Sunday, April 11: The A.D.D. Detective
The AWARENESS
by Leigh Lundin
I received a surprise gift, Crimes by Moonlight, the latest MWA anthology edited by Charlaine Harris. This volume is unusual in that each story combines traditional mystery with the paranormal.
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| Terrie Moran |
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I flipped through its contents looking for authors I might know. James knows more writers than the word count of this article, but I recognized pitifully few. The first name that leaped out at me was …
Terrie Farley Moran
That’s right, my tease-mate over at Women of Mystery, plunked in the middle of the book. I turned there first.
Another surprise: Terrie isn’t so much an author as an artist. She doesn’t write– she paints with words. She sketches and shades and sometimes sculpts. Characters emerge in bas-relief. Single sentences become miniature portraits and landscapes.
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| ‘Banshee’ –Olivia |
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Terrie’s story, ‘The Awareness’, is unusual in another regard. Rather than recycle vampires and werewolves, she cast a banshee as her heroine. The female fairies of the hills, the keening bean-sídhe, sing at the death of those of their clan. Terrie’s immortal, living in New York City, realizes the object of her lament was murdered. She sets about to solve– and avenge– the murder.
The Awareness is a satisfying story, not the least because of Terrie’s artistry and attention to mythological detail. Terrie’s selection is all the more impressive because she was up against 240 or so tough competitors.
This is where I need to make full disclosure: I not only submitted a story to the anthology, but I critiqued four others that were so good, I was surprised they didn’t make it. The selection committee made difficult decisions and I didn’t envy them.
I next took up Mark Allan Collins and Mickey Spillane’s story, ‘Grave Matters’, an unusual Mike Hammer Frankensteinisch horror story. Following on my list is Toni Kelner’s ‘Taking the Long View’, after which I’ll read the stories from the beginning.
Crimes by Moonlight is a hit and I can assure fretting readers of traditional mysteries (like me) that Crimes by Moonlight does not fall back on deus ex machina. Realism and ratiocination trump the psychic aspects.
Get the book: The first three stories I devoured are all winners. Like me, you’ll enjoy Terrie Farley Moran’s ‘The Awareness’.
You Heard It Here First!
This just in: Women of Mystery will be giving away FIVE copies of Crimes by Moonlight by the end of the month, making the announcement this Friday, 16 April, the day after Uncle Sam sucks the blood out of you. Watch for it!
If I type the movie script, can I play Rynne in the film version?
And those banshee shoes… where can I get a pair? (I swear one of the CBers (bachelor unnamed) has been dating someone just like her.)
>’Characters emerge in bas-relief.’
Outstanding line. (smile)
Your ‘tease mate’ should be well pleased. In generosity of spirit, CB leads.
Velma, darling, I bought the last pair. You may borrow them if you’ll lend me the divine little black number you wore to Buffy’s 40th.
Thank you.
Women of Mystery are not only generous with other bloggers, but Terrie’s story deserves the laudation.
Is Buffy 40? You can never tell with the eldritch and otherworldly.
Leigh,
Thank you for your high praise for my story, The Awareness. I am humbled.
Still, I must agree with your assessment that as a whole, Crimes by Moonlight is a winner. The stories within exude creativity, excellent writing and great fun all around.
Thanks, again. Terrie
You deserve it, Terrie!
Congratulations!
I’d like to add my sincere congratulations to Terrie. What a great honor!!
I look forward to reading that story, and the rest of them as well.
Leigh,
Thank you for this absolutely awesome review of Crimes by Moonlight, especially The Awareness by my blogmate and friend, Terrie Farley Moran. All of the Women of Mystery are so very proud of our talented Terrie. This is so exciting!
Thanks for the review, Leigh! I am glad to hear that although the stories have woo-woo elements, they’re still mysteries. That’s always one of my great fears with that type of thing.
Of course, I knew Terrie’s would be outstanding, but it’s good to hear from a slightly less partial reader!
Sounds like a must have to add to my humble library! Women of Mystery blog is always a favorite webstop of mine!
Cindy
Congratulations, Terrie!
How awesome and exciting!
(BTW, is this your first published story?)
Many thanks for all the wonderful comments from so many gracious friends.
Yoshinori–The Awareness is my fourth published work, but each publishing event is exactly what you said: “awesome and exciting.”
Terrie
Bravo zulu, macushla.
Thank you, James.
Slainte, Terrie
Just got the book! Read “The Awareness” first. Loved it!