WELCOME SCOTT R CASELEY TODAY

Howdy Scott, welcome aboard my blog. So great to have you here today. Let's see the great banner you have.

 

 

I see you have a special interview for us with your characters. Well, let's not keep the folks waiting. Put it up for us.

 

 



 

“Catching Up With Two Oakes High Alumni”

Written By Cameron R. Smith

 

                  Some time ago, Tina, my editor at the Oakes High School blog, The Eagles’ Nest assigned me to profile Madeline Edwards, the previous year’s valedictorian for my first piece. I wanted to cover the annual alumni football game held every Thanksgiving, but she thought Miss Edwards would be more inspirational to any group of people unlike covering the game to non-sports fans. So, there I was parked in the lot at Super Shoppers during a major downpour at five-thirty in the morning of Turkey Day waiting for Miss Edwards and shivering in a car with no heat.

A red Ford Escort pulled alongside mine, not the Cadillac Miss Edwards told me via voicemail to expect. When she climbed out of the passenger seat along with the driver, this guy whose face I recognized only as being someone who graduated with her. Underneath a hefty purple umbrella, she rapped on my passenger window.  After rolling it down, she asked me if I was Cameron Smith. After I confirmed that I was, she asked if we could do the interview inside the supermarket. My journalistic impulses were that this would be an impractical idea, however, with one look into her beautiful green eyes, I knew I couldn’t say no.

Five minutes later, the two of them were walking the aisles, picking up items of a lengthy list he was holding. “How long have you two been together?” I asked noting how he looked at her adoringly when she hoisted a five-pound bag of flour off the shelf.

“Pfft, Sean and I? We’re not together. We’re just friends. Been friends since the first grade. Isn’t that right, Seany Boy?” Madeline playfully said placing the sack into the carriage that creaked along with a busted right front wheel.

“Yeah,” is all he will say in response without even so much as a glance in my direction.

“Wow, that’s something. I don’t remember ever seeing you two hanging out in school last year, or around town for that matter.” As much as I initially wanted him to stay silent, I hoped he would say something to this, but he just shrugs sheepishly, so I return my attention to Madeline who maneuvers her way down the aisle selecting shortening, canned peas, and corn with great skill.

“Yeah, well, we’ve been tight whether you’ve seen it or not, believe me. We’ve been through a lot together.”

“Ain’t that the truth.” Sean looks at her, then briefly to me with a half-grin.

“So, who’s cooking the dinner, you or him?”

“He is. And, it’s for our fathers and us. I came home from Monadnock University yesterday, and his dad, or Pop as we all call him gives us an assignment of sorts.”

“Really? What kind of assignment?”

“He wanted me to make Thanksgiving dinner just like my mom used to.” When Sean admits this, Madeline puts her arm around him, I could see the depth of their bond, in that one moment. I felt tempted to ask what happened to his mother, but I decided it was really none of my business.

“You didn’t have plans already?” a soft ball question for sure, but definitely seemed more appropriate.

“No, my Dad and I usually just get a pizza on Thanksgiving, neither of us can cook.  Sean, why don’t you get the next few items and I’ll meet up with you in a bit?” Sean gave a grin and started to head to the end of the aisle where he promptly bumped into an end cap of assorted Christmas candies and toys. “On second thought, I’m sorry, Cam. We can continue this interview, I’m sorry about my friend being here.”

“It’s fine,” I lied.

“Cool, so fire away, what does The Eagles’ Nest want to know?”

“It may sound silly, but what do you two miss most about town being away at college now?”

“Well, Sean’s a commuter, so he doesn’t miss much yet, which is why I think he should consider living on campus next year, so he can see what the outside world is like.”

“I miss having Madeline around. I miss our friend Trey. I miss the hills at McCashland Park where she and I went sledding as a kid.” I’m not sure if it was the mention of this Trey character or McCashland Park or both, but something seemed to rattle Madeline.

“Next question,” she sighed.

“You could just answer the question too.” Sean offered.

“Okay, umm, personally I miss Roller World. Lots of great memories there with Sean and our mutual best friend Trey Goodsby.” she then winked at Sean who looked anxious by this assertion, which did raise my curiosity, but I hesitated again about asking a follow-up question to find out what made him so upset, which I knew would displease Tina.

