MYSTERY AUTHOR KATHLEEN KASKA ON THE HISTORY OF THE HOTEL THAT INSPIRED HER NOVEL

Photo by Kathleen Maca

Mystery author Kathleen Kaska is the author of the multi-award-winning Sydney Lockhart Mystery Series set in the 1950s and the Kate Caraway Animal-Rights Mystery Series. She also writes mystery trivia and has published The Sherlock Holmes Quiz Book. Her Holmes short story, “The Adventure at Old Basingstoke,” appears the Sherlock Holmes of Baking Street anthology. She is also the founder of The Dogs in the Nighttime, the Sherlock Holmes Society of Anacortes, Washington, and a scion of The Baker Street Irregulars.Learn more about Kathleen and her books at her website where you’ll also find links to her on various social media sites.

The Luther Hotel Still Stands

One morning more than twenty-five years ago, I rose early, entered the breakfast room, and poured myself a huge cup of coffee. It was in October when the finicky weather on the Texas Coast could be sultry and sticky or crisp and cold. That morning, it was somewhere in between as I stepped out of the front door of the Luther Hotel and made myself comfortable in one of the big white rocking chairs on the front porch. The briny smell from the Gulf of Mexico and the eerie call of gulls tugged at my heartstrings. I loved the Texas Coast. I closed my eyes and counted my blessings. When I opened them, I saw a roseate spoonbill glide across a crystal blue sky. I remember thinking that this is what Heaven must be like.

 

That was only our second trip to the historic Luther Hotel. My husband and I were there for a weekend of birding. I remember driving into town on Texas 35 South to East Bay Boulevard that hugged the coastline along the Palacios, Texas waterfront. I had my fingers crossed as we rounded the bend, hoping to spot the flock of long-billed curlews feeding on the massive green lawn in front of the hotel I’d seen on my first visit. I was not disappointed. They were there as they always seemed to be, maneuvering those spiky, eight-inch bills while probing for invertebrates in the grass. 

 

Over the next few years, the Luther Hotel became our home on that stretch of the Texas Coast. Innkeepers Billy and Dolly Hamlin, relatives of the owner, always welcomed us with open arms. On the wall behind the front desk, the original letterbox held the room keys, and guests still used the buzzer on the wall to summon the desk clerk. A working phone booth stood next to the front desk. A gas heater warmed the lobby, and another warmed the hallway, leading to our suite on the third floor. The only signs of modern times were the current newspapers and magazines on the coffee table. 

 

The history of the Luther Hotel dates back to 1903, when it was called the Bay View Hotel. Charles Luther purchased it and renamed it the Luther in 1936. Back then the small town of Palacios saw little activity except for the building of the railroad and the construction of oil derricks outside of town. That all changed with the onset of World War II. The government selected acreage near the town to house thousands of German prisoners of war in what became Camp Hulen. With so many military personnel living at the camp, Palacios grew quickly, attracting entertainers like Artie Shaw, Guy Lombardo, Rita Hayworth, Shirley Temple, and Carol Lombard, and making the Luther a premiere location for celebrities and politicians. Eventually, the Pleasure Pavilion and Roundhouse were built over the water in front of the hotel. The establishment became the hub of social life, where folks gathered to swim, dance, and even play basketball. One of the earlier pavilions (some were destroyed by hurricanes and rebuilt) had mooring docks, a skating rink, and a restaurant. 

 

After the war, the town slowly settled back into a small farming community. In 1987, the highway was rerouted to the outskirts of town, causing several businesses to close. The Luther, however, remained, becoming home to many snowbirds visiting the coast for several weeks in the winter. By the time we discovered the hotel, it had begun to show its age, but that was okay. Staying at the Luther felt like staying at my grandmother’s house. 

 

Little did I know that a few years later, I’d be there for a book signing for my second Sydney Lockhart mystery, Murder at the Luther. The Hamlin’s had retired, and Jack Findley, Charles Luther’s son-in-law, moved to the hotel to take over its operation. Jack hosted a wine and cheese event for me after the book signing. I was amazed and humbled by the turn-out. It seemed that half the town attended. After that event, Jack and I became good friends.

