The Introduction

A friend told me I would need to include an introduction to this novel, "A Death of Her Own", and something about myself as author.

But, for me, it's always about the words, the writing; it's about the story, and mostly about the characters -- those you live with for as long as it takes.

After working for over fifteen years as a reporter and editor for newspapers and magazines in the Midwest and New York City, I began this book with the naive idea it would go in whatever direction I decided. But, life, as it always does, intervened and the story and characters took off on their own. I followed, as this became a work of fiction -- and nonfiction.

It began with the image of a tarp-covered body lying near a gas pump at a local Circle K at 8 in the morning. There were police, yellow tapes, and there were also people pumping gas in the next lane, buying coffee and newspapers inside, and driving past on their way to work and school. Life, as usual, for all but one.

That was the beginning.

"A Death of Her Own" is where the story decided to go.