Aunt Edna sits down for a question-and-answer session with dru’s book musings so that we can learn more about what makes her tick. Let’s see what she has to say.
What is your full name?
Edna Harrington. Tessa always makes fun of my middle name, so I’m gonna keep that to myself.
How old are you?
I’m gonna go with mid-70s. Unless you’re the tax man or the insurance man, what’s it matter?
What is your profession?
I’m a mechanic, have been all my life. I worked alone in my family’s auto shop for years, fixin’ anything with an engine that the town needed fixin’. Now though, my niece Tessa and I own a small auto restoration business called BOSS, which stands for Band of Sisters Services. We call ourselves the Shecanics. We do the engine work, and then the Blews Brothers over in Pullman do the body work. We’ll also do engine work for folks on occasion, since some people don’t trust anyone else but me with their cars.
Do you have a significant other?
Nope. Never felt the need for one.
What is their name and profession?
Still nope.
Do you have any children?
Nope.
Do you have any siblings?
Yes. My sister, Agnes Treslow, lives nearby. She and my brother-in-law raised two great girls, Teresa Jane and Gertrude, better know as Tessa and Tru.
Are your parents nearby?
My father passed many years ago. I still miss him. He was my first engine teacher, so sometimes when I’m working, a certain thing will remind me of him and it stings. My mama died a couple of years ago. She was an amazing woman. She was a Rosie the Riveter in Kansas City during the war and she met my father when he was a soldier down there at Camp Riley. When Tessa was stationed there (it’s now called Fort Riley), I went and we looked up places my folks had talked about and had pictures taken together. That was really special.
Who is your best friend?
I’ll have to say my niece, Tessa. We’re always been like soul sisters, or peas and carrots, whatever phrase people use these days. And we’re housemates!
Do you have cats, dogs, or other pets?
Tessa has a boxer dog named Vince. He’s crazy.
What town do you live in?
We live out in the country, but our town is New Oslo, Idaho. It’s really small.
What type of dwelling do you own or rent?
I live in a butter yellow – my mom’s favorite color – American Four-Square home. People often call these types of farmhouses “Prairie Boxes” because they were so common back in the prairie days. Trust me, even if you don’t know what that is, you probably do since they are all over. It’s a great house, about 122 years old now, and I’ve lived in it my entire life, minus when I was away in the Women’s Army Corps.
What is your favorite spot in your home?
I’d say the front porch. It’s a bit chilly to be out there right now, but on a nice day, it’s a fine place to rock in our rocking chairs and have our morning coffee, or tea in the afternoon.
What is your favorite meal and dessert?
Oh, good question. If I have to pick one, I’d say a good pot roast, and I never say no to pie. My sister Agnes has a bit of an edge on the cooking and baking expertise, though my pecan pies are famous around here. But I prefer doing things that dirty my hands a bit more.
Do you have any hobbies?
When not working on engines, I’m still thinking about them, so don’t really have many. I do like to read, and the Prunn sisters have been twisting my arm to volunteer at the Historical Society Museum more these days. If you want to hear about an interesting hobby though, that would be my mom’s. She learned taxidermy and liked to make some pretty unique displays. Not many of them have survived to this day, but they were fun. A little smelly, but fun. For her.
What music do you listen to?
Country. I guess y’all would call it “classic country” now, but the old greats are my favorites. Hank Williams Sr, Loretta Lynn, Johnny Cash. Tessa’s got me listening to classic rock when it’s her turn to pick music as we work. Gotta admit I like Led Zepplin. For a bunch of Englishman, they sure had some soul.
What is your favorite color?
You know the color of engine oil when it’s clean? Sorta amber? I think that.
What is your favorite vacation spot?
Agnes and I went to visit Tessa a few times when she lived away in the Army, but other than those times, I don’t really vacation. Just sitting on my porch and watching Magnus the moose wander by is vacation enough. Having said that, Tessa has been pestering me to go on a cruise to Alaska with her. I don’t know. We’ll see.
Are you a morning or night person?
Both? I don’t sleep all that much. I get up early, but also read late. I’ve always been like that.
What is your idea of a really fun time?
Being elbow deep in an engine. Ha! But during this time of year, Tessa and I have been watching a holiday movie a night. We make popcorn and snuggle up with Vince on the couch. That’s a really fun time.
If you were to write a memoir, what would you call it?
Oh, that’s funny! Never thought about it. Let’s see. How about some of the weirdest ways people have described their car when it needs work. So, maybe Customer Says Car Sounds Like a Constipated Elephant. That’s kinda long though, isn’t it? How about Call the Shecanics! Good title, and business promo!
Amateur or professional sleuth and whom do you work with?
Oh, Tessa and I, we’re amateur, but with all the practice we’ve been getting to be pros. Unfortunately.
What is a typical day in your life like?
In the winter, like now, I’m up before the sun, because that lazy orb sleeps in. I make coffee and we eat a little something, then if we’re lucky, we head out to our pole barn auto shop and work on one of our babies. These days though, we’ve had extra things to do for the holidays, like everyone does. Like this morning, we’re going to put some pine swags from the Christmas tree lot on our work truck to make it look all festive, then head into town to pick up the Sergeant Santa toys for our veterans group. At least today we won’t have to get the snow plow to come over before we head out. So I’d better go look in the attic for some spare lights for our truck décor, and once Tessa’s ready, we’ll work on the truck. It was nice talking with y’all. Have a nice day, and Happy Holidays!
Home for the Homicides, A Hometown Mystery Book 4
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release: December 2024
Format: Print, Digital
Purchase Link
From author Rosalie Spielman comes a hometown holiday…filled with homicide!
It’s Christmastime in Army retiree Tessa Treslow’s small Idaho hometown of New Oslo, but someone is determined to play a grinch this season and is robbing local businesses of their holiday cheer!
In the midst of preparing for the first annual Running of the Grinches, a fundraiser to support the Sergeant Santa Toy Drive and the local historical society, a string of unfortunate incidents hit the townsfolk hard. It starts with broken windows then progresses to car theft, assault, and arson—each instance accompanied by a clue that clearly ties the crimes together.
Tessa organizes a watch patrol for New Oslo, and during her first shift she helps rescue a victim from a fire. Unfortunately, it is clear to Tessa that the woman was already dead before the fire was set. Did the arsonist accidentally kill her…or is something more heinous and less in the spirit of the season at hand? It’s up to Tessa to find out before tragedy strikes again!
About the author
Rosalie Spielman is an award-winning author, mother, veteran, and retired military spouse. She was thrilled to discover that she could make other people laugh with her writing and finds joy in giving people a humorous escape from the real world. She currently lives in Maryland with her husband in a rapidly emptying nest. For more information on her books or to subscribe to her newsletter, go to rosalie-spielman-author.com. Rosalie strives to provide you an escape…one page at a time.