YvonneThis week’s Mailbox Monday, will also feature a short guest post from the book’s author, Carolyn J. Rose, as this entertaining and personal post, only works successfully when you know a little about the book’s storyline, which ties everything together so neatly.
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‘NO SUBSTITUTE FOR MYTH’
Is Bigfoot prowling around Reckless River, Washington? Has Sasquatch come to the city?
Barbara Reed doesn’t know if she believes the legendary creature exists, but evidence is stacking up. Something big is scavenging for food in city parks. Something tall and heavy left footprints across a dirt parking lot. And something huge and hairy careened into her one night on the riverfront trail.
Did that same creature kill a man and drag his body into a swamp? Or was the killer human? Will justice be undermined by media frenzy, a tide of tourism, and hundreds of hunters?
With help from the usual suspects, Barb, her drug-cop boyfriend, her pearl-powered wealthy neighbor, and Cheese Puff, her less-than-loyal dog, set out to solve a mystery, catch a murderer, and bust a few myths along the way.
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CAROLYN J. ROSE
Carolyn is the author of more than a dozen novels, including the three previous stories in the ‘Subbing isn’t for Sissies’ series (No Substitute for Murder. No Substitute for Money and No Substitute for Maturity), and the hugely popular, ‘Catskill Mountains Mysteries’ (Hemlock Lake, Through a Yellow Wood and more recently The Devil’s Tombstone).
Carolyn grew up in New York’s Catskill Mountains and graduated from the University of Arizona. She then logged two years in Arkansas, with Volunteers in Service to America and spent twenty five years as a television news researcher, writer, producer and assignment editor, in Arkansas, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington.
She founded the Vancouver Writers’ Mixers and is an active supporter of her local bookstore, ‘Cover to Cover’. Together with fellow author and husband, Mike Nettleton, Carolyn is proactive about supporting local (and some not-so-local) writers, putting on mini-workshops for libraries, book fairs and pretty much anyone who asks, who fits into her schedule.
Her interests are reading, gardening, swimming and NOT cooking.
Catch up with Carolyn at her website
Chat with Carolyn on her blog
Like Carolyn on Facebook
Follow Carolyn on Twitter
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MYTHS, LEGENDS, AND ALL WE WONDER ABOUT
I was a child when I heard my first tale about the Abominable Snowman. For months afterward I imagined myself high in the Himalayas searching for prints in the snow, hoping for a glimpse of something in the distance that might be the elusive Yeti. Later, as I became aware of the realities of such a hunt—relentless wind, biting cold, thin air, altitude sickness—the fantasy faded. But my interest in what might be out there remained.
As a TV news producer, scanning the daily run of stories printed out by endlessly clattering wire machines, I would seize on reports of the unexplained, the weird, or the bizarre. I was drawn to stories that seemed more fictional than factual.
When I moved to the Pacific Northwest in 1989, I became intrigued by Bigfoot. How could I not? Every few months brought a fresh report of a sighting, footprints, noises, or clumps of hair that seemed to match that of no known creature. No matter how many reports are debunked, how many photos are revealed to be doctored, or how many footprints found to be faked, there remain things that—in my mind—can’t be explained away.
A co-worker I considered to be fairly unimaginative claimed to have seen a hairy, hulking creature crossing a clear-cut on the road from Eugene, Oregon, to the coast. From then on, I scanned every logged-over area we passed, but I never saw a thing beyond a succession of stumps that appeared to be the right size and shape. Still, Northwest forests are so vast and, in places, so dense, that it’s difficult to see more than 100 feet through the trees. It’s possible that a cautious and elusive creature—even one as large as Bigfoot supposedly is—could be lurking out there.
For me, Bigfoot has become a symbol of all we wonder about and don’t understand, all that’s out there somewhere, uncharted and undiscovered. Because I know so little about him, Bigfoot is fascinating.
I channeled that fascination—in an over-the-top humorous way—into the plot of No Substitute for Myth and brought unexplained footprints and sightings to Reckless River, Washington, where the Subbing isn’t for Sissies series is set. My characters and I didn’t reach any conclusions about whether Bigfoot is more than legend, but as one of them says, “. . . most people believe what they want to believe . . . a great number prefer a shaky myth to the solid truth.”
