My name is McKenna. I’m a figment Terry Ambrose’s imagination, who fancies himself a mystery writer and was once a skip tracer. For those who don’t know, a skip tracer is someone that finds people who don’t want to be found. Sounds like an interesting job until you realize that what it involves is a whole lot of people lying all the time. Dru has asked me what I do in a typical day and my answer is simple—I wait around a lot.
Talk about boring. I’m an apartment manager at a small complex called the Honolulu Sunsetter. My particular unit has a stunning view of the Pacific, which allows me the opportunity to enjoy Mother Nature’s dress-up show at sundown. It’s like she’s wearing a red ruby necklace with a navy dress topped off by a pink and gray hat. Instead of creating a fashion faux pas, it all blends into a canvas that would make Rembrandt drool. Especially after a long day of doing landlord stuff—you know, waiting for the plumber or the cable guy, I take time to enjoy the show—and contemplate how much time I wasted waiting for people that day.
It’s the whole “island time” thing. If you’re not familiar with the concept, you’re lucky. I feel like a Triple A battery rattling around in a D-cell flashlight. A lawyer might say we have irreconcilable differences. I say, BS. Do your island-time thing on your time, not mine. Those of us who are Triple A’s, we’re the ones who make things happen. Forget Type A personalities, those guys are wimps. Give me a Triple A any day.
A Triple A doesn’t write to-do lists because that takes up too much time. For instance, if a tenant says she needs a plumber, I’ve got him on the line and I’m already watching for the truck before we hang up the phone. But, there’s the problem. Our plumber, Freddie, is a nice enough guy. The thing is, he isn’t a Triple A. He’s not even a Type B. He’s got personality-type disorder syndrome. It’s so common around here that I’ve taken to calling it PTDS.
Freddie is a cousin of my best friend—as is half the island, but that’s another story. Freddie is definitely a “no worries” kind of guy. Surfs up? Cool, he’s on it. Paperwork? No need worry, brah, why waste a tree? There are days when I’m sure Freddie was off surfing the day the teacher explained that the hands on the clock go round and round.
I admit I should lighten up on Freddie. He’s lived here all his life and only knows how to live the laid back lifestyle. I, on the other hand, have been here just over seven years and still wake up before my alarm goes off. I doubt that Freddie owns an alarm clock. I could be wrong. After all, he does run a business. He does show up for appointments—eventually. And he does get the job done—after spending an hour talking my ear off.
So, here’s the deal. I want to fit in, really. I’m going to dial back my personality type. With a little effort, I’m sure I can at least make it to a Type A. To get there, I’ll start by listing all the things I must do to make myself relax. I’ll also set my alarm for thirty minutes later. I’ll even stop calling Freddie when he’s ten minutes late for an appointment—well, not exactly stop. More like, delay. I’ll also scale down—by half—my tendency to get snarky with people who don’t cooperate in my murder investigations. I’m not sure how to measure that one yet, but I’ll work out something.
Granted, I’m only an amateur sleuth, but given how fast all these other personality types are killing each other off, my to-do list could be getting pretty long. Wait, I don’t keep a to-do list. Uh oh. This could be a problem. Maybe I should call Freddie and ask him for advice. Damn. We had a big southern swell today. He’s probably off surfing.
I could leave him a voicemail—but he might not check messages today. Better yet, I could go meet him on the beach. Uh oh, I don’t know which beach he’s at. Excuse me, I have to boot up my laptop. My mission is to track down Freddie. Fast. He can give me tips on how to relax. And maybe he can tell me what time island time is.
You can read more about McKenna in Big Island Blues , the third book in the “McKenna” mystery series. The first two books in the series are Photo Finish and Kauai Temptations.
GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment by 12 a.m. eastern on June 12 for the chance to win a copy of Photo Finish, Kauai Temptations or Big Island Blues — winner’s choice. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. Winner will be notified within 48 hours after giveaway closes and you will have three days to respond after being contacted or another winner will be selected. Make sure to check your SPAM folder.
Meet the author
Terry Ambrose is a former skip tracer who uses that background to write real-life scam tips as well as mysteries and thrillers. Two of his novels have been San Diego Book Awards Finalists. Learn more about Terry on his website at terryambrose.com.
Sounds like a great read! Thanks for the chance to win it!
Thanks for stopping by, Judy, and best of luck in the drawing!
