Sea Change (The Nina Bannister Mysteries Book 1) Read Online Free Page B

admit to not having read his work myself.”
    Cleave Her in Indigo ; Disembowelment at Dawn ; Genitalia for the Generals …
    … how surprising , Nina found herself thinking, that these works were not on the shelves of Allana Delafosse’s personal reading room.
    “Well.   I know that Tom has been quite successful.   He’s sold a lot of books in the last years.”
    “I see.”
    “I know the group has been after him for some time to come and talk with them.”
    “Yes.”
    “I did speak to him myself, and, I guess, kind of persuaded him to come. Edie Towler—she’s head of the group—had asked him several times.   He may have been a bit curt with her.   But I talked with Tom, and I think I can assure everybody involved, that he’ll be a really useful guest lecturer.   Now, as for what he’s going to say…well, I really don’t know.”
    “I had heard that he was your student.”
    “Years ago.”
    “I see.”
    “We didn’t have the closest relationship.”
    “And yet I am informed that he dedicated one of his books to you.”
    “Yes.”
    “Which book?”
    “I think it was…no…no, I guess it was Whore Witch—Which Whore? ”
    One second two seconds––
    “Can I get us some more tea?” asked Margot.
    Allana turned her head, frowned a smile, and said icily:
    “I really must be going.”
    Then, to Nina:
    “Dearest Nina.   Several parents have contacted me.   Their children trust me.   They trust me.   And the young people themselves are very excited about this event.   Mr. Broussard, the Best Selling Author, is a celebrity to them. They want very much to hear what he has to say.”
    “Of course.”
    “If I can have your assurance that what he says will be, well, edifying…then, I shall be happy to attend tonight myself, and bring with me several of our young writers.”
    “Allana, I haven’t talked to Tom for some time.   But I’m sure he’ll be fine.   He wouldn’t say anything inappropriate.   Especially with young people there.”
    The smile returned.
    “Wunnnnnnndaful! Then I’m sure it will be a delicious evening!   Oh!   We are all so looking forward to it. Adieu, then!”
    And after little more ceremony than attends the departure of any member of the Royal Family, Allana Delafosse rose, dusted from her the remnants of common folk, and was gone.
    There was silence for a time, just enough for regality to dissolve into the air, and coffee to be replenished.
    Somehow tea no longer seemed appropriate.
    Finally Margot spoke:
    “Nina, I think I can finally bond with you. There was always some—well––some distance between us before.   But now I realize what it was.   And now it’s gone.”
    “What are you talking about, Margot?”
    “During the entire year I’ve known you, I wasn’t sure you were a human being.”
    “Why not?”
    “Because I never saw you do anything truly stupid.   Now, I feel much better.”
    Nina sighed.
    “Right.   Well, we’ll see what happens.   You don’t want to come tonight, do you?”
    “Are you insane?”
    “Ok, so no.   Well,   do you want to talk about the Robinson mansion and why it’s haunted?”
    “No.   I want to close the shop, walk on the beach for a few hours, and then take a long grand nap.   I have a big day ahead tomorrow”
    “Doing what?”
    “Listening to the descriptions of the disaster that’s going to happen tonight, at the Writers’ Group.   Now come on.   Let’s tidy up.”
    And they did.

CHAPTER TWO:   WRITERS ON WRITING

    “When audiences come to see us authors lecture, it is largely in the hope that we’ll be funnier to look at than to read.”

    Sinclair Lewis

    “There are three rules about writing a novel.   Unfortunately, no one knows what they are.”

    Somerset Maugham

    The Bay St. Lucy Public Library was located in a despicable little building on the corner of Calvin Coolidge St. and Archie Manning Drive.   It resembled the elementary school (located only two blocks away), but