The
stories. I always knew I’d write a series about National Park Rangers since I’d
always wanted to be one. I just didn’t know I’d have to do so much research. I
thought I’d just write my usual story and have a ranger solve the crime. Not. I
quickly learned the Natchez Trace Parkway Rangers were a separate entity from
the National Park Service. Sort of.
The
National Park Service Rangers at places like Mount Locust, Melrose, and the
William Johnson House, etc. have interpretive rangers who are responsible for
providing an enlightening experience to visitors of the historical sites.
Natchez Trace Parkway Rangers are law enforcement rangers with their main
office in Tupelo, Mississippi. Which was good for me since I could easily drive
down and talk to the Superintendent.
The superintendent was so helpful. I learned that
just like police officers, full-time law enforcement rangers have to undergo
training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Georgia. She
filled me in on their duties, and told me about the special agents who plan and
conduct investigations as part of the Investigative Services Branch (ISB). BINGO!
The perfect job for my hero who is out to stop the drugs traveling up the
Trace.
Luke Fereday
is an undercover agent working for ISB, and that causes a lot of problems with
the heroine, Brooke because he keeps it a secret. She’s been an interpretive
ranger for several years, but she wants to follow in her father’s footsteps as
a law enforcement ranger. When the story opens, her dad is the district ranger
for the Trace from Jackson, Mississippi, to Natchez. (That was something else I
had to research—all the different levels of authority which is sometimes
confusing since some carry the same designation.) She’d graduated at the top of
the class at Glynco, and her dad was supposed to swear her in, but he died
before that could happen. When the coroner ruled his death a suicide, Brook set
out to prove it was murder. Of course, that put her in the murderer’s
crosshairs, and in close contact with Luke.
Researching
the Natchez area and the Natchez Trace Parkway was a wonderful experience. I’ve
made three trips so far, and if this pandemic had not happened, I would have
gone again this spring. If you ever get the opportunity to visit this small
city set on the bluffs of the Mississippi River, try to go during either the
Spring or Fall Pilgrimage. Natchez has more than 600 examples of Antebellum
Architecture and many of them are on display during the pilgrimages. Several of
them are on property owned by the Parkway. And don’t forget to go by the
Natchez cemetery.
I’m sure
it must sound strange to suggest a cemetery as a must-see, but if you go,
you’ll see why. The Turning Angel is there and more
than one novel has featured it. In fact, I’ll be featuring it in one of my
books.
I guess
you can tell that research is one reason I write—it gives me an opportunity to
delve into things I don’t know. I’ve always heard writers should write what
they know, but I think writers should write what they want to know.
Bio
and Social Media links
USA
Today Best-selling author, Patricia Bradley is a Carol finalist and winner of
an Inspirational Readers’ Choice Award in Suspense. She and her two cats
call North Mississippi home--the South is also where she sets most of her
books. Her romantic suspense novels include the Logan Point series and the
Memphis Cold Case Novels. Standoff, the first book in the Natchez Trace
Park Ranger’s series released May 5, 2020, and she’s finished the second
book, Obsession and is hard at work on the third, Crosshairs.
Writing
workshops include American Christian Fiction Writers online courses, workshops
at the Mid-South Christian Writer’s Conference, the KenTen Retreat where she
was also the keynote, Memphis American Christian Fiction Writer group, and the
Bartlett Christian Writers group. When she has time, she likes to throw mud on
a wheel and see what happens.
Links:
Amazon
– https://amzn.to/2S6DKGY
