Chapters 17-18 of News from Dead Mule Swamp

I seem to really be on a roll with News from Dead Mule Swamp. I just got in the groove of writing yesterday and did two more chapters. This bumped my outline into 23 chapters, at least. I discovered that I have a couple of loose ends to weave back in which will add another chapter or two. This is all good.

The book wasn't necessarily too short, but it's not that long either, so adding some more events into the plot will be perfect.

I found out that a character I introduced in Chapter 15 is a lot more interesting than I had realized. She is playing a larger role than I had thought. Indeed, if this turns out to be a series, she is going to be a major player in one whose plot is already forming in my head. I'm making notes as that intrudes, but I really need to concentrate on finishing this book. I'm so good at starting things and so bad at finishing them.

The interesting character is Cora, who is the unofficial county historian.

Here's an excerpt from Chapter 17:

   The first case was an old one with quarter-sawn oak edges, and a rounded glass front. It contained fossils and arrowheads, stone hatchets and wicked-looking stone knives. Some were grouped, and every group was labeled with a typed card. The card beside one batch of small arrow points read, “Clarence B. Morrow farm, found by William Morrow, aged 7, 1934.”
   “How do you know all this?” I asked.
   “People generally want to tell me all they know about things when they bring them in. I mostly display the items that have more provenance, and keep the less-well documented things upstairs.”

I hope all mystery fans are looking forward to when this will be for sale!