Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Sales and Murder

First I want to tell you about a big free event I am having starting tomorrow, March 21, 2013. It will run through March 24 and all three of my kindle titles will be free.

For the first time EVER, The Bond, A Paranormal Love Story will be free in Kindle.

A woman, Laura Neill, in Vancouver is struck by a Chrysler Intrigue while crossing the street. At the same time in Toronto a car also strikes Julian Rule. Both people have an out of body experience and meet as they are floating. Their ethereal forms bond as one before separating - each taking a part of the other’s soul with them as they return to their bodies.

 When the two people wake up, they remember the experience they shared and have memories of each other. The simultaneous accidents created a psychic bond. They are truly soul mates. Although Laura is haunted by visions of Julian that she cannot understand, she has decided to make dramatic changes in her life. One of them is becoming engaged to a member of England’s nobility that has recently appeared in her life. When he senses that she is in danger – a feeling that is confirmed by a psychic friend – Julian goes to Vancouver to come to her aid. With the help of a detective, Julian is able to prove that Laura’s fiancĂ© is a con artist and a murderer. When Julian confronts the man, he and Laura are placed in imminent danger.

Here's the link.

Mystique Rising:

In a bloody showdown during a Mystique concert, the government ended rock music. The members of Mystique disappeared - as many musicians before them had -without a trace.

This drives fans underground and they form the rebel group,the Let Us Play Organization. Presently Kaya More, who is the daughter of a slain LUPO founder, as well as a descendant of a member of Mystique, leads LUPO.

The gift of second sight aids Kaya as she leads the rebels from New York City to California to the Canadian Rockies. Once LUPO joins forces with other outlaws from around the world, the rebellion explodes and a showdown between the oppressors of music and fans is inevitable.

Link

And last, but certainly not least, Missing Flowers.

When psychic Julie Seer moves to Vancouver, her dreams are filled with visions of women being murdered. She doesn’t know who is being killed, or why, until the day Julie goes to a press conference held by the Vancouver Police Station: a press conference to announce the formation of a special task force that will investigate the case of the prostitutes who have gone missing from Vancouver’s East Side.

Detective Constable Santoro Ricci, an officer with the Vancouver Police Department, wants on the special task force. When he happens upon Julie at the press conference, Ricci finds himself unofficially investigating the case.

Julie also finds herself having visions where she is transported back in time into the body of a Chinese prostitute in the late 1800s. Through these visions, and stories told to her by long time residents of the city, Julie learns more of the history of Vancouver.

With the help of Francine, an east side prostitute, Julie and Santoro work together to solve the mystery of the missing women. When Francine and Julie are taken by the killer, Santoro must find the missing answers fast.

 Link

If you haven't read my books then I hope you will take advantage of this promotion and get yours.

This is a federal coke delivery truck. It belonged to the British Columbia Electric Company. The photographer is unknown but it was taken in 1919 - 1920 and is under the Georgia Viaduct. 
Taken in 1923, this photo of passengers boarding The Cheam is credited to Timms, Philip. The Cheam was owned by the Union Steamship Company.
Another photo of The Cheam. Here it is docked in Howe Sound and Timms, Philip is credited with this photo. The date it was taken is unknown. All three of these photos are from the Vancouver Public Library collection.

The twenties were a glorious time for Vancouver and even more so for the district of Shaughnessy. Old, moneyed families such as the McRaes held lavish masquerade parties in the ballrooms of their opulent mansions.

Prohibition was over and its demise was toasted in style with imported wines and spirits. The wine cellar at the McRae's was reputed to have some 2000 bottles.


Here's a float for a parade. Taken by John Davidson in the 1920s. 
This is the King George Junior Basketball Team. Winners of Wilson Cup in 1920. Stuart Thomson took the photo.

This photo, taken in 1920 by Stuart Thomson, shows employees outside of Duke's Grocery on Commercial Drive.

Another Stuart Thomson photo, taken July of 1920. This is the 10th annual convention of N.W. photo engravers and is outside the Hotel Vancouver. This would have been the second Hotel Vancouver built in 1916. The third is what we see today. These four photos are from the city of Vancouver collection.

While the elder rich held parties and balls, the younger ones raced around the town in their automobiles and played tennis, bridge and golf. It was rumoured that these wild ones would party through the night and skinny dip by the midnight moon while toasting the fun with French champagne.

Taken by the Dominion Photo Company between 1924 and 1928, this picture shows Mayor L.D. Taylor with two ladies, raising money for crippled children.
Stuart Thomson took this 1920 photo of the Central Baseball Club.
A 1920 photo of the Alexandra Orphanage at Crescent Beach. It was taken by Stuart Thomson.

This photo dates back to February 11, 1920 and Stuart Thomson took this image of the Washington State Hotelmen's convention.
These photos are from the City of Vancouver collection.

It was in 1924 that the debauchery of the rich set shocked the city. A Shaughnessy nanny, Janet Smith, was found dead in her employers' home. She had worked for the couple as they had hosted an all night party and her body was discovered in the morning.

It was a shameful time for Vancouver. Violence, drug abuse, corruption and police collusion were all revealed during the extended murder investigation. To this day, no one has ever been convicted of that murder.
June 10, 1920 is when Stuart Thomson took this photo of the Kiwanis Club luncheon at the Hotel Vancouver.

May 24, 1920. Stuart Thomson took this photo of the start of a Coast to Coast road trip.The 'Reo Six' went from Vancouver to New Brunswick. The Reo Motor Car Agency.

Major James Skitt Matthews took this photo in 1927 looking north from Robson Street down Granville. It was reproduced in 1955.

This is a 1927 photo of the Confederation Arch at the Hotel Vancouver - Georgia and Granville Streets. It was taken by E. Walter Frost.

Once again these four photos are from the archives at the City of Vancouver.

Thanks goes to Aynsley Vogel and Dana Wyse and their book Vancouver, A History in Photographs for the information on Shaugnessy in the 1920s.

I hope you find the beauty around you.

November 1929. Stuart Thomson took this photo of the S.S. Selma
Compliments of the City of Vancouver archives.


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1 comment:

  1. I do so enjoy your posts, Karen. I love history and seeing it through the photos and posts here is like sitting on the front porch with a neighbor and talking about 'way back when'.

    ReplyDelete