Braxton’s Fall Festival – What’s Happening Today?
Welcome to Braxton’s Fall Festival. Today we’re celebrating the launch of Haunted House Ghost with a thirty-one (31) day virtual festival, where we share the scoop on all the exciting book promotions coming up this month. Who’s ready for…
Before you read Haunted House Ghost, you really should start from the beginning. Even though the primary mystery is fully contained within each book, there are numerous sub-plots and side stories about Kellan, life events with his friends and family, and details about Braxton and Wharton County, Pennsylvania, that would be best read in order. The fourth book, where fans and readers learned all about the differences between Braxton from ~10 years ago to today, as well as how the cable car transportation system works, was Mistaken Identity Crisis: Death on the Cable Car. As of today, the book has over 100 reviews between all the major book sites and is averaging 4.8 out of 5 stars. It is available in multiple formats, including physical book, large print, and Kindle options. Keep reading to find a special guest visitor today too…
Book Overview
A clever thief with a sinister calling card has invaded Braxton campus. A string of jewelry thefts continues to puzzle the sheriff, given they’re remarkably similar to an unsolved eight-year-old case, back when Gabriel vanished one stormy night. When a missing ruby, and a body, are discovered at the campus, Kellan must investigate the killer’s motive to protect his brother. As if the latest murder isn’t enough to keep him busy, Kellan partners with April to end the Castigliano and Vargas crime family feud. What really happened to Francesca while all those postcards showed up in Braxton? The mafia world is more calculating than Kellan realized. If he wants to move forward, he’ll have to make a few ruthless sacrifices. And as the summer heat begins to settle in Wharton County, a couple more surprises are also in store.
Excerpt from Mistaken Identity Crisis
I’ve chosen an excerpt from the second chapter to highlight the two major stories unfolding in this mystery. In it, Kellan meets Quinton Crawford, the electrician repairing the cable car system, and a member of Las Vargas, the mafia family who wants to erase The Castiglianos from existence. Kellan never knew much about his wife’s mob connections, but this time, he’s gonna get very close to them. So close, he might not actually survive the fallout. Let’s read a little from MISTAKEN IDENTITY CRISIS…
Braxton College was comprised of two campuses, North and South, separated by a one-mile tree-lined esplanade of cozy storefronts, student housing, and charming historical points of interest. One campus perched atop a semi-steep incline of the Wharton Mountains, the other sat near the base of a lower hill leading directly into the downtown district. Traditional Victorian and Queen Anne homes, painted in vivid colors and adorned with massive stone turrets and white scalloped shingles, reminded visitors of a smaller and quieter version of San Francisco. Without the Pacific Ocean nearby, Crilly Lake and the Finnulia River generously provided our daily water supply, a source of relaxation, and stunning views. Locals referred to the large estates set atop the hill as Millionaire’s Mile, and that’s where you’d find folks like the Greys, the Paddingtons, and the Stantons.
North Campus was the college’s main site, but I worked on South Campus which catered to scholars in the humanities, communications, and music departments. An electric cable car system, currently under maintenance, transported students back and forth between the two academic spaces. For two weeks each summer, usually when the weather reached a scorching one-hundred-degree temperature, a local company would repair the mechanics and reconfigure the inside panels based on whatever the most recent graduating class had gifted the college. This year, as a dedication to the valiant efforts of a few folks—primarily me, who’d played amateur sleuth to locate a couple of murderers—the theme was a Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, 1930s-style mystery car. Construction had begun ten days ago, and the final ribbon-cutting ceremony would occur at the end of this week.
I climbed the steps to the sturdy but chaotic platform and scanned the sweeping uptown view of mesmerizing foliage-covered hills. My latest routine included a visit to the cable car each morning to inspect its progress with the local contractor leading the effort. Quint Crawford was in his late twenties, had shaggy blond hair, and proudly boasted a full beard. Years of working construction sites had tanned his skin a golden color and transformed his lithe body into a solid machine capable of frequent hard labor. When I called out his name, the suave and shrewd craftsman poked his head out the car doors and saluted. While I dressed up for my first day of summer classes, Quint had chosen a white fitted t-shirt and a well-worn pair of jeans slung low on his hips from all the tools weighing down the thinning denim. Although he only stood an inch below me, a slight slouch made him appear shorter.
When I’d first encountered Quint two weeks earlier, the enigmatic electrician puzzled me. Quint fancied himself quite the ladies’ man, evident by his wandering eye whenever an attractive girl would meander near the cable car station. Quint was a tad too full of himself, easily enchanting the women around him by posturing a rakish allure and approach to life. But he’d privately mentioned recent heartbreak over lost love and a desire to convince the ex to proffer him a second chance. Unfortunately, Quint hadn’t shared specific details on what had gone wrong the first time between him and his beloved. Nonetheless, I’d been impressed by his mercurial attitude and ability to quickly dust himself off and get in the ring again, despite his painfully obvious attempt to conceal several wounds stemming from the end of the relationship.