 

Sadly, Jack passed away in 2022, and the old hotel sat vacant and began to deteriorate. Soon, it was destined for the wrecking ball. The story of the hotel’s possible demise and its stay of execution could easily find its way to the big screen. The save-the-farm movies of the 1990s pale in comparison to the true-life story of the locals who rallied to save the Luther Hotel.

 

I’m happy to report that the Luther was recently purchased by J.P. Bryan, an historian, and philanthropist who is a descendant of Stephen F. Austin, the Father of Texas and one of the heroes of the Alamo. Bryan plans to restore the Luther to its former glory. The remodeling has begun, and I plan to be there for the reopening.

 

Murder at the Luther is the final book in my Sydney Lockhart series to be reissued by my new publisher, Anamcara Press. All six of my books have been rebranded and will be offered as a box set during the upcoming holidays.

 

The release day for the reissued Murder at the Luther is September 29, 2024. 

 

Murder at the Luther

It’s New Year’s Eve, 1952. Texas politicians are backslapping and ringing in ‘53 at the historic Luther Hotel on the Texas Coast. Reporter Sydney Lockhart is there covering the festivities. The celebration turns sour when Sydney finds herself dancing with a dead man. With her fingerprints on the murder weapon and a police chief with his own agenda, Sydney ushers in the New Year behind bars. Soon there is another body, more damning fingerprints, and a crazy Cajun who’s been paid to feed Sydney to the alligators. Things get worse when cousin Ruth comes to town with a problem even Sydney can’t solve. 

 

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BOOK CLUB FRIDAY--AUTHOR BOBBI A. CHUKRAN

Bobbi A. Chukran writes contemporary and historical mystery novels and short stories, as well as comedy plays and some macabre short stories. Today she sits down for a round of Q&A. Learn more about Bobbi and her writing at her website and blog.

When did you realize you wanted to write novels?

When I was young, I constantly wrote stories and plays and "published" them with construction paper covers, stenciled titles and brads. The urge was there; I just didn't have any guidance.

I was working in a Walden's Bookstore in '77 when The Thorn Birds came out. I remember unpacking the books and immediately bought one. It wasn't the type of book I usually read, but I finished it and told a co-worker, "Wow, I'd LOVE to write a book like that some day."  But it was just a passing comment and not something I really thought I could do.

How long did it take you to realize your dream of publication?

I was convinced to go into art in college and studied textile design because I loved fabrics and patterns. Afterwards I worked as a surface designer making fabric projects and selling them.

I got published in non-fiction fairly soon with some craft projects in magazines. My first article was published after one query (to Needle & Thread magazine), and my first book, The Fiberworks Sourcebook, a resource guide for fiber artists, was also published in '85 after one query. I was 29 at the time, and decided to pursue writing fulltime. I continued writing other non-fiction books and magazine articles and eventually started an indie publishing company for craft and garden books.

(Bobbi: Now I'm wondering if we ever crossed paths, Lois? J

Lois: It’s highly possible. I used to design for Needle & Thread.)

A few years later, I met a woman who wrote romances for Silhouette. She said "I bet you could write one of those!" and a light bulb went off in my head. I started researching and reading every how-to book I could get my hands on, although it was years before I actually sat down to start a novel.

I started writing a time-travel/mystery/romance, then took a class from Susan Rogers Cooper, Austin mystery author, and discovered writers like Joan Hess, Dorothy Cannell, Katherine Hall Page, Carole Nelson Douglas, and Tony Hillerman. Boom! The world of mysteries opened up to me.

I decided I wanted to try a traditional mystery and taking the advice of "writing what you know," I came up with a sleuth who was a weaver and fiber artist. I went to my first Sisters in Crime conference and talked to editors.

I got lots of encouragement from several who loved my book but wanted more romance. They also weren't quite sure that a weaver sleuth would be popular enough. That seems ironic to me given the popularity of the subject now.  

