Today a newer mystery author tells us about her best summer.
Here’s Cynthia:

The summer I turned ten-years-old, my parents dropped me and my younger sisters off with my Grandmother in Arkansas. My father was in the army and we’d lived all over, not having time to get to know our relatives. I’d never been away from my parents before, and didn’t know this woman I’d spend the next two months with.

The next day was Sunday. Grandma took me to my first church service. I cried through the entire thing, missing my parents, fiercely. My younger sisters went to Sunday School, but I suffered from great shyness and decided to stay next to Grandma while she fanned me with a paper fan that portrayed a picture of Jesus on it. Within a few days, engulfed with my Grandma’s love, I realized I had the opportunity for the best summer of my life. Total and complete freedom. To a city girl, the country offered thousands of adventures. Surrounded by a multitude of cousins, we swam, rode horses, and hiked the woods. All that was required of us was to be home by supper, do the dishes afterwards, and dust Grandma’s knickknacks on Saturday mornings.

My precious grandmother died several years ago. The little country church where the funeral service was held was so full, people were standing outside looking in the windows. Through these people’s reminiscing, I received the opportunity to know my Grandma like I never had before. Although she’d raised eleven children of her own during the Great Depression, and lost one in an accident, her door was always open to anyone needing a warm meal. They’d grown their own food, sewed their own clothes, and even built their home with their own hands. Through it all, Grandma retained a firm faith in God, and a fierce love for family. I had only witnessed her love for family. These dedications only increased the respect I had for this simple woman.

I want to be like her when I grow up. With the church over-flowing with people I’ve touched.
The female characters in my novels are all caring, strong women.They may not realize their strength at the beginning, but come to realize where their true strength comes from during the course of the story. I often wonder whether I would have come to know the Lord if not for my Grandma’s unwavering rule of attending church each Sunday. This firm belief in what is right is what I try to instill in each of my female characters.

In Candy-Coated Secrets, my heroine, Summer Meadows must rely on this same faith and strength in order to save not only her life, but the life of the man she loves.”

Thanks, Cynthia
www.cynthiahickey.com