My Guest Today: Madeline (M.M.) Gornell

Madeline (M.M.) Gornell has three published mystery novels—PSWA awarding winning Uncle Si’s Secret (2008), Death of a Perfect Man (2009), and her latest release, Reticence of Ravens (2010)—her first Route 66 mystery. Reticence of Ravens is a 2011 Eric Hoffer Fiction finalist and Honorary Mention winner, the da Vinci Eye finalist, and a Montaigne Medalist finalist.

She continues to be inspired by historic Route 66, and has recently completed Lies of Convenience, which hopefully will have a 2011 winter release date. It is a tale that fictionally connects murder, truths untold, and Chicago’s Lake Michigan with California’s high desert on the opposite end of The Mother Road. Madeline is also a potter with a fondness for stoneware and reduction firing. She lives with her husband and assorted canines in the Mojave in a town on internationally revered Route 66.

Thank you, Earl, for hosting me on your blog. For me, your blog topic was not only interesting, but also challenging! Particularly since I’m a future oriented person (versus past reviewing), consequently, I think/hope my best is yet to come! That being said, I have in the past reread passages I’ve written that have brought tears to my eyes. They are few and, of course, my emotional set. How they touched readers is another matter. With those thoughts in mind, I tried looking back, reading my published work (something I never do—because I always want to rewrite, and by then it’s much too late!). I came up with two excerpts I thought I’d talk about.

This is from my first novel, near the end, and even now (I’ve changed in my writing style a tad) there’s something about it that touches me—even though I want to rewrite several sections…

* * * * *

Belinda couldn’t ignore this. It was turning into another hell of a storm. Yet she was unable to move forward and join the others—even though she could still see Bernard in the church doorway–illuminated from behind, looking like an angel.

She could even smell incense through the dampness, and hear an organ and singing maybe. A requiem mass? No, she didn’t think so.

Memorial, not a funeral–remember?

Not that it made one damn bit of difference what she or anyone else called what was about to happen this morning. She had eagerly spearheaded the planning of Philly’s memorial; but now, Belinda hated she was being forced to remember and grieve anew. To re-examine her own life, and acknowledge her own failures.

Then, she felt a comforting caress followed by a hug from across the years, and across the barriers of time. Glory Jones was back at her side. Belinda’s mind knew it wasn’t real, her grandmother was long deceased, but her heart and soul felt Glory’s presence just the same. “Bella,” Glory comforted and encouraged, “you can do this. You can do this. You can. You can.”

Bernard’s voice, barely audible through the pounding rain and her own groundswell of emotions, finally penetrated her consciousness. He was calling to her, “Belinda. Belinda.”

Thank God for Bernie.

Slowly, with resolve born from sad acceptance, Belinda stepped forward toward the lighted church, Bernard, Adam, and her future.

* * * * *

My second is the opening of my latest book, Lies of Convenience (release date soon!)

* * * * *

The night was clear, the stars twinkling diamonds in a cloudless ink-colored sky—and Graham Madison was a happy man.

He cherished his home and its location on the outskirts of Palm Springs. But when it came to his pearl-black Audi S5 Cabriolet, now that was a love affair. And sitting behind the wheel tonight, he was anticipating the feel of his sports car handling the curves ahead with great joy.

His convertible’s top was up, but both windows were down so he could taste dry air and hear his tires embrace asphalt. Graham released a sigh of contentment that he had moments like this, a car like this, and a wonderful winding road as a driveway.

What could possibly go wrong? It was a perfect night.

* * * * *

What did I like, what drew me to these two passages? Not sure, but I know it’s partly the sensory impact, the feel for the place and the moment—one experience in the pouring rain in Puget Sound, the other, in the Mojave desert.

As a reader, I like being taken “there” through my character’s eyes—feel, hear, see what they do. And it’s a goal I’m striving for in my own writing.

Earl, thanks so much for providing such a thought provoking topic, and the platform to expound. Great being here on blog tour!

Madeline’s books are available at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble.com, and Smashwords, in paper and e-book formats. You can visit her online at her website http://www.mmgornell.com, or her BLOG http://www.mmgornell.wordpress.com, or email her directly at mmgornell@earthlink.net

Buy link for Reticence of Ravens:  http://tinyurl.com/3oaaupp

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