I could have. The rear window of my car displays the first book in my series, and I have boxes of books in the trunk, but it wasn’t the right time or place to sell.

Instead, I didn’t say a word about my novels. But people mentioned them anyway.

“Oh, Bill, I have your book on my nightstand, along with others I plan to read this Summer.”

“Let me know what you think when you get to it,” I said.

“I was told you have three out now. I have to catch up.”

Note to self: record that conversation for future reference.

I sell books to people I know.

I spend my time getting to know people and have them get to know me.

No one bought a book from me today. But several people talked to me about my books and expressed interest in reading them.

What do you do when you attend a book club with a dozen members who have read your book? Do you try to sell them another in your series?

Why not give it to them?

The question is simple. What do you want? Buyers or Readers?

It’s a silly question, I know. We all want buyers, but when we get an opportunity to be in the presence of someone who has read the entire book, don’t you want to know what they thought, who they liked, who they hated, what they want next?

Every reader you spend time talking with is someone added to your marketing team. A satisfied reader who has a connection with you, the author, is an advocate. They will talk about your books. They will share them with family and friends. They will show up for future events. They will love it when you send them a special story written just for them.

I am sure you have read or heard that we authors are selling ourselves. We are the brand. But personal brands don’t last. Our stories will survive us. Someone will read about our characters long after we are gone.

The only chance you have to connect to your readers is now, and that should be your priority.

We have all been told to build a funnel. Sign people up for your email newsletter. Give them something special as an incentive to learn more about your books. And then send them a call to action so they make a purchase.

By all means, do that. But do something else as well. Meet with them. Get to know them. Let them get to know you. Visit their book clubs. Go to their towns and shop in their stores. Post a video from their local bookstore. Let people know where you will be.

I will be at Killer Nashville in August. I will be collecting email addresses and giving away special book boxes. If you are planning to be there, let me know. Let’s get together and chat.

My goal is to develop 1,000 dedicated readers. If you have read one of the books in The Old Cranberry Ladies Garden Club Series, let me know. Email me, and I will send you a special story that is not in the books. I will also send you a free ebook, print book, or audiobook (when available).

Become one of our 1,000 readers.

This is how I plan to market my books.

We have to market and sell our own books. No one will do it for us. None of the remaining traditional publishing companies does this anymore.

We indies are on our own, but we can work together. Be someone else’s reader and help spread the word.

Leave a comment

Share

Whether you traditionally publish or go indie, the work of selling is yours, not your publisher’s.

Many will jump in here to argue that I don’t know what I am talking about, but the average self-published author sells between 250 and 500 copies in the book’s lifetime.

A print book may sell for $25 while your ebook may sell for $3.99, and if you depend on a distributor like Amazon you would be lucky to see 10-20% of the sale price. If you can do the math, and many authors struggle with that, lifetime sales could get you a maximum of $2,500, less marketing and advertising costs. Let’s not forget what it cost you to create the book.

This is why so many of us want to be traditionally published. But trad publishers take half of that 20% and may pass along more costs if it does any marketing at all.

This is depressing, I know. But don’t give up, yet. There is hope.

Instead of selling courses to writers to teach them how to build their brand to develop a following, instead of spamming them with false offers to promote their books on Goodreads and Amazon, why not become the solution for them and with them?

I believe in working together.

I spent my entire life finding people who had the talents I didn’t have and building with them. We can do the same here. People here have talent in a variety of skills. We could be the new model for non-traditional publishing.

I have some ideas on how it could work but I don’t want to do it alone. I don’t want to build it just for me. I want us all to build it and benefit from it together.

Some of you have registered your own business names. You may have your own imprints. Good. Some know how to build and run successful funnels. Some have sales and advertising experience. Some know merchandise and direct sales. Do you see where I am going with this?

During the pandemic we learned we could work remotely and do it quite effectively. We operated without brick and mortar. We have the connections here on Substack. All the tools exist.

I am building my publishing business to produce and selL my books. I will share what works and what doesn’t, not as a course or a paywall item, but freely. My business is 4610 Publishing.

What I envision is a more profitable model that functions a bit like trad-pub but has all the benefits of indie. Imagine not having to pay upfront to publish your book and getting a larger percentage of sales back after paying back the initial investment. You don’t have to sign up for anything now. Just follow the progress. See how it works for me. Discover how much work you will have to do to help market your books. And let me know your ideas.

