. . . the cover featuring the hand thrusting the disco ball through the curtain!

You will recall that my last blog entry asked for your input regarding four potential covers for Swing Time III: Blame it on the Boogie. All four received support and I was impressed by the fact that many of you included a rationale for your support, and did not merely cast a vote. The editorial staff—i.e. Martha—also liked the disco-ball-through-the-curtain more than any of the other three and frankly, the editorial staff’s vote counted more than anyone else’s. As soon as the editorial staff gets to the copy editing, and the dance instructor reviews a couple of patterns described, the book will be that much closer to publication.

I appreciate everyone who took the time to comment on the covers. Thank you. It’s good to know that there are folks out there who care about what I write.

As for what’s on the inside a small sample appears below. Emily, who came of age in the disco days of the 1970s, is recently retired and has been taking hustle lessons at the Trouble Afoot Dance Studio in the White Rose Shopping Center. It just so happens that the disco where she was a regular was located in what is now the Goodwill, which happens to be next door to Trouble Afoot. Chance, her instructor has been holding off on informing her that the shopping center is about to be torn down. The news shakes Emily to her core.

Almost as soon as they got outside, Emily turned to face Chance in such a way that said, “We’re not going any further until you tell me what’s going on.” He pulled her to the side.

“Some developers have bought this shopping center, Emily. They’re going to tear it down. Our studio. . . . the Goodwill . . . all of it.”

Disbelief, sadness, bitterness swirled about Emily’s face but quickly settled into a vacant, crest-fallen stare.

“So. They’re going to tear down the old White Rose,” she said, evenly. “Nothing lasts forever, but it would be nice if I didn’t have to see all of it go before I do.” She stared at the Goodwill. The mannequin in the window stared back. Chance had never seen anyone cry so much without any tears escaping. He was about to ask if she were okay, but the answer was obvious and he stopped himself.

“Listen,” he began. “I understand what you’re feeling.”

“No, you don’t! You’re still young. You haven’t had your youth pulled out from under you. Yet. I don’t know why I decided to do these stupid dance lessons, anyway! All they did was stir up memories that were best left alone.”

It will be up to Chance and his partner Faith to reconcile Emily’s past with her future, but how they are to do it, neither knows. They’ll discover the answer, however, and you will, too, when you purchase a copy of Swing Time III: Blame it on the Boogie. You know, once the editorial department is finished with it and the author uploads it to Amazon.