Murder at Morningside
by Sandra Bretting
GENRE: Cozy Mystery
Heads turn when milliner Missy Dubois waltzes into town to set up shop on the Great River Road in Louisiana. Heaven only knows the brides who get married in the grand old mansions there could use a bit of help.
But then Missy discovers a murder among the magnolias, and even the worst “bridezilla” seems suddenly tame.
But then Missy discovers a murder among the magnolias, and even the worst “bridezilla” seems suddenly tame.
Before Beatrice could say more, the front door flew open and in stomped an elderly gentleman. He was on the verge of a good old-fashioned hissy fit.
“Y’all don’t deserve a say in this wedding!” he said to a young woman who’d slunk in behind him.
The girl looked to be the right age for his daughter. She wore flip-flops and a wrinkled peasant blouse, and she buried her head in her hands. Well, that lifted the blouse an inch or two and exposed her bare stomach.
Lorda mercy. It seemed the girl and her fiancé must have eaten supper before they said grace, as we said here in the South, because an unmistakable bump appeared under her top. She looked to be about four months along, give or take a few weeks, and I could see why her daddy wasn’t too happy with her right about now.
After a piece, she lifted her chin and glared at him. “I hate you!” Her voice rippled as cold as the river water that ran nearby. “I wish you were dead.” She stalked away.
I fully expected the man to cringe, or at least follow her. Instead, he merely glanced our way and shrugged. After a minute, he pivoted on the spectacle he’d caused and casually strolled away, leaving a bit of frost in the air.
“Oh my. Why don’t we continue,” Beatrice said.
Poor Beatrice. She obviously wanted to divert our attention elsewhere. It couldn’t have been every day one of her hotel guests wished another guest was dead. She hustled us farther into the ballroom, as if nothing had happened, all the while explaining the history of Morningside Plantation.
“Y’all don’t deserve a say in this wedding!” he said to a young woman who’d slunk in behind him.
The girl looked to be the right age for his daughter. She wore flip-flops and a wrinkled peasant blouse, and she buried her head in her hands. Well, that lifted the blouse an inch or two and exposed her bare stomach.
Lorda mercy. It seemed the girl and her fiancé must have eaten supper before they said grace, as we said here in the South, because an unmistakable bump appeared under her top. She looked to be about four months along, give or take a few weeks, and I could see why her daddy wasn’t too happy with her right about now.
After a piece, she lifted her chin and glared at him. “I hate you!” Her voice rippled as cold as the river water that ran nearby. “I wish you were dead.” She stalked away.
I fully expected the man to cringe, or at least follow her. Instead, he merely glanced our way and shrugged. After a minute, he pivoted on the spectacle he’d caused and casually strolled away, leaving a bit of frost in the air.
“Oh my. Why don’t we continue,” Beatrice said.
Poor Beatrice. She obviously wanted to divert our attention elsewhere. It couldn’t have been every day one of her hotel guests wished another guest was dead. She hustled us farther into the ballroom, as if nothing had happened, all the while explaining the history of Morningside Plantation.
Sandra Bretting works as a freelance feature writer under contract to the Houston Chronicle. She received a journalism degree from the University of Missouri School of Journalism and wrote for other publications (including the Los Angeles Times and Orange Coast Magazine) before moving to Texas.
Her Missy DuBois Mysteries series debuts from Kensington/Lyrical Underground in May 2016. Bretting’s previous mysteries include Unholy Lies (2012) and Bless the Dying (2014). Readers can reach her online at www.sandrabretting.com and through Facebook at www.facebook.com/sandra.bretting.
Her Missy DuBois Mysteries series debuts from Kensington/Lyrical Underground in May 2016. Bretting’s previous mysteries include Unholy Lies (2012) and Bless the Dying (2014). Readers can reach her online at www.sandrabretting.com and through Facebook at www.facebook.com/sandra.bretting.
June 2 – Sandra Bretting
Author of Murder at Morningside
The Missy DuBois Mystery Series
1) How did you get started writing?
I went to the University of Missouri School of Journalism, where I happened to take a creative course on a whim. It was the best “accident” of my life. I went on to write for the L.A. Times and Houston Chronicle, but I also studied creative writing at the University of Irvine.
I began my publishing career with short stories. They taught me how important every word can be, and also how to pack a lot of action into a limited space. My first short story was published in 2000, and I felt like I’d just won the lottery.
2) Where did you get the inspiration for your current book/characters?
My husband and I traveled to the Great River Road in Louisiana several years ago, and I fell in love with the area. I remember touring these moody gardens dripping in Spanish moss and thinking, “What a wonderful site for a murder!” Good thing the tour guide didn’t know what was on my mind!
3) How do you get over writer's block?
I remember a quote from the famous Spanish author Isabel Allende. She was talking about sitting down every day to her computer, even on those days when she didn’t feel like it. The quote is very simple: “Show up, show up, show up, and after a while the muse shows up, too.”
Author of Murder at Morningside
The Missy DuBois Mystery Series
1) How did you get started writing?
I went to the University of Missouri School of Journalism, where I happened to take a creative course on a whim. It was the best “accident” of my life. I went on to write for the L.A. Times and Houston Chronicle, but I also studied creative writing at the University of Irvine.
I began my publishing career with short stories. They taught me how important every word can be, and also how to pack a lot of action into a limited space. My first short story was published in 2000, and I felt like I’d just won the lottery.
2) Where did you get the inspiration for your current book/characters?
My husband and I traveled to the Great River Road in Louisiana several years ago, and I fell in love with the area. I remember touring these moody gardens dripping in Spanish moss and thinking, “What a wonderful site for a murder!” Good thing the tour guide didn’t know what was on my mind!
3) How do you get over writer's block?
I remember a quote from the famous Spanish author Isabel Allende. She was talking about sitting down every day to her computer, even on those days when she didn’t feel like it. The quote is very simple: “Show up, show up, show up, and after a while the muse shows up, too.”
RSS Feed
