When we were getting ready to release Bryony back in 2011, my daughter Sarah (who did a lot of the marketing for me) suggested I pull thirty teaser quotes from the book that she could post on Facebook, one each day.
Prologue:
When the fire burned well, she added charcoal, which she made from peat last year and stored in case she needed it.
Well, she needed it today
Chapter 1:
For once, he did not want food. Not even one space stick.
Not even one can of lunch meat. Not even one potato chip.
Chapter 2: Washington D.C.
His stomach growled like an angry bear. His mouth felt as
dry as a wad of cotton. His change jangled like the bell on a shop.
Now why did Cornell think that?
For the Statue of Liberty, copper turning green was science.
For
Cornell, copper turning green was much worse.
Chapter 4:
That night, Cornell dreamed he was Paul Revere. He dreamed
he was riding a horse and swinging a lantern that gleamed like the 'smith's
pots and pans at Cape May.
"The
curses are coming! The curses are coming!" Cornell cried as he rode
through Boston National Historic Park.
Chapter 5:
Cornell dashed to the kitchen because he still remembered
where the kitchen was even with an old wooden barrel with copper slats sitting
in his living room.
Chapter 6: Cape May
He turned to the chapter on curses. But he couldn't read the
words. He could not see the words. He wished he had his glasses.
Because the glasses hadn't hurt him after all. Cornell knew that now.
He hoped he didn't forget it.
Just in case, Cornell went back to the coppersmith and bought a full set of pots and pans.
Chapter 7:
"That's it! I have solved the mystery!"
Cornell
removed his notebook and ballpoint pen from his pocket and scribbled across the
pages.
"What
mystery?" a curious woman asked.
"Madam, I am a world renowned supernatural sleuth. And world renowned supernatural sleuths DO NOT reveal those things that should not be revealed.
Chapter 8:
"I was right," Cornell said. "I'm heading to
Biltmore Estate."
"Biltmore
Estate is in North Carolina," Dave said. "You are in Maryland."
"Well, no wonder I can't find it!"
Chapter 9:
Because
Cornell hadn't forgotten anything. Cornell could remember everything he wanted
to remember.
Chapter 10:
"So Miss Jones doesn't know anything is wrong with your memory?"
"I don't remember."
Cornell wrote that down.
"I think we went on vacation together."
"You think? Madam, I am a very
busy supernatural sleuth, and I need facts to solve your case. 'I think' isn't
a fact."
Epilogue
Cornell had just generously buttered his roll and had opened his mouth very wide to take a generous bite when he saw a very strange thing.
The thing was so strange it made him forget his buttered roll for a few moments. Very strange.
