There are no friends like old friends

  I was reminded of this recently when I had lunch with some ladies I have known for years.  One of them has family members who came from Cuba.  As we talked, I thought of some of the colorful tales I have heard about the Cuban rum-runners who frequented the port of Fernandina, Florida, before and during prohibition in the 1920s.  Would anyone in Delia Nolan’s family have known about the smuggling or have been involved?  What about family friends or prominent citizens?  Depending on your subject, "inside information" can add an air of authenticity to the narrative.  I can sense a sequel coming on!

  When I was writing Picketing The President: Delia’s Dilemma – Grandmother Nolan and the Suffragists, a childhood friend asked me to name one of the characters after her. I told her it was too late to add another character, but she would appear in the sequel.  So, be prepared to meet Wilda who doesn’t hesitate to dance on the table – in a very lady-like manner, of course – and is as brave and true as anyone you’ve met.

  July will be here soon, bringing with it the Watermelon Festival in Naples, Texas. If you’ve read Trouble In Texas, you know the festival offers a rodeo with lots of thrills and spills, as well as food and craft booths.  So, be sure to stop by if you’re in the neighborhood July 26-28.