I’m writing a cozy mystery series about a grandmother flight attendant who “lands” in one conundrum after another. She’s vivacious, has white hair (stylishly cut, of course) and bright, intelligent blue eyes. But it got me thinking. When I was young, I had thought about being a flight attendant, but something sent me down another path. I considered that opportunity gone forever until I found out differently when I retired from a job in marketing. Wow, they were looking for applicants and I applied and was hired. That set off 12 of the most remarkable years of my life, and enough story ideas to keep me writing for years. But I’m wondering. How many others had that dream and never acted on it. I’d love to hear your story.
I’m writing a new Casey Click novel that involves our newest item of apparel, the mask. Though controversial, the majority of citizens deem it an inconvenient but cautious requirement when intermixing with others of their species. But what else do masks conjure? Having grown up on cowboy shows where the bad guys wore masks, it’s easy to bring that notion forward. What about the bad guys? How convenient that they’re required to wear masks. Casey Click can only determine a passengers’ personalities by the look in their eyes, and that’s less easily done than one might imagine. Without the accompanying smile or grimace, the looks in passengers’ eyes provide a bit of a mystery. Can she accurately detect when something has gone amiss? Wait for the book, but before that, share any uncomfortable mask stories in comments that you might have experienced.
While flying, I heard many stories, both from crew members and passengers, with the understood intent that I might incorporate them into books that I’m writing. However, now I am looking for specific subject matter. How has the pandemic changed your life in ways other than reported on the media. Personal experiences, both heartwarming or frightening that might evolve into a mystery. Just the masks alone give lots of possibilities of mysteries, but what have you experienced? How about in flight? Did you notice anything that made you uncomfortable or suspicious? Do you think masks can conceal something suspicious? Thank you. I look forward to hearing from you.
We left a moderate winter in Minnesota for a brief respite in northern Florida. Having grown up in Florida, I knew it could be chilly this time of year. However, even 50’s would offer a nice change. We landed to a balmy 67 degrees and for the first week, the temperatures bounced around in the sixties and on two days the 70’s. Couldn’t ask for more than that. However, I also brought a writing project to work on, which I pretty much ignored the first week. The gods of weather have deemed it necessary to get me back on track, thus plummeting the temps into the low forties with high winds and surf. Time to get to work. But it was nice while it lasted.
Not sure of the age of my granddaughter the last time we went to the beach on the Gulf of Mexico but we’re leaving soon for another visit. This time she is one year away from college. I wonder if she’ll still feed the sea gulls and make sand castles.
The new book, that I had hoped to have out by Halloween was published on the Day of the Dead. It’s strange to write about Wicca just as I was approaching Halloween. There are so many mixed messages in the holiday. Some don’t like it because they tie it to the devil which my research hasn’t proved to be true. I’ve never looked at Halloween with any deeper meaning than kids having fun; dressing up in costumes, threatening a trick if they don’t get a treat. I’ve never known any trick-or-treating kids to mar the holiday with mean tricks or vandalism of any kind. Once in a while teenage boys smash a few pumpkins, but by Halloween, they’re getting pretty soft anyway. As we still work our way through Covid 19, it seems that a sense of humor might be life saving. How are we to continue to live our lives if we feel it will be devoid of humor forever? Though no trick-or-treaters came to our door, I heard that many attended specially contrived events to give them the same sense of fun–socially-distanced of course. I hope the costumes brought lots of giggles and suspect the candy brought a few belly aches. I hope you enjoy my new book and write a review. It’s most appreciated.
Let’s try this again. Halloween is a little over a month away and it’s a controversial holiday. Yes it dates back to pagan times when people believed that on All Hallowed’s Eve, the night before Halloween, the veil was very thin between those who had passed and those who still lived. Thus, that night they […]
I posted this picture several years ago but I always enjoy the story. That’s my father holding the big Graphix camera. He was a reporter for the Florida Times Union and was covering President Eisenhower reviewing the troops on the US Saratoga aircraft carrier. Those old cameras used large flash-bulbs and while daddy was shooting his picture, one of them exploded. No questions asked, no explanation allowed, he was hauled off by the Secret Service. What made the story so funny, is when my dad’s picture was developed, Eisenhower was the only one who didn’t duck. This picture I’m showing was taken by Rocco, another Times Union photographer. Wish I had the picture my dad took. I’m currently writing a fictional biography of my father, Louis O. Egner. We heard so many of his stories but when I tried to get him to record them for me, he only recorded a few. This is one of those wonderful memories.