After going through some horrible experiences with two publishers, I finally decided to take my self-publishing know-how and put it to use. I put the contemporary story aside and wrote an 1880s western mystery, Lone Star Death. I published it for my 50^th birthday gift—from me to me. I still don't know why I started with that one.

After a few years, I basically quit submitting my novels to others and revamped my publishing company to publish fiction instead of non-fiction. Since then, I've published a number of my short stories and novellas.

Are you traditionally published, indie published, or a hybrid author?

I've been a hybrid author in non-fiction, but my fiction books are all indie published, so far. I do still submit short stories to anthologies, online 'zines and magazines published by others. If the right situation came along, sure, I'd work with a traditional publisher on a book project.

Where do you write?

I write in a tiny room at the front of my 1930s home. It used to be the "preacher's parlor"—the nice room where company was invited.  It's painted a beautiful cool blue, it's cozy, I have a partial view of the garden and I still have the original curtains from the '50s. I have a collection of original art on the walls, a few muses (art dolls and glittered skeletons) sitting around and am surrounded by books. An original '50s chair that used to be in my house was gifted to me by a friend, and it sits in the corner with a quilt my great-grandmother made in the '30s draped across it. My computer sits on a wobbly table made from antique long-leaf pine that was salvaged from another old house. But I do carry the laptop from room to room seasonally, depending on the view of the garden at the time or whichever room is the quietest, coolest or warmest.

Is silence golden, or do you need music to write by? What kind?

I've never been able to write while listening to music because I make up new lyrics or harmonies in my head to go with the music and that distracts me.

How much of your plots and characters are drawn from real life? From your life in particular?

Plots can get inspired by real life (like my "Dewey& the Peckerwood Tree" short story), and I do love watching people and pick up quirky or interesting characteristics from them. I've never based any one character on a real person. My characters are more of a composite of real life people. My Aunt Jewel character (in Dye, Dyeing, Dead and the other Nameless short stories) is a composite of older, feisty Texan women who had a sense of humor, even though they didn't often show it.

Describe your process for naming your character?

For my historical fiction, I look up names that were popular at the time. There are lots of resources online. Back before I had the 'net, I'd look in old phone books, newspaper articles or obituaries in libraries. I "audition" names for my characters. When I hit on the right one, I know it's right, and go with it. I once named my contemporary sleuth Kendra O'Keefe. I love playing with alliteration, but didn't feel her name was quite right. Now she's Kendra Louise Harper.

Now, I "collect" names I like and have lists of them in notebooks and mix and match them up. Naming characters is important to me. And fun. I love to play with language, and names are one way to do that.

Of course, all my female characters have middle names and nicknames, because that's just the way it's done here in Texas and the South.

Real settings or fictional towns?

A little of both. My "Nameless, Texas" location is a fictional town outside of Austin, and is a composite of four small towns I've lived in.  I've visited hundreds of other small towns, too, and take photos, write down descriptions and impressions, etc. and use those. I'm a keen observer of people and always find something to use in a story.

My first novel, Lone Star Death, had some added real places and people that were in Austin at the time.

What’s the quirkiest quirk one of your characters has?

Oh, Jeremy Clifford! He's a theatrical fellow, into drama, very flamboyant and colorful, and is a bright spot in everyone's day. I'd LOVE to have a friend like Jeremy. He loves vintage fashion, dressing like TV characters, loves to burst out with a song and is just a hoot. I'm not sure where he came from, to tell the truth. He's been lurking around for a while.

What’s your quirkiest quirk?

Not sure it's a quirk, but I have a strange sense of humor that can be wicked and a very vivid imagination. I still paint now and then, and some very bizarre creatures appear on my canvases. Day-glo robots, all sorts of winged creatures and monsters cavorting with blue cats and strange little girl creatures with big off-centered eyes. I write captions for them, make up stories, etc.

Oh, and I do voices for animals, cars, etc. And sound effects. I love doing sound effects.

If you could have written any book (one that someone else has already written,) which one would it be? Why?

I don't think it was written originally as a book, but I love The Nightmare BeforeChristmas.  And I recently fell in love with The Stupidest Angel. It's a hilarious satire. I love crazy satire.

