Writing is like being able to put life into a snow globe. It takes the things that are too big and scary and reduces them into a form that I can put away when I want and look at from a distance. It also takes all that’s good in life and captures it into something I can take out when I want and look at close up and keep forever. It makes the bad things into something I can hold…and the good things into something I can hold onto. Both help so much that I need that little souvenir of life.

Friday, March 25, 2011

Book Blurb Friday #4

Thank you to Lisa Ricard Claro of Writing in the Buff for hosting Book Blurb Friday! Each week, she posts a fictional book cover (as opposed to the cover of a fictional book!) so that we can write a blurb of 150 words or less to go with it. Here’s mine, at 148 words.

But first, thank you to new blog followers Margo Benson, who is very clever with writing prompts, and Sandra Davies, whose blog is richly layered and artistic. Welcome!
~Unhappy Berthday~

The brochure promised dinner and an exciting melodrama performed with audience participation onboard the “Romantic Railway’s Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre.” Jane Miller thought it would be a fun way to celebrate her 40th birthday—while putting a little excitement back into her stale marriage to Tom. Little did she know that they would plummet into adventure like a runaway train….

When the character named Miss Eliza Pettypants turned up murdered in Berth 19, everyone marveled at how realistic the actors had made it look…until they realized that the unfortunate Miss P. wasn’t acting. Worse, the authorities seemed to suspect…Tom. Good old trustworthy Tom? What Jane would uncover while trying to solve who really killed Miss Eliza Pettypants was more remarkable than any theatrical production. And worst of all, Jane kept arriving back at the same destination like a circling train: Was Tom really a murderer, after all?

An insincere and evil friend is more to be feared than a wild beast; a wild beast may wound your body, but an evil friend will wound your mind. ~Buddha

16 comments:

  1. ooh, very clever, Tammy. Your mystery train ride is about to derail old Tom. I like it, and I'd buy the book.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh my, Eliza Pettypants? Tell me you made this up. These names are killing me. Great story!

    ReplyDelete
  3. When I write my book I so want you to write the back cover. And that Buddha was a smart fellow :)
    Jules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow

    ReplyDelete
  4. A nice little mystery set up here....great job!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Very well done. Love the name Eliza Pettypants.
    Donna

    ReplyDelete
  6. Clever and funny, and I love the title pun. And Eliza Pettypants...hehehehe...my Kindle is ready to download. Very fun sounding and witty. You really ought to play with this one.

    ReplyDelete
  7. A husband and wife and possible murder? Ingenious take this week!

    ReplyDelete
  8. The title IS a hoot!

    Eliza's name---definitely a keeper!

    I don't usually read murder-mysteries, but I would read this one. This was a clever idea--having the story surrounding a dinner-theater production was brilliant!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I'm so pleased you saw a train carriage in this picture because I was tempted to go down that route: you have done it superbly, and it has such a classic murder mystery feel but with the pluses of well-rounded people - and as Sioux says, a very clever idea all round.

    And thanks for the mention too!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I also nearly went for a train! I would definatley read this based on your blurb. Poor Tom...or should we be afraid? - great twist!

    Thank you for the welcome - I think I'll change my name to Pettypants...a hoot!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Great idea for it to be a train. I love the story premise. It sounds like a great read.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Well, now I want to read that fictional book! What are you going to do about THAT???

    ReplyDelete
  13. Tammy, thanks for the nice comment on my post! It was fun to write, even though I was in a hurry!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Poor Jane - it must be such a shock to realise that the person you're married to is not the person you thought! I hope Tom isn't the murderer . . .

    ReplyDelete
  15. Thanks so much to all of you! Judie, you're welcome, and I meant it. And yes, jabblog, it is.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Wow, Tammy, your blurb is awesome! The photo does look like the hallway of a train ... I hadn't noticed that before. I would love to read your book!

    Thanks so much for your encouragement on my blurb. Maybe I can really write a story about Ernie some day.

    Have a great week,

    Kathy

    ReplyDelete

Any return "messages" are appreciated!