Once he’d formally introduced himself, I’d realized his mother and I had met a few times earlier in the year. Knowing Bertha Crawford was such a kind and gentle soul, I settled on believing Quint was a sophisticated yet opportunistic version of his mother who didn’t like to hear the word no. “Morning, Quint. How’re things looking for your mother this weekend?” I asked, passing a steaming cup of coffee and a warm pastry to him.
“I appreciate you dropping by with breakfast again. You’re a good man, Kellan.” His eyes darted to the panel he’d been installing and instantly looked apprehensive about my arrival. “Momma’s doing better ever since she retired from the Paddington estate. Being on her feet all day as their housekeeper, slaving away at their every outlandish whim, has taken its toll on her over the years.”
“Does that mean the radiation treatments are going well?” She’d discovered a lump in her breast shortly after I’d met her months ago, then learned she had an advanced form of cancer. The Paddington family also confirmed she’d quit to focus on her deteriorating health. That’s when Quint had made it a priority to take extra care of his mother, a widow for the last two decades. His father had perished years ago in an explosion at the Betscha mines.
“So far, the doctors aren’t positive,” he mumbled, unscrewing an interior panel near the door.
“That’s not good to hear.” From what I could see, the winning design was close to being installed. I noticed a few wires creeping out at the bottom and wondered how the repair portion of the work was going. “The new panels look fantastic. Is the electrical upgrade on schedule?”
“Got two cables to replace, but I’ll be done tomorrow afternoon. Then we can run some tests to see how the old girl’s working. Should be right smooth!” Quint tapped his knuckles on the side of his head as a sign of luck. As he bent downward, he gingerly flinched and moaned before rubbing his back.
“Did you hurt yourself on the job?” I asked, uncertain what company had been awarded the contract for the redesign project. Hopefully, he’d reported any injuries to the school’s administration.
“Nothing to grumble about. A man in my line of work deals with rough spots.” He gently kneeled to the floor and turned away to finish removing the lower panel. “How’s that daughter of yours?”
I’d brought Emma to campus with me the previous time because she had reduced hours during her last week of school. Since she’d stayed at my parents’ place last night, tagging along today wasn’t an option. I’d also scheduled summer camp for her to attend while I’d be teaching my classes over the subsequent seven weeks. Orientation was scheduled for tomorrow. “Emma will visit again soon. I’ll be sure to bring her by, so you can say hello. She had fun watching you work last time.”
“That’d be cool of you, Kellan. Don’t mean to rush you off, but I’ve got to finish this today. Fern Terry plans to stop by to check out my progress,” Quint advised with an equal mix of hesitancy and substantial irritation, then winked. “Not that she’s too knowledgeable about men’s work.”
Fern was the dean of student affairs as well as a good friend of mine. I needed to schedule lunch with her to catch up on the wedding plans. Her son was marrying Timothy Paddington’s sister, hence the double wedding on Independence Day. I ignored Quint’s shallow and ludicrous comments about Fern, keenly aware we’d already discussed his opinions in the past. He regarded women more as beautiful objects or conquests rather than equals, yet he easily disguised such views when he needed to appear polished enough to charm one into offering her affections.
“I understand. Do you own the company that won the project bid?” I paused and waited for a response, but an unusually long time went by without his trademark riposte. “Quint, did you hear me?”
“Sure did. My apologies, I was thinking about the best answer,” he replied, unlatching a tool from the hook on his belt. “I’m working for someone else who promised me a cheap buy-in. I’ll earn a stake in the company once this project is complete. Not to be rude, buddy, but I did mention I was busy. Gotta finish tinkering with this beauty until she’s sparkling like a diamond again. Chat another time?”
Quint powered up a drill on full throttle. I waved goodbye to his back—he’d already moved on to his next priority without another word—and walked toward my office in Diamond Hall. My curious nature wanted to ask more questions about whom he worked for, but Fern could supply the answer just as easily. It’d also require less impudence than dealing with my edgy new acquaintance, Quint.
Diamond Hall had previously been a grand colonial home, a mansion by modern-day standards, before its transformation into the communications department’s offices. The architecturally stunning building stood three stories high and was covered with a limestone façade mined from quarries owned by the Betscha side of my family. On the top floor were a large open working area and departmental library, and on the second resided offices for academic staff. The ground floor held four classrooms, and for the next seven weeks, I’d occupy the northwest one overlooking Stanton Hall.
As I stepped through the front door, my boss glared at me with a sour expression. It wouldn’t be a typical day unless I experienced at least ten minutes of Dr. Myriam Castle’s uncalled-for-but-amusing wrath. Even after I’d investigated her wife’s stalker the previous month, Myriam still brushed me off with a chilly disposition and delivered ruthless Shakespearean quotes that made little to no sense.
