Hi everyone! I promised a follow-up regarding my surgery, and I’m relieved to share that all went well with the mastectomy and lymph node removal. Appointments with my surgeon, two oncologists and a physiotherapist are scheduled for later this month, so I’ll soon know where I stand regarding next steps. I’m into my eighth month of this journey and, honestly, I’m ready for the treatments to be over. On the upside, my energy is returning. Yay! It certainly helps that warmer weather and more sunshine have arrived, along with the beautiful cherry blossoms.

For the rest of April, I’m offering a $.99 sale on my final Casey Holland mystery, A Gold Satin Murder. This is a novella that portrays the quirkier side of Casey’s work as a transit security cop. If you enjoy fun, quick reads, then maybe it’s worth a try. Here’s the first 700 words of the opening chapter.

After a decade of security work for Mainland Public Transport, Casey Holland had learned that troublesome passengers were usually rude, loud, and poorly dressed. But the gorgeous, broad-shouldered man in the charcoal suit, white shirt, and bright red tie strutting down the aisle was a new, intriguing challenge.

The moment the man spotted Casey, he gave her a broad, toothy smile. Cool. Her silky, low-cut tank top and dangling crystal earrings were doing their job. Undercover assignments rarely involved dressing up, but passenger complaints about a hot guy who’d been badgering women to model for his paintings required a different fashion choice. Besides, the bus was way too warm this late-July evening. The less she had to wear the better.

Casey winked at the man, then tilted her head toward the empty seat next to her. He slowed his pace and nodded to the gaping middle-aged woman he passed by. Judging from a quick survey, the man had caught the attention of most passengers. The men didn’t look as impressed as the women, though.

“Hola, señorita.” Gold-flecked brown eyes glanced at her hands as he sat down. “I am Eduardo from Ecuador.”

“Casey. From Vancouver,” she replied. “How are ya?” To reveal she was a señora who’d been happily married for just over a year might put him off, so the wedding rings stayed home.

“Excelente.” He beamed. “I am here only three months, but I am in love with Vancouver. It has many interesting people.”

“That it does.” His cedarwood and vanilla cologne sent a jolt of nostalgia through Casey. When Dad was alive, she occasionally gave him a bottle of something similarly scented for Father’s Day. She sat up straighter and zeroed in on Eduardo. Not the time for reflection.

“I apologize if my English is not so good,” Eduardo said.

“It sounds fine to me.” She smiled. “Do you live in this part of the city?”

“Si. Only one block away. I love to walk and ride the buses and talk to people.”

He’d have many opportunities to do exactly that in Vancouver’s densely populated West End. Thanks to nearby Stanley Park, the popular English Bay beach, and many eateries, the area attracted tons of tourists as well as visitors from other areas of the Lower Mainland.

“Your eyes!” Eduardo slapped his hand over his heart. “La violeta. Extraordinario! I have not seen such a shade before. I am professional artista. May I paint you? It would be great honor! You are so be-eau-tiful.”

“Thank you.” Great honor and beautiful were the exact words two of the complainants had used in their written statements. “So, how many women have you approached about painting their portraits, especially while riding this bus?”

“Qué?” Eduardo’s smile faded. “Why do you ask me this?”

“I’m with Mainland Public Transport security.” She showed him her ID card. “We’ve had harassment complaints about you. One woman threatened to involve the police if it happened again.”

His eyes widened. “This cannot be.”

“The complaints said you wouldn’t take no for an answer until they either changed seats or left the bus.”

Eduardo sat back in his seat. “I am stupefied!”

Casey didn’t buy the naïve act. “Harassment of any type on MPT buses is against company policy.”

He fidgeted, not quite meeting her gaze. “I am just a single man who loves ladies and to create art.”

Eduardo produced a business card depicting an elegantly designed maple tree with crimson and tangerine leaves. But anyone could create a card and pass himself off as an artist.

“Is difficult to find models in new city. Art schools are filled up.” He frowned. “And many ladies choose to sit next to me and ask what I do to earn money.”

She believed him. Given the lusty stares a couple of women were tossing his way, Eduardo had probably found more than a few willing models and dates.

“Is it wrong to talk about art, or to ask a be-eau-tiful lady on a date? I might break bus rules, but I am not breaking real laws, no?”

Casey sighed. “Are you and I going to have a problem?”

The book is available at:

Amazon: http://a-fwd.com/asin=B0B8LRFZDT

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-gold-satin-murder

Apple: https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/book/id6443255297

B & N : https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-gold-satin-murder-debra-purdy-kong/1141951058?ean=2940166433930

Google play : https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Debra_Purdy_Kong_A_Gold_Satin_Murder?id=FxF_EAAAQBAJ

What I’ve Been Reading

Post-surgery has resulted in fewer activities but more reading time. Those who’ve been following me for a while know that I have eclectic reading tastes. I want to share three books that really resonated with me this month. First up is,

The Lost and Found Bookshop by Susan Wiggs

This isn’t normally the type of book I read, but I heard many good things about it, and I’m so glad I gave it a try. This is a compelling story about broken hearts, family, love, and forgiveness. Set in a San Francisco bookstore, I loved how the story incorporated historical elements of the 1906 earthquake, and that the romance between the main characters wasn’t overdone. I enjoyed the story so much that I wish it had been longer, and I rarely say that about novels.

Modern Divination by Isabel Agajanian

This unique urban fantasy also includes a murder and the hint of romance. It’s more literary than many others in this genre. The inner monologue and narrative descriptions pay careful attention to language and result in a slower-paced read. It’s a thoughtful story about a young woman who’s forced to come to terms with her identity and her strengths and weaknesses. Very thought-provoking.

Puki Horpocket Presents Roy by Zachry Wheeler

On a much lighter note is this quirky and entertaining science fiction story about a working-class guy who’s disappeared on a giant space station for reasons no one understands. Journalist Puki Horpocket is trying to find out what happened to Roy, and why, by interviewing an odd cast of characters. This author reminds me of the late, great Douglas Adams whose Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is one of my all-time favourites.

There are more titles to share, however, I know you’re busy, and this newsletter is probably long enough. So, I’ll stop there and wish you all a lovely spring. We’ll talk again in May.

Debra Purdy Kong

[email protected]

https://debrapurdykong.wordpress.com/ (blog)

Link/tr.ee: https://tr.ee/Ydn1N7

Mysteries on the Move…