TOPAZ WATERS & MEMORIES

 

My latest novel A BALMY WINTER ON TOPAZ WATERS (available on Amazon) was based much upon my personal experiences. I lived in Hobe Sound briefly as a child in first grade. So, there was absolutely no lust, adultery, or backstabbing then. However, I observed a lot of this later in life. My own parents became part of such a triangle.

I set this story in Hobe Sound because during the 1950’s it was one of the most scenic and beautiful places I’d ever seen. This was long before the crowds and concrete.

The gorgeous acreage on the Intracoastal Waterway that I describe in my novel was exactly like the one my family rented. Nowadays you’d have to be a millionaire to rent a similar property, but things were different back then. Even the vibrant floral lane was exactly that!

And the family-owned donut shop in the novel existed as well! It sold the most delicious donuts I’ve ever tasted before or since.

Another reason I set the story during the late 1950’s was due to the fact it was on the verge of the cultural shift that arrived in the 1960’s.

Bikini bathing suits were considered scandalous as well as trashy. When the main character Ellen Lanfred discovers one in a daughter’s suitcase during a brief visit, she freaks out! Her ex-husband refused to sell these in their chain of department stores. He considered them indecent.

This youngest daughter Kimberly is plucky and rebellious. She’s also a coed who has blossomed into quite a beauty. And with her sister she’s on her way to Fort Lauderdale for spring break. Mother Ellen won’t confide in Kimberly of her young lover for fear she’ll steal him. So, she goes to great lengths to prevent their meeting.

Also a major character in the story suffers from dementia. Along with cancer, this unfortunately is another area I’m too familiar. My stepmother had this condition. For a long while, my father was in denial. Eventually, her behavior became so bizarre he had no choice but to face reality. Each off-the-wall thing I describe in my novel this character did, I witnessed personally!

Every book I author is written with my whole heart and contains a little piece of my soul.

SLAM! BAM! TIS A SCAM!

 

Recently, I received a phone call from someone claiming to be from Columbia Pictures wanting to buy the rights to my novel, THE HOUSE OF SIN AND SPLENDOR, for a movie version. And they were willing to pay me $300,000.

First of all, I’d want $500,000.  And second, I see this story as more of a series, since it encompasses many decades unfolding thru characters’ conversations, along with a past life hypnotic regression of the main character Arlene.

Later, after the regression she has an out-of-body experience and visits the past guided by a ghost.

Arlene has psychic abilities which she was forced to hide and deny, due to being raised by her fanatically religious grandparents. Eventually she comes to embrace her gift.

I sat listening to this message which came up on my answering machine as Unknown Caller. The guy kept calling me Deanne – My name is Dianne!

Since I’m a senior citizen I don’t appreciate some stranger referring to me as “Hey Deanne!”

In the background I could hear numerous people on phones. If that wasn’t a scammer’s boiler room, then I don’t know what is! I could smell the stench right thru my answering machine.

It reminded me of that 1980’s Florida serial killer who roamed shopping malls carrying an empty camera. He’d approach young women and claim to be a photographer for a big modeling agency.

He’d tell them, “You have great potential. But first, you must sign papers and I left those in my car.” Naturally he was parked in a secluded spot where he’d knock them out and lock them in the trunk.

Scammers just as serial killers lure and often catch victims thru the person’s aspirations, fantasies, & egos. This is easy now! Way too much info is exposed over the internet. And these cons are getting sneakier all the time!

GREAT STORY, CRAPPY MOVIE

 

I remember it vividly although long ago, I was in my early 20’s. It was a comfortably cool spring afternoon, the kind of which “normal people” as my parents called them would be outside enjoying the weather.

Instead, I was sprawled out on my bedroom floor, but my mind was far away in a mysterious land called Styria fully engrossed in the horror Novella CARMILLA. I felt magically transported by a long dead author whose words captivated and enthralled me. I was gripped in suspense from the very first paragraph.

Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu instantly became a favorite author of mine. Right up there with Thomas Hardy.

Fast forward to 2025, I am now in my 70’s. I noticed one of my streaming services offered a movie version of this favorite novella. I was excited and couldn’t wait to view it!

Sadly, not long into this film, I was disappointed. Too many unnecessary liberties were created, while more compelling details were completely omitted. I realize some stories don’t translate well into films, but this one should have, all the elements were there.

Not to mention the pacing was monotonously slow, supposedly to build suspense, but it had the opposite effect. I was constantly struggling not to fall asleep.

