HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: Happy Saturday, Reds and readers! And are you doing fall things today? Part of our farmshare was HoneyCrisp apples. JACKPOT! A neighboring town has prohibited pumpkins on doorsteps because they bring rats. Our maple trees are going bright red, and the basil stems are woody. You can almost feel the plants sighing, and getting ready to give up. And the supply-chain problem hits the bulb place--our tulip bulbs will be delayed. But yay, sweater season!
The world is so insane. And that’s just one of the reasons I am so delighted to welcome our dear Carol Pouliot today! It’s always a special treat when a loyal reader and commenter gets to come to center stage--and today with her third mystery! And with such a lovely essay, too!
Stop the insanity for a few moments. Read this. And soak up the niceness.
An Ode to Autumn
CAROL POULIOT: I LOVE fall! I love the sights, sounds, and scents of this glorious season. As soon as I turn the calendar to September, I get excited about all my favorite fall activities—picking apples on a cool crisp sunny day, driving out to the country or up into the mountains to see the spectacular display of changing leaves, stopping at a roadside stand for pumpkins and buckets of jewel-toned mums.
Autumn also brings the excitement of learning and creating. I spent my entire life in school, first as a student, then as a language teacher, so September always feels like a new year to me. I’m inspired by the promise and possibilities of a clean slate. Even though I’ve retired from teaching, I still go out and buy new notebooks, folders, and pencils every year. Now, instead of class notes, they hold ideas for upcoming mysteries, plots, and characters. There’s nothing like opening a brand new notebook—those blank pages draw me in and my imagination soars.
My first real memory dates from when I was 5 years old and rode the school bus to kindergarten. I couldn’t wait to explore this new part of my world! I remember sitting on the hard vinyl seat looking up out of the window. I was so little that all I could see was the sky, treetops, and telephone wires strung like bunting from pole to pole. I was one of those kids who soaked up every second of learning, making new friends, and having adventures (One of my favorite words, by the way.) I remember not liking naptime. I wasn’t tired, and our classroom had lots of corners filled with exciting things to play with and books to look at. I would lie there silently bemoaning the waste of time napping when there was so much to explore. I haven’t changed much!
(See? I was buzzing with excitement on my 1st day of kindergarten, September 1955. )
In the fall, as temperatures drop, and nights become cool, the leaves on our trees here in the Northeast begin to change. The world transforms into a canvas of gold and scarlet, tangerine and chocolate. Like confetti, maple, oak, and hickory leaves dance in the breeze, floating down to cover the ground. They crunch and rustle under my feet as I take my daily walk. As we approach November, everywhere I go, people bundled up in flannel shirts and jeans are outside raking and burning piles of leaves by the road. The scent of burning leaves mixed with the crisp, chilled autumn air is a comforting smell. It signals longer nights, curled up with a book under a cozy throw. I dig out my collection of Edgar Allan Poe’s short stories and Agatha Christie’s Halloween Party. I read it, then watch the DVD with David Suchet as Hercule Poirot.
What are your favorite fall memories, Jungle Reds and Readers?
HANK: Oh, those noisemakers are treasures!
And I just realized I get to go buy Twizzlers now, the test Twizzlers first, to make sure the ones we’ll eventually give out are good enough.
And I do wish I remembered kindergarten. It’s got to be in there somewhere. I kind of remember first grade. And I remember when I got toothpaste on my brand new and beloved first-day-of-school red sweater. I can honestly still picture that.
How about you all?
In Death Rang the Bell, the 3rd installment in The Blackwell and Watson Time-Travel Mysteries, my protagonist, 21st-century journalist Olivia Watson, thinks traveling back in time to 1934 to attend a Halloween party with her friend Detective Steven Blackwell will be a lot of fun. And it is...until she witnesses the head of the Shipley Five-and-Dime empire murdered, and fears the killer saw her face.
The smart move is to return to the safety of the present, but Olivia possesses a secret and is about to defy the unwritten rules of time-travel. She convinces Steven to let her stay in his time and help unravel the motives behind the murder, even if it means risking her own life to save another.
When Steven delves into the investigation, he discovers how a bitter relationship, a chance encounter, and a fateful decision converged to set the stage for murder. In a maze full of unreliable clues and misdirection, dark secrets refuse to stay buried and forgotten ghosts won’t fade away. Steven is reminded that old sins cast long shadows.