I haven’t been inside a newsroom for more than a dozen years, but I never fail to read a newspaper article with “Bigfoot” in the headline. And I admit to scanning the Internet occasionally (Did you know, Yvonne, that there have been sightings in England?), and watching TV programs about Bigfoot hunters.
Do I hope to see Bigfoot on those programs?
You bet.
Do I expect to see Bigfoot?
No.
Do I believe Bigfoot exists?
Maybe.
How about the rest of you?
Carolyn J. Rose
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Maybe Bigfoot, The Abominable Snowman and our own homegrown Loch Ness Monster, are destined to remain forever, cryptids of the modern day.
Thanks for stopping by Carolyn, I always look forward to your interesting guest posts and would like to wish you every success with No Substitute For Myth.
Oh! and by the way Carolyn … As this is the 4th book in the ‘Subbing Isn’t For Sissies’ series, how well does it work as a stand alone story, for those of us who are not quite up to speed?
I do my best to “catch readers up” on previous events. You won’t be up to speed on all the details, but you’ll have the big picture, so you can go for it.
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…Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house during the last week. Be warned that Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.
Mailbox Monday now has a permanent home, where links may be added each week. So why not stop by, leave a link to your own Mailbox Monday post, oh! and don’t forget to leave a comment for our three new joint administrators, after all, we all like to receive them … ‘Mailbox Monday’
Leslie of ‘Under My Apple Tree’
Serena of ‘Savvy Verse & Wit’
Vicki of ‘I’d Rather Be At The Beach’
This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well… you never know where that next “must read” book will come from!
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No Substitute For Myth sounds very interesting. Thanks for the intro. I would also be interested in Carolyn’s Catskill series, as I used to live in the Catskills. Have a great week.
Hi Pat,
I must admit that when I read the first book in the ‘Catskill Mountain Mysteries’ series, I was really surprised at how many murders could be committed in one small town, where time appears to have stood still, leaving the folks who live there, trapped in the time warp, unable, almost unwilling to embrace change of any kind.
I was in fact, so convinced that this insular community was invented for the purposes of the story, that I challenged Carolyn about it, only to be assured that the area in question is still very much as she describes it, with the inhabitants mirroring almost exactly, their fictional counterparts.
I still have to read the third and final episode of the series, although each of the books stands alone well, as a one-off story.
Thanks for taking part in today’s discussion, I aways value your comments 🙂
It is interesting how we’re all fascinated by myths like Bigfoot, isn’t it? I hope the book’s as good as it sounds.
Hi Kathy,
To quote the author Carolyn J. Rose …
“Yvonne, thanks for featuring No Substitute for Myth. It’s certainly not great literature, but I had a lot of fun writing it and I hope it makes readers chuckle.”
I generally enjoy my mystery / thriller books with a bit more of a gutsy and intense storyline, but every now and again, everyone deserves a lighthearted break that will make them smile 🙂
Thanks for visiting this week, I always appreciate your thoughts and comments.
I know a lot of people are fascinated by these creatures, but I’m not one of them. I do hope you enjoy this book though!
Hi Vicki,
I am also very sceptical about the existence of any of these cryptid creatures, including alien sightings!
Mystery capers are not a genre I would read on a regular basis. however they do lighten the mood when read occasionally. Knowing Carolyn’s style of writing and delivery, I am confident that she will have put her heart and soul into making the storyline as plausible as possible, in the same way that she does her more traditional murder / mysteries.
Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment, despite this one not being to your taste, I appreciate that 🙂
Loving the sound of this book – like everyone I’m fascinated by this legend – and what a great guest post.
Hi Tracy
Carolyn will quite often pop up out of the blue, with a great guest post for me and it is always a treat to welcome her back.
She always manages to find a unique and witty way of presenting a post, whether it is a guest post for one of her regular blogging friends, or a post for her own website, which she co-hosts with hubbie Mike Nettleton and which always makes for interesting reading!
