Valentine’s Day is the perfect day for Search Beyond Lies: Fact or Fiction – The Romance. Is the romance between Charlie and James fact or fiction? Since that question is multifaceted, we’ll take a look at its parts.
The Hero and Heroine
The actual hero and heroine are inspired by real people. Writers envision who their characters look like and often keep a photo handy of these characters to keep them on track. The photo can be a snapshot of people they know, or a photo of a popular actor or actress or … .
J.C. & Priscilla Jane
Search Beyond Lies: Fact or Fiction — Missing revealed that the character James, was inspired by my son, J.C., who actively participated in the search for Brian. But how about James’ love interest, Charlie?
Charlie
The heroine, Charlie, was inspired by a real person – Priscilla Jane (P.J.). Charlie’s physical description mirrors that of P. J., a true 6-foot beauty.
Many of Charlie’s character traits are actually those held by P.J. who is beautiful on the inside and out. However, her history and participation in the search is mixed with fact and fiction.
Charlie’s background as an expert skier is fact. At one time she considered training for the Olympics until a high school soccer accident made that impossible is fact. That same accident made P.J. unavailable to be on the front line in the search for Brian. She needed surgery from that same injury years prior.
However, P.J. worked in the background in the search for Brian by getting volunteers, and doing all the behind the scenes work on her computer.
Charlie’s military background is another story. It is pure fiction.
the romance
The romance between J.C. and P.J. is real. They are engaged to be married this year and although I already consider her a part of my family, it will be official.
How they met and the romance as portrayed within Search Beyond Lies is fiction. Speaking of romance, do you consider Search Beyond Lies a Romantic Suspense Thriller or a Suspense Thriller with a dash of romance? The next article will look at the “rules” for determining genre and survey what the readers feel, after all, it’s the readers that count, not the rules.
In the last Fact or Fiction article for Search Beyond Lies – The Clues: Part 2, I left you with a mystery about the real glasses. A particular painting was the source of a few of the clues revealed in the book. Does this painting exist? If it does exist, who is the artist? How about the other painting described in detail?
the artist
Brian Perri did in fact have a favorite artist and he collected a number of this artist’s paintings. The name of “Brett’s” favorite artist in the book is fiction. As a matter of fact, that fictitious name is an alternate since unbeknownst to me (until pointed out by one of my beta readers), the original name I planned to use belongs to a professional basketball player.
The real artist’s name is Greg Pettit. Brian discovered Greg’s paintings in a Denver art gallery and since he found his paintings fascinating at many levels, he started collecting his work.
Greg uses colors that bring joy.
Every time you look at his paintings you discover something new.
His work inspires creativity.
Each painting is unique.
The work is captivating.
The painting
The clue-revealing painting described within Search Beyond Lies is a real painting that was painted by Greg Pettit. It is now owned by J.C. and came into his possession in the manner described in the book.
Artist: Greg Pettit
This painting can captivate someone for hours, and it was a source of inspiration for me. Since I know I didn’t do the painting justice in its description, I received permission from Greg Pettit to post a picture of it. If you want to explore more of Greg’s work, feel free to click his name which is linked to his Instagram account or copy and paste: greg_pettit@instagram.
the other painting
To my knowledge, Brian did not paint. The example I used of “Brett’s” painting hobby was that of a skunk painted on the wall of his parents’ guest bathroom. You could not sit on the commode without the skunk’s lifted tail aimed at you. The fact that the character, Brett, painted it was fiction.
Artist: Brett Rosenberg
However, the painting itself is fact and was painted by a family friend, Brett Rosenberg. It is the real Brett’s hobby – he is very creative, a great artist, and is a Radiation Health Physicist, as Brian was in life, and as my character, Brett is in Search Beyond Lies. I received Brett’s permission to share it with you. It brings a smile to my face every time I use their guest bathroom.
What would you like to see for the next Fact or Fiction article for Search Beyond Lies?
Today’s post was supposed be the first Fact or Fiction article of 2023, however, I experienced an unusual act of kindness I just had to share. Can You Imagine?
What most writers dread
The 90th Birthday Celebration!
Marketing is the bane of most writers’ existence, and I’m no exception. My trip to South Florida was a combination of business and my dad’s 90th birthday celebration. While there, I decided to take photos of Search Beyond Lies with natural backgrounds to use in marketing. I found what I believed to be an ideal location on the bridge that crosses the inlet.
the bridge
Since currents are extremely rough, it opens
on demand and there is always a bridge operator. I selected a great spot and
started taking photos and videos. I didn’t think about the dynamics of how I
needed to move to capture these photos and the thought of what I may have
looked like never occurred to me until…
the bridge operator
The bridge operator came rushing out of his shelter to make sure I was alright — carrying a beautiful rose. Can you imagine what he must have thought?
