Look What the Wind Blew In (50 page)

Five Questions and Answers from Ann

Is it correct to say “Maya” or “Mayan”?

Because this question was asked in the feedback from my awesome crew of beta readers, I am addressing it here at the end of the book as well as the beginning.

There are various schools of thought on this. I chose to follow this one: The adjective “Mayan” is used in reference to the language or languages; “Maya” is used as a noun or adjective when referring to people, places, culture, etc., whether singular or plural.

(Source:
http://archaeology.about.com/od/mameterms/a/Maya-or-Mayan.htm
)

What’s a javelina (aka Peccary)?

A javelina (pronounced
hah-vuh-
lee
-nuh
) or peccary (
pek
-uh-ree
) is a medium-sized animal that strongly resembles a pig. While it has a snout and eyes that are small relative to its head, its stomach is more complex than a pig’s. Javelinas are omnivores. They will eat small animals but prefer roots, grasses, seeds, fruit, and cacti—particularly prickly pear. They have scent glands that make them smell a little like skunks, which is why they are sometimes called “skunk-pigs.”

(Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peccary
;
http://library.sandiegozoo.org/factsheets/chacoan_peccary/peccary.htm
)

If you want to see some cute baby javelina pictures to have a better idea what Rover looks like, search for “baby javelina” on the internet and check out the images.

What’s a
cenote
?

A
cenote
(pronounced
suh-
noh
-tee
) is a natural pit or sinkhole resulting from the collapse of limestone bedrock that exposes groundwater underneath. Especially associated with the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico,
cenotes
were sometimes used by the ancient Maya for sacrificial offerings.
Cenote
water is often very clear, as the water comes from rain water filtering slowly through the ground.

(Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cenote
)

Is the dig site in this story a real place?

Angélica’s dig site and the temples on it are all fictional products of my imagination. I did a lot of reading and studying of actual Maya dig sites on the Yucatán Peninsula, including Chichen Itza, Tulum, and Coba, especially those in the Mexican states of Quintana Roo and Yucatán. Here is a website with some great pictures of the temples and a map showing several of the Maya sites:
http://mexpeditions.travel/archaeology-maya-world.html

What characters in this book have had cameos in my other stories?

Quint Parker—Quint is the older brother of Violet Parker (the heroine in the Deadwood Mystery Series). He is mentioned off and on in different books in that series, and he made an appearance in
Deadwood Shorts: Boot Points
.

Dr. Juan García—Juan is the head archaeologist who is working on the dig site in one of Ruby Martino-Ford’s mines in
The Great Jackalope Stampede
(the third book in the Jackrabbit Junction Mystery Series).

Angélica García—Angélica is briefly talked about by Juan in
The Great Jackalope Stampede
. She acts as a source of information for him.

Also by Ann Charles

www.anncharles.com

Books in the Deadwood Mystery Series

WINNER of the 2010 Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense

WINNER of the 2011 Romance Writers of America® Golden Heart Award for Best Novel with Strong Romantic Elements

Welcome to Deadwood—the Ann Charles version. The world I have created is a blend of present day and past, of fiction and non-fiction. What’s real and what isn’t is for you to determine as the series develops, the characters evolve, and I write the stories line by line. I will tell you one thing about the series—it’s going to run on for quite a while, and Violet Parker will have to hang on and persevere through the crazy adventures I have planned for her. Poor, poor Violet. It’s a good thing she has a lot of gumption to keep her going!

The Jackrabbit Junction Mystery Series

www.anncharles.com

Bestseller in Women Sleuth Mystery and Romantic Suspense

Welcome to the Dancing Winnebagos RV Park. Down here in Jackrabbit Junction, Arizona, Claire Morgan and her rabble-rousing sisters are really good at getting into trouble—BIG trouble (the land your butt in jail kind of trouble). This rowdy, laugh-aloud mystery series is packed with action, suspense, adventure, and relationship snafus. Full of colorful characters and twisted up plots, the stories of the Morgan sisters will keep you wondering what kind of a screwball mess they are going to land in next.

The Goldwash Mystery Series

www.anncharles.com

The Old Man’s Back in Town

From the award-winning author of the Deadwood Mystery series and the Jackrabbit Junction Mystery series

This short story is a bit of a puzzle. Each scene is a different variation of the same story for a reason, which you'll learn at the end. See if you can pick up on the clues along the way and figure out the puzzle before you finish the story. Thank you for giving it a try!

~ Ann

Overview…

In the lonely mining ghost town of Goldwash, Nevada, Christmas has come early. Unfortunately, the local bar owner must be on this year's naughty list, because Santa brought her something even worse than a piece of coal on this dark, cold winter night—her old man.

Acknowledgments

I could write a book the size of
War and Peace
full of Acknowledgements alone. However, to save your eyesight, I’ll try to keep it a little shorter.

A big, wet-nosed sloppy Thank You to all of the following brilliant people:

My critique partners, first-draft and second-draft readers, second-tier editors, and all of you kick-ass beta readers. Without you, I’d have scrambled eggs all over my face.

My husband, kids, and ornery cat, who each take turns giving me hugs, kisses, purrs, and Coke Slurpees when I’m worried about a transition scene, a publishing deadline, or a herd of javelinas in my yard.

Mimi “The Grammar Chick” (my editor), and Marguerite Phipps (consulting editor), who use their magic wands to turn my story pumpkins into beautiful sparkling carriages.

My older brother, C.S. Kunkle (cover artist and illustrator) for sharing his talent and letting me watch
Humanoids from the Deep
when I was way too young; and his wife, Stephanie, for helping to pick out illustrations and drinking way too much Whiskey Slush with me.

The band Queen for their seven-minute-long version of “Somebody to Love.”

Sharon Benton (cover graphic artist) for loving wine, an essential component in our working relationship—ha!

Wendy Gildersleeve for helping me shoot for the moon and laughing with me when I fall on my ass in the process.

My superstar, on-the-ground publicists and promoters—my mom and brother (Margo Taylor and Dave Taylor), my aunt (Judy Routt), and my sister (Laura Rensberger). I’m so lucky you’re related to me and have to be nice to me!

Jim McKay (played by Gregory Peck) for riding Ol’ Thunder in
The Big Country
.

Diane Garland for her amazing spreadsheets and strawberry-flavored Kit Kats from the Far East.