Carmilla was portrayed as a lesbian vampire. I have nothing against lesbians. But I didn’t get that vibe from the novella. The only part of Laura that Carmilla lusted for was her blood. Remember Carmilla was a vampire! She required blood to sustain her.

If I was thrown together with someone who had a vat of melted chocolate strapped to them, I would react the same way Carmilla did to the main character Laura. It would be the chocolate I yenned for and not the person. 

In the novella there was no kissing or rolling around the floor as in the movie. And no romping around outdoors as with the characters in the TWIGHT franchise. I enjoyed that movie series although I prefer my vampires evil and blood lusty as their nature dictates.

But this awful so-called horror movie was loosely based on the brilliant and gripping novella. This far less intriguing version felt like a waste of time. If I ever meet Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu in death, I will apologize to him for watching it.

AN EGGLESS EASTER

 

No matter the holiday I always made deviled eggs as a side dish. It was my tradition. However when egg prices started to soar I stopped buying them out of protest and sheer disgust. – And I continue to do so!

And I seriously doubt my HOA (fees have tripled since the pandemic) would appreciate me raising chickens in my yard! It’s the kind of stupid advice only someone in the Trump administration would give. And what happened to “Prices will go down on day one”??? – Just one of a multitude of lies. Why is anyone surprised!

Also this meant giving up omelets & frittatas. As with deviled eggs there’s so many different and delicious ways to make them. A favorite breakfast of mine was to scramble an egg, mix it with pickle or sweet banana pepper juice, microwave for 30 seconds, & then serve on a buttermilk or cinnamon raisin English muffin.

I thought it would be harder to give eggs up, but there’s plenty of other options. In fact, anything you normally eat for lunch or dinner you can also enjoy for breakfast. Leftover slices of pizza are one example. And I love those round peanut butter & honey uncrustable sandwiches from the frozen food section. These are a favorite Saturday morning breakfast.

And there’s always the old standby, boxed cereal. Just stay away from the kiddie stuff. I prefer Great Grains or shredded wheat. I’ve never been a fan of oatmeal or grits! But I love breakfast potatoes! They are delicious in casseroles, patties, baked, or blitzes, etc.

Also there’s toast, rolls, bagels, any type of bread. Maybe it’s because I grew up in South Florida, but I prefer Cuban bread to French or Italian; but all of them are good. Just spread a slice with hummus (there’s a lot of variety) and you have a tasty breakfast.

Back in the 1970’s when I was touring Europe and beyond, many of my trips included a continental breakfast. This consisted of rolls with butter or a selection of jam plus coffee. We could have as many as we wanted.

I recall the Japanese owned and operated hotel I stayed in Paris in 1978. For breakfast we were given not just rolls, but croissants, some stuffed with chocolate along with other breakfast pastries.

And there’s always pancakes or waffles, but I’d limit these (or anything sweet) to once a week.

There exists plenty of options besides eggs!

Always, my breakfast includes unsweetened apple sauce with fresh fruit or frozen that I thaw in the fridge the night before.

But thanks to that bloated orange buffoon in the White House, now it’s back to the drawing board!!!

Unfortunately, the price of EVERYTHING in the supermarket has soared due to these stupid & unnecessary Trump tariffs!!! Soon, eating period will be a luxury.

THE STREAM & THE DREAM

 

As a senior citizen, it seems the more advanced technology, the less reliable, not to mention risky. Every time I turn around someone is trying to hack or scam me. And it’s making me paranoid!

Recently, I ditched cable and started streaming to save money, but instead, it’s costing me a lot! Tech guys want an obscene amount to fix all these problems I’m constantly having.

One issue is that I’m frequently losing my connection despite purchasing a range extender. Sometimes, I can get it back by going to settings & doing a scan. But the last time, I couldn’t, no matter how many times I tried.

Earlier that AM I was on Facebook when suddenly my computer made a loud weird noise & went black as if it had blown a fuse! After a few seconds, it came back. It asked me what I had just plugged in, and started naming devices I don’t own, nor had ever heard of. I did an update and shut down.

I was able to stream on my TV until 10:00 PM when I lost my connection three quarters into a movie I was enjoying. Unable to get it back and in frustration, I gave up and went to bed. I had a difficult time falling asleep. And when I did, I had a vivid dream.

In it, I rose out of bed and walked downstairs into my kitchen. Seated at the table with a cup of tea was my close friend Irene, an elderly British lady who died almost 5 years ago. She seemed so real I never thought once about her being dead as we visited.

From my kitchen I could see down the hall into my office; a strange man was working on my computer. He was using crude instruments such as a hammer, screwdriver, & a crowbar. Occasionally he glanced over and smiled at me.

 “What the heck is he doing?” I asked Irene.

 “Leave him be,” she said.

Then my friend stood and told me she must leave, and I noticed the man was gone.

Later, when I awoke, I decided to unplug the TV since this usually worked when I lost my cable. However, I wanted to check the connection first.

I was horrified upon discovering my nearly brand-new TV now refused to come on. I checked the plug to make sure it was tight & also my computer connection. Both were fine, but still, nothing on my TV!

But I was persistent. Eventually it came on. However I found myself staring at a gray screen. I was ready to scream!

Then I hit the HOME button, miraculously my connection was restored!

I am constantly on the lookout for a reasonably priced tech person. I can’t always rely on the dead for help. They’ve earned their rest.

FOR THE LOVE OF LETTERS

 

I’ll admit I was an oddball as a kid. (In fact, I still am!) I loved writing letters. Writing one was just as much fun as receiving one. Plus, I always chose pretty stationery & stickers.

I was a prolific letter writer right up until the end of the double zero decade. By then most of my pen pals were either dead or lost to time and distance having grown in different directions.

Nowadays we have email & Facebook messenger which are faster, more impersonal, and subject to hacking. I miss those letters in the mail.

I’ll admit some of my pen pals were not as prompt in answering as was I, but most were. Some like my friend Margaret were on and off. But I loved those funny cards she sent filled with long letters and interesting articles or cartoons.

This is how I stayed in touch with my school friends during summer vacation. Back then, cellphones were in the realm of science fiction. And our regular phones had party lines where total strangers could listen in, comment, or order us off.

Here in Florida, during the 1960’s, school let out for summer on the last week of May and resumed the last week of August.

I recall one girl in junior high, an acquaintance with whom I shared a table in art class handed me her address on the last day and said, “Let’s write!”

Surprised, I was thrilled to have another pen pal! Just days after vacation began, I wrote her a 3 page letter. Then I waited, and waited, and I waited.

Finally, in July she answered. Her single page letter contained only a brief few paragraphs I will never forget the first line “I guess I’ll write to you.” -- What??? She was the one who shoved her address in my hand!!!

In this brief letter she asked if I was in contact with another girl named Julie and wanted HER address. None of us were what is referred to as popular girls. Julie and I were also summer pen pals. We had been for several years.

I felt hurt and was insulted! I never replied to this letter. In fact, I tore it up! And I kept a cool distance from this person when school resumed.

I also corresponded with cousins up north along with an aunt. One cousin was always prompt in answering. The others I eventually gave up on expecting any notion of a reply.

My aunt (my mother’s youngest sister) was a colorful, audacious character with quite a history. I always enjoyed her letters when she finally got around to it.

I never knew what I was about to discover in one, what juicy family secrets she was going to reveal that would horrify my parents. And a couple times she even sent me pornography! – And no, she wasn’t senile! Receiving a letter from her was always an adventure. I miss them to this day!

PHANTOM BOOKS

  

Now confess, we all did things that were dishonest in school. Mostly, this was about taking control of our lives at a time when every aspect was controlled by someone else. This confession of mine (one of them, anyway) goes back 50 years or more.  

And it involves book reports. I used to make them up, both written and oral. You've heard of fake news; well, these were fake books!

I thought up plots with made-up authors. This was so easy I'm surprised everyone didn't do it. -- Or maybe they did! But I knew I could never trust friends with my secrets. Kids of all sizes have big mouths.

It's not that I didn't have a love of reading. I was an eager magazine & newspaper reader. My family subscribed to The Saturday Evening Post & Reader’s Digest, and I looked forward to receiving both, as well as The Miami Herald & The Palm Beach Post which I read daily. Rarely was there time for books! Plus a book took up longer to read. Being young I wanted to be free to enjoy other things.

I have a natural talent for plotting and creating characters, along with an endless supply of tales for fiction despite my preference for real life stories. My creative well never runs dry.

Thankfully, the teachers never asked to see any of these books. But if they did, I would have a ready answer! --" My cousin took it back north after her visit." And if they should persist, I would say, "She lent it to a friend who lost it. "Fortunately, I was never forced to do any explaining. The teachers never caught on.

As I grew, I didn’t want my talent and love of dreaming up stories going to waste, so I decided to pursue becoming a novelist. My books are no longer phantoms, but real!