"New" mystery novelist, Beth Groundwater lives where I’d like to: Colorado Springs. What a breath-taking place! (Not just because of the high altitude.) That area of Colorado looks like God’s creative laboratory – filled with massive swaths of experimental mountains – some are sky-high murderous slices of stone split apart; others are gigantic boulders strewn about the land; and still others look like dribble castles where titans hide. One location after another, each appearing totally alien to the next. Travel a few miles and you’re in the Garden of the Gods. Then head for Manitou Springs. Estes Park, anyone? What a setting for a mystery!
Beth’s Colorado based mystery, A REAL BASKET CASE, won broad attention as an Agatha Award Finalist for Best First Novel. In this up-and-coming series, the amateur sleuth makes baskets and fills them with native-based elements: turkey feathers, wildflower honey, blue cornbread and a teasingly dangerous “Scorned Woman” salsa/hot sauce mouth-burner. Can you taste the setting? Need a glug of beer or some of Colorado’s carrot-apple juice with protein powder to restore your lost electrolytes? Beth’s got them all close at hand.
The sleuth’s home is nestled among scrub oak and ponderosa pine. Beth uses that setting to capture examine her protagonist’s mood. “A squirrel scampered along the rail of the redwood deck. The creature seemed to know what direction to take – unlike herself.”
After the sleuth witnesses a climber falling to his death in the Garden of the Gods, the vision haunts her like a foreshadowing of her fate. Cruel and absurdly cool.
I plan to revisit Colorado Springs often, with Beth’s help. Care to join me?
(Thanks to Travis Erwin for inventing this opportunity to wallow in settings. To read more, link to Travis’s blog: http://www.traviserwin.blogspot.com/.)
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17 comments:
I have never been there, butyou mention lots of things that make me thing of he Rockies!!I may well search out that book and take a look. Its funny how we are all envious of places that others have, I would love to spend a holiday there!! Mind you I think you get an over romantic view of some of these places and once you have to actually live and work there the shine soon wears off!
PS Why does blogger need to get you to try and work out a 12 letter 'thingy' for the word verification? either my eyes are far worse than I thought or they are getting impossible to read!!
forgot to add, I love Red Red Wine and while a lot of people find the music thing annoying, I love it and often have it playing in the background, and it mainly to amuse me so I am happy!!! Perhaps we are ladies of a certain 'era'?
Glorious place, but that bridge is terrifying.
Beautiful pics and descriptions of your own, Nan.
Lyzzydee- Blogger changes its style frequently in word verification as spammers find new ways to get around the check. If it's awful now, it'll change soon enough. We use the word verification (reappy human verification) at this blog to avoid getting the comments filled by spambot programs with links to potentially malicious software and penis creams.
This was an enchanting look at the Rockies! Thanks, Nan.
But I have to agree with Leah - that photo of the bridge made my bum hug my chair... oops, was that TMI?
Nan,
Breath taking! I am going to have to get a hold of Beth's book for a bigger fix of the setting.
Lyzzy,
I was the Red Red Wine visitor! (There are a whole bunch of us here at Women of Mystery) I love your taste in music and am glad you have it on the site, so "too bad" to the cranky ones who are annoyed by it.
Also, re: the verification, I have lots of trouble with it on other sites, but it is necessary. A friend recently told me that they had thousands of spam hits on their site before they (reluctantly) put up a filter.
Terrie
Great description and beautiful photos, Nan. I just wanted to add that Beth herself is as friendly, smart, and helpful (and tall!) as the Rockies are gorgeous.
Hi Nan,
Thanks for your kinds words about A REAL BASKET CASE, and your descriptions of the area are stunning. Are you sure you haven't visited here before? :)
One small correction I have to your writeup is that the climber in the Garden of the Gods didn't fall to his death (though we usually get 1-2 reckless folks who do each summer). He just ALMOST died. He was using proper equipment and was roped to two friends, who rescued him, so this scene was a little lesson in safe climbing, too.
The REAL mystery in A REAL BASKET CASE kicks off when basket-designer Claire Hanover's massage therapist is shot dead while giving her a massage and literally falls in her lap. How's that for making a death personal?
I loved spending time with you, Nan, a fellow Agatha Award nominee, at the Malice Domestic conference.
This is a state I've never set foot in and want to. Thanks for reminding me.
Beth-
I think that's the only thing that would wake me during a massage : )
beautiful photos!!!!! I do not think I would be able to cross that bridge, though. And now I have another book for my TBR list--thanks!
I'm looking forward to Beth's second book, hoping to read more about the setting. (hint, hint!) I pictured the locations and imagined being there - it's a place that inspires the inner writer in me!
The whole region around Colorado Springs is amazing. My hubby and I have traveled there with our family for cousins' weddings and the like. I fell in total love with the scenery. Our son almost ended up living up in the high peaks area of Colorado, but ended up in Oshkosh again.
Sorry I read too fast and blew the fate of the climber. Wonder if Leah and the Bag Lady's reactions to the bridge would make that a crime scene candidate in one of Beth's upcoming sequels???
And, going to Colorado tourism sites will bring you lots more visions of the spectacular Rockies. I remember one Native's story where the mountain range was referred to as "The Bad Boys." They certainly are SERIOUS mountains.
Great hearing from all of you!
Great post, I love the bridge picture! And, best of all, I have another author to add to my list.
I've been to the springs many times and I hunt Elk not far from there. I also have a good friend who writes and currently lives there.
Phew! If I ever take up writing murders, it looks like that's the perfect setting!
The Bag Lady- "bum hug the chair"... what a unique visual! My imagination is too literal- I was picturing the bum spreading out to wrap around the seat going "I wuv oo!". :)
Woohoo! That is one gorgeous picture! My husband's family is from Colorado, so I've been a couple of times. It's really pretty.
Amazing picture - not sure about the bridge!
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