Votes for Women!

I'm not ready to vote, yet. Who votes without first following a campaign trail, anyway? I need more backing. A lot more. So, on March 5th, I will be "hitting the campaign trail" with a MYSTERY GUEST in tow. Along with any of the rest of you who would like to come along.

It will only be for a week. But in that week, I intend to tromp my way across Southeast Alaska, poking my nose into every nook and cranny I can squeeze in before time to go home, again. Of course, I'm taking my gold pan (there's gold IN EVERY RIVER in Alaska!), because one can't be all business all the time. 

But I do promise to post something on this blog every night (not really, I better rephrase)--for seven nights-- to let all you dear readers know what's happening. There are quite a few patches out on the water up there that have absolutely no Internet reception at all. But I'll do my level-best to let you know what's going on. I will be gathering my information, that's what will be going on. And getting my arguments together for the final decision.

The vote.

Of course, I'm not going alone--I'm not that kind of person (things are much more fun if you share them). But I do NOT intend to introduce you to my "Mystery Guest" until our first night on Alaskan ground. There will be Internet in that spot, I checked already. And after that… let the adventures begin!

I hope you will join us.

Oh, yes, and if you haven't read HOME BEFORE DARK, the very first Stella Madison Caper (in which she meets the Colonel in the most providential way), I would be happy to give it away FREE to anyone who leaves a comment on this post (along with an email address--last time, some people forgot, and I lost sleep over it). So, if you are one of those types who don't like to blast your personal information all over the Internet (I fully understand, as I hid under my hat for an entire year on this very blog), just drop a quick request to lilly (at) lillymattree.com… and I will get one out to you. And…

Should anyone be so kind as to leave an honest review, I will be more than happy to give you a FREE copy of Stella Madison Caper #2: A THIEF IN THE HOUSE. Because when it comes time to vote, I would rather not have anyone uninformed. This because--to tell you the truth, dear readers-- as much as I love Stella. I'm not so sure I could handle her for that long in close quarters, myself. 

Sad but true.

Hold Everything!

Ok, so it's been more than a week. But what do you do when you've just admitted wanting to bring someone like Stella aboard (who promised to behave), and you're trying to decide if you can really do this thing. More importantly… could the Captain endure it?

My idea was to give out evidence. A bit of background about Stella with no bias involved. But, of course there's going to be bias--I love Stella and crew, for heaven sake. Then there is this thing about wanting to write stories, and more stories, and--who cares whether we go adventuring to Alaska, or Australia, or even to the moon. I just want to write stories.

I did make one minor concession (can't think when) about taking summers off between books for adventuring (and gold digging). On the other hand, there have been so many interruptions during the usual winter work schedule this year, I don't really care about that anymore. I just want to write my stories. 

All of which led up to this bid to bring Stella Madison (and friends) aboard. So, the Captain is thinking about it. Meanwhile, Stella--herself-- thinks we should make a "dry run" along the route to Alaska, to see if things really could work out for everyone. After all, the Captain has the entire boat cluttered with engine parts at the moment, and I find it a bit difficult to work in all that banging and clanging a few feet away. Then there is my dear friend from Australia, who says she might be able to come along--something that could lead to a few adventures all by themselves.

Oh, good grief! Is it possible? Is it reasonable? And -- most important-- are there any divine footsteps to follow in such a wild idea? What exactly would we---how could we even--

Which is exactly what I'm talking about, dear readers, when I say--like Meg Jennings, in my novel GOLD TRAP--that turning dreams into reality is risky business. Yes, Indeed. So. I am going to present this new idea to the Captain, to see what he thinks about it. And in the meantime, if you would like to know more about Stella, you can find out about her over on my website, where she has actually talked me into giving her an entire page to herself.

Back later, to let you know what the Captain decides. And--don't worry, we're still going to vote, as he promised to take my "public opinion" into consideration. So, reason should still prevail.

Safety in numbers and all that.

The Case for Stella...

Stella Madison is very special to me.  This because of all the characters I have written about, she has managed to actually step out of the pages of her own books, and begin meddling in my real life. I'm not even going to try to explain how that happened (or why), as it would take up too much time and space, without guarantee of any satisfactory results.

Some other time, maybe, after you get to know her better. Let's just say we are presently negotiating the possibility of her coming along on our 2014 MYSTERY TOUR. A huge thing to ask, considering the actual living space aboard this vessel comes in at around twenty feet (below decks), and I am already sharing that with the Captain. Not to mention guests who will be popping in from time to time for brief visits. More about that, later.

At any rate, Stella has taken the liberty--during her recent "caper" that has just been released--in announcing exactly what she intends to do. The trouble is, such a huge undertaking could never be confined to the spaces of her little allotment for each caper (no longer than fifty pages, can be read in an hour, and only cost a dollar). And so, the necessity of our "negotiations." And, yes--if I try very hard to see things from her point of view--I can imagine they might possibly work out. Especially if she behaves herself.

However, since everything Stella gets involved with seems to turn into a caper of some kind, I am not so sure I would like to actually experience one in real life. We have other names for them out here. Such as disasters, complications, and those things that turned out so embarrassing during 2012 we christened them wild goose chases. So numerous we had to assign them a unique icon on the blogs (in lieu of explanations) in order to tag each such event for what it really was.

All that to say the votes are still out for bringing Stella aboard, and we might have to enlist public opinion to settle things. So, I am starting a "campaign" in preparation for presenting my case before the Captain (who always has the final say). He who must grapple with having one crazy woman aboard, already, and believes too many could be hazardous at sea. Thus--beginning next week-- I will list all evidence needed to present "the case for Stella" here on the blog (some things should stay in the family), and we will hear opposing arguments, after that.

Then, we'll vote.

And may reason prevail.

All Aboard!

What a lot of traveling we have done, but we are finally returned to the GLORY B, and the Captain is busy putting the engine back together. A big project. And not one that's so easy to work around. But--as I mentioned earlier--there is a wonderful library here on Lopez Island that makes a lovely substitute office.  So, all is good.

Beyond good, really, because the island is having it's usual refreshing effects on us. Not to mention the prospects of getting the engine back together has me itching to continue our explorations of these magnificent San Juan Islands. We might even go so far as to make some practice runs up into Canada. The possibilities are endless, and I love being in that position.

Which leads me to the announcement that we will be opening the GLORY B up to visitors within the next couple of weeks, and I'm very excited about who we've got lined up. All of whom I will spotlight right here on the blog. 

Meanwhile, another Stella Madison Caper has been released, called A THIEF IN THE HOUSE. To celebrate that, I'll be giving a free ebook to anyone who comments here. Just make sure to leave your email address (use the (dot) format with spaces, please, so we can avoid any robots and spiders). Or, send an email to lilly @ LillyMaytree (dot) com and request one. I'm very excited about Stella. She has an incredible adventure ahead of her…

As do the Captain and I.