I would like to welcome author Olivia Hardin back to the blog! Today she gives us some insight into the airplane scene in 'Shifty Business.'
When one of my editors went through Shifty Business, she commented on how “real” the airplane scene was and how she empathized with Gerry. There’s a reason for that. I’ve felt it! My husband is a pilot and since before we were married he’s flown a 1958 Cessna 172—a “classic.” Now the hubby is an excellent pilot, but we’ve had some events that make a person like me awfully nervous. I tapped into those when I wrote the flying scenes.
Also, the airplane Nicky flies is an “old straight-tail.” Any pilot will know what that means and most of them sigh with nostalgia and remember the first one they ever flew. I sometimes think all pilots must have started out in an older Cessna 172. It’s a much-beloved airplane, sometimes called the Impala of the skies: durable and easy to fly.
So my dear husband calls our airplane American Pie II. His Cessna came off the assembly line the same month Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper went out on the Winter Dance Party Tour which would eventually lead to their deaths in an airplane crash… an airplane called American Pie. It may seem like a bad omen, but that “beautiful old bird” has taken us many a mile. And the story about her name is always a fun one to tell, especially since the Big Bopper was from my region of Texas and Buddy Holly was from the hubby’s hometown of Lubbock.
Don’t you just love how small the world is sometimes?
Now just because I tend to be a bit skittish about flying, doesn't mean I don't appreciate how lovely it can be when you're gliding along in the clear blue sky. Most private pilots love the opportunity to take people up in their bird.
So if you're a person who's interested in flying and especially if you have a youngster who is fascinated by airplanes, check out your local EAA Chapter. (Experimental Aircraft Association.) These chapters are the place to go to learn about general aviation. Also, for the kiddos, there's a fabulous organization called Young Eagles that you should check out too!
~Olivia Hardin
About
the Author
When Olivia Hardin began
having strange movie-like dreams in her teens, she had no choice but
to begin putting them to paper. Before long the writing bug had her
and she knew she wanted to be a published author. Several rejections
plus a little bit of life later, and she was temporarily “cured”
of the urge to write. That is until she met a group of talented and
fabulous writers who gave her the direction and encouragement she
needed to get lost in the words again.
Olivia’s attended three
different universities over the years. She toyed with majors in
Computer Technology, English, History and Geology until one day she
heard the term road scholar and she knew that was what she wanted to
be. Now she “studies” anything and everything just for the joy
of learning. She's also an insatiable crafter who only completes
about 1 out of 5 projects, a jogger who hates to run, and she’s
sometimes accused of being artistic.
A native Texas girl,
Olivia lives in the beautiful Lone Star state with her husband, Danny
and their puppy, Bonnie.
Connect with Olivia and
Get information about releases, contests, news and more here:
Shifty Business
Book 3 of the Bend-Bite-Shift Trilogy
Olivia Hardin
Genre: Paranormal Romance
ISBN: 1481225324
ASIN: B00AM0P1PC
Number of pages: 214
Word Count: 53,811
Book Description:
Gerry Hinton thought she had the perfect career as an operative for the Company. Her next assignment should have been another "mission accomplished", but hell was delivering hand baskets that day.
When a little girl gives a mysterious silver box to Gerry, her world self-destructs. Suddenly under constant mental attacks, the only person who can save her is her partner, Nicky--but nothing comes without a cost. Secrets buried deep in the past begin to rise, threatening everything she holds dear.
If she can't out run her past, can she save her future?
Read an excerpt:
When he turned, Gerry was standing, tall and stony, against a concrete pillar. Her brown eyes were focused on nothing, though the pupils flitted back and forth as if she were following a pin ball. He approached with easy steps until he stood before her, then he waved his hand in front of her face. She gave no indication she could see him. He snapped his fingers trying to rouse her.
Her mouth opened just a bit and her tongue darted out to lick her lips, then her left hand reached out, feeling for him. He tried to take her fingers, but instead she slapped her palm onto his and something heavy settled into his hand.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” Nicky asked and hated the fear in his words.
He clasped the object she placed in his hand. It was some sort of cold metal, but he could see nothing there. He stared at his empty hand for a moment then turned his eyes back to hers.
Her voice was sluggish, sounding almost like an old record playing back on a slow speed. “I’m sorry. You’ve got to trust me, Nicky. I need you to do exactly as I tell you. Tell–Me–You–Trust–Me.”
“I’ve always trusted you, baby. Now, tell me what’s happening.”
“Hide this. Hide it where even I can’t find it. If I know,” she paused and licked her lips again, the speed at which her eyes were darting back and forth increased. “If I know, they’ll know. It must be kept safe. Promise?”
“I promise, baby.”
No sooner had the words escaped his lips than her eyes rolled back into her head, and she collapsed like a rag doll.
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