June 14, 1833

I learnt my name. I am alive now. Not free. Alive

.

Photo by Foto Bakirkoy on Unsplash

I started keeping a journal when I learnt how to write my name. It wasn’t my real name. I never had one of those. It was the name I chose for myself. Josiah Jeremiah Johnson. I picked it because my father’s name was Josiah. Jeremiah was a name I liked from the Bible stories my maw told me. So, that’s me, Josiah Jeremiah. I added the name Johnson because it sounded proper, like a real person. You know, one with rights and freedoms.

I didn’t know how to read or write when Mrs. C. found me. I was hiding out in the apple orchard. It was cold at night but warm in the sun during the day. I know Jones caught me there a few times but he never told. He’s the one who made me my first journal when Mrs. C. and Miss Deborah started teaching me with those picture books. Agnes couldn’t speak then cause she was spooked when bandits killed her parents. But we became friends and eventually she learned to talk again as I learned how to read what she wrote on her slate.

The first things I wrote down in my journal were not words at all, but parts of words, like letters. Felix would tease me because I couldn’t stay in the lines of those alphabet books. A was easy, cause it looked like an apple with the stem hanging down, like it had fallen off a tree in the orchard. A is for apple. Some letters was hard, though, like p and q. They looked alike when they are small, but the grown up ones of them were a lot different. One is like a stick man with a big head, while the other is like a fat hog with its curly tail.

We started out having class in the main house, near the fireplace. It was always warm there and there was always something good cooking in the kitchen. I could always tell if Mrs. Ryan was cookin’ cause it smelled like stew. I don’t know what was in it, but it smelled that way a lot. After she left, Agnes tried to cook, with Miss Deborah teachin’ her, but it took a while before her stuff smelled as good.

After the chapel was built, we had class in there. Mrs. C. found some nice ladies to help teach us. They were members of the garden club, but I never saw them do any gardening, just teachin’.

I almost didn’t go with Mrs. C. when she found me in the orchard, but my arm was in need for wanting. Dad had been gone for a while and being alone, I woulda been in a bad way trying to get food with one arm. And that was my good arm, too. I guess I could have learnt how to write with my other hand. When Paw got his arm banged up, he couldn’t write neither, but then he never learnt how to do it, so it didn’t matter as much. He did manage to get a job, though, and hold onto it, between all the ruckus, that is.

Well, this is my story, told by me, some of which is what I put in those journals, but some things I added later. I hope you like it, but if you don’t, I can accept that too. We all don’t have the same tastes. I know that for sure. Just remember my name, Josiah Jeremiah Johnson.

Thank you Russell. It is a pleasure to meet with you.

How long have you been serving at your church in Old Cranberry?

It hasn't been that long Russell. But then, it doesn't take long to establish roots in such a fertile community.

The church itself has quite a long history though, doesn't it?

Yes it does. And I am discovering just how far back those roots go every day. There is a strong sense of tradition here.

I gathered that from my conversations with Mildred Cranberry-Smith and Jac-leen Hudson.

Two very strong and highly influential women.

Is that influence financial or political, or both?

Definitely financial. One of the things that attracted me to this area was the potential for making a difference in the surrounding communities.

So, do you have plans to provide outreach to lower-income communities?

I didn't say I had plans. I said there was potential and that was attractive to me.

I did hear that Mrs. Hudson made a significant investment in a new mausoleum for her husband, Preston.

I really should have looked more closely at the plans before construction started. It is quite huge. But I had just arrived on the scene and I understood the plans had been in the works for a while.

The history of Old Cranberry goes back over two hundred years, but the church isn't that old.

No. There was a church on that site though. It was a wooden structure, Anglican, I believe.

Is the cemetery the same one that was there during that time? I am curious about where the burial grounds are for the Cranberrys, specifically Chester and Elceera.

You know there are legends about those two. Quite fascinating if you like that sort of stuff. I try to stay clear of gossip and the like.

So, you don't know?

I haven't been here long.

Leave a comment

Yes you said that. But given the importance the community has given to these legends, I would think your interest would have been piqued.

I am much more interested in the pastoral care of my congregation and the community in general.

So, tell me about the Payton-Castleby wedding. It is coming up soon.

