Blog Posts by Susan Egner
Inspirations, thoughts by Minnesota author and flight attendant
Yesterday, I talked to an old friend who mentioned something that her son and my son had done together when they were in their very early teens. We lived about a half-mile to a mile from a house that had a front room converted to a candy store. It was called Dolly’s. The friend reminded me that our boys would ride their bikes there, quarter in hand, to buy candy. I got to thinking what a wonderful memory and then thought about the kids today. How few have the freedom to freely ride their bike to a candy store, if such a place even exists today. When I was a child, we had a similar place called Matt’s store, where we would buy candy to sell at our backyard circus. Buy it for a penny, sell it for two. Once again, a freedom that few children have today; much less the imagination to create a neighborhood circus. I must say, I’m grateful for my childhood and the childhood of my children, that was much the same. Technology can never replace the wonder of those years.
I have the most amazing Beta readers. Not only do they find errors after 8 rounds of editing; but they also offer insights into the research behind the story. The most enjoyable part is the relationship some of them have made with one or two characters, giving humorous anecdotes regarding their position in the story, their habits, and their tastes. I used to have a thin skin about any reader’s comments, now I relish them all. Sometimes I don’t agree, but I love honest opinions. Thanks to all my Beta readers.
I’ve recently finished my latest Casey Click mystery (working title “Race For It”) but find I need more motorcycle action. I’ve watched numerous races, primarily in the location used in the book, the Isle of Man, but it’s hard to watch as a spectator and represent on paper the actual feelings of racing. I’ve interviewed one racer, but I’m not sure I’m willing to climb aboard to get a sense of those breakneck speeds. Any suggestions?
