FAMILY #CAMPING WITH AUTHOR MAGGIE TOUSSAINT

Southern author Maggie Toussaint writes mystery, suspense, and dystopian fiction. Her work won the Silver Falchion Award for best mystery, the Readers’ Choice Award, and the EPIC Award. Learn more about Maggie and her books at her website. 

Single Working Mom Blues

By Baxley Powell, amateur sleuth

Dear Diary,

I was so looking forward to this vacation getaway. I didn’t know I needed a vacation until my ten-year-old daughter Larissa suggested it. We couldn’t afford anything fancy, but everything lined up just right for a trip that fit our budget.

First, we asked my parents if they knew anyone who would let us borrow a camper, and my parents said they knew two families who would loan us campers – they wanted to come, too. My best friend in the whole wide world, Charlotte Ambrose, decided she wanted to come along once she heard about the trip. Better yet, Charlotte had a cousin with property in the north Georgia mountains that we could camp on.

With only a week of summer left before school started up again for fall term, we hit the road and motored to North Georgia. It was beautiful and breathtaking and awesome. In just one day at the campsite, I felt revitalized. Our day started out with fishing, but before you could say, “I love vacation” three times in a row, a murder occurred and I was tagged to investigate.

Each morning on vacation I had to say goodbye to my family and my daughter and go to work. The evidence trail went cold so I really dug in and things started happening on the case solving.

But the absolute best thing of all was my daughter. She didn’t resent my absence at all. When I tearfully hugged her and apologized on missing out on all the vacation fun, she told me I was right where I needed to be, doing what I needed to do.

How did I get so lucky to have a great kid like Larissa?

My parents are awesome, too. They take everything in stride, but they’ve been at the Dreamwalker stuff much longer than I have. There’s someone else I met on vacation. A guy. He knows what I do, and he gets it. Seriously, how many men on the planet would want someone they’re interest in talking to spirits and other paranormal entities? I get kind of dreamy thinking about him, but that’s a tale for another day.

Dadgummit, a Dreamwalker Mystery

Amateur sleuth Baxley Powell is on vacation at Stony Creek Lake in north Georgia. A young man’s body is found beside the lake, and there’s no apparent cause of death. The local police urge Baxley, an expert at closing unusual cases, to help and she agrees.

Her psychic sleuthing leads the police to a halfway house where someone is draining victims of their life force. Jonas, the only person standing in the house, escapes, taking the sheriff as a hostage. Deputy Sam Mayes, a Native American, leads the manhunt.

Baxley’s paranormal talent of dreamwalking, which she uses to traverse the veil of life, draws the unwanted attention of beings believed to be Cherokee folklore. They prevail upon her to get it back from Jonas.

With the body count rising, Baxley and Mayes are up against an entity who appears to be invincible. Can they subdue an energy vampire, turn the tide of evil, and save the day?

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TRAVEL WITH SERENA - CAMPING TIPS

My idea of a vacation is not having more work than I have when I’m home, but I know many people love camping. If you’re one of them, travel editor Serena Brower has some tips for making your next camping trip as enjoyable as possible. -- AP

1. Know what poison ivy, poison sumac, and poison oak look like. Too many people don’t and wind up spending their camping trip scratching. Bring pictures with you or download pictures to your smart phone. Know which plants grow in the area where you’ll be camping.

2. If you’re out hiking, drink plenty of water, even if you’re not thirsty. You need to continually replace the fluids from perspiration to avoid dehydration.

3. Don’t pack the world into your backpack. If it weighs more than 25% of your weight, it will wear you out.

4. In wooded areas, make sure your extremities and head are covered. That means wearing long sleeves, long pants, socks, and a hat to protect against ticks, mosquitoes, and those poisonous plants.

5. Leave the scented soaps, shampoos, and lotions at home. They attract all sorts of unwanted guests like bugs and bears.

6. Going to bear country? Store all food and even toothpaste in bear-resistant containers in shaded areas.

7. Don’t drink the water! That stream or lake might look pure as the driven snow, but you don’t know what microscopic microbes are swimming around in it. The last thing you want are intestinal problems when you’re miles from indoor plumbing. Bring your own water.

8. Pitch your tent away from trees. That tree might look perfectly healthy, but could be rotten out inside. One strong wind could topple it, and you don’t want it toppling on you or your family while you sleep.

And people wonder why I don’t like camping? Just saying… Readers, post a comment for a chance to win a book from our Book Club Friday guest author. -- AP

TRAVEL WITH SERENA-- FAMILY VACATIONS THAT DON’T BREAK THE BANK

Travel editor Serena Brower has a great suggestion today for a relatively inexpensive vacation that doesn’t involve camping. -- AP

A cheap vacation with the kids usually means camping, but what if like Anastasia, you’re camping-averse? I know for a fact that Anastasia absolutely hates camping. Tents and out-houses and no hot running water are just not her thing. I can’t blame her. I’m the same way. Let’s face it, some people just don’t like camping and would rather stay home than rough it. Tell that to the kids, though. They want a summer vacation, but family finances won’t stretch as far as a trip to Disneyworld or a family cruise.

Here’s a little secret: Many state and national parks offer cabins and lodge facilities. These facilities can range from very rustic to downright luxurious. Of course, the more amenities, the more expensive the fees, but you’ll still be paying a lot less than staying at a hotel, and you’ll have more creature comforts than staying in a tent.

Check out the parks in your state or states within a day’s drive of home. All the state and national parks have websites that give information on accommodations, costs, and the reservation process.

Here’s another tip: If you’ve never gone camping but think you’d like to, before spending a fortune on camping equipment that you might never use again, borrow or rent equipment for your first camping experience. You may be one of the many tens of thousands who love roughing it, or you may find you’re like Anastasia and me. Better to find out before you spend megabucks.

Great tip, Serena. And you know me so well! My idea of a vacation is not having more work than I have when I’m home. How about the rest of you? Do you like roughing it, or do you like your creature comforts? Let's hear from you. Everyone who comments this week is entered in the drawing for a book from our Book Club Friday guest author. -- AP