Book One of the Delta Mysteries, Carlotta's Secret, introduced the readers to Carlotta Stevens a newly transported New Yorker who now lives in the small Delta town of Willow Springs. Also introduced was the Webster Street Gang and Miss Simon an individual who will play an important part in almost all of the future Delta Mysteries. The Delta Mysteries are contemporary children's fairy tale mystery novels set in and around the small fictionalize town of Willow Springs, California . It can be ordered via email at Auther1@aol.com The cost of is  $17.50, which  INCLUDES shipping and handling.

 Carlotta and the Crawdad Festival Mystery was to have been  published in May 2002. It was to debut at Tower Books on Watt in Sacramento, California before becoming available during the Crawdad Festival that will be held in Isleton, California on Father's Day weekend, June 14-16, 2002. The book was also to be available in libraries and bookstores after June 16, 2002. 

However, because the Author is seeking a new publisher to complete this series of books the actual publication date will be announced later. 

This is a perfect "summer" reading book that you will want to take with you during your vacation. 

Carlotta and the Witch Doctor was  scheduled to be published  in September 2002. 

 However, the author is seeking a new publisher to complete the series.

 This is a book for celebrating Halloween and for the long, dark, wet nights when the fog keeps
you company as it creeps through the windows and down the chimney.

Only the readers know Carlotta's Secret, her friends never find out.

This is a perfect book for reading by flashlight under the covers when it is raining outside or for sitting in the most comfortable chair in the house in front of a roaring fire and drinking a cup of hot cocoa.

The second book of the series, Carlotta and the Grand Island Mansion Mystery is a Holiday story that involves all of the Webster Street Gang, Miss Simon and other unusual individuals from the Delta area. Readers of Book Enjoy.

Chapter One-Miss Moran

The first school bell rang.

"Hurry, Margo, remember Mrs. Thornton told us that we were having a homeroom visitor this morning and she didn't want any of us arriving late."

"Randy, where is Lewis?" I asked, although I knew the answer.

"Late," Margo said, as the three of us ran through the Willow Springs Elementary School playground. Margo, Randy and I made it to our seats just as the final bell rung. Lewis wasn't in sight.

"Welcome children. Take your seats." Timmy and Tru were tossing a baseball back and forth between them near the rear seats. They hurried to their seats in front.

"We have a guest this morning. Miss Moran, from the Acorn to Oak school for homeless children." Mrs. Thornton said, pointing to the pretty blond woman standing by her desk. She ignored Timmy and Tru.

"Welcome Miss Moran." The class said.

"She told me that her and Mr. Brown's sixth grade classes might like to adopt the Acorn to Oak school as your winter class project this year." Miss Moran continued.

"Will we be like Big Brothers?" Monroe asked, just as Lewis slipped into the classroom. Mrs. Thornton looked at her watch then at the large classroom clock on the rear wall, she shook her head then sat down in her chair behind her desk. Miss Moran sat on the edge of the desk slightly swinging her left leg back and forth.

 She wore a bright yellow linen pantsuit, a pale yellow silk blouse and a real pearl necklace around her neck. Mom taught me to recognize real gems. There were so many street merchants on the Avenue of the Americas who try to sell young girls, like me, fake jewelry during the holidays, that Mom insisted that I know exactly what I'm buying if I ever were to buy anything for her or Dad on the Street. 

Not that I ever would. We New Yorkers are very smart. I'd know to go to a real store and have the present wrapped in very pretty wrapping with a big bow. Miss Moran reminded me of New York and of Mrs. Burns, the school nurse from my old school. Mrs. Burns always wore linen pantsuits, which Mother said was impractical because at least once a week some small kid would throw up on her and all over her pantsuits. 

She always looked perfect. I never saw any throw up on her or on her brown penny loafers. Miss Moran wore brown penny loafers with a bright shiny penny in each shoe. I liked her right away.

"Not exactly. You won't be adopting a specific child. Instead you'll be making things for the children's Thanksgiving or Christmas holidays." Miss Moran said, answering Monroe's question.

"Laura, I've tried to teach the children the importance of volunteering and giving back to their community. These children enjoy new challenges. I think that your school project is just want is needed to get them involved in a holiday project."

"We welcome all the help we can get. Since we don't know how many children will be attending the Acorn to Oak school, in December…"

"Why don't you know how many kids will be there?" Timmy asked, rolling his baseball back and forth on the top of his desk.

