I reached out and petted Patch on the head, and he rose to meet my palm, launching immediately into a seriously impressive purr. It may have been the loudest cat purr I’d ever heard. In fact, it may have even been loud enough to wake the dead.
It was five minutes to midnight. An image of Alesha with another man rose up in my mind, glasses of champagne raised, the air twinkling with confetti, both of them leaning in for the first kiss of the New Year.
I reached for the phone.
Acknowledgments
There may be writers who produce books all on their own, without the help of anybody, but I am most assuredly not such a person. I’d like to single out a few people who’ve been instrumental in assisting me in getting Ghost Detective fit for publication.
First, to my good friend Michael J. Totten, fellow writer in the trenches, intrepid world traveler, and frequent hiking companion: Thanks for the early read, thoughtful suggestions, and unqualified enthusiasm for the book. We’ve both come a long ways from those early college years hanging out in coffee shops, pal.
To Elissa Englund, my fantastic copy editor: A big hearty thanks for helping me whip the manuscript into shape. You’re a pro’s pro. Any typos or errors that remain are entirely my own fault.
Katarina and Calvin … I didn’t realize I was half a person until I became a father. I feel so fortunate to have such beautiful, bright, and good-hearted children. Thank you for believing in me, despite my many failings. I’ll keep striving to be the father you deserve.
And now, again, and forever, to my first reader and love of my life, Heidi: I didn’t have any success as a writer until I met you. I doubt there’s any coincidence in that. Thanks for everything, hon.
About the Author
SCOTT WILLIAM CARTER's first novel, The Last Great Getaway of the Water Balloon Boys, was hailed by Publishers Weekly as a "touching and impressive debut" and won the prestigious Oregon Book Award. Since then, he has published ten novels and over fifty short stories, his fiction spanning a wide variety of genres and styles. His most recent book for younger readers, Wooden Bones, chronicles the untold story of Pinocchio and was singled out for praise by the Junior Library Guild. He lives in Oregon with his wife and children. Visit him online at www.ScottWilliamCarter.com.
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A Special Request from the Author: Word-of-mouth is crucial for any author to succeed. If you enjoyed the book, please consider leaving a review where you purchased the book, even if it's only a line or two; it would make all the difference and would be very much appreciated. ~SWC
While you're waiting for the next Myron Vale novel,
you may want to check out Scott William Carter's
Garrison Gage mysteries . . .
The Gray and Guilty Sea
A curmudgeon. An iconoclast. A loner. That's how people describe Garrison Gage, and that's when they're being charitable.
After his wife's brutal murder in New York, and Gage himself is beaten nearly to death, the crippled private investigator retreats three thousand miles to the quaint coastal town of Barnacle Bluffs, Oregon. He spends the next five years in a convalescent stupor, content to bide his time filling out crossword puzzles and trying to forget that his wife's death is his fault. But all that changes when he discovers the body of a young woman washed up on the beach, and his conscience draws him back into his old occupation — forcing him to confront the demons of his own guilt before he can hope to solve the girl's murder. Find out more.
Ghost Detective Page 27