Can Steven catch the killer before time runs out for Olivia?
A Francophile at age 11, Carol Pouliot dreamed of going to Paris. After a Master’s at Stony Brook University, she headed to France for her first teaching job. She taught French and Spanish for over 30 years in Upstate New York, and founded an agency that provided translations in over 24 languages. Carol is the author of The Blackwell and Watson Time-Travel Mysteries, including the latest Death Rang the Bell. When not writing, Carol can be found reaching for her passport and packing a suitcase for her next adventure. Sign up for Carol’s newsletter and learn more at http://www.carolpouliot.com
Congratulations on your new book, Carol . . . it does sound as if Olivia might have gotten herself into a bit of a mess this time . . . I’m looking forward to finding out how Steven manages things.
ReplyDeleteFall leaves are always a delight. Cozy fireplaces and curling up with a book . . . one of the best things about the season.
The best part of kindergarten? Storytime . . .
When we were little, Jean and I walked to school together and we thought that was fun. But we were never in the same class, and we didn’t like that . . . .
Thanks, Joan. Yes, Olivia's really gotten herself in a complicated mess this time. Her life is being threatened and she's about to break some major time-travel rules.
DeleteI'm more of a summer person. I having a hard time coming up with fall memories. I prefer the warmer weather, and autumn is just the reminder that winter is coming.
ReplyDeleteYou're certainly not alone in your love of summer, Mark. And with the changes in climate, it looks like summer will be longer and warmer in years to come. I keep wondering how far north I need to go to escape the heat. LOL Take heart, it won't be long before you can bask in the sun again.
DeleteI adore autumn, and tolerate summer because I know it's necessary as a lead-in to crackling fires, walks through rustling leaves, and soup. A book featuring a Halloween party sounds like the perfect selection for an indoor break in the reading chair by the window overlooking the golden aspens!
ReplyDeleteI feel exactly the same, Debra! The only thing I don't like about fall is that it's too short. I found a recipe for homemade minestrone soup the other day that I can't wait to try. I'd be happy to share if you'd like it. Enjoy the season!!
DeleteGOlden aspens..ooh. Where are you?
DeleteHank - in the mountains west of Boulder at 8,600 feet for most of the year; Maine for part of it. And Carol -- I would love to have that recipe! I'm making tomato soup today, and the Romas are in the oven roasting right now. To be served up with grilled cheese made with thin slices of apple, Gruyere, aged cheddar and a swipe of strawberry jam. Mmmmm.
DeleteWhat lovely evocations of fall! I like being about to wear my cozy writing hoodie every morning from now through April or May.
ReplyDeleteI remember the smell of the not-quite-cold little boxes of milk during kindergarten, and being in a class with my tall best friend, Jo Ann. I doubted if I napped at the prescribed time, either, but it was fun having mats on the floor. If a note had to go in to the teacher, my mom would safety pin it to my dress. I was the last on the bus route to be dropped off, and I thought Mr. Albert was my best friend.
Oh, Edith, these are wonderful memories. I agree that those little mats were kind of cool. I have my favorite cold-weather writing clothes, too! Enjoy.
DeleteCongratulations on the new book, Carol! It's so satisfying to launch a new story out into the world, isn't it? And that grab-bag of noise makers was a real treasure! What fun to pick one up and make a little noise as you pass by. I have a 26" symphonic gong in my front room and, I'll admit it, I like to tap it whenever I pass by. Sometimes more than "tap" it. The sound vibrates through the air and resets the energy for the whole day.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Gigi. Yes, the thrill of launching a new story out into the world and finally holding the book in my hand is hard to describe. (Not exactly good for a writer. Haha) I love the idea of your gong. It sounds really cool. Yes, there's something about filling the air with a purposeful energy. I'll be thinking of you the next time I grab a noisemaker.
DeleteWelcome to JRW Carol and congratulations on your new book. As always, I'll have to begin reading from the first book in your series because I have so many questions. How did Olivia become a time traveler? How did she become friends with Detective Steven Blackwell? Just how "friendly" are they? Does he time travel as well? So, even though it is the season for a Halloween mystery, book 1 calls!