When I explained what I was doing, a grin spread across his face. He handed me the rose and wished me blessings on my day. I can only imagine why he had this picture-perfect rose in the first place…
What an incredible act of kindness!! He definitely made my day as I took the remainder of my photos with the rose.
My walk
My 3-mile walk turned into 6.5 miles. With a smile on my face, I took photos of my book and special rose in a multitude of scenic places:
Along the inlet…
On the beach next to the inlet…
In the park, and …
My day was truly blessed!
A writer friend of mine started sharing quotes as a ministry during COVID and one of her primary topics is kindness. What are the most unusual acts of kindness you have experienced? Any ideas to share? We’d love to hear about them!
The first Fact or Fiction article of 2023 will reveal what was fact and what was fiction about the paintings found in Search Beyond Lies. Stay tuned!
What about that New Year’s resolution? Did you make yours? If you did, how long is your list? My New Year’s resolutions started in middle school and continued for more years than I’d like to count. They included what most people placed on their list, although they varied based on the time of my life:
avoiding sweets,
exercising,
losing weight (especially after having babies),
meeting new people (I was very shy — notice the past tense), and
providing additional community service hours…. .
Although my resolutions were made with good intentions and were always meritorious, there was an undeniable common thread — I inevitably broke them. The question was how long did I maintain before I failed?
new year’s resolutions: overcoming failure
With failure came disappointment, frustration, and a sense of loss. My motivation went out the window, after all, I already failed. I stopped making New Year’s resolutions a number of years ago, however, I never threw the baby out with the bath water. My thinking, focus, and approach changed.
new year’s goals
I no longer make New Year’s resolutions, I make New Year’s goals. According to the dictionary, a goal is “the result or achievement toward which effort is directed; aim; end.” I create goals and strive to achieve them.
It’s okay to get off track, I can always get myself back on without a sense of failure. It’s a healthier, positive outlook that keeps me on track.
My article, On the Road to Healthy Living: Foolproof Your Plan! provides the road map to successfully meet your New Year’s goals. Encouraged by the success of Search Beyond Lies, the first book in the Search & Recovery International (SRI) series, my professional goals for 2023 include:
releasing the audio version of Search Beyond Lies;
continuing to grow my law practice;
continuing the Fact or Fiction Series for Search Beyond Lies as well as other Fact or Fiction articles for guest authors;
releasing the second in the SRI series, After the Verdict;
working toward getting the third in the SRI series, Pattern of Deception, ready for my editors; and
doing the research for the 4th in the SRI series which takes place in Hawaii.
My other goals include remaining physically fit, increasing my physical performance, staying within the low range of my ideal body weight in anticipation of the planning and celebration that goes into the next goal — my son’s wedding!
There is no doubt that 2023 will be a big year! Accordingly, I plan to post at least twice monthly, more with guest authors.
Wishing you all a very happy, healthy, and productive 2023! God bless!
In The Clues Part 1 of the last Fact or Fiction article for Search Beyond Lies, we learned that the existence of the glasses Charlie discovered was fact. The way they were discovered was fiction. The story behind the glasses still makes my head spin….
The History Behind the Glasses
Brian was an avid hiker with a goal of hiking all the 14ers. Par for the course, his sunglasses took a beating. J.C. was also hard on sunglasses so as a tit for tat type of joke, they gave each other their favorite sunglasses for their birthdays. At the time, J.C. liked a certain style of Ray-Ban® sunglasses.
Brian & J.C. hiking wearing the infamous sunglasses.
The sunglasses
The day before J.C.’s birthday, 8 months after Brian’s last hike, a small package was delivered to our home for J.C. By this time, J.C. had started a new job back east, so he asked me to open it. They were Ray-Ban® sunglasses. He asked who the sender was and where it originated from. Logical questions.
Estonia
The answers, however, did not make sense. They were sent from Estonia and the sender was his father, my husband. Clearly, he did not send them. Not only had my husband never been to Estonia, but even if he had, he would have sent a gift to his son’s new residence.
Hmmm. I took a picture of the sunglasses and texted it to J.C. They were his favorite style….
