’s a story here. Since I write mysteries, that’s the genre I’ll use. The research will be incredible, as was the research about Greenland. I learned so much. I can hardly wait.
March 19
The next day I reported to the gate before the crew, envisioning the restful night they had had in their palatial quarters while my accommodations were, not to be un-kind, but dramatically less. Now I wasn’t mad at the crew but decided to get even by writing a pilot mystery. It should be finished by mid-spring.
March 18
Winter has been a mild one but that did not preclude us from ice storms. We were supposed to finish our trip by 8:30 PM, when in fact we weren’t finished until 11:30. The pilots were given rooms at the luxurious hotel right at the airport. I was sent to a motel outside the airport. That might not have been so bad if the hotel had sent a shuttle. By 1:30 AM, standing in the freezing weather, a Holiday Inn shuttle driver expressed his worry about me being stranded and offered to take me to my hotel. God bless Holiday Inn.
March 15
Day-three of our trip, we boarded our aircraft and the aforementioned flight attendant had come up with the idea. Organ trafficking. Wow. I never would have thought of that and when I researched it, I was blown away. I guess she’ll be on the cover.
March 13
I recently flew with a beautiful young flight attendant who commented on another flight attendant being on the cover of one of my books. I asked if she would like to be featured. She gave an emphatic “yes!” Well, I said there is a condition. The other flight attendant came up with the story idea. You’ll have to do the same. This was day two of our four-day trip.
March 12
Flying continues to be a source for many stories. I simply can’t write fast enough. For instance, on a recent flight, one of my passengers was a scientist who spends three months every year on the Greenland Ice Sheet. He suggested that I write a mystery located there. Well, I told him I no little to nothing about Greenland; to which he responded, I can help. He emailed me pictures, information about the ice station and the story began to unfold in my head. It’s now complete and in editing.
March 10
Wow, it’s March and I haven’t blogged in so long. Rebuilding, refurnishing and moving back into our townhouse we lost in a fire has been daunting. We still haven’t closed and our punch list is not completed, but it feels good to be home and I’m ready to move on.
End of December but holidays are not quite complete without teaching the young to make lefse. Backstory-when I was in my 50’s, I lost both my parents within 5 years of each other. A couple with grown sons at church asked if they could adopt me. For a while I had a mom and dad again. Now I only have a mom who is 96 but she came over to help my daughter, who she had also taught how to make lefse, to teach her two daughters, ages 12 and 8. Again, the video would help you understand how wonderful it was. Thanks Amy.
Christmas Day–We all gathered at my son’s house. My daughter-in-law had come up with a new game for us to play. Dozens of treasures wadded up into a ball of plastic wrap. When you roll doubles to try t unwrap and reach a treasure, hopefully two, before the next person rolls doubles. It was a boisterously loud and competitive game. Again, all ages competed and the seven-year-old granddaughter was incredibly deft at outmaneuvering her father. The house resounded with laughter.