“Why, what was so special about the place?” I asked looking down the end of the aisle where a married couple was fighting over which can of yams would be better for their family gathering.

“We went there when we were thirteen, first time I ever initiated plans for the three of us to hang out,” she stated proudly.

 “Yeah, and that went over so well, too Madeline,” he retorted stopping the carriage abruptly in the middle of the aisle.

“Why, what happened?” I asked, startled by his actions.

“Nothing worth repeating here.” Madeline said shooting daggers at him with her eyes.

“So anything you don’t miss about Noone?” I asked, hoping that by changing the subject, an escalation of their conflict could be averted.

“Yeah, Roller World.” Sean scoffed inspecting three different varieties of canned cranberry sauce on the shelf.

“Whatever Sean, whatever.” Madeline rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest.

 

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to start a fight between you two.” I apologized, realizing thankfully that this would be my first and last blog for the school blog.

“It’s okay, we both just struck a nerve. I suppose when you have as much history built up as we do, the cracks are bound to show up every now and again. I’m sorry, Sean.”

“I’m sorry too. So, what’s this for again?” Sean asked, and it took me by surprise, because I thought naturally she’d have told him what was going on. The two of them clearly had some serious secrets between them.

“The school blog. My editor wanted me to do a piece on recent grads and see what they’ve been up to since graduating starting with Madeline here.”

“Oh, cool,” he said looking at an array of turkeys in the meat section.

“That’s pretty quick, isn’t it? I mean, we just graduated five months ago. Not much has really changed. It reminds me of five year reunions.” She admitted with a shrug.

“I don’t quite get what you mean,” I admitted helping Sean to lift a twenty-two pound turkey into the carriage.

“You ever consider the validity of a five-year high school reunion? People get together only a few years after spending twelve years sharing the halls and walls of academia. What really has changed since? Did someone just graduate college? Get a promotion at work? Get married? Gathering together to discuss these things with your former classmates seems trivial five years on especially now with the advent of social media where people can update each other on a moment to moment notice. Not much has happened to me, and I think I can speak for Sean on this too. I bet even in five years time we’ll be in pretty much the same boat. Sorry that I didn’t make for an interesting interview. I really don’t have anything fresh to say for your readers.”

“That’s okay, I appreciate your time and I thank you for agreeing to meet with me. I’ll piece something together out of this experience.”

I shook their hands and headed back outside to my SUV. Unbeknownst to any of us, their world would be in a totally different place just a year later. What happened was worth writing about, but it wouldn’t be by me. I had just started my first year as a pre-med student far away from Noone.

 

A great interview. Now, for the cover and the rest of the info.

 

BLURB: When he finds his best friend Trey Goodsby dead and almost completely submerged in a bathtub filled with bloody water, Sean McIntyre is determined to find out if it was an accident or suicide. If it was suicide, why did he do it? And, did his death accidental or intentional have anything to do with Madeline Edwards, the woman who came between them constantly through their thirteen-year friendship? Isosceles, a coming-of-age mystery romance begins with the death of Trey Goodsby, and explores his relationships with family, friends, his romances, and which of the circumstances he found himself in that led to the tragic event, and the repercussions for those he left behind.

 

EXCERPT: “Go over to the play area. I’ll deal with you once I’m done with…ah…whatever his name is.” Carter nodded to where the rest of the kids kneeled, stood, or sat on a blue carpet, watching a boy building with wooden toy blocks. Right away, I could sense he intended on crafting something difficult, a scale model of the courthouse down the road from Footbridge. While the boy’s physical appearance seemed rather ordinary, his skills could not be beat. He hadn’t misused a single block. Without any hesitation or second-guessing himself, he knew what to do to put everything in the right place.

“That’s so cool, Trey,” I heard a soft voice like the melodious whisper of birdsong, my intuition revealing the identity before my eyes did. Madeline swayed from side to side, beaming with her pearly-whites.

Trey paid her no mind though, allowing himself to be distracted only by his overgrown dirty-blonde hair, which kept going in his face. Sometimes, he didn’t even push it away. His focus so intense, a few times, he almost knocked into other kids. He never apologized for it, nor did most get upset. They seemed to understand he was in a zone, one with his creation. He circled the perimeter to detect if it needed something. Whenever he snapped his fingers, he’d call out “cylinder,” “triangle,” or “rectangle.” Madeline would select it out of a decaying cardboard box, to present it to him like an obedient puppy bringing a tennis ball to its owner.

