The Next Great Discovery: Book 1

The inside story!

The Cover Design: I wanted an old gristmill on the cover. I scoured photos I’d taken in Virginia years ago and found one taken during a photography class. Unfortunately, the quality was not adequate for reproduction. Using the photo for reference, I sketched what turned out to be the cover design. Don’t you love the wicked branches arching across the hillside?

Fun Fact

How do characters get their name?

Overton and Wooldridge are two towns along the Interstate 70 corridor in central Missouri. I hoped to combine the town names for a character with a slightly shady history and was delighted when the right fellow turned up in The Next Great Discovery.

This page is like a scrapbook with pictures and insight into the places and the people who live there. Ask a question, and you may have it answered here.

Leni’s house in Hawkinston after a snowstorm.

The Characters

Allen, “Tiger” college student; pep leader; Leni’s cousin

Allen, Kenny Leni’s uncle, farmer, father of Tiger Allen

Benny the IT guy  at the college who leaves to backpack in Europe

Bugatti, Vince detective in New Orleans police department

Christiansen, Gavin  best friend of Tiger Allen; college pep leader

Coleman, Albert English professor at Preston College

Coleman, Coralee wife of Albert; running for mayor as book ends

Drake, Charlene editor of Hawkinston Daily News, Leni’s employer

Doucette, Justin archaeologist in New Orleans

Herrmann, Doris Allen Leni Spencer’s aunt; Kenny Allen’s sister

Hope, Standford deceased; professor of archaeology at New Orleans university

Jackson, Jeffrey semi-retired financier, owner of Hawkinston Daily News

Jackson, Mary wife of owner of Hawkinston Daily News, society page editor

Joseph, Doug detective in Hawkinston police department

Malveaux, Martine owner of the Rolling Scone restaurant on Hawkinston’s Square

Spencer, Leni reporter for the Hawkinston Daily News who has a hankering for Doug Joseph

Stewart, Jessica education director, Preston College; it’s up to her to ensure the college passes the accreditation review.

Summers, Daisy elder sister of Tiffany Summer; waits tables and cooks at the Rolling Scone

Summers, Tiffany younger sister of Daisy Summers; college student; Tiger Allen’s girlfriend

Thomas, Andy young computer geek, friend of Tiger, and high school dropout

Williams, Arthur Natalie Williams’s father; lives in New Orleans

Williams, Natalie graduate student temporarily working a dig at Preston College

Winters, Marcus troubled president of Preston College

Wooldridge, Olivia wife of Overton Wooldridge

Wooldridge, Overton archaeologist hired to establish an archeology program, which the board of directors hopes will ensure the college will pass the accreditation review.