Everyone at some point wishes for a do-over.  What’s yours?

I wish I had started seriously writing fiction earlier than I did. I wish I had majored in creative writing or playwriting in college instead of studio art/graphics. I wish somebody other than my high school English teacher had told me early on, "YES, you can write fiction." It took me years to convince myself I could do it.

What’s your biggest pet peeve?

I have two. First, people who hurt animals. I have a long list of delicious punishments that should be inflicted on them.

And secondly, people who have no respect for other people's rights. People who drive down residential streets going 90 mph where children play and people walk. And bozos who drive down those streets with their car stereos blasting every hour of the day or night. I honestly don't know where their sense of entitlement comes from. I'm working on several extreme revenge stories to deal with them, though.

You’re stranded on a deserted island. What are your three must-haves?

My husband Rudy. At least one cat.  My Kindle with Wi-fi? LOL

What was the worst job you’ve ever held?

There is a tie between my first two jobs out of high school. I worked at a rubber factory for two days before I got sick from the fumes. I was the person who checked to make sure little rubber balls were round enough. The second worst was at the DFW Airport as a cleaning lady. Travelers can be nasty.  (Although, I did get a couple of stories out of it—one was about a flasher.)

What’s the best book you’ve ever read?

The Bottoms, by Joe Lansdale.  It has everything I admire in fiction. And then some.

Ocean or mountains?

Ocean. I'm a Pisces and dream about large bodies of water I've never seen, although I still can't swim. Some research I've done suggests that one of my ancestors might have been an Irish or English sea captain, so maybe that explains it. I'm a flatlander at heart.

City girl/guy or country girl/guy?

Country girl, definitely, although I love to run away to the city for very short periods of time for a culture fix--to visit bookstores, see plays/musicals, eat at a great restaurant and hear live music.

What’s on the horizon for you?

Right now I'm working on putting a collection of my stranger macabre short stories into a book that hopefully will come out by Halloween.  And I'm working on the final edits and the cover for a Christmas comedy/satire novella that started out as one of my prize-winning plays.  

Anything else you’d like to tell us about yourself and/or your books?

Somebody recently mentioned on the wonderful Dorothy-L group that they wanted to read books by authors who are "bona fide" — authors who know what they're talking about. I have finally embraced the whole "small town" thing and that's been very freeing. Yes, I lived in Austin, but that's not where I’m most comfortable. In my stories I try to capture some of the sheer bizarre nature of small town life and the funny people who live there.  As they say, some of this stuff I couldn't make up if I tried!

I have lots of stories I want to tell and they don't all fit easily into some box. I want to write mystery, AND comedy, AND horror, etc. Why not? I've followed a lot of muses over the years to get where I am now. And for the first time ever, I feel comfortable with it. I'm a storyteller at heart. That's one thing that has never changed.

Dye, Dyeing, Dead, the first contemporary cozy novella in the "Nameless, Texas" mystery series featuring Kendra Louise Harper, Folklorist.

Kendra Louise Harper is a folklorist, avid gardener and accidental sleuth in Nameless, Texas, a small agricultural town (population 2,354) located about 30-miles east of Austin.

All Kendra wanted to do that day in September was help her Aunt Jewel with a Natural Dyeing with Plants workshop for the local garden club. Before the workshop is over, a dead body lay face down in a pool of glass and indigo in Kendra's courtyard garden. The neighbor swears that he saw Aunt Jewel whack the victim over the head with a silver hammer.

No one else really believes Aunt Jewel killed Mrs. Bunch--that is, except maybe the sheriff.  But he has no proof; he's not going to waste his time trying to prove her innocent. He'd rather bide his time and wait for the murderer to slip up and come to him.

Kendra decides that if anything is going to be done to get her aunt off the hook, she'll have to do it. Along with Kendra's friends---a very colorful waiter at Do-Lolly's Diner named Jeremy, Deputy Jim Wyman (Kendra's love interest), Ginger Marshall (a local art quilter) and her friends---she sets out to prove that her aunt is innocent.