I am really looking forward to it. I have been working on the service for weeks. I want to make sure I do everything right.

Is this your first wedding?

My first official one, yes.

Well, Pastor Tilton, you probably have a lot to do in preparation for that wedding. Thank you for taking the time to talk with us today. Our listeners and I are looking forward to reading about The Old Cranberry Ladies Garden Club when the book comes out.

Let them know they should check out the website for the Old Cranberry Baptist Church and sign up for our newsletter. We hold a fabulous tag sale every Spring.

Thank you again, Pastor Tilton. For our listeners, I do hope you will join us again next time when we interview Pastor Tilton, of the Old Cranberry Baptist Church.

This has been another episode of Interviews with Fascinating Characters of Fiction. You can learn more about the book and the Cranberry family on our website, BillCusano.com And you can access more of Bill's writing on BillCusano.Substack.com where you will find more interviews with the characters. Thank you for listening. If you have any questions or comments, please write to Bill@BillCusano.com

Russell, I do wish you would call me Jac-leen. I do need to correct you on one thing, though. In addition to my work advocating for the underprivileged, something my dear husband, Preston, rest his soul, was very involved in, I am a member of the Board of Trustees of Old Cranberry, a position most dear to my heart.

But of course, Jac-leen. I understand you and Preston moved to Old Cranberry from Kentucky. Was that move for business? I believe Preston was a bit of an equestrian, is that right?

Preston. My dear Preston. What a prize gelding he was. Yes, Russell, it was all business when we moved. Unfortunately, or perhaps the other way round, the business he was fond of was what forced us to move. As Mama told me, Jac-leen, there are only two days in a woman’s life when she is truly happy, when she marries the man of her dreams, and when he drops dead and leaves her a fortune. Preston did both.

Well, I can see we are going to get right into it then. How would you describe your relationship with Mildred Cranberry?

Russell, I think she might be a bit jealous of me. Though I don't know why that would still be the case, since Preston has now moved into his permanent residence at the Church. A beautiful monument worthy of his stature, if you know what I mean.

Are you saying that Mildred was interested in your dead husband?

Well, she sure isn't interested in him now, but I do see her visiting his grave every day. If truth be told, she goes on the excuse that she's visiting her husband and daughter. Their headstones are right behind the gorgeous limestone mausoleum I had erected for Preston. It's the most beautiful sight to see in all of Old Cranberry.

I understand that the garden club is one of the oldest continuously operating garden clubs in the country, going back over two hundred years. How many members do you have?

Like most things these days, the Old Cranberry Ladies Garden Club is in need of modernization. The only reason it is still functioning is because I insist that we follow a structure. If I left it to Millie, we would spend all our time talking about each other's grandchildren.

You don't have any children, do you?

Let's just say that the tree didn't bear much fruit.

I see that is a sore point for you. It sounds like you are a fan of progress. What do you think about the development projects that have taken place in Old Cranberry? Are you in favor of converting all the open land to million-dollar homes and condos?

If you mean should Millie's granddaughter, Maggie, sell off the property to her future husband after they marry, I couldn't be happier about that.

I got the impression from Mildred that the marriage may not take place.

Ha! There is no way she can stop it. But it may not come down to that.

What do you mean?

Somewhere on that property of hers is the key to the truth about that inheritance. When the truth comes out, the fun will begin.

So, you believe Elceera Cranberry did kill her husband?

Can there be any doubt. Listen, this charade has been going on far too long. If I have my way, and I always have my way, there will be quite a ruckus in this quiet little town.

What do you plan to do?

Let's just say that dear old Millie will have more to worry about than Maggie's betrothal.

Do you believe the key exists?

If I had the power to summon the ghost of Elceera and put her on trial, I would.

Well, Jac-leen, this has been fascinating. I am so glad you took the time to talk with us today, and we are all looking forward to reading about The Old Cranberry Ladies Garden Club when the book comes out.

I thought we would spend more time talking about me.

Thank you, again, Jac-leen. For our listeners, I do hope you will join us again next time when we interview Sylvia Rose, Mildred Cranberry's aunt.

You don't want to interview her. You should interview Ephedra Devine. Now there is someone who is going places.