The investigation
I called Ray-Ban® and was advised that they could be counterfeits. They did not distribute from Estonia, and they were made only in Italy or China. I checked the packaging and tag. These were made in Italy, or so the tag said. The next step was to take it to an authorized distributor who had the capabilities to inspect and determine whether they were genuine Ray-Ban® sunglasses.
Italy City Scape
I did and they were genuine Ray-Ban® sunglasses. Hmmm.
friends and family
J.C. called every one of his family and friends who may have given him those sunglasses for his birthday. He struck out. No one he knew sent him those glasses.
conclusion
Who sent those sunglasses? Maybe it’s only my novelist’s
imagination, but I’m not 100% sure Brian is no longer with us….
On July 5, 2018, Brian Perri was reported missing on Mount Meeker, one of the most dangerous mountains in Rocky Mountain National Park. Search Beyond Lies, Book One in the Search & Recovery International Series is a work of fiction, whose inspiration lies in a rare type of friendship J.C. Fischer and Kimo McEwen had with Brian where they put their lives on hold and jeopardized their safety and well-being to search for him. Was the manner in which Brian was discovered missing fact or fiction?
J.C. and Kimo
discovered missing
The manner in which the character, Brett, was discovered missing in Chapter 1 is fact. From his failure to show up at the defense, to the condition of the apartment during the welfare check is fact, including the participation of the character James. The description of the police officer is fiction.
The Last Known Location
A selfie revealed the last known location was the summit. That is where the search began, and that is fact. The when, where, and to whom the selfie was sent, are fact as well as the reasons a missing person’s report was not filed at that time.
the car
The description of the car, where it was parked, and the events surrounding it are fact.
the park rangers
Fact: The work of the Alpine Team. A number of these dedicated Park Rangers continued their search on their days off as volunteers – they would not give up.
Fact: The existence of the Community Liaison and the Park Rangers’ reasons for deterring volunteers.
What was written about the search and rescue dogs are true. You’ll have to read the book to see their role.
Bull Elk in Rocky Mountain National Park
Since I don’t appreciate spoilers, you’ll notice that I intentionally did not include any. I want you to enjoy the book while appreciating what is fact and what is fiction.
In the next Fact or Fiction article for Search Beyond Lies, we’ll take a look at the clues revealed during the search. I promise not to include spoilers.
In our last Search Beyond Lies Fact or Fiction article on the university, we discovered that the university within the book is fiction. Colorado State University’s Radiation Health Physics program is the real deal where Brian Perri and J.C. Fischer obtained their graduate degrees. But what about the top-secret research project at the heart of the novel? Did Brian in fact work on such a project?
Colorado State University – Science Quad
Search Beyond Lies’ Top-Secret Research Project
The top-secret research project with world-wide implications at the heart of Search Beyond Lies is pure fiction—a figment of my active imagination. Although Brian and other graduate students had the opportunity to work with several world-renowned Health Physicists, none of the projects rose to the level described in the book.
The Real Research Project
Both Brian and J.C. had very interesting research projects, but neither were top-secret.
Fukushima
Brian took advantage of one of the many graduate student opportunities mentioned in the last article regarding the university. Through CSU’s partnership with Fukushima University in Japan, “Brian used Monte Carlo N-Particle (MCNP) modeling to determine lens dose conversion factors for mice living in the Fukushima exclusion zone in various exposure scenarios.” (In Memoriam Brian Joseph Perri, by Amber Harshman, Health Physics Journal, May 2019). It is my understanding that the data from Brian’s research could be used to counteract the harmful effects of the sun’s radiation.
Safety
J.C.’s project was part of a Department of Defense grant. The mathematical formula described within the book is fact. “The purpose of his research was to further improve and advance detection capabilities of shielded and unshielded radioactive sources in elevated background environments using a string or series of measurements.” In other words, his research was used improve the detection of radioactive materials/nuclear “bombs” that are “shielded” in lead or other such shielding in defense of our country.
PhD or Masters?
Both Brian’s and J.C.’s research projects were for a master’s thesis, not a PhD. So, the existence of J.C.’s defense was fact, the level was fiction. The purpose of elevating the projects to that of a PhD was two-fold:
A top-secret project with worldwide implications would only be done at the PhD level; and
The hero, James, would not be old enough for Charlie if he went straight through from undergraduate unless it was for a PhD.
My son-in-law, Rob, is finishing up his PhD in Intergraded Biomedical Sciences in the discipline of Neuroscience. I received the low-down from him and witnessed a PhD defense at CSU for the Radiation Health Physics Program. The protocol as outlined in the book is fact.
