SUMMER OF ’69

A few weekends ago, I spent the night at my brother Ted’s. Ted and Gina were also hosting brother Rob, who was visiting from Costa Rico. Ted made margaritas and cooked a delicious carne asada. It was a wonderful night of food, fun games, movies, and retelling of favorite stories from our childhood.

Next, Randy and I camped at Into the Woods at Willamette Vineyards with a group of friends, listening to music and enjoying some very fine wine. On the downside, we were without power, and there was no internet. Of course it could always be worse … I could’ve been in a tent instead of my lovely RV!

This past Thursday, I attended the Jason Aldean concert in Ridgefield, Washington, with my oldest son, Norman, and we stayed at ilani Casino. Winning a big jackpot would certainly have been the icing on the proverbial cake, but we were so tired after the daunting trek to and from the Cascade Amphitheater via Uber that we just crashed.

For me, this summer reminds me of these lyrics from Bryan Adams’ song “Summer of ’69” to a “T.”

                        “Oh, when I look back now,

                        That summer seemed to last forever.

                        And if I had the choice,

                        Yeah, I’d always wanna be there.

                        Those were the best days of my life.”

I have friends who seriously struggle with aging, one of whom asked me why I choose to write stories with younger characters. At first, it took me by surprise. Thinking about the question, I knew the answer was that I see the characters in my head and write what I see. After giving it more thought, though, I realized I want to start my stories with younger characters, especially in the Stoneybrook Mysteries Series so that I can grow old with them.

Yes, I said it … grow old.

Now, with each book I create an older character or two. Not because I feel like I need to capture the essence of old age, but because I feel these characters add depth to my stories. My first “older” character was Harley’s mom, Esther. I loved that I could give Esther some of my mom’s characteristics. Her judgmental assumption that her daughter could always do better than her choices. Her need to point out mistakes, no matter how small. Her eventual realization that the mistakes she’d made in her life and the lessons she learned could help Harley mend her relationship with Wyatt.

In my newest Stoneybrook novel, “Fatal Falls,” I have an old rancher, Jack Norman, who’s the last living friend of Wyatt, Blake, and Derrick’s dads. Jack is the target of a drug-fueled killer who’s looking for missing gold. The book also has a demented killer, and I used Jack’s character to create some comic relief to offset the darkness of my villains. It was fun bringing in memories from my childhood. With Jack, I was able to create a brotherhood, similar to the one my dad and uncles shared, between him, the Stone brothers, and another childhood friend. I also enjoyed having a flirtatious moment between Jack and Mercy Edwards, the owner of the Babbling Brook Café.

I’m guessing if younger readers read my books, they’d be quick to point out what I get wrong about thirty-somethings. But I knew when I created the small town of Stoneybrook that I’d want Harley and Busy, along with the rest of the cast, to live simpler lives than influencers and jet setters. I do make an effort to keep my younger characters from being me. After all, thirty-something was a long time ago. But I feel small-town core values fit all age groups.

While I have no intention of slowing down at sixty-nine, I know that aging will continue to steal the days I have left. Which means time is wasting, and I can’t wait to publish my next two Stoneybrook books, “Fatal Falls” and “Jamboree Jealousy,” so I can work on my next project, “Midnight Sail.” A middle school book with a cast of characters that includes curious kids, struggling moms, a time-traveling Native American girl, and a wise-cracking parrot named Pirate.

Thanks to all who helped me have a wonderfully blessed birthday month celebrating another trip around the sun. Remember, life is short, so live yours to the fullest and enjoy each trip around the sun that God gives to you!

Cheers ~ Kimila