Mr. Carter, with Sheldon behind him, returned from their business in the hallway. They joined the rest of us, studying Trey’s handiwork. Before long, Mr. Carter became entranced, too. It felt frustrating. Being an only child, I was used to being the center of my parents’ universe. Here, someone else stole the attention so rightfully mine. Worst of all, watching Madeline fawn over him drove me crazy. His hair was messy, his shirt dirty, and he was just average. Why did he hold her interest? Shouldn’t she see me instead? Mom knitted me this nice sweater and combed my hair before I went to the bus stop. My head started pounding from over-thinking the situation when Madeline moved toward him, letting her pigtail accidentally brush against his head. He didn’t seem to notice, but I sure did. I needed to take action.

Creeping over to the box of blocks less than five feet from the audience, I reached in blindly selecting a triangle-shaped one with green crayon on the side facing up. With everyone so enamoured by the courthouse, they didn’t even notice my hands trembling at my side with rage. Giving one last furtive glance to Trey, Madeline, Mr. Carter, and then ending on my classmates, I felt ready to execute the plan.

Many of the other kids started to pick up on my actions, giving me a brief moment of satisfaction. Their jaws dropped as they watched the projectile block following a jagged path through their makeshift circle. Of course, motor coordination issues since birth and anger clouded my vision. Translation: my aim was inaccurate.

The block went careening through the air, never even coming close to its intended target. Trey knew no fear, however. He must’ve sensed my imprecise aim the moment it left my unsteady hand. Without raising an eyebrow, let alone diverting his eyes from his structure, his arm swatted the wooden toy away like a fly. It changed course to come crashing down onto the bridge of my Madeline’s button nose. I’m not sure what started to pour first, the blood from her nostrils or the tears from her green eyes.

The bloodstained triangle ricocheted off her face to the courthouse, knocking it down like dominoes. At the same time, Madeline wailed in pain. Trey’s eyes cast down at his destroyed masterpiece, over to her, and finally to the crowd of spectators, with a cold, soulless expression. He breathed heavily out of his nose, needing to know who ruined his work. Sheldon, along with two other snitches, fingered me for the crime.

Terrific blurb and excerpt, Scott.       

 

Now how about you tell us a little about yourself and give us the buy links.

 

 

MuseItUp Publishing

http://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=562&category_id=198&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1&vmcchk=1&Itemid=1

 Amazon.com

https://www.amazon.com/author/scottrcaseley

 Amazon UK

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Isosceles-ebook/dp/B00B1FVEJE/ref=la_B00B1R72UC_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1358378543&sr=1-1

 Book Strands

www.bookstrand.com/isosceles

 Coffee Time Romance & More http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/BookStore/pubs_product_book_info/museitup-publishing-c-98/isosceles-p-9391?zenid=64b39640f2d9d31c7d87a56b91468212

 Omnilit

https://www.omnilit.com/product-isosceles-1042768-232.html

 

Wow, Scott, that's a lot of buy links. Thanks for all those choices.

 

Bio:

Scott R. Caseley was born in Nashua, New Hampshire. He gained an interest in writing in elementary school in nearby Hudson. Growing up, he carried a small notebook or pen on family trips making observations and frequently turned them into poems or short stories. While attending Franklin Pierce University, he co-wrote and co-directed a student film. After graduating, he wrote and directed a dramatic feature, co-wrote and directed a documentary and conducted interviews for an online magazine. He's also passionate about acting, and he's enjoyed performing on stage, in bit parts on film, and is also a trained voice actor. In addition to his creative pursuits, he is passionate about healthy living. He follows a fitness regimen consisting of several activities such as; weight training, walking, swimming, yoga, and hula hooping. He complements this by cooking several nutritious examples of international and American cuisine. Last, but certainly not least he also enjoys just spending time with family and friends until the early morning hours with plenty of laughter and coffee.

Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ScottRCaseleyWriter

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/scottrcaseley

Blog/Website: http://www.scottrcaseleyauthor.com

Twitter: @scottrcaseley

Email: SRCaseley@Gmail.com

World of Ink Tour: www.worldofinknetwork.com (Starting in March/April)

Scott and I love comments. Let's hear from you.