As Carolyn is quick to point out herself, ‘No Substitute For Myth’ is definitely not a book to be taken too seriously. She clearly wants to relax and enjoy her writing and if that means kicking back and writing a fun read occasionally, then that’s exactly what she is going to do 🙂
Thanks for taking part in this week’s MM post, I aways love it when you stop by.
What a fun, interesting post!!
Do I believe? …Maybe
We have our own version of Bigfoot in my part of the world. Just google Fouke Monster and see what you come up with! 😉
Ooooh. That Arkansas Monster. I lived there for several years and heard legends. Never had the nerve to go hunting.
I made fairly frequent trips through the community of Fouke many years ago, but always took care that it was never at dusk!
If you’ve never seen the documentary “The Legend of Boggy Creek”, you really should watch it.
HI Kelly and Carolyn,
I spent a fun few minutes checking out the Fouke Monster and was amazed to find that the documentary film ‘The Legend Of Boggy Creek’, earned itself a listing on IMDb, with a rating score of 4.7. There are even 80 customer reviews to plod through if you have the time!
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068837/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
🙂
Hi Kelly,
I’m afraid that I am rather more of a sceptic than a believer, however Carolyn always manages to provoke some great conversations, when she stops by with a new guest post!
I love having her visit and I shall definitely be reading ‘No Substitute For Myth’, as a one off mystery caper, simply to brighten my day 🙂
Bigfoot always intrigued me,even now when I see something concerning it on tv.
Any afternoon that my husband is out of the house and there’s a Bigfoot show on, you’ll find me by the TV, half scoffing, and half on the edge of my chair.
Hi Carolyn and Mary Ann,
It used to be that any ‘sighting’ of our own cryptid, ‘Nessie, the Loch ness Monster’, would arouse anew the public’s interest and enthusiasm.
However I can’t remember the last time such an event was reported, or perhaps it is beacuse we have become so blase about alleged sightings, that only the die-hard enthusiasts still become interested and excited!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loch_Ness_Monster
Thanks for taking the time to comment, I always appreciate it 🙂
Happy Reading
Thanks Serena, you too!
🙂
I really enjoyed Ms. Rose’s book, Hemlock Lake.
Nice post about her.
ENJOY your read.
Elizabeth
Silver’s Reviews
My Mailbox Monday
Hi Elizabeth,
There have been two sequel books to ‘Hemlock Lake’ and the series is collectively known as the ‘Catskill Mountain Mysteries’. I still have the final installment ‘The Devil’s Tombstone’, to read on my Kindle, so my aim is to get to it quite soon and establish a formal closure for the series.
I think that I shall probably find I prefer Carolyn’s traditional murder mysteries, to the more cozy / caper mysteries of the ‘Subbing Isn’t For Sissies’ series. However I shall definitely be reading ‘No Substitute For Myth’, as I am sure to enjoy it as a break from the more serious books.
Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment. As always, I appreciate the thought and I hope that all is well with you 🙂
Yvonne, thanks for featuring No Substitute for Myth. It’s certainly not great literature, but I had a lot of fun writing it and I hope it makes readers chuckle.
Hi Carolyn,
Thanks for taking the time to join in the conversation this week, your guest post will certainly have helped in bringing the book to the forefront of reader’s minds, so that they won’t forget about it in a hurry!
I look forward to your guest posts arriving in my inbox so unexpectedly and I shall always be more than happy to publish, with or without a new book being on the horizon 🙂
Although the Catskill series is great, sometimes I’m just in the mood for the laugh-out-loud-even-if-you-are-on-a-plane humor I find in your “Substitute” series. Can barely wait.
Hi Melanie,
Until I started up the blog and got to know great authors such as Carolyn, I tended to stick to the same couple of genres whenever I bought a book.
Being asked by those authors to read and review so many diverse and unique genres and storylines, has really broadened my horizons to some of the excellent books out there, that I would otherwise have missed totally.
I can’t say that I would read any genre on an exclusive basis, but as you so rightly say, sometimes I am just in the mood for something completely different and I can always rely on Carolyn to come up with the goods, both in her books and in the brilliant guest posts she manages to come up with.
There are already 4 books in the ‘Subbing Isn’t For Sissies’ series, so “Happy Reading” and thanks for taking the time to comment, I really appreciate it 🙂