I’m a grad student, so most of my days are unstructured. That suits me, but I realize the rest of my life won’t be like college. I’ll tell you about a recent day that was pretty typical. My major is musical composition and I’m working toward my master’s degree at DePaul University in Chicago with the aim of either composing or conducting, or both, I hope.
On Wednesday my earliest class, the notation seminar, is at ten, so I slept in until 9:00. I get quite a bit out of the lectures, but I’m so eager to graduate and be finished with school, that sometimes I get antsy sitting and taking notes. I tend to drum my fingers on my tablet or jiggle my knee when I’m bored–or anxious–and other students give me dirty looks to make me stop. Honestly, those things and humming under my breath are acts I’m never conscious of until they bother other people around me.
Classical music means a lot to me. I was mostly raised by my dear grandmother, Gram I call her, and she was my inspiration to go into the field, making sure I had piano lessons. Also making sure I practiced. A lot!
Lunch that day was a quick bite and a latte at the Starbucks a block away from the music school, on Halstead. I spent the afternoon continuing with the composition I started a few months ago. I worked at the Starbucks. They don’t mind, as long as I buy an occasional refill. After this semester, completing that symphony, which will serve as my thesis, will be the only hurdle left before I get my degree. Can’t wait to get out into the world!
My life has been sheltered, I admit, and I’m a bit shy around most people. In a roomful of strangers, I tend to stand off to the side and not talk to anyone. Somehow, though, stepping onto a podium to conduct feels natural. My shell drops away and I love connecting with the sea of musicians before me.
In fact, my life right now is ideal except for one thing: Len. He was my instructor for my first music theory course at DePaul. After the course was over, he made his move. I was incredibly flattered that an older, worldly man would pay attention to mousy little me. After a few dates in his campus apartment, where his wife never came, I decided to break it off. That’s when my lover turned into my stalker. Tonight, after a solitary dinner in my own apartment, I expect more pleading phone calls that I’ll ignore. I wish he’d leave me alone!
You can read more about Cressa in EINE KLEINE MURDER , the first book in the new “Cressa Carraway” mystery series.
Meet the author
Kaye George is a short story writer and novelist who has been nominated for Agatha awards twice. She is the author of three mystery series, the Imogene Duckworthy humorous Texas series, the Cressa Carraway musical mystery series, and the “FAT CAT” cozy series with Berkley Prime Crime. Eine Kleine Murder will debut April of 2013 and the first “FAT CAT” book in 2014.
Her short stories can be found in her collection, A PATCHWORK OF STORIES, as well as in several anthologies, various online and print magazines. She reviews for “Suspense Magazine”, writes for several newsletters and blogs, and gives workshops on short story writing and promotion. Kaye is agented by Kim Lionetti at BookEnds Literary and lives in Knoxville, TN.
Visit Kaye at kayegeorge.com, on Twitter and on Facebook.
Books are available at retail and online booksellers.
Cressa asked me to thank you for letting her go on a bit about herself, Dru Ann!
I would love to win!
Thanks for stopping by, Sarah!
I love this first person account of Cressa’s day, Kaye. You’ve really nailed her personality. Can’t wait to read the rest of the book!
Thanks for ordering the 1st 4 chapters, Bobbi!
Love it because it could end up to no good and that will keep readers reading.
That Len is a problem, all right! Thanks for being concerned about Cressa, Dorothy.
If anyone would like to order the 1st 4 chapters, free, you can at http://www.barkingrainpress.org/eine-kleine-murder-preview/
You’ve done it again Dru. Now I’m going to HAVE to read this book. I actually was a working musician back when I was young and energetic. In High School I actually played 3 instruments… My main instrument was the trumpet (it was my mother’s when she was in school), the second was the soprano sax (also a b flat instrument) which I took up when my braces started cutting the inside of my mouth to ribbons. The third was the drums (my kit is set up in the spare bedroom for the grandkids). If we had enough of a brass section at football games I’d play the snare or the base.
I picked up the guitar while working at Sam Goodie’s back then also.
So you can see how I really REALLY have to read this book. LOL
Cressa hopes you’ll be entertained!
I’ve had the pleasure of reading some of Kaye’s work, and she is a terrific writer. Can’t wait to read this one.
How kind of you, Linda!
How coincidental. A quartet came to visit our complex yesterday and played 3 movements from Eine Kleine. Love to read this book. Thanks. judydee22002@yahoo dot com
Lovely Karma! I, Kaye, started playing that piece in junior high school and it’s always been one of my favorites. (I’m a violinist, unlike Cressa, who is a keyboardist.)
Nice. As a conductor-only0in-my-head, I like Cressa. I’m inspired now to write about a day in Lily Mayfields’s life!
I conduct in my car, which must look pretty silly from the outside. Go for it!