"We rarely have more than 30 children even during the most difficult times."

"Laura, you might want to tell the children about Acorn to Oak." Mrs. Thornton said.

Future Booksigning

February 5, 2002 Black History Month presentation, 9-1 P.M. Dept of Justice, Sacramento, CA

February 6, 2002, Cordova Villa School 9-11 AM; Rancho Cordova, CA

February 20, Black History Month, signing 9:00 to 1:30 PM; Dept. of Justice, Broadway branch, Sacramento, CA

February 21, 2002, Black History Month luncheon speaker, noon -1:30 PM McClellan Park, CA

February 23, 2002, Jack & Jill Sacramento Chapter's Black History Month, Belle Coolridge Community Center, Sacramento, CA;

March 2, 2002, Calif Professional Black Women's Networking Brunch, South San Francisco, CA;

March 17, 2002 1-3 PM Carol's Books, Sacramento, CA;

Left Coast Crime Mystery Conference-March 21-24, 2002 Portland, OR. All week;

National Forum for Black Public Administrators-April 7-10, 2002 Portland, OR all week;

Tower Books Watt & El Camino 7-9 PM, May 17, 2002, Sacramento, CA;

Miners' Day-Weed, CA June 1-2, 2002, all weekend

Crawdad Festival June 14-16, 2002, Isleton, CA; all weekend

Governor's Women's Conference - September 24, 2002, Long Beach, CA, all day (not confirmed)

Founders' Day-Allensworth, CA October 12, 2002, all day;

Bouchercon International Mystery Conference-Austin, TX Oct 17-21, 2002 all week; Kidney Foundation Author's Luncheon, November 16, 2002, Sacramento, CA; (not- confirmed)

FUTURE BOOKS

Between now and a date to be announced,  look for the other Delta Mysteries:

Carlotta and the Witch Doctor due in bookstores September 2002; publication date to be announced.

Carlotta and the Rail Faire Mystery-Book Five, due in bookstores February 2003 ; publication date to be announced.

Carlotta and the Ione Castle Mystery-Book Six due in bookstores October 2003; publication date to be announced.

Carlotta and the Gilroy Garlic Festival Mystery-Book Seven due in bookstores June 2004; publication date  to be announced.

Carlotta and the Locke Ghost-Book Eight due in bookstores due in bookstores in October 2004;publication date to be announced.

ALSO AVAILABLE:

A POPLAR COVE MYSTERY

These books are written for the 9-14 year old reader

The Secret of St. Gabriel's Tower the first of A Poplar Cove Mystery. This is a historical mystery set in the late 1920s in a fictionalized "colored" town in Northern California coast. 

Read about the adventures of three eleven year old best friends nicknamed, The Triplets, by the townspeople who solve mysteries in and around their small town.

  Their first adventure involves the disappearance of Ruthie Joan, an older classmate who is the only child in the Tri-Cove area to have contracted polio. Was she kidnapped? Did she run away? Did she fall over one of the many cliffs near the edge of town? What is the Secret of St. Gabriel's Tower?

ISBN 0-9703178-9-1

The Secret of Morton's End is the second of A Poplar Cove Mystery.  The Triplets are BACK! There has been a murder, the first in over 20 years in their hometown.

 The murderer couldn't be anyone the girls know, therefore, it must be someone new. The only "new" person to Poplar Cove is their substitute teacher, Miss Swanson. 

The Triplets are determined to find out why Miss Swanson would harm anyone. 

Have they found the culprit or have they allowed their imagination to cloud the evidence that would point to someone else? What is The Secret of Morton's End?

Scheduled for availability in October 2002; publication date to be announced.  

The Secret of Sugarman's Circus, the third and final A Poplar Cove Mystery. It's the end of June and Poplar Cove is getting ready for the annual Fourth of July Parade and Picnic. 

A traveling circus breaks down outside of town. A performer who befriended the girls is discovered dead. After 20 years of peaceful existence, the small town has experienced two murders in less than a year.

 The Triplets decide to put their Junior Sheriff Deputy "badges" to the test. Learn about Professor Williams XX and Horse show, the largest "colored" circus in the 1920s, one that rivaled Barnum and Bailey. 

Who would wish to harm a circus performer? What is the Secret of Sugarman's Circus?

Editor: Patricia E. Canterbury

Email: patmyst@aol.com

Website: http://www.patmyst.com

Publisher: Author is currently searching for another publisher to complete this series.