I’m excited to present the list of authors from the Mystery Writers of America, Florida Chapter at the Miami Book Fair on Saturday November 17, 2012. Click on the photo to view.
Kathy McKenzie-Runk at noon signing.
I have reached my quota of 11,918 words up to day seven of National Novel Writing Month. One of the suggestions for writing 50,000 words in a month is to do NO editing. So I hope you’ll be kind as I give you my first chapter of book four of the Mackenzie Scott Mysteries, “Murder at the Zoo.” It’s been my experience that many things change after first draft is completed. Once an editor gets a hold of chapter one, they might have many items redlined for changes. But I hope you enjoy it. Spoiler Alert: books one to three bring us to this point, in case you don’t want to know what happens.
MURDER AT THE ZOO
A Mackenzie Scott Mystery
By Kathy McKenzie-Runk
Beverly Scott pushed the wheelchair with her husband in it out the door of the discharge area of the hospital. Mackenzie Scott moaned as the chair hit a tiny imperfection in the concrete walkway. His bandaged head attested to his injury, but not his constant pain.
“Sorry, darling,” she said, leaning over him, trying to ease his discomfort. “That’s the only bump til we reach the driveway where Det. Frank pulled the car.” Seeing the patrol car parked just a bit to the left, behind a transport van, she told her husband, “There he is. Hold on for a moment.” Beverly stepped out where the driver could see her and waved. Detective Frank waved back, motioning to hold up until the van in front left.
As the van left with its passengers, the patrol car moved to the first position, now in front of the wheelchair laden detective, Mackenzie Scott