The victim, Mrs. Eula Mae Bunch, was not a popular person in Nameless. As one resident said, "That old woman is meaner than a room full of peckish wolverines."

And there are other mysteries in town. Who is the inebriated stranger that shows up to Eula-Mae's funeral? And what does an erotic romance novel have to do with all of it? Tongues are waggin' in Nameless! Things haven't been this exciting since George Leroy Johnson got the back of his britches caught in the revolving door at the old Railroad Hotel and was pitched out the middle of Main Street with his wherewithalls showing.

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CRAFTS WITH ANASTASIA--GUEST AUTHOR AND PHOTOGRAPHER BOBBI A. CHUKRAN

Bobbi A. Chukran is the author of Lone Star Death and the "Nameless, Texas" story series. The first novella in the Lone Star Death series, Dye, Dyeing, Dead also features Aunt Jewel and the folks from Nameless and is coming in August. Read more about Bobbi and her work at her website and blog.  

Original Photos on Short Story Covers

When I launched my "Nameless, Texas" short story series, I wanted to tie them together visually. Although I write full-time now, I have been a visual artist/craft designer and still practice my creativity whenever I can. My writing uses one side of my brain and the photography/cover design uses the other. It's a good balance.

I love taking still life photos, so I decided to use some for the covers. With a (cheap) digital camera, I can take hundreds of photos and it costs nothing but time.  I then use Photoshop Elements for enhancing the photos and adding the text.

As I write the stories, I think about how they can be illustrated. My "Dewey Loudermilk & the Peckerwood Tree" cover was inspired by two healthy pecan trees that my neighbors cut down.  To remember the ancient trees, I took a series of photos, including the stump and logs that were left over. These incidents stuck in my mind, and it wasn't long before I had hatched a proper revenge story.  One of the photos ended up on the cover.

My "Aunt Jewel & the Poisoned Potlikker" cover features a colorful bowl and pitcher I use daily. I was "brewing" the story in my head while a pot of succulent collard greens simmered on my stove. I wanted it to evoke the feeling of down-home, handmade goodness. It's definitely a dish that Aunt Jewel would cook up for the annual Thanksgiving celebration. I often visualize her chopping, cooking and creating her meals on the pine butcher block countertop in my vintage kitchen.

The photo I used on my "Aunt Jewel and the Purloined Pork Loin" cover was one I took years ago at our former ranch house, right before Thanksgiving.  The pumpkin, pine table and ladderback chair evoke, for me, old-fashioned holidays, and I hope it will also evoke those feelings for my readers.

I intend to keep using my photography to spawn ideas for my stories, and my stories to spawn ideas for photos. Both of them enhance the other, and it just makes the whole process a little more fun.

Aunt Jewel and the Purloined Pork Loin

The women of Nameless, Texas are under the influence of their new favorite cooking show, The Butt Nekkid Texas Chef, and the annual Giving of Thanks community gathering may never be the same again. Things spiral out of control after Kendra Louise Harper offers to pick up some meat from a local farm for her Aunt Jewel, and turn hilarious when she and her friend, Jeffrey, end up in the wrong place at the wrong time and are snatched by two cross-dressing bank robbers.

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Dewey Laudermilk and the Peckerwood Tree

When Dewey Laudermilk decides that his grandma’s old pecan tree has to come down, he won’t take no for an answer. Pretty soon, his hilarious redneck network is on hand to help with the process. Dewey's Grandma is heartbroken because she remembers when she and her husband planted that old tree, home to a family of woodpeckers (called “peckerwoods” by Mr. Laudermilk.) After a series of unfortunate accidents, and a mysterious illness, Dewey is reminded that sometimes it’s best to leave well enough alone.

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Aunt Jewel and the Poisoned Potlikker

When Kendra Louise Harper's Aunt Jewel decides to make a traditional "mess" of turnip greens to take to the annual Giving of Thanks community dinner and gathering in Nameless, Texas (population 2,354), little does she know that her special dish will become the source of widespread illness and even a death.

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