National Daughters Day

National Daughters Day was yesterday, and I have been blessed with two daughters: my youngest child, Cynthia, and my daughter-in-law, Monica. I love and am proud of all my children equally. The oldest of my two children, DJ, is a comic book creator and podcaster in LA. He sure knew what he was doing when he married Monica, a nurse. What a gem.

For this blog post, I wanted to share some things you may not know about Cynthia (we call her Cindy, but she prefers Cynthia) because of her contributions to my writing and the imaginary worlds and characters that followed.

Cindy became a published author before me, publishing Revenge Child after completing NANOWRIMO in 2012.

My first recollection of a true collaboration with Cindy took place several years ago at a Beef O’Brady’s here in St. Pete. We were on a daddy-daughter date. I believe this was shortly before she went away to college. Over burgers and wings, I told her I had this idea for a book about St. Nicholas in his thirties. We talked about what could have happened to a young St. Nicholas to form him into the religious icon who may have inspired the myth we know today as Santa Claus. The next thing I knew, I had several napkins full of ideas and plot points for the novel. For the next two years, every time she would come home for a visit, we would spend time together reviewing scenes and sharing ideas until May There Always Be Enough, A Saint Nicholas Story, was published in 2019.

When it came time to start writing on Marley’s Curse, I had a scene in mind that I wanted to get out onto paper before I lost it. I used Cindy’s name, Cynthia, as a temporary moniker for the strong-willed love interest of Jacob Marley. In a funny twist of fate, I learned that once I write a character for any length of time using a name, it sticks. So, Charlotte Flowers’s daughter’s first name remains Cynthia to this day. Collaboration with my Cynthia continued throughout the writing of Marley’s Curse, especially when I wrote myself into plot holes or couldn’t decide how a character should act in a given situation.

So now that it’s time to write The Toyshop’s Secret, another Dickens Station Treasure Hunt Mystery, who did I call? Cindy, of course.

Cindy’s vivid imagination, attention to detail, and ability to tell a story have left their influence throughout my two novels, four short stories, three mini-mysteries, and the world of Dickens Station.

Thank you, Cindy, for the creative inspiration you have added to my writing and my life.