Brian Perri’s Graduation with Dr. Thomas Johnson, Dr. Amber Harshman, & J.C. Fischer
Both J.C. and Brian earned their master’s degrees, however Brian’s was posthumously. At the time Brian made his last climb, he had the initial draft of his thesis completed. His professor finalized it and published it in his name posthumously.
What would you like me to reveal in the next Fact or Fiction article for Search Beyond Lies?
Now that we’ve looked at what I am doing, let’s examine what I’m not doing. Have those things, too, helped revitalize my writing? Maybe. So what am I spending less time doing?
Cleaning
I’m spending less time cleaning house. No, I haven’t let the house be condemned by the Board of Health, but I’m realizing more of what is important … and what’s not. Spending less time cleaning house has been great. Not only do I have more energy and time for life’s important moments, I also haven’t experienced any noticeable change in lifestyle. Post-pandemic, the house isn’t perfectly clean; that’s a given.
Cleaning House
But neither was it perfectly clean pre-pandemic. I was scrubbing, dusting, vacuuming, etc., all for a false sense of self-worth. Now, I work to keep the house comfortable and semi-decent. My happiness level shot up, as did my time to daydream about the next book or noodle around with ideas for trying a different genre.
Accumulating
I’m spending less time accumulating
more things. Spending less time in accumulation is just practical. Having a bunch of things means more dusting
those things, more re-arranging those things, more trying to find room for
those things. My time is much better
spent playing with grandchildren and writing.
worrying
I’m spending less time worrying over if I will sell more books. I will do my best in my writing, but I’m not going to obsess over it. Using less emotional energy to worry over if I’ll ever sell another book gives me the courage to take risks in my writing. Could I add a more in-depth scene to my latest book and would the editor like it? We’ll see.
Selling More Books
I’m spending less time worrying over what others think of me. Spending less time on this has been infinitely freeing. (How else could I carry off having blue hair for over two years?) In my seventies now, I realized I had spent far too much of my life anguishing over what others thought of me. No more.
FINALLY
I have no presumption that what
works for me will work for you. These
are just a few of the things I am doing differently now. Whether they make me a better writer is yet
to be seen, but they are making me a better person.
What works for you?
Jane M. Choate dreamed of writing since she was a little girl and entertained her friends with made-up stories about them. She postponed her dream of writing to get married and have children. On one particularly hard day when it seemed all she had done was to clean toilets (she had two small boys at the time), she wrote a short story and sent it in to a magazine on a whim. To her surprise and delight, it was accepted.
Jane now writes for Love Inspired Suspense where she combines romance, danger, and faith. Jane is the mother of five children, grandmother to ten grandchildren, and great-grandmother to one adorable baby girl. When she is not writing, she can be found trying to keep up with her grandchildren. (The operative word there is “trying.”)
You won’t want to miss Jane’s latest release–Rocky
Mountain Vendetta–A must read that spent 2 weeks on the Publishers Weekly
Bestseller List!
I’m spending more time with my family, especially my grandchildren. I’m taking more trips, like a recent one to Utah to see a new great-grandbaby. (Yes, I have a great-grandbaby, and she is beautiful.)
Spending more time with family and friends has allowed me to watch the interactions between individuals and then to use that, when appropriate, in my writing. Our family is messy. The relationships are messy. And isn’t that what life is about? Messy relationships that somehow stick. Our family sticks together, no matter our messiness, no matter what goes on between us. We may fight, but let someone attack any one of us and we come together, ready to take on any and all who would divide us. Since I write mainly romantic suspense, the hero and heroine have a “messy” relationship. Things don’t come easily to either of them. They argue; they fight. More importantly, they fight those who would hurt the other.
more purging
I’m spending more time purging, letting go of what I don’t need and don’t want. Letting go or purging possessions that no longer work for the life I want to have has freed not only space in my house but space in my brain as well. Both are important.
Too many things create clutter. After forty-six years in the same house, my husband and I have enough clutter to last several lifetimes. Getting rid of some of it (I’m even letting go of some books) allows me to see white spaces. We all know that white space is important in the pages of a book. We gravitate toward that because we know that white space means dialogue. In a home, white space means freedom from clutter. White space in the brain is vital as it creates a blank page for my thoughts to take shape.
More joy
I’m spending more time finding joy in the small things. Practicing finding joy in small things keeps my “glass half full.” In order to write, I need to recognize unexpected moments of happiness, of laughter, of love.
