MacCorp News May 2023

May 20, 2023 | 3 comments

What’s Next: The Moonstone Brooch

I’m a third of the way through book 13. Getting into this story has been a slog, but I think I’m finally on a roll. The Moonstone is similar to earlier stories packed full of history. Like The Amber, the historical events in this story are probably unfamiliar to you unless you grew up around Buffalo, New York.

The Moonstone is the first story with a male protagonist whisked back in time. The series heroines hit the ground running, but I must admit Clay MacIntyre has an easier time of it, at least so far. Maybe that’s because he’s an investigative reporter and has been in tough spots where he has had to make up stories about who he was and what he was doing to hide his real purpose–to get a story. And, while he’s traveled back over a hundred years, he’s still in familiar territory–Buffalo–and a familiar situation–the Pan American Exposition.

But, have no fear. Clay’s trials and tribulations will come…

Character Interview: Emily Duffy

Four questions you’d like Emily to answer. So here goes:

Q: What do you miss most about the past?

A: That one is easy–my family.

Q: Would you like to go back in time and live again?

A: I’d like to go back for a long visit, but my home is now in the future.

Q: If you could have received treatment and stayed in the past, would you?

A: That was my preference at the time, but I love when and where I’m living now.

Q: What’s your favorite food in the 21st century?

A: Whatever Charlotte’s cook is making, as long as it includes biscuits. I love Sunday brunches in the spring and summer when all the kids gather around the table and share their latest adventures.

Bonus Character Profile: Meredith (Montgomery) Fraser

First Introduction: The Last MacKlenna.

Birth Family: Meredith is a direct descendant of Kit and Cullen (she inherited the winery from them). She is married to Elliott Fraser and is the matriarch of the MacKlenna Clan.

Description: She has thick black/brown hair (now with some streaks of silver) worn just below her collarbone and deep blue eyes with specks of gold that are a family trait. She is slim with toned legs and arms, full lips, and dimples. She is also a breast cancer survivor.

Current occupation: Retired President of Montogmery Winery in Napa, California.

Hobbies: Meredith studied art in Paris during her junior year of college. She is a runner and does thirty minutes of yoga daily. And anything else Trainer Ted demands of her.

Other: Saw Cullen’s ghost on a visit to MacKlenna Farm.

Last appearance: The Bloodstone Brooch.

Next Month’s Character Profile is Erik Fraser

Is there anything you’d specifically like to know? Post your questions here.

Unedited Work-in-Progress Snippet from Chapter 13:

JC’s spidey senses were immediately alerted, but he didn’t move into a defensive position. Erik would never hurt him. “What’s going on?”

“I want to talk to you and Paul, and I do not want to be interrupted.”

“Sounds serious.” To JC, the gravelly tone of Erik’s voice had a calming effect. JC even heard him in his sleep reading The Canterbury Tales, The Book of the Duchess, The Legend of Good Women, and even Chaucer’s epic poem Troilus and Criseyde.

Erik sat across from them, rested his forearms on the table, and clasped his hands. He was a large man with a handspan of over eleven inches. In comparison, Lebron James and Tom Brady’s handspans were nine-plus inches. But as big as Erik’s hands were, they were also amazingly tender. Erik had bathed JC’s fevered brow while calming his delirium, speaking in an ancient language that JC had never heard before but somehow knew the meaning of every word. Erik was a man of mystery, yet to JC, he was much more—a healer, a legend, a protector.

“I was waiting to talk to Young Paul alone, but Elliott suggested I include you in the conversation, James Cullen.”

“Okay,” JC said, unable to disguise the tension in his voice. “Now I know this is serious.” To Paul, he asked, “Are you okay with this?” Paul had put up with buckets of crap from JC’s family while they lived at the monastery, and they needed to give Paul a break.

Paul shrugged. “Just like always, this is about you, JC, not me.”

“This time, it is about you, Young Paul.”

The hairs on the back of JC’s neck stood on end. What could Erik possibly want from Paul?

Paul leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms, a defensive move JC had seen him use when talking to Elliott. “That’s fine, as long as you explain why you call me Young Paul?”

“Because I have known you all your life. You were Young Paul from the moment Todd and Evelyn named you…”

Please do not copy and paste this copyrighted excerpt and post it elsewhere or use it without my express permission. The information in this newsletter appears on my blog and you can share the link to that webpage instead. Thank you.

Family News

Meredith and Charlotte are competing for the Mother of Bride role! Meredith wants to host Austin and Ensley’s wedding at the winery, and Charlotte wants to host the wedding at the plantation. But I think the couple will decide on Denver. Where do you think they should get married? For a chance to win a Celtic Brooch goodie from my stash, submit your answer HERE!

Kitherina McCabe is wrapping up her undergraduate degree at UVA (after her early admittance) and will enroll at John Hopkins University Medical School to pursue her medical degree. Congratulations, Kitherina, you make us proud!

Survey Says…

I have contacted our April winner: Connie Otto – congratulations!

There were a lot of fun guesses from 46 to 15,630. The current count is around 550 entered on the tree. As we meet new family members or learn more about existing families, the count will continue to rise. Here’s a peek at the “oldest” entries.

Giveaway

If you missed it in the Family News section, for a chance to win a Celtic Brooch goodie from my stash, where should Austin and Ensley have their wedding?

Submit your answer HERE!