The Flapper, the Impostor, and the Stalker
by Charlene Bell Dietz
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GENRE: Mystery, Historical, Suspense Novel
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BLURB:
A
privileged teenager from Minneapolis in 1923, scraps her college scholarship
and runs away to become a flapper in dangerous, chaotic Chicago. In her search
for illusive happiness, she confronts the mob and then must contrive a way to
not be murdered.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excerpt One:
Kathleen continued, “You said you wished you could go to
college with me. What if we could go somewhere together, not to college, but
someplace where we could dance and act and you could sing? I bet with our
talents, we could turn this horrid world into something much more joyful—help
make it one big party.”
“How?” Sophie’s eyes opened wide.
“We’ll go where you won’t have to teach kids piano, or act
or dance, unless you want. You’ll be able to sing your heart out and, who
knows, maybe even write your own songs.”
“My mother would never let me.” Sophie looked off into the
near distance.
“Sophie, we’ll get to wear sparkly dresses. And wouldn’t you
love to wear those modern, classy clothes? We’d bob our hair even shorter, wear
lipstick, and be around people who know how to have fun and not have a care in
the world.” Sophie should see the photos in Kathleen’s collection of theater
magazines again. Then she’d be excited too.
“I’m sick of funerals and consoling others,” Kathleen
continued.
“Look at how miserable Dolly is. Aren’t you tired of that
too? We’d be around progressive people, thinking people, people who know how to
make the most out of life. They’re searching for talent, Sophie. We’ll fit
right in.”
“Where, Kathleen? No one much appreciates our abilities here.”
“Chicago. There are all sorts of openings for attractive
young ladies with well-turned ankles and voices like canaries. That’s what
theadvertisements say.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GUEST POST
Topic: If
you could have a chat with your main character, what would you talk about?
I’m
going to have a chat with a young flapper, and I’m inviting you to join us. In
1923, a sixteen- year-old, teenage flapper, Kathleen, protagonist of The
Flapper, the Impostor, and the Stalker, ran away from home in Minneapolis
to kick up her heels as a dancer in wild and roaring Chicago.
Tonight,
it’s three years later, and prohibition’s still going strong. We’ll have to
select the perfect setting for our chat if we expect Kathleen to give us
quality answers. I suggest we meet in some dimly-lit, five-star hotel speakeasy
with comfortable, leather seating. Music is a must, but another must is for it
to be soft, you know, in order to allow civilized conversation. Kathleen hate’s
yelling.
We’ll
impress her if this hotel bar has polished brass, wood décor, and serves her a
drink in cut-glass tumblers. She only drinks Cuba Libres made with rum, coke,
and a touch of lime.
Yes,
she’s still a teenager, but in Chicago in the 1920s, we’re the only ones who
questions this. A little warning, here. Since we asked for this conversation,
she’ll expect us to pick up the tab.
After
selecting where Kathleen wants to sit, she’ll motion for us to take our seats,
then raise one finger in the air. With a slight nod, you’ll see she’s just instructed
one of the bar staff to hurry over. While waiting, Kathleen slides a cigarette
from her pack of Pall Malls, looks for her lighter, not finding it, she glances
up at the young man, who’s come to serve us.
Now,
watch as she holds the cigarette up to her lips, while looking like a whipped
puppy. The server, dressed in black pants, white shirt, and black tie, and an
imagination that will get him nowhere, deftly produces a light for this
enchanting young lady.
With
drinks in hand, and Kathleen breathing out an occasional smoke ring, I ask her a
question.
“Tell
me, what motivated you to become a dancer here in Chicago at such a young age?”
Kathleen
glances around, then gives her hair a one-handed fluff, before she speaks.
“I
think idealism is underrated. What do you think?”
I
shrug, not knowing what this means to her. She continues.
“If
we don’t have high ideals, then our world becomes substandard. I attended the
theater with my parents when I was five. I watch something magical, a
ballerina. I swear she could fly as she performed her leaps and twirls and—Have
you ever watched ballet? Or anyone who’s passionate about the art of expression
through the display of movement? I always strive to be the best in everything I
do.”
Nodding,
I ask her if she regretted giving up her college scholarship to become an
entertainer.
“What
a bunch of bullshit.” Kathleen took out another cigarette, fumbled around for
her lighter, but the server dashed over and did what he needed to do for her.
I
cocked my head and waited for her answer. She downed her Cuba Libre and handed
him her glass and watched for a full minute to be sure he would bring her a
refill.
“Whatever
those brainiacs at college think they can teach me, I can learn for myself.”
With her little finger, she removed a fleck of tobacco from her lip. “How many
books do you read in a month? Never mind, because if you only read one genre,
and only fiction, it doesn’t matter, dear. However, If you read everything you
can get your hands on, then there’s a true education.”
Then,
I asked a question I shouldn’t have.
“Your
best friend, Sophie, must regret tagging along with you to Chicago. What would
she say about this whole experience?”
“God-damnit-to-hell,
I’m through here.” Kathleen gathered up her cigarettes and purse. She stood,
tossed some bills onto the table, and I thought she’d storm out. She didn’t.
Kathleen
crumpled back into her chair and held her chin in her hands. She concentrated
on the liquid in the bottom of her glass.
“That
mess with the mob—I shouldn’t have left her and Dolly to fend for themselves.”
Kathleen raised her head and stared at me. Her eyes watery. “What they did to
her—I’ll never forgive myself. I’m the one to blame.”
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
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Charlene Bell Dietz’s award-winning mystery novels The Flapper, the Scientist, and the Saboteur combines family saga with corporate espionage, and The Flapper, the Impostor, and the Stalker propels readers back into 1923 in frenetic Chicago. The Scientist, the Psychic, and the nut gives readers a frightening Caribbean vacation. Her latest novel The Spinster, the Rebel, and the Governor is a historical biography about Lady Margaret Brent, the first American woman to be called an attorney, whose integrity and intelligence saves pre-colonial Maryland from devastation. This book won the New Mexico Press Women’s first place award and an award by the National Press Women. The Spinster, the Rebel, and the Governor will be released as a second edition by Artemesia Press in February 2024. Two of her Flapper books have won the coveted Kirkus stars, and two were named best book of 2018. Charlene, a retired educator, lives in the foothills of the mountains in central New Mexico where abundant wildlife, solitude, and natures’ beauty inspires her creativity.
Connect
with Charlene:
https://www.facebook.com/charlene.dietz.9/
Buy
Links:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/charlene%20bell%20dietz/_/N-8q8
https://treasurehousebooks.net/product-tag/charlene-bell-dietz/
The book
will be $0.99 during the tour.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GIVEAWAY :
Charlene Bell Dietz will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN
GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good book.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for hosting, and Rita, for you comments.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good read.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sherry. I appreciate your comment.
ReplyDeleteOh my, I just find myself coming and going. I have my two youngest grandchildren here for several days. Youngest one is four. Naturally, you can guess I'm busy and finding it difficult to make time to get on the computer. Regardless, I hope all of you have some wonderful books to keep you engaged and are not out in this terribly hot weather we in the Southwest are experiencing.
ReplyDeleteThe book sounds fantastic. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Pippirose. I had such fun exploring Chicago during the Roaring Twenties. I find it interesting how teens, through the ages, always need to rebel against their elders.
ReplyDeleteIf any of you have been or live in Chicago, would you let me know how well did or didn't do with the setting? I have two friends who lived in Chicago before moving to New Mexico, and they told me my book felt true. I wondered if they weren't such close friends, what would they have said?
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing.
ReplyDelete