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Many members of the Key West Writers Guild are published
authors. Here are some of their books.
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Francis’ fourth
fast-paced mystery-thriller once again takes place in Key West. Past efforts have featured a rookie private detective
and a foot reflexologist, and now we have singer-songwriter Bailey Green. Each of these spunky and complex heroines is in
the process of remaking her life. Just as Bailey arrives at the Key West airport, the body of her benefactor, Francine Shipton,
is found lying at the foot of a stairway in her Eden Palms mansion. As usual, Francis has assembled an interesting and eclectic
mix of suspects, including a doctor operating a private clinic, a funeral director, a real-estate salesman, the victim’s
son, and Bailey’s brother. The motive seems to be pretty clear, however, as Francine had plans to donate her mansion
as a safe house for the homeless. When a homeless man also goes missing, Bailey tries to get police help and nearly ends up
a victim herself. This is an enjoyable page-turner with quite appealing and realistic characters and a well-delivered social
message. Buy it on amazon.com or at the author's web site, www.dorothyfrancis.com.
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Dorothy Brenner
Francis was born in Lawrence, Kansas, and grew up in Olathe, Kansas. She graduated from the University of Kansas with
a music degree. After playing with a dance band for several months, she worked as a music instructor in California, Missouri,
and Oklahoma before settling in Marshalltown, Iowa with her husband, Richard. Before receiving her first book publishing contract
in 1966 for Adventure at Riverton Zoo, Ms. Francis wrote short stories and lyrics for children's magazines. Since
then, she has written over fifty young adult books, several young adult mysteries, and, most recently, four adult mysteries
with female protagonists. Francis and her husband have lived in the Florida Keys and she frequently sets her stories
on islands or in a seaside environment.
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Dorothy Francis
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Sand Dollar is available
for $14.95 from amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com.
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Imagine life in old Key West . . .Mary Thorne should already have married, but
Michael was lost at sea, a victim of his own foolishness. Her father persuades her to accept the hand of Richard Randall,
a wrecker. It will be a marriage of convenience for them both, but better than nothing. When Mary learns about her father’s
dark secret, the knowledge drives her closer to Richard. Then the Great Hurricane of 1846 lures them to Key West to profit
from the rebuilding. Mary leaves her family behind and places all her hopes on her husband and her children-to-come.
As events unfold, suspenseful and often surprising, Mary struggles to maintain her independence and reconcile her ideals with
the realities of life in Key West in the mid-1800's. Sand Dollar ~ a tale of old Key West
is a thoroughly researched historical novel that will make you laugh and bring you to tears, but you won't be able to put
it down!
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From
the author: I once lived in a house that was brought to Key West from the Bahamas in the
1800's. The thick heart pine walls were so hard they bent nails. At the kitchen doorway, old wood cupped beneath a new sill.
I knew there was dust in the cracks that dated from the original owners. I put a pencil and paper in the attic in case there
was a spirit presence with something to say. There wasn’t, but I never lost the sense of the people who lived there
before me. These were the seeds of Sand Dollar, a tale of old Key West. Born
and raised in Denver, Colorado, I "went east to college" where I graduated from Brown University in Providence,
R.I. Along the way I’ve lived in Massachusetts, New York, France, and mainland Florida. For some years I’ve made
my home in Key West. Visit my web site at www.janenewhagen.com.
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Jane Newhagen
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