Being both a flight attendant and author, the pandemic has relieved me of flying duties and enhanced my opportunity to write, research and write some more. I have used the time to update my website and worked with a wonderful website developer, Nancy Hendrickson, to refresh and rebuild my site. I’ve also been working with a savvy social media consultant (Susan Murphy) to improve the posts of a most unsavvy social media user. Me. Thank you to both. I have completed two mysteries. One, in tune with Halloween, will be posted just prior to that scary holiday, hopefully for a scary read. The other, I’m holding back in an effort to get an agent. We also re-worked the art for the cover of Destination Unknown, which is to the left. I hope you like it and will consider it for your next read. If you do, please write a review and remember to review other books you’re reading. Authors really need to hear your thoughts. Just before the Pandemic stopped much of our flying, I attended the Minnesota Writers Workshop and submitted pages of my most recent mystery for review. Yesterday I had a wonderful conversation with the agent that reviewed my work and I’m hopeful that I’m moving in the right direction to someday be in print.
Nov. 19
A pilot I recently flew with, who also wishes to write, reminded me of something Thoreau said. “Most men lead lives of quiet desperation and go to their graves with their song still unsung.” We both agreed that we would rather write and be read by only a few than never to have written at all.
Nov. 14
I recently wrote a mystery using hypnosis as a part of the story. I wish I had read this statement by Harry Aarons. “The only thing that you can be sure of in hypnosis is that you can’t be sure of anything.”
Nov. 11
In case you’re wondering why I find stories from my passengers so interesting; it’s that I keep a running journal that can use this information in subsequent books for character or story development. what a gold mine.
Nov. 10
Passengers were trying to convince me that they have the best universities. One from NY said that Pace University had Actor Lee Strasberg, Director Elia Kazan, Marlon Brando, James Dean, Al Pacino and Robert De Niro as students. Whereas John Cusack and Carrie Coon attended the University of Wisconsin, boasted Wisconsin residents. But then, according to passengers from NC, the University of North Carolina has the 2nd oldest theater school in the US where Andy Griffith attended.
Nov. 4
A Chinese passenger told me today that the number 88 means double happiness in Chinese.
Nov. 1
Received a great quote from a passenger today. “Great things never some from comfort zones.”
Oct. 21
A passenger recommended a book, “Eleven Blue Men” by Burton Rouche. Anyone have a review to offer?
Oct. 15
Capt. Adam told me that a Flight Attendant complained that while he had a panoramic vista from his flight deck, she could only look through the tiny window in the service door. He countered with the fact that she was able to get up and walk around during the entire flight, while he was cramped in his seat for the duration.Just goes to show, that though there’s always something to complain about, we need to recognize small blessings.
Oct. 6
We had some very fast turns today causing my co-FA to describe them as “Turn and Burn”. Thanks Deanna H. for a most articulate description of a flight attendant’s work day.
My flight was changed today and I ended up flying to Norfolk. Our hotel shuttle driver, Carl, told us to take the Norfolk Harbor tour. Not enough time this layover but will try when I do have enough time. It would be like going down memory lane since my husband’s squadron in the Navy was attached to the aircraft carrier, US Independence, in Norfolk.
Oct. 5
Had a couple on my flight who getting married in November. They asked if they could get one of my children’s books for the future family they hoped to have. Isn’t that sweet? Congratulations Lois and Keith.
Sept. 30
“Being a flight attendant is the only job where you say good morning, good afternoon and good evening to customers all on the same date. A quote from Kim V.
Sept. 27
In looking at some notes, I read that on a flight earlier this month from ATL to LEX a small passenger left a doll. It was a very used doll which tells me that my young passenger is going to be very unhappy. Hopefully the gate agent in Lexington found her.
Sept. 25
Met a gate agent in who was a former actor in LA. Now operates a studio and has a screenplay optioned. I’ve been told by some of my readers that my books should be on Hallmark movie station. Any ideas on that?
Sept. 20
I’ve been reading a lot about book marketing lately and wonder if any online book authors have found some unique paths to follow. Please respond here.
Sept. 18
I met a passenger today who told me about an annual event held in Redwing, MN at the Anderson Center. It’s an event for children’s authors. Have I mentioned my children’s books? My children’s website is www.woodfin.cc and www.woodfinandfriends.com
Sept. 11
I know I keep telling you about all the fascinating people I meet as a flight attendant. Well today I met a woman who wrote the book, “When I Fell From the Sky”. As a teenager, she boarded a packed flight in Peru, planning to meet her father for Christmas. She and her mother fought to get some of the last seats. Read the book.
September 9
Today I worked with another flight attendant who is an adjunct professor at the University of MN and St. Thomas University. Now that’s a class act.
September 1
Had a passenger who builds custom made dollhouses generally priced at $20,000 to $30,000. I had to chuckle. My parents second home, a 2-story brick, five bedroom in Florida cost $17,000 in 1954.
