Over My Dead Body is a murder mystery, the second in the Father Frank Mystery series. But, what prompted the story line?
The genesis for the plot came from the Keystone Pipeline. This massive project had been in the news over the last few years. It has raised much controversy, and Congress and the President are still fighting over it.
My wife and I objected strongly to their plan to clear cut a swath one hundred fifty feet wide and about a third of a mile long across our land. Hundred foot pines plus fifty years old oak and hickory trees would be bulldozed down. The pipeline had been granted eminent domain by the courts, so the pipeline would go through. We were simply haggling over the details.
But some people filed lawsuits in the courts trying to overturn the court order, or at least stall the project.
Eventually, at least in Texas, the pipeline became a reality.
As I pondered this, I knew I would write a book where eminent domain was a catalyst. As my book would include a murder, I didn’t want to use the Keystone. So, I switched to a questionable use of eminent domain for a shopping center. (It has been done.) And the man who was ready to file an appeal of the eminent domain order, dies. The police decide it is suicide. Case closed.
But Father Frank doesn’t believe it’s suicide, begins to investigate and narrowly escapes being killed. The mystery is on.
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After a successful career in mathematics and computer science, receiving grants from the National Science Foundation and NASA, and being listed in Who’s Who in Computer Science and Two Thousand Notable Americans, James R. Callan turned to his first love—writing. He wrote a monthly column for a national magazine for two years. He has had four non-fiction books published. He now concentrates on his favorite genre, mystery/suspense, with his sixth book releasing in 2015.
Click http://www.jamesrcallan.com/feedback.htm to receive a free copy of Chapters 1and 2 of Over My Dead Body.
Click http://amzn.to/1BmYQ0Q to order a copy of Over My Dead Body , releasing this week.