This is largely related to spending time with grandchildren. Who can resist a hug from a four-year-old blue-eyed blonde granddaughter who calls me “Meemaw?” These little scraps of joy remind me that the world is full of things to write about.
more fun
I’m spending more time having fun, like dying my hair blue. Spending more time in having fun and doing silly things, like dyeing my hair and eyebrows blue, has awakened that part of me that used to do such things on a regular basis. With that, I was able to add bits of humor in my last book, which garnered favorable response.
saying “no” more often
I’m saying “no” to requests upon my time and energy more often. Saying no to unreasonable requests upon my
time and energy has freed up both.
In our service organization, we practice what we call a ministering program. It’s a good thing to be able to help others, and I try to do what I can. However, when my husband and I were assigned to one lady who every week had more and more things for us to do, requested more and more things which required ever-increasing physical and emotional strength than we had to give, we finally asked to be released from that particular assignment. Though she was a nice enough woman, she had no sense of boundaries. She took and took, leaving us with little left over for ourselves or anyone else. Post-pandemic, I have found more courage to speak up and say what’s working for me and, also, to say what’s not working. Reclaiming that energy and time gave me the same to devote to my family and my writing. For a while, I felt selfish in saying “no,” but then I realized it wasn’t selfish but practical to take care of myself.
What are you doing more of?
Find out what Jane’s NOT doing in the last article in this series. You won’t want to miss it.
Jane M. Choate dreamed of writing since she was a little girl and entertained her friends with made-up stories about them. She postponed her dream of writing to get married and have children. On one particularly hard day when it seemed all she had done was to clean toilets (she had two small boys at the time), she wrote a short story and sent it in to a magazine on a whim. To her surprise and delight, it was accepted.
Jane now writes for Love Inspired Suspense where she combines romance, danger, and faith. Jane is the mother of five children, grandmother to ten grandchildren, and great-grandmother to one adorable baby girl. When she is not writing, she can be found trying to keep up with her grandchildren. (The operative word there is “trying.”)
You won’t want to miss Jane’s latest release–Rocky Mountain Vendetta–A must read that spent 2 weeks on the Publishers Weekly Bestseller List!
In the first Fact or Fiction article, I introduced a new series to reveal how authors use real life characters, places, and events to write fiction. The series was targeted to what was fact and what was fiction in Search Beyond Lies, a romantic suspense thriller inspired by true events.
Search Beyond Lies — Fact or Fiction
I’ve had so much interest from my readers, that I’ve invited some favorite authors to share the inspiration behind their novels and reveal the facts behind their fiction. My plan is to publish the Search Beyond Lies Fact or Fiction series every other week and share guest articles on the alternate weeks. Some weeks 2 articles will be released.
Our first guest is Jane M. Choate, author of 41 romantic suspense novels, the latest being Rocky Mountain Vendetta – a definite must read that spent 2 weeks on the Publishers Weekly Bestseller List.
This article is the introduction, the first in a three-part series by Jane that will look at how the pandemic affected the creative writing process in developing the story, characters, and “Aha” moment.
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PANDEMIC
BY JANE M. CHOATE
On the Other Side of the Pandemic
We are now on the other side of the pandemic (at least until a new one or another life-altering thing hits). What do we do now? If you’re like me, you’ve faltered, may have doubted yourself, even questioned whether you could or should continue writing at all. We get it. We’re all feeling our way to a new kind of living, a new kind of dressing (how many of us have pretty much lived in pajama pants over the last couple of years?), and, for the writers among us, a new kind of writing.
How do we find our way back to our writing or forging a new
path in that writing? This may be changing genres or it may be developing a new
schedule or changing how we look at the world.
It may be letting go of something that fit the you that you were and
finding something different that fits the you that you are now.
In the last two-plus years, I’ve been practicing new life
skills, adding some things, subtracting others.
How are any of these things helping with my writing? Truthfully, I don’t know how much they are
helping, but I can see and feel a difference in myself. They are helping me keep myself in balance. And that’s important. For my writing. For my life.
In the next article, I’ll discuss what I’ve added.
Jane M. Choate dreamed of writing since she was a little girl and entertained her friends with made-up stories about them. She postponed her dream of writing to get married and have children. On one particularly hard day when it seemed all she had done was to clean toilets (she had two small boys at the time), she wrote a short story and sent it in to a magazine on a whim. To her surprise and delight, it was accepted.
Jane now writes for Love Inspired Suspense where she combines romance, danger, and faith. Jane is the mother of five children, grandmother to ten grandchildren, and great-grandmother to one adorable baby girl. When she is not writing, she can be found trying to keep up with her grandchildren. (The operative word there is “trying.”)