“There’s a man here to see you,” she stated curtly, her hands locked on her hips. Adorned in her traditional exquisite couture, her trim frame sported a cream-colored suit and slate-gray blouse assuredly flown in from some European designer’s latest collection. It was the spiky, more-gray-than-black, short, no-fuss, no-muss hairstyle that initially captured a person’s attention. “He doesn’t have a visitor pass, and I don’t recognize him. You should tell your ne’er-do-well associates to follow the rules, and if I might remind you, we should be working, not socializing.”
Well, this was a perfect start to a day at the office. “I don’t have any scheduled meetings. Perhaps he’s a student in my summer course.” I tried to dart past her, but she swiftly grabbed my arm.
“See to it this doesn’t happen again. I run a clean and tight ship, and strangers are usually up to no good. I don’t like his swarthy looks.” She paused as if she had more to say but thought better of it.
“I’ll address it right now.” Swarthy? I didn’t know anyone fitting that description.
When I reached the second floor and peered down the hallway, it looked empty. The door to my office was unlocked and ajar, and the light from my desk lamp was on—not the way I’d left it the previous Friday. I cautiously stepped inside to find the swarthy male sitting at my desk, except I wouldn’t have considered him swarthy. Knowing Myriam often chose odd ways to describe people, I ignored her comment and focused on why this man sat in my chair. He looked familiar from the side angle, but I couldn’t easily place him. “May I help you?”
Once he stood, a six-foot-three solid frame coated with a bronzed skin tone proclaimed his stature as larger-than-life. Piercing golden-brown eyes stared directly at me, and floppy espresso-colored hair cascaded down his forehead in multiple layers, reminding me of genetically engineered male supermodels gracing the cover of fashion magazines. In an instant, I knew it was Cristiano Vargas. He’d finally decided to bestow his unblemished presence upon me.
*** Aren’t you psyched to find out what happens? ***
Surprise Visitor
Today we have a special guest: Tyler Colins cornered Nana D and shared this wonderful post… you can read a small portion here, but then please hop over to her site to read the full discussion.
I’m so very pleased to have Mayor Seraphina Danby from Wharton County visit today. Also fondly known as Nana D, this dynamic woman is a force to be reckoned with. Not only is she an important elected official and adored grandmother, she’s an ace dessert-maker and has won for biggest pumpkin at several fall festivals. Once a notable clarinet player, she presently provides lessons for the woodwind instrument. But perhaps her most laudable [and undisclosed] act: she sews blankets and hats for local shelters.
Two weeks ago, we had her grandson, amateur sleuth Kellan Ayrwick, drop by. Equally fascinating on both personal and professional levels, this lively lady has a lot of goals—and we have no doubt she’ll accomplish all. Without further delay, let’s learn what makes this grand-lady tick!
***
The section below here will repeat at the end of every successive post, so we don’t have to explain the Fall Festival in the beginning each day. We’ll dive right into the content but also allow newcomers to catch up. Previous posts include…
October 1st – Overview & Kickoff
October 2nd – Great Escapes Book Blog Tour Kickoff
October 3rd – GIVEAWAY for FREE Kindle Copy of Haunted House Ghost
October 4th – Name Kellan’s House Poll
October 5th – Excerpt from Academic Curveball
October 6th – Guest Post: Interview with Noriko on Halloween & Autumn
October 7th – Get to Know the Core Characters
October 8th – Bookmarks, Book Formats, Book Signing
October 9th – Guest Post: Interview with Tyler & Characters
October 10th – GIVEAWAY for FREE Signed Copy of Haunted House Ghost
October 11th – Excerpt from Broken Heart Attack
October 12th – Guest Post: Shalini Releases the Characters Who Torture Us
October 13th – Get to Know the Supporting Characters
October 14th – Guest Post: Melanie Ask Jay About His Writing Process
October 15th – Braxton’s One Year Anniversary
October 17th – GIVEAWAY for FREE Kindle Version of Entire Braxton Campus Series
October 18th – Excerpt from Flower Power Trip
October 19th – Great Escapes Book Blog Tour Conclusion
October 20th – GIVEAWAY for FREE Audiobooks (Academic Curveball & Broken Heart Attack)
October 21st – Halloween Excitement (with pictures)
October 22nd – Get to Know the New Characters with a Video
What is the Braxton Fall Festival?
For the entire month of October 2019, we are celebrating three events: (1) Autumn, (2) Halloween, (3) Haunted House Ghost, the fifth book released in the Braxton Campus Mysteries by author James J. Cudney. Each day, we will share a post to promote the new book with readers and fans. Throughout the 31 days, we will have guest posts, excerpts, giveaways, contests, videos, blog tours, and other surprises. You can currently purchase the book from Amazon as a Kindle or a physical copy. In the near future, it will be available in large print and as an audiobook. To learn more, sign up for the author’s quarterly newsletter or follow him on this site and any of his social media profiles from the About the Author page.
A lovely post, Jay. I have to read Flower Power Trip first.
Thank you. I agree. Better in order!