Dear Reader Column - July 20, 2021

Dear Reader,

S.C. Perkins, today's guest author, is a fifth-generation Texan who grew up hearing fascinating stories of her ancestry and eating lots of great Tex-Mex. Her first book, Murder Once Removed, was the winner of the 2017 Malice Domestic Best First Traditional Mystery competition, and an Agatha Award Nominee. S.C. resides in Houston and when she's not writing, you'll likely find her outside in the sun or on the beach.

Perkins’ new book is book three in the Ancestry Detective series, Fatal Family Ties.

Today's author would love to hear from you. And when you drop her a note, you'll automatically be entered in her giveaway, a hardback copy of Fatal Family Ties. Email: [email protected] (be sure to include your preferred shipping address.)  

My Favorite Autograph
by S.C. Perkins

Many years before I was published, I told one of my good friends and her mother that the one autograph I'd always wanted was that of my favorite mystery author, Dick Francis. I lamented  the fact that Mr. Francis, by then well into his eighties, had retired to the Cayman Islands. It was unlikely I would ever get his autograph.

Then my friend's mother told me that Dick Francis had a condo in the same complex as their vacation home in the Caymans, and they often saw him around town.

"Would you stalk him for me and get his autograph?" I joked.

I soon forgot about the conversation and the months passed. One day, however, my friend handed me an envelope. I was thrilled to discover it contained a photograph of Dick Francis, accompanied by a piece of letterhead. In the photo, he is standing on the beach in the Cayman Islands. It is signed, though his signature can barely be seen. The letterhead contains a note with only a few words--'Hi Stephanie! Good luck with your first novel. Dick Francis.'

It turns out that my friend's mother took my words to "stalk" Mr. Francis very much to heart. The next time she visited the Caymans, she hunted him down, told him about me, and sweetly insisted that he give her an autograph for me. Apparently, he said he would be delighted to, but he would give her one later. My friend's mother simply took this grand master of crime fiction by the arm and declared that was not good enough. She was going to take him back to his condo for a proper photo, and he would sign it. By all accounts, he amusedly--and possibly a bit bemusedly--gave in, and then did so again when my friend's mother decided he should write me a short note as well.

Although I never got to meet my literary hero in person before he passed in 2010, for a brief moment (and thanks to my friend's intrepid mother), he knew my name, that his books meant so much to me, and that I was hoping to be an author as well.

I have Dick Francis's photo and note framed, and he watches over me in my office. I look at his note often, too. I like to think his words did bring me that little extra bit of luck, and they continuously remind me to keep chasing--or perhaps stalking--my dreams.

-- S.C. Perkins  

Email S.C., [email protected], and welcome her to the book club. When you do, you'll be entered in the drawing for a copy of her new book, Fatal Family Ties.

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]

This month's Penguin Classics book is The Transit of Venus, by Shirley Hazzard. I have a copy of the book to share with a lucky reader, so start reading and enter for your chance to win.

Comments

[Carolyn Goodart]

Dear S.C. Perkins, I am feeling a kinship to you, because my maiden name was Carolyn Perkins! And no one in Dad's family put together a family tree. I've been enjoying the PBS series "Finding Your Roots" and wondering about my own! So, my ears perk up to hear of another Perkins! (And I also enjoy the Dick Francis books!) Cheers! Carolyn Goodart

[Patricia Groshong]

I'm bound for the outside there's some view blocking large eating weeds I can't get the name back, but my best friend loved eating them, me not so much. Accidentally deleted all I wrote. Ding it. So...I'm gone. Weeds wait. All this yakking is keeping me from productive endeavor. And incentive to get done isn't always available. Thanks for writing! Authors are the pull that fills my soul with priceless content. I'm
Patricia Groshong
27334 Nubbin Ridge Rd
Bokoshe, Ok 74930
Have the prettiest day ever!!! C: