As you probably know by now, when my sister Phyllice Bradner and I created the Silver Sisters, we based their personalities somewhat upon our own. Therefore, Goldie is sort of like Phyllice who really did move to Alaska back in the days of hippies. At one point in her career she did own an antique shop in Juneau. Whereas I am what she calls a “fashionista”, Phyllice often dressed in layers of vintage clothes.

Fast forward. Phyllice moved from Alaska to Yamhill County in Oregon’s wine country a few years ago. This year she moved into a house right off the main business street in McMinnville. I arrived in Oregon yesterday and we are working on finishing the manuscript for SEVEN DEADLY SAMOVARS, the second book in our Silver Sisters series. So why do I say she has become Goldie?

Well if you’ve read A CORPSE IN THE SOUP, you know all about Goldie’s personality and that she keeps handwritten ledgers for her antique shop. Her office is in the back of the store, behind a curtain.

Phyllice has now opened the Katz and Dawgs Boutique in McMinnville at 605 NE 1st Street. One thing I saw when I arrived at her new shop, was that her office in the back was complete with handwritten ledgers. As I watched her sitting at her desk I thought of two differences between Phyllice and Goldie: For one thing, Phyllice and I are blondes, not silver-haired like Goldie and Godiva. The other thing is that Phyllice’s shop is filled with wonderful animal artifacts and accessories of all kinds instead of antiques. However, as she pointed out, there are some antiques, too. Phyllice has exhibited her whimsical cat and dog etchings in two art galleries for several years. Now you can also see some of her pieces by visiting the boutique. Outside of that, I swear my sister has become Goldie.

By the way, if you are anywhere near McMinnville, stop in and browse. You will probably find something just wonderful for yourself, your pet or for a unique gift. She is open Wednesday-Saturday. And, of course, she carries our paperback and audio books. She is happy to autograph your copy.

MORGAN ST. JAMES
www.silversistersmysteries.com
A CORPSE IN THE SOUP
Best Mystery Audio Book 2007 – USA BOOK NEWS

As usual, here I am at midnight going through e-mails, blogs, etc. I keep a Google Alert for cozy mysteries and Silver Sisters Mysteries. As I was scrolling through the alert fo cozy mysteries, I came upon a post for the following blogspot:

http://orangedepot.blogspot.com/

One of the books mentioned was Mitch Albom's ONE MORE DAY. I read that about two weeks ago and I loved it. Then I looked at the profile for Avid Reader and lo and behold she/he (don't know which) was from the town of Cotati, California. Well, once I saw that I had to post a comment to her post on ONE MORE DAY. It was the only way I could figure out to reach her/him.

You see Cotati is not a town you would easily include in a book. It's not high profile like Los Angeles or New York, for instance. It is a town in Northern California next to Rohnert Park that is known for its accordian festivals.

By coincidence, after much research, Cotati is the town that we chose to use when our twin sleuths in A CORPSE IN THE SOUP, Goldie Silver and Godiva Olivia DuBois, are checking out the background of a TV chef. We loved the idea that we could use the accordian festival as a neat sidebar and also that it is in an area rich in antiques. That way Goldie, the twin who owns an antique shop in Juneau, can justify taking the time to take the trip to Northern California to check out Biff Wellington because she can also look for antiques for her shop. Godiva, on the other hand, can turn up her nose at a small town since she is quite spoiled and would probably preferred it if there was a Ritz Carleton in town!

Here is a small excerpt from the Cotati scenes:

Goldie took an immediate liking to the chatty old
woman who was vaguely reminiscent of her mother-inlaw,
Belle. “Oh, yes, I look forward to meeting him.” She
filled out the registration card. “You have such a lovely
old home, I’m sure we’ll enjoy our stay here.”

“Ya, it sure was a jewel in its day. So, what brings you
girls to Cotati? We don’t get many guests these days. Now
they all stay at that Doubletree Hotel in Rohnert Park.”

“I’m on an antique buying trip.” Goldie’s smile
sparkled as she thought about the good deals she
negotiated with Andy. “I have a shop in Alaska.”

“Mein gott! People buy antiques for their igloos? It
must be all ice and snow up there. How do you get the
antiques home? By dog sled?” Hilda chuckled at her own
joke.

Goldie’s gave Hilda a feeble smile. She had heard it all
before. “Oh no, you’ve got it all wrong. Where I live, in
Juneau, it rains more often than it snows. The whole city’s
in the middle of a Northern rainforest.”

“Rain?”

“Yup, and believe it or not, we have regular houses,
schools, shopping centers, movies—even two
McDonald’s—you name it, we’ve got it.”

“No igloos?”

“Not even one.”

“Humph! Alaska? I thought you were from Los
Angeles.” Hilda was clearly confused.

“Oh, my sister lives in Beverly Hills. She’s a... uh...
journalist. She’s writing a story... uh... about the history of
the Accordion Festival for the L.A. Times.”

“But you two look exactly alike. I’m surprised you live
in such different places.”

Of course this assumption made no logical sense at all,
but Goldie nodded politely.