Sounds like my life. Lol. I also do property management in a small town, and when someone is supposed to be here I am waiting. Pain in the butt. This book sounds great! Thanks for the chance!
Hey Barbara, it’s so true. The more waiting you have to do, the more waiting becomes a pain!
This really does sound like a great read. Thanks for the giveaway.
Sounds great
Mahalo, Debbie!
I would love to read this book—thanks for the chance to win a copy!
Hi Sheila, good luck in the contest!
Terry’s books are creatively written making the reader feel like they are right there in the beautiful islands of Hawaii. Wilson McKenna is an average Joe who just happens to have a nose for finding trouble while investigating. Anyone who hasn’t been to Hawaii will definitely want to visit after reading Terry’s books. robeader53@yahoo.com
Hi Robin! Thanks for stopping by! And thanks for the nice compliment. Aloha, Terry
Need this one to take me away. I want to travel!
Aloha, Amy! Enjoy your virtual trip!
I love anything about Hawaii,so this sounds like a great series.
Hi Nancy, Hawaii is my favorite place of all to be. I try to bring that out in the series, so I get to virtually return on a regular basis.
LOL, I never would have thought of Hawaii as boring so this book sounds great!
CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com
There’s so little about Hawaii that’s boring, Carol…other than having to wait to get things done!!! 🙂 But, even that can be fun for the tourists!
This book sounds intriguing. Thanks.
I love Terry Ambrose books .It would be so great if I could win this one.
Oh, a big mahalo to you, Mary. Best of luck int he contest!
this sounds like a fun read. Hadn’t read any of these before.
Probably need to start with the first one.
thanks.
Aloha, Marylouh, mahalo for commenting. The books can be read in any order, but the first one does set up why McKenna turns to sleuthing. Hope you enjoy!
I always like to read mysteries set in Hawaii so I can dream that I’m there.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Sweet dreams, Sue! Dreams of Hawaii should include beautiful sunrises, soft ocean breezes, and palm trees…but, no poi…definitely no poi.
What a great sounding book! I really lik the way the author described the sundown.
Thanks Mary Jane! I try to find different ways to handle the common stuff. Aloha, Terry
I can highly recommend Terry’s books – if you enjoyed this post, you got a taste for his writing.
Mahalo, Terry O, for stopping by and for the recommendation!
I really enjoy Terry’s scam tips in each newsletter and his books are outstanding. Will be anxious to get this one soon.
Cynthia B.
Hi Cynthia, thanks for mentioning the scam tips. I do try to provide valuable information every Sunday with those tips!
You do such a valuable service with your tips, especially for people who just don’t get to read or hear about some of these scams/deceits or whatever each is called. I have alerted quite a few to your Sunday information and everyone is grateful for that. Keep up the very needed work. Thank you.
Cynthia
A new-to-me author–yay!! Would love to give this series a try. Thanks for the opportunity to win.
Aloha, LInda! Nice to meet you, virtually anyway. Best of luck in the contest!
Whoa Dru Ann…this one sounds like a good one for sure! Since I have yet to read the debut book in this series I would pick that one if I am lucky enough to win. Another super blog today Dru!
Aw, thanks, Sandy. I hope you’ll also check out my website, where I provide weekly scam tips on Sundays.
Now I must try out this series!!!
Thanx for the giveaway…..
Sounds good to me! Mahalo!
Terry writes such good books and this one sounds like another winner. I also like his tips on scams that have given me such valuable info and also his newsletter. Would love to win this .
Thank you, Peggy! By the way, tonight, I’m doing an online interview at http://buff.ly/1KR4AGP, so you can get even more scam advice if you’d like. Good luck in the contest!
I would like to start reading this series.
Sounds like a winner
This sounds like a great cast of characters!
Hi Lisa, the characters are always very important to me. Without them, there’s no compelling story (IMO). McKenna’s up against some real doozies in Big Island Blues!
Never heard of this series. I like your review it gives me a good description of the mystery series. Also it sounds really good. Thanks for the giveaway.
Are you sure Freddie isn’t from Mexico? It sounds more like una momenta than Island time to me. My mother and father were part of a tour group in Mexico and she told us that una momenta must mean ‘whenever’!
LOVED Kauai and now I will have to watch out for the hot rocks on the Big Island
I can’t wait to read this book.
Thanks Terry for commenting and interacting with my readers.
Contest is closed.