August 26
My son’s birthday, now a grown man, but when he was born, it was a bit traumatizing. 6 Lbs 2oz, kicking and happy BUT not all was well. “This baby is not swallowing,” said a nurse. 17 hrs old, they open him from the center of his back to the center of his chest for Esophageal atresia, a rare birth defect where the esophagus is not connected to the throat. Found out on a recent flight from a pediatrician that that was experimental surgery at the time and only being done in Minneapolis and New York. We were in the former. That’s called the right place at the right time. Happy Birthday, precious son.
August 22
Love flying with flight attendant Wanda who recommended author Chelsea Cain.
August 19
People keep recommending books. Passenger recommended “Eleven Blue Men” by Berton Roueche, published in 1953 about medical detection. Sound interesting?
August 15
Flew with a pilot that recommended a book entitled, “Testaments of the Patriarchs”. Sounds fascinating. Downloaded it immediately.
August 4
Oops, missed my daughter’s birthday. So proud of her. Parents should raise children that surpass everything they’ve done. Both my daughter and son have surpassed all my expectations. I have nothing but awe for them.
August 4
I’ve never involved music much in any of my stories, however I just worked with a male flight attendant who is an accomplished violinist and has played in the US, Europe and other places around the world. What a great basis for a character.
July 30
I’m working on a mystery involving Wicca. So of course I have someone on my plane who knows all about the Salem witch trials and more contemporarily, a Laurie Cabot, self-proclaimed witch who, as the story goes, helped catch a serial killer in 1991. I need to research this.
July 21
Had a delicious salad today of mixed greens, cooked butternut squash pieces, dried cranberries, goat cheese, toasted pecans and apple cider vinaigrette. Must put that in a book.
July 15
I was intrigued today by a passenger’s comment that a venial sin does not require domination of the soul. Any thoughts on that?
July 11
Sitting in a cab in New York with another flight attendant on our way to dinner. We were discussing choices women make in their personal lives, not realizing that our Middle Eastern driver was listening intently. Eventually he joined in and we were stunned by his wisdom and compassion. His name was Touseef which means quiet intelligence.
July 2
Working as a flight attendant has many highs and lows. Meeting new people who are traveling for vacation or business purposes are exciting and sometime breathless to listen to, but not all flights are filled with happiness. More often than I would prefer, flights are filled with sadness as happened recently on a flight when grandparents were talking to their daughter on the phone while sitting at the gate. While on the phone, her child, under one year of age, died in her arms. what can a flight attendant do to even begin to compensate for such a loss. It’s heart wrenching.
June 30
For all the wonderful people who send me emails and ask for a reply, please be aware that some of your email accounts are either full or not allowing a response. I reply to everyone but some come back as undeliverable. So if you haven’t heard from me, please check your own accounts. That could be the reason.
June 29
Big jump to June, but I have a great reason for being away. I have been in negotiations with a television production company. Successful negotiations, I might add We just signed a two-year contract to produce a television series. Very excited.
March 17
Today’s the birthday of a very dear friend of mine, and guess what, he’s Irish. With a name like Patrick Earle, how could he not be. Happy Birthday Pat, and Happy St. Patrick’s Day.
March 1
I love the stories that crew tell me. Capt Bob told me about a tavern near a very rural airport. Sometimes when it’s foggy, the airport asks the tavern owner to leave his roof lights on so pilots can find the runway lights. Love it.
February 25
If you didn’t read about any stars in the galaxy; how about new stars in Hollywood. I was grocery shopping at Byerlys and met the sister of Duke Johnson, an Academy Award nominee for his animated movie entitled Anomalisa. How’s that for a day brightener? In case you haven’t checked out my website, www.Woodfin.cc, check it out and you’ll see why I find this interesting
February 20
Did you read about any stars?
February 17
I’ve been doing quite a bit of research about stars for a children’s book I’ve been thinking about. If you want to be truly amazed, do some reading about stars. Only a handful have individual proper names. Putting them aside, read about Blue, White and Red dwarf stars; or Wolf-Rayet stars or thousands of Black Holes lurking in the center of the Milky Way. Just saying…
February 14
Everyone loves Valentine’s day because it’s about love. Even passengers share the love of the season with small gifts of chocolate. How sweet. Thank you.
January 25
It’s been a busy month with physical therapy for the new knee, lots of visits to the health club for exercise, and writing. I’m working on a book I started a long time ago about a dear friend who is now 98 years old. It’s not easy to write because I did not live in the time of her childhood. Just imagine what she has experienced. It’s difficult but it’s a work of love.
January 10
My journal for new books is getting filled early this year with wild and crazy and sometimes sad stories from passengers and crew. It doesn’t take a lot of imagination to fill in the blanks with my own imagination, and a new book is written.
January 1
A New Year! Is this the year my children’s character will finally make his debut?!!?