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Love Danger at Kimball School
Love, danger, Kimball School
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Romance. Murder. Mystery.
At the Kimball School?
Well, not exactly, unless you have Nora LeDuc's active imagination.
In LeDuc's eighth and newest book, Pick Up Lines for Murder, the lifeless body of paraprofessional Joan Griffin is found slumped over the Ash Street School's copier machine. The novel's heroine, Jozy Landis, finds her dead coworker and becomes prime suspect numero uno. Luckily for Jozy, the handsome, Mustang-driving Cooper Montgomery - a reporter for the Queen City Expose - takes an interest in her. However, does Cooper have the hots for Jozy or does he just want her story?
Wanting to know the answer to that question, plus others, makes this novel a page-turner. Like, if Jozy didn't kill Joan, who did? And how the heck can Cooper afford a Mustang on a reporter's salary?
Okay, maybe we were the only ones wondering that last question. Seriously, if Cooper were real, we'd be asking him for tips.
Even if you're not a fan of the mystery/romance genre, Concordians may enjoy that LeDuc modeled the book's elementary school after Concord's very own Kimball School. LeDuc worked at the school for 21 years as a special education teacher. Nowadays, LeDuc has a part-time role as a special education consultant for the school district's private schools. But the Kimball School clearly made a lasting impression. In fact, The book's victim, Joan Griffin, shares her name with Kimball School's librarian, and the principal at the fictional school is named after Kent Hemingway. Hemingway, now the superintendent for the Rochester district, was the principal of Kimball when LeDuc worked there.
LeDuc insists, however, that her characters only share their names with her former coworkers. You can rest assured that the real Joan Griffin is alive and well and that both Griffin and Hemingway are delighted to be part of Pick Up Lines for Murder. In LeDuc's world, imitation really is the sincerest form of flattery.
In addition to the homage given to LeDuc's past place of employment, Pick Up Lines for Murder is flooded with references to the Granite State. Taking place in Manchester, LeDuc uses actual street names and surroundings to set the scene. Readers will feel like they're in on a personal joke with LeDuc when they pick up on certain New Hampshire-inspired remarks. We certainly could commiserate with Cooper when his rival paper - the United Leader - scoops his story.
LeDuc said she has used New Hampshire in all of her books, besides two historical romances. "Need mountains? We have them. . . . Need the lakes? We have a beautiful lakes region. . . . Need a rocky ocean cliff to push off a victim? Head to Hampton or Rye."
"Our cities have beautiful architecture - as you know if you have the luxury of walking around Concord on your lunch hour - that hide a lot of stories," she added. "A friend of mine who lives in Concord and works at Kimball still has remains of the underground railroad at her house. What stories are in those walls? Mix this with a little imagination and you have the perfect setting."
Lafayette Slept Here...But With Who?
As we drove past the house locally known as Stark Mansion, I thought I'd impress my parents. "General Lafayette slept here," I told them.
"Yes, but with who," asked my dad.
Anyone who knew my father recognizes his sense of humor. He was always full of stories and glad to entertain anyone who would listen. Whenever I run into his old cronies they still say, Oh, Willie, he was the one."
Indeed he was. I grew up listening to his jokes and stories. In the morning, I'd sit at the table and at the end would be my father. His radio would be at his elbow, his plate of eggs or cereal, depending on the morning, would sit in front of him.
"Did you hear the one about Santa coming down the chimney," he asked as I sipped my milk.
My mother moving around the kitchen smiled. "Wilhelm, that's your daughter you're talking to."
So I never heard the punch line to Santa coming down the chimney. I can guess one or two. My father was full of stories. The one about his new boss is a favorite of mine. We were at the town bazaar. I was about seventeen.
"There's my new boss," my dad told me and my mother. Come on, Nora." He waved to me to follow him.
I threw a doubtful glance at my Mom and tagged along after him.
I stood silently by his side while he and the boss exchanged hellos and he was introduced to the wife. Then my father smiled and put his arm around my back. "And this is my wife."
I did my best to follow my new script and smiled and said hello.
The couple stood in shocked silence for several seconds.
My dad then took pity on them and announced I was really his daughter and his wife was standing a few feet away. The couple looked relieved, especially the boss.
But this was not unlike my father.
My dad was not a saint. He had a wicked temper that sent us scattering for our rooms, but his soft side was a strange contrast. He loved animals and collected strays. He kept a picture of his last cat, Junior, on the mantle. I wondered when I'd be so favored. He only called me once in college and it was to tell me our dog Twinkle had died.
But his love for his family and desire to make us laugh is a treasure he passed on to each of us.
So today on Father's Day, I ask, "Did you you know Lafayette slept here?"
And you say, "But with who?"
Your turn Dad.
Our redesign!
Friday, 19 February 2010 22:19
We just finished redesigning the entire website!
We installed an open-source CMS (content management system) call Joomla!
I now have a snazzy backend that I log into and its where I create all my articles. The cool part is that the graphics can be changed out at anytime and it won't change any of my content! Ahhh technology...