ReplyDeleteI love autumn, too. I've spent most of my life in the Northeast and fall is the most spectacular season. September has always felt like the new year, with many beginnings around Labor Day. My birthday is on Halloween and that has certainly influenced the excitement I've always felt at this time of year, even though the parties and big celebrations are now far in my past.
I do remember Kindergarten. Now that you have mentioned it, I remember nap time. I was not tired and didn't need to lie down, restless and bored. It was a long time ago. I still am not much of a napper.
Thanks, Judy. We have so much in common. First of all, great questions about Steven and Olivia!! I'm really glad you're going to start with Doorway to Murder. I set the 1st 3 books just months apart so the reader could enjoy their growing friendship little by little. Happy Upcoming Birthday!! We're 11 days apart. Mine is October 20th. And re: naps...my mother told me that I stopped taking naps before I was a year old. The poor thing! I never appreciated what that really meant for her until I was older. Happy Fall!!!
DeleteI just bought it for my Kindle. Could not resist. It is probably going to move up in the TBR pile/list just because...
DeleteOh, birthday on Halloween..was that a good thing?
DeleteI love your covers and your books deliver on the promise. Congratulations on the latest!
ReplyDeleteKindergarten - ah, my teacher was Mrs. Coffee. I remember not liking nap time and wondering why it was such a necessary evil. It took a long time before I realized the nap was of more benefit to the teacher than the student! In November we traced our hands on construction paper in shapes that resembled turkeys, colored, and then cut them out with blunt-edged scissors. In fact, all of my memories of kindergarten are tinged with the scent of Crayola!
Thank you so much, Kait!! I'm thrilled that you've enjoyed my books. I hope you like Death Rang the Bell, too. I love your teacher's name. Mrs. Coffee. How cool is that. Can I use that name in an upcoming book?? Yes, what is it about crayons that we just can't resist. Believe it or not, I still take them out about once a year. I enjoy a cup of English tea and color for a half hour. Very relaxing.
DeleteOf course you can use Mrs. Coffee's name. She would be thrilled! My secret vice is the 64 pack of Crayola - with the sharpener. I always have a coloring book in the house.
DeleteCongratulations on Death Rang the Bell, Carol.
ReplyDeleteI love this first part of fall with all the colours beautifully surrounding me. Not so much when the leaves are fallen. The landscape becomes sad until the snow begins for a long winter here in Quebec.
Today, I’m cooking a supper for family members as it is Thanksgiving weekend here in Canada . I’m grateful for my brothers health and the weather is nice. Life is good.
Merci, Danielle. Joyeux Thanksgiving!! Mon père est né au Québec - à Yamaska. J'ai visité le province plusieurs fois et j'aime bien votre Carnaval. J'espère y aller encore une fois dans le futur. Je suis d'accord que la vie est belle.
DeleteMay I ask a weird question? I know you are so fluent--but is it as easy for you to type in French as it is to type in English?
DeleteIt is much easier for me to type in French.
DeleteI read a lot in English but I must say that I occasionally use a translation app when I’m not sure how to express a feeling or an opinion.
Congratulations on your new book, Carol!
ReplyDeleteFall is a favourite season of mine, too -- the crispness in the air, the softness of the sun's rays, the colours of the leaves. Though, like Danielle says, it's more fun to see them on the trees than rake them on the ground... And like you, Carol, I approach fall as a new year/new start with the associated "need" for new notebooks and sharp new pencils!
It's so nice to find a kindred spirit, Amanda. What is it about new notebooks and pencils! I just love them. I like the way you've described the softness of the sun. It's true. And thanks so much for your congratulations. I appreciate it.
DeleteGood morning. I like the first part of autumn with colors and crisp temperatures. Later not so much. However I’ve discovered the joy of kayaking with my daughter and niece. Yesterday we went out in the rain. So I’m not ready for cold weather. Although I do like wearing sweaters.
ReplyDeleteGood morning, Ann. I love the rain, too. I've heard that in Scotland, they call a rainy day a "soft day." I like the sound of that. It conjures up peace and quiet, and the gentle sound of rain touching on trees. Lovely. Kayaking with loved ones is a beautiful way to enjoy a season.
DeleteCongratulations on your new release!