This has been another episode of Interviews with Fascinating Characters of Fiction. You can learn more about the book and the Cranberry family on our website, BillCusano.com And you can access more of Bill's writing on BillCusano.Substack.com where you will find more interviews with the characters. Thank you for listening. If you have any questions or comments, please write to Bill@BillCusano.com

Effie would do just fine, Russell. Is it OK for me to call you Russell? I believe you know Kendall Lightfoot. I used to work for him, you know.

But of course, Effie. And yes, I know Kendall well. It is a small world in journalism, isn't it?

He is quite a character. I learned a good deal from him, like digging for facts and making them stick.

Perhaps I should interview him as well. What I am curious about, though, is your relationship with your aunt.

Tilly is not really my aunt, Russell. But in many ways, she has been more like a mom to me.

How so?

For reasons I won't get into, my mom was unable to care for me when I was quite young. Tilly worked as an aide in the hospital and saw that I was lost and troubled. She took me in and gave me the life I have today.

That's an amazing story. She didn't mention that to me when we talked.

She doesn't focus the light on herself. That's one way that we are so different. I am all about putting myself out there. After all, if they don't know you exist, how are you going to get anywhere in life?

You do seem to know what you want. I understand you went away to school.

College and then law school. You can't win your case unless you equip yourself with the right tools.

I have heard that you are quite headstrong. It appears that you have an agenda in mind. What would you like to see come about in Old Cranberry now that you have returned.

You did study with Kendall, didn't you? I am not used to showing my hand at the poker table, Russell.

Well, you can't blame me for trying to take a peek behind the curtain, so to speak.

Be careful. That kind of talk can get you in trouble these days.

You are so right, Effie. Forgive me. I was not implying anything lude.

I didn't think you were, but this is going to be heard by many people. It is important that they understand what is truly at stake here.

What exactly is at stake, Effie? Is it the development of the Old Cranberry properties?

If only it was that simple. What we have here is an opportunity to correct history, Russell. That doesn't come about too often, and I am not about to let this moment pass without taking advantage of it.

What do you plan to do?

As I said earlier, I am not going to show my hand.

Well I guess we will just have to wait and see, won't we?

I hope the book comes out soon. The sooner, the better.

Well, Effie, this has been enchanting. I am so glad you took the time to talk with us today, and we are all looking forward to reading about The Old Cranberry Ladies Garden Club when the book comes out.

Pay particular attention to my story, Russell. It is at the heart of the matter.

Thank you, again, Effie. For our listeners, I do hope you will join us again next time when we interview Doctor Maggie Payton, Mildred Cranberry's granddaughter. We will want to hear what her plans are for the children's cancer center.

Aren't you going to interview Kendall? He's much more interesting than Maggie.

This has been another episode of Interviews with Fascinating Characters of Fiction.

Subscribe now

The Old Cranberry Ladies Garden Club: The Ghost and The Key, is the first novel in a series by Bill Cusano. The EBook is available now on Amazon.com

The paperback will be released in the spring of 2025, along with an audiobook. You can learn more about the book and the Cranberry family on our website, BillCusano.com. And you can access more of Bill's writing on BillCusano.Substack.com where you will find more interviews with the characters. Thank you for listening to this preview. If you have any questions or comments, please write to Bill@BillCusano.com

Hello, Tilly. It is so good to meet you.

Stop, stop. Stoppppp

I'm sorry, my chair sometimes refuses to obey. Let me turn it off so I don't go flying into you without intending to. Not that I would intend to do such a thing mind you, but these motorized wheelchairs are tricky to maneuver.

That's quite alright, Tilly. Is it OK to proceed?

Yes. Please, don't mind me. I am glad we could all meet today.

It is just the two of us here.

Oh? I forget sometimes who is actually here in person and who is visiting.

I don't understand. Could you explain?

It used to be easier, when I was young, although when I was really young I had no idea they weren't visible to everyone. And many cannot hear them either.

Are you talking about the spirits? I was told you speak with them.

Sometimes, yes, but that's the easy part. They can hear us, regardless of how they appear.

I am not sure I understand. What do you mean by how they appear?

Well, it's like this. Sometimes a bird is a bird. But sometimes the bird carries the spirit of one who sent it. Not all birds, mind you, and butterflies and dragonflies have been known to do the same, but I don't always connect with those.

You have piqued my interest, Tilly. How do you know when a spirit is riding on the wings of a bird?

I like that. It reminds me of a song. It's a bit hard to explain, even for me, and I've been able to do this all my life. More so, now that I am losing my hearing. It's funny but some channels come in clearer when you can't hear.

I think I can make some sense of that. When the noise of the day is quieted, you are able to hear.

Exactly.

So, is it always a bird that you see?

No. But sometimes, I can only feel the presence of someone like I do now. There is someone with us, but I can't make out who it is.

Fascinating. Do you ever find that people think you are a bit crazy?

Is the sky blue? Of course. But I don't mind. Eventually, they will find out what is true and what isn't.

What do you mean? How will they find out?

When someone comes for them to take them home, then they will know for certain. I hope when my time comes I will not be afraid. Most people are, you know.

It sounds like we all have something to look forward to.

Yes, we do. I wonder if I will get an advance notice. Hmmm. Interesting.

Well, thank you Tilly. This has been a truly unique experience.

You are quite welcome, Russell. And thank you, Mrs. Morgan for coming to visit with your son.

Er, um, I am suddenly at a loss for words.

This has been another episode of Interviews with Fascinating Characters of Fiction and we are all so excited that the book, The Old Cranberry Ladies Garden Club: The Ghost and The Key is now available as an ebook on Amazon. Join us next time when we interview Ephedra Devine, also known as Effie. She returns to Old Cranberry with a whole new identity. Please subscribe to learn more about these fascinating characters of fiction.

You can learn more about the book and the Cranberry family on our website, BillCusano.com And you can access more of Bill's writing on BillCusano.Substack.com where you will find more interviews with the characters. Thank you for listening. If you have any questions or comments, please write to Bill@BillCusano.com

Leave a comment

Subscribe now

Thank you, Russell. I do prefer using my maiden name rather than my married name, if you don't mind. Cranberry is such a lovely name and it holds so much meaning for all of us here in Old Cranberry.

But of course, Mildred. Before we get started, I was hoping you could give our listeners a bit of history about the Cranberry Estate. I understand it has quite an interesting history that goes back several hundred years.

What you call the Cranberry Estate is not an estate at all, but a pristine, park-like property that began as a small farm located where the main house and carriage house are today. It started out as a horse farm, you know. Chester H. Cranberry bought the property just before the war. That would be the war between the states. On part of the property, he planted hay, and set up an apple orchard which is still here today, though the barn and horses are long gone. I try to hold onto as much of the heritage as I can.

Tradition is very important to you, isn't it? I have heard there is some talk of developing the area.

Now that's a sore point for me, Russell. There will be no development on my land.

There has been quite a lot of property development in the area, though. Are you worried the vultures will come in when your granddaughter inherits the property? I believe Maggie is engaged, is she not?

I do worry about that, Russell. Maggie is so busy at the hospital, she is not thinking clearly about the future.

She has got quite a big job. I read that she is raising money for a new children's cancer center.

She loves children. And they love her. Her mother would be very proud.

I'm glad you brought that up. Your daughter, Audrey, died during the COVID pandemic, correct? How did that affect your relationship with Maggie?

It was very hard for both of us. Because of the restrictions, Audrey died alone. Not a day goes by that I don't feel guilty about that.

I do hope we can get past that and build a much better relationship.

I understand you have multiple homes on the property. Does Maggie live with you?

My Aunt Sylvie lives in the carriage house. She enjoys it there, tending her gardens and having her afternoon teas. We get together there often, but I live in the main house and Maggie is free to come and go as she pleases.

And she is getting married soon. What do you think of her fiancé?

I think she shouldn't rush into marriage, but if it is what she wants, I suppose it will be for the best.

Sam seems to be in love with her. He comes from a good family, I believe. The Castlebys are in construction?

It is a development company, responsible for building a good number of those McCastles you see around town. I don't particularly care for the way they treat the tradition and history of the land. There should be limits on what can be torn down and how progress should be implemented. Old Cranberry is a beautiful town with a rich history, steeped in tradition. Don't get me started.

I just have one more question. I saved the best for last, so to speak.

You promised you wouldn't bring up the nonsense about the key.

Thank you for mentioning it. I did not bring it up, mind you.

Legend has it that the property you inherited would have passed to someone else if it could have been proven that Elcira Cranberry killed her husband Chester. But you dismiss that as bunk.

Elceera was locked in a shed when her husband was killed, so she couldn't have done the deed.

But if she had a key?

The only key was in Chester's possession. The police found no evidence of foul play.

Well, Mildred, this has been fascinating. I am so glad you took the time to talk with us today, and we are all looking forward to reading about The Old Cranberry Ladies Garden Club when the book comes out.

Who exactly is going to hear this interview?

Thank you, again, Mildred. For our listeners, I do hope you will join us again next time when we interview Jacqueline Hudson.

Not her! You didn't tell me you were interviewing her as well.

This has been another episode of Interviews with Fascinating Characters of Fiction. Please sign up for our newsletter to learn when the next broadcast will be aired.

Share

Subscribe now

Subscribe now

Cusano Marketing Presents the Unabridged Recording of The Old Cranberry Ladies Garden Club: The Ghost and The Key

By Bill Cusano

Narrated by Speechify Studio

The Cranberry Farm, Connecticut, 1832

Dressed in her husband’s shirt, overalls, and boots, to avoid soiling her fine clothing, Elcira Cranberry takes the long way around from the main house to the potting shed at the edge of the carriage house property. She stops to press her face into the down-soft syringa vulgaris, better known as the lilac. Here, bordering the two parcels of land her husband planted all seven colors of the species, one variety each year for each of their children. What a loving thing to do, she had thought, until they started blooming and it became apparent that their spring-like lily of the valley fragrance was the perfect way to overpower the stench from the nearby outhouse. So much for romance. But she enjoyed them, her other children, as she called them, and each year she clips, grafts and coddles a new generation into life, hoping to extend their lives beyond the one-hundred-years they are expected to live.

“Be careful, Dear,” he told Elcira when he saw her cradling the flowers to her nose, “some lilacs can be quite toxic.”

“I intend to enjoy every moment of my life with them.”

She steals away to her favorite place and unlocks the potting shed door with a brass key. It occurs to her that, dressed as she is, a passerby or nosy neighbor, like Colonel Townsend, could mistake her for Chester.

Elcira locks the door from the inside and pockets the key. She unbuttons the overalls and lets them drop to the floor. The work shirt becomes a work dress, and its function is to keep her cool.

The sunlight barely sneaks in—a voyeur, a peep, a trickle of light—enough for her to see her potted friends. The scent of lilacs and fresh soil erases all thoughts from her mind. This is her peaceful place.

While she works at making a V-shaped cut in the stem of the yellow lilac, a sparrow chirps to her chicks in a nest under the eave of the roof. The nest sits precariously between the crossbeam and the top of the wall. The shed doesn’t offer much protection from the elements, but it provides shade from the sun and some cover from the rain and snow. Mostly, it provides Elcira with an asylum, a place to go to be alone with her thoughts.

“Elcira!” Chester barks. “Where are you? I need something to drink.”

She knows he is in the barn again, moving piles of hay from one place to another, pitchfork in hand. He will be loading the hay onto the wagon to bring to the horses. If only the children were old enough to help him, she would have more time to spend with her horses. Theirs is the life, running within their rounded-fenced paddock on the bottom fifty, beyond the hill, drinking from the pond whenever they need refreshment. Why don’t you go down there, stick your head under, and breathe in all you can?

She brushes the dirt from her hands and wipes them on the overalls before stepping back into them. She doesn’t have much time to herself, but at least with Deborah watching the young ones and the older ones at the schoolhouse in town, these few hours are her time unless he calls. At least he’s not twiddling his fingers beneath some young thing’s whalebone corset.

She has thought about hiring one of those newly freed slaves as an all-around domestic as some of Elcira’s garden club ladies have done. No doubt Chester would want to choose one whose looks he fancies. It doesn’t matter to him what the skin looks like. His eyes roam where only modesty and necessity should venture. Freed slaves, like Deborah, do still turn some heads in town, but here, on the edge of their property, where the Colonel lives, she is safe from wandering eyes and hands. Rumors do make their way from the wagging tongues of the garden club ladies, who are often more reliable than the local newspaper.

Elcira unlocks the potting shed and approaches the well. Deborah is sitting on the ground, her back against the stone well.

“Oh, Mrs. Cranberry. I didn’t expect anyone at this time of day.” Her nose is running, and her eyes look like ladybugs, red and black.

“You didn’t want to be seen. What’s wrong?” Elcira is unaccustomed to involving herself in the affairs of others, but Elcira has known Deborah since she was born. Her mom, Grace, was Colonel Townsend’s slave and nanny to his daughter, Penelope. Now, she is often alone in the house here on the edge of the Cranberry Farm while the colonel is away with his militia. Chester sold this property from the row of lilacs down to the small house to Colonel Townsend for a mangy mule and some seed. One of those neighborly deeds he is famous for, making him look like a true gentleman among all the other “true” gentlemen of this idyllic New England paradise lost.

Deborah places a hand on her belly and starts to cry. Instantly, Elcira understands.

“Who is the father?” Elcira expects her to say it is the colonel, but Deborah puts her head down and wipes her eyes with the hem of her skirt, revealing her legs. Even with her dark skin, Elcira spots remnants of bruises. If this is the twiddler’s work, God help him.

“Elcira! My water!”

“Oh hush, you old hoot!” Elcira reaches for the pail to lower it into the well, but Deborah takes it.

“I’ll do it,” she says.

Elcira grabs Deborah’s hands in hers. Their eyes meet. Neither of them moves. “Did he do this to you?” Elcira asks.

Deborah’s lip quivers. “I’m so sorry, Mrs. Cranberry. I couldn’t stop hi—”

“Hush now.” Elcira reaches for Deborah and hugs her. “I know, I know.”

This was not the first time he’d done it. But this isn’t one of the women who frequent the tavern looking for some company for a price. This is Deborah, her friend.

Elcira tightens her grip on her hands for a moment, taking a deep breath before letting go.

“I’ll take the water to him.” Elcira lowers the rope to fill the pail, her lips tight, pressed against each other as if the pail is too heavy. When she pulls it up, Deborah takes it from her.

“This is something I need to do myself,” she says.

A chill rushes through Elcira. Should she let Deborah confront the man who violated her? Deborah kisses Elcira on the cheek and says,” I’ll be fine. Go back to your lilacs. They will miss you.”

Elcira leans closer and kisses her on the cheek. “I will be in the shed. We can have privacy there.” She hands Deborah the brass key. “Keep it. You can unlock the shed at any time and lock it again from the inside. In case you need to get away by yourself, that is. I do it all the time.”

“What about you?”

“There is another key. I keep it on a hook in the shed, in case I get locked in,” she says, nodding toward the barn. “He won’t miss it.”

Elcira walks back to the shed. On the way, she notices that Charley, Colonel Townsend’s horse is tied to a post at the house. Good. Deborah doesn’t have to be alone. She looks up at the barn. Chester wields the pitchfork like a hammer, stabbing bundles of hay to loosen them. Seeds and dust spray the air, glistening against the sun. He wipes his brow, jabs the pitchfork into a bale beside him, plants himself on a throne of hay, and takes the pail of water from Deborah.

Elcira clips a few branches from the white lilac bush near the door and brings them inside. The intoxicating aroma pulls her toward the porcelain white cups of the flower. Several fall off, a sign that the season is waning. Soon all the buds will be cast to the wind and the bushes will go back to serving as a hedge. When the flowers die, time dies with it.

She reaches for the key near the door’s hook. It is missing. It must be in the house.

“Elcira!”

For God’s sake. Leave me be. She grabs the door handle and gives it a turn. It won’t move. It’s locked.

“Deborah!” Elcira calls her name several times, but there is no answer.

This has been a preview of The Old Cranberry Ladies Garden Club: The Ghost and The Key, the first novel in a series by Bill Cusano, narrated by Speechify Studio. The EBook is available now on Amazon.com. The paperback will be released in the spring of 2025, along with an audiobook. You can learn more about the book and the Cranberry family on our website, BillCusano.com. And you can access more of Bill's writing on BillCusano.Substack.com where you will find interviews with the characters as well. Thank you for listening to this preview. If you have any questions or comments, please write to Bill@BillCusano.com.

Harold, it is so good to meet with you.

Hello, Mr. Morgan. It is a pleasure to be here, but I am not sure why you would want to talk with me. Your listeners will be bored.

Nonsense, Harold. You work for one of the most fascinating and powerful women in Old Cranberry. How long have you been in Mrs. Hudson's employ?

That's just the thing, Mr. Morgan.

Call me Russell, please.

I prefer to keep this formal. It is my upbringing.

Very well, Mr. Neal. I will do likewise. Have you worked for Mrs. Hudson for very long?

Not at all. I was hired recently when her previous driver Cecil left. I'm not privy to the reason for his departure, since he was with her for many years.

Have you always been employed in service Mr. Neal?

No. I have held many different types of jobs over the years, but I have a great deal of respect for people in service to others. My father was a man-servant on a large estate and my mother took care of children in addition to her own.

That's quite impressive. What is it like working for Mrs. Hudson?

She has her peculiarities.

Could you elaborate on some?

I don't want to reveal too much, but I can say that we do quite a bit of traveling to and fro. She likes to keep informed of what is going on in her community. And she does see Old Cranberry as her community.

That could put her at odds with Mrs. Cranberry-Smith. Do they get along?

If one is a tiger, then the other is a bear. I'm not really sure which is which at any given moment.

Neither of which have any real predators other than man.

And with those two, it would be the man who loses that battle.

Do you plan on working for Mrs. Hudson long, or is it too soon to tell?

Now that could be construed as a trick question, Mr. Morgan. Are you trying to tell me something I should be worried about?

Not at all, Mr. Neal. Thank you so much for joining us today. We wish you much luck in your career.

You are trying to tell me something. I knew I shouldn't have accepted this interview request.

This has been another episode of Interviews with Fascinating Characters of Fiction and we are all looking forward to reading about The Old Cranberry Ladies Garden Club when the book comes out. Join us next time when we interview Tilly Simmons, long time member of The Old Cranberry Ladies Garden Club, and someone who has a unique talent we should find very interesting. Please sign up for our newsletter to learn when the next broadcast will be aired.

Share

Subscribe now

Sylvia, it is so good to meet with you.

Oh my, dear Mr. Morgan. Please call me Sylvie. Everyone does and I find it much more pleasant than Sylvia, which sounds so much like a television star or politician.

But of course, Sylvie. I am curious about your relationship with your niece, Mildred. I understand you live on the property in the carriage house. Have you always lived there?

Oh, yes, well. Alright. We are somewhat closer in age than one would think, given that I am her aunt, but all the branches of our family tree spread far and wide, you see. I do live in the carriage house, which is really my home, since it is my garden that I tend to on the property and Millie has no intention of making any changes. Heaven forbid.

Was there ever a possibility she would sell the property?

No, no, no, no. Millie? No, she has promised to leave the property as it is fully intact to Maggie upon her wedding day, so there is no way she would sell.

But then what will happen to you and Mildred, when Maggie inherits the land and the two homes?

Oh, well, I shudder to think of such a thing. I am sure there is no way Maggie would kick us out. Perhaps that is what Millie is worried about, given Sam's father is a developer. But, no. We have quite a nice life as it is.

Sam's father runs Castleby Properties, does he not? Wouldn't it be in his best interest to help develop such a large piece of prime real estate? Especially given that it borders the Sound?

Mr. Morgan, you're trying to get me all a tith-er, aren't you?

You can call me Russell, Sylvie.

That's funny. I thought your last name was Morgan. Anyway, Millie is all up in her curlers about this wedding, and I've told her she needs to just calm down. What do the young ones say? Chill?

Once ownership of the property transfers, Mildred will have no say in what happens, correct?

I do believe you are right , but you don't know Maggie. She's a doctor, you know. Smart child. No, not a child anymore. She grew up right here, swinging on the rope swing of the old oak near my garden. We would sit together on the garden bench, her, Audrey, and me. And of course, we would have tea.

Getting back to the property issue.

That's not what I want to talk about at all Russell. What do you say we stop this and have some tea? I can make a pot and bring out some biscuits. We can sit in the garden and enjoy the day. Are you married? Perhaps we can invite Mildred to join us. Why fret about what you can't change?

Well, I guess that about sums it all up then. It has been such a pleasure talking with you Sylvie. For our listeners, I do hope you will join us again next time when we interview Harold Neal, Jacqueline Hudson's driver and confidant.

What a lovely man Harold. I would love to listen in on that one. That would be so nice. I really don't know too much about him, but he does have a lovely smile.

This has been another episode of Interviews with Fascinating Characters of Fiction and we are all looking forward to reading about The Old Cranberry Ladies Garden Club when the book comes out. Please sign up for our newsletter to learn when the next broadcast will be aired.