Madame Death

Read this first

Book III 1866

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April 24. 2024
Can you believe it? I am finally in Book III, which should go much faster. The research is all done, the last part is all written and done, I just have to cut, cut and cut some more.

This is year nine (?) and I can honestly say, I am still living, eating, breathing, sleeping this book. I knew when I decided to take this on, it had to be all or nothing.

Book III, I kill off all my darlings.

My musical tastes has always been Punk Bluegrass, Junky Country, Mountain Gothic, it is the music I was raised on. When I moved to Nashville a lifetime ago, I developed a huge appreciation for Bluegrass, especially after getting propositioned by dirty old man Bill Monroe right before he took the stage at the Bell Cove Club in Hendersonville, Tennessee. He said he wanted to brush my hair.

If I’d had a hairbrush on me, I would have let him. 😂

Music: Hell on Earth by Oliver...

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1865

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March 26, 2024

There is something so satisfying watching Scrivener folders ticking down to the last folder for Book II and the excitement of making a folder for Book III.

I am currently in 1865, and will head into Book III this week, which starts in 1866 and ends during the birth of the modern Edwardian era. It is where everyone and everything dies. I love the ending so much.

The moment my editor receives my third draft, I start on the second book, mostly photographs of the items that are mentioned in the first book. The first book will have photographs, but the second will go much deeper, it will be a feast for the eyes, all of it items never before seen and all of it from my private collection. It will be a nice change to switch from writing to photography.

When the book is finally published, I plan to do a small send-out and then put the book up for sale on my website and...

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The Sacred and the Profane

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Five Columbia River rocks engraved with the words:
Shirley Jackson Social Club MEMBER: 1948.
They feel good in the hand and have a nice heft.
I keep them near my writing desk for inspiration.

The Book
Medieval streets of Paris, the smell of Sakkârah, the sound of the River Seine, Solifuegae, Pennsylvania Avenue, New Orleans, the Five Points, the Tombs, the Bowery, Tattoos, Phrenology, Sailor’s Charms, Chatham Square, Georgetown, Julia Ward Howe, Egyptian Temples, Witness Trees, Manhattan, Blood …

I finally did a word count. Oh lord. Anyway.

There are three Acts in the book, I call them Books.
Book I: World Building, getting to know everyone.
Book II: The Civil War
Book III: World Dismantling, everyone dies.

Everything is good, actually better than I thought it would be. But I am still cutting, rewriting and double-checking my information. I did much of my research years ago...

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