ReplyDeleteSo far, Cincinnati gets an unequivocal C minus for fall: temps in the low eighties with humidity to match, the leaves green and still on the trees, the a/c still blasting. We can get apple orchard cider and local apples. Hoping for a season change soon.
Thank you, Margaret. Oh, I feel your disappointment. The leaves here in Central New York have only started to change in the past couple of days. Hopefully your temps will drop and those cool nights will help give you some pretty scenery. Fingers crossed. In the meantime, enjoy the cider. Sounds yummy.
DeleteGood morning!! And thank you so very much to Hank for inviting me to spend this beautiful day with you. I'm thrilled to be here. I wish you cool days and sunny skies punctuated with jazzy red and gold leaves floating in the air, and cozy evenings with hot cider and good book to get lost in. Happy Fall to All. xo
ReplyDeleteRemembering walking to school and having acorns drop on my head. Ouch! And sometimes having to dodge little worms hanging by threads from the branches. But actual fun was dragging my feet through piles of leaves. California. We never got the bright colors we have in New England but we did need to rake.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on Death Rang the Bell,Carol - I love time travel.
Thanks, Hallie. Yes, acorns falling on our heads. So funny! I had forgotten about that. I like dragging my feet through those crunchy-sounding leaves, too. Enjoy your New England autumn.
DeleteShalom Reds and readers. I have mellowed over the years and so, I have found reasons to enjoy all the seasons. But certainly, when I was younger, Fall was my favorite season. The fresh start of the academic year was always welcome. Also on the Jewish calendar, even though it occurs in the seventh month, Rosh Hashanah is the “Head of the Year”, and the greeting is “Good Year”. I grew up in the city with not so many trees, but now living in a more rural setting, I enjoy the colors of Autumn. I drink coffee year-round but cupping a hot mug in the palms of your hands on a chilly morning is a special treat. And while it is not until December, my birthday is technically still in the Fall. However, I must admit, it is all bittersweet, as now I approach the winter of my life and “the days grow short.”
ReplyDeleteA belated "Good Year" to you, David. I moved to the countryside several years ago as well. I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life surrounded by trees and birds. I know what you mean about the feeling of a cup of coffee on a chilly day. It's so good that we stop to enjoy these simple pleasures. Enjoy!
DeleteSuch fun memories, Carol! Fall is my season, too. I was born in the fall, and of course it's the most beautiful season because of the colors and the blue, blue skies. The fireplace starts beckoning to me this time of year, and I actually welcome cooler temps to enjoy a fire in the evenings, always accompanied by a book. Time, too, to dig out the wool sweaters, and the scarves.
ReplyDeleteMy mother put me straight into first grade because she worked, so I was five for the first month of school, and a total fish out of water. But I do remember nursery school a year before, with juice and naps on the floor. I was always made to take naps (polio scare), but also always hated them. In fact, that may very well be why I have insomnia, sheer stubbornness!
Oh dear, Karen. I'm sorry about the insomnia. But, yes, it looks like there were a lot of us who endured naptime when what we really wanted was to keep on reading, exploring, and doing!! Hopefully the cool nights will help you get a restful sleep. And thanks for the sweaters and scarves reminder. Another joy to look forward to!
DeleteLOVE reading all these! I keep thinking about kindergarten. Did I go? I wonder if I can dig that up.
ReplyDeleteThings we DON'T love: those loud leafblowers! Though sometimes the people using them look like they're having fun...
I think I've found my tribe here, Hank. So many people who feel the same as I do about fall...and so many who shared my feelings about naptime!! I hope you can dig out some kindergarten memories. Maybe you'll come across a photo that will spark a memory. Fingers crossed.
DeleteHmmm...it's a treasure hunt! Maybe I didn't go?
DeleteLeafblowers needn’t be loud, if they are battery powered like ours. It’s the damned gas ones. There was a proposal here to ban gas ones, but landscapers said it would be too expensive to buy new equipment and lobbied heavily against. It didn’t pass.
DeleteOh, the gas ones. I didn't know that..okay, makes sense!
DeleteSounds like my kind of book, Carol, so I'll be looking forward to it. I remember Kindergareten but not the first day. You talking about toothpaste reminded me of one time I was allowed to finger-paint with the green toothpaste we had. Apparently finger-paint came in a tube so I thought it was pretty much the same thing. What I remember most was my mother warning me I had to be finished before my father got home. That whole episode is so odd. It was unlike my mother to allow such a thing and to warn me about my father was even odder; I'm pretty sure he wouldn't have cared at all, if he even noticed!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Judi. I hope you enjoy it. It's wonderful and amazing how some of these conversations are sparking memories. I love your toothpaste one. It makes total sense to me that you would equate finger paints and toothpaste. They both come in a tube and are colorful. How sweet that your mother indulged you in your painting adventure.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, Carol, and also on that fabulous cover. You are favored by the Cover Gods.
ReplyDeleteWalking the dogs this morning, I realized with great pleasure we are well and truly in fall now; the gray sky, the brilliant colors, and the rustling as three dogs trot through fallen leaves. Also, I can wear my coat with all the pockets, making carrying the necessities much easier!
Now off to another sign of fall - the streamcast of the Met Opera with Celia and Victor! First time since 2019...
Thanks, Julia. Yes, I'm with you on coats and jackets with pockets!! Enjoy the opera.
ReplyDeleteCarol, I plan to get started on reading your series. It sounds like fun!
ReplyDeleteI am in the minority, as I hate autumn. My favorite season has always been summer. As soon as I need to put on a sweater to stay warm I start to feel a little bit depressed about how much colder it’s going to get after that. Brr!! I will admit that autumn is beautiful, but it’s also very confining for somebody like me who would much rather be outside. In short sleeves! I drink hot coffee and hot tea all year round and I make soup all year round, so I don’t need the weather to change in order for me to do those things.
What I remember most about kindergarten is those nice thick crayons! (I also remember bringing mumps and measles home to my younger siblings!) Oddly, in my school the kindergarten classes never had naptime. I don’t know why that is. I was one of those kids that never napped, according to my mom, so apparently I didn’t miss naptime in school!
DebRo
Thanks, Deb. I hope you enjoy the books. What part of the country do you live in? Do you get a long hot summer? I liked summer well enough when I was younger but have less tolerance for the heat now. I've never heard of a kindergarten without naptime. You must be one in a million!
DeleteHi Carol,
DeleteI’m in southern Connecticut, right by Long Island Sound. I usually vacation in Virginia in August, where it’s a lot hotter than it is here in Connecticut. Sadly, Covid has kept me close to hone for the last couple of summers. I really, really enjoy hot weather!
DebRo
And I'd love to hear more about writing time travel! It seems so complicated--do you have a special way of keeping track of the rules?
ReplyDeleteGreat question, Hank. I actually approach the books as if I were writing two separate stories - with two settings (one historical), two plot lines, and two casts of characters. The two stories are linked by the time travel. From the very beginning, I had a sense of what seemed logical and realistically possible if time travel were to exist. I ground everything in reality to make the time travel more believable. Steven's and Olivia's ability to enter each other's time has become an everyday part of their lives. I think that accepting it like that makes it easier for the reader to accept it, too.
DeleteWhen I was a child Halloween was exciting as much for the candy as anything. In Southern California there weren’t any Fall leaf color changes, and no big leaf fall, so no burning. Here in Oregon, there is color - our Maples are gold and red now - but leaf burning is illegal. We compost some and the rest go in the yard debris bin to be hauled away. So our Fall activities are pruning, bulb planting (the squirrels keep earring the Daffodil bulbs) and next month adding soil amendments. Our sweaters aren’t out yet, not cold enough in the 60s, but soon.
ReplyDeleteThe supply-chain problem has us trying to get holiday shopping started early, but we’re already seeing delays on things. But I have Hank’s new one, so I’m all set. :-)
Yes, Halloween is definitely exciting for kids, Rick. There are areas near me where leaf burning is illegal as well. I live out in the country and we're expected to use, recycle, and burn as much as we can to send it all back into the earth. I'm psyched to read Hank's latest book as well as Rhys Bowen's new Georgie. Lots of good stuff to curl up with!
DeleteOh, YAY, thank you Rick! xxx
DeleteI'm in the same era as you, Carol, in regards to kindergarten. I hated naptime. We had towels or something to put between us and the hard floor. Being a November baby I didn't start school until midterm.
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite fall things to do was driving and admiring the colors of the leaves in Northeast Ohio. I worked at a small office. When our birthdays rolled around we'd each pick a place for lunch, the boss would drive there and treat us to lunch. We had fun and since my birthday coincided with the beautiful leaves we always took the long way back to admire them.
Lucky you, Pat. Such a nice boss! I taught for 30+ years, so leaving school for lunch wasn't an option anyway. Happy Upcoming Birthday. I hope you can enjoy a lunch out at a favorite restaurant and a ride to see the changing foliage.
DeleteCarol, I think we were twins in kindergarten!! Love your photos, love the book!
ReplyDeleteOh, thank you so much, Debs. I can't think of anyone I'd rather be twins with. xoxo
DeleteCarol, welcome to Jungle Reds! Your name sounded familiar and I think I had seen your books somewhere. After reading your post and your description of your novel, now I want to read your cozy mystery.
ReplyDeleteTime Travel is so fascinating. I loved DISCOVERY OF WITCHES, which has the time travel element to the story.
Trying to remember my first Halloween. It is all a blur. I remember dressing up like Minnie Mouse for Halloween one year at University. I remember trick and treating as a young child. Trying to remember - I think my babysitter created a beautiful princess costume for me and I loved it. The princess costume included a cone for the head. I loved the paintings of medieval princesses in a coffee table book that my family had when I was a young child.
Yes to sweater weather. I love cozy sweaters. And apples can be made into apple pies. I remember having apple butter and apple syrup when we visited Harper's Ferry in West Virginia one summer a long time ago.
Love love love your photos!
Happy Saturday,
Diana
Thank you so much, Diana. I'm glad you enjoyed my pictures and I hope you enjoy reading my books as well. It sounds like that princess costume really made an impression on you. Isn't it amazing what our memory chooses to preserve? I can see you turning the pages of that coffee table book on the Middle Ages in awe and wonder. My absolute favorite thing in the entire world was my Mom's apple pie. I'm grateful that one of my nieces knows how to make it. It helps keep those memories alive for me. Happy Fall.
DeleteI love this post! I want to wrap it around me like a hand knit throw and watch the leaves fall from the trees like autumn confetti! Thanks for visiting us today, Carol. I'm going to hunt down your series and read them all! Congrats on your latest release.
ReplyDeleteOh, Jenn, that's so sweet of you to say. Thank you! I really loved writing and getting lost in the memories of this post. I hope you enjoy my books. Thanks for the good wishes. xo
DeleteCarol, I can't believe I haven't started reading your Blackwell and Watson Time-Travel Mysteries yet. Time travel is high on my list of favorite kinds of books. Of course, combine time travel and mystery, and perfection is achieved. Do you think it would be okay to start with this third one, since it's Halloween oriented. And, I'm adding it to my list of books for Halloween reads I will post on my blog later today.
ReplyDeleteFall is my favorite time of year, and I can't imagine living somewhere that doesn't have a beautiful color change in leaves every year. There are moments in one's life that stick, moments that aren't even eventful, but one such moment for me is riding along in my sister's car with her, as I was not old enough to drive then, and thinking how much I loved fall in my little hometown. I even remember the exact spot we were at when I thought this. It also coincided with school and the excitement of a new year and fall clothes. A pure moment of joy.
Hank, I do remember some things about kindergarten, probably because my mother was the teacher, and it was held in our basement. I especially remember that one day I was sick, and my mother set me up on the couch in the living room with the TV. Not too bad. So, the next day, I decided maybe I was sick, too. However, I was the fourth kid for my mother, so it wasn't her first rodeo. She told me I could go back to bed, and spend the day being quiet and sleeping. I suddenly felt like going to kindergarten that day. I also have a picture of my mother's kindergarten class at the library, with all the children, save one, looking down at books with my mother and the librarian. I was the only one who was looking at the camera. I wonder what that says. Hmmm.
That is the CUTEST story! xx
DeleteKathy, thank you so much. Yes, you can start with Death Rang the Bell but it might take away a little of the enjoyment from the first two. A lot of relationships are built over the time that all three take place. I'd recommend reading in order for maximum fun.
ReplyDeleteI love that your Mom was your kindergarten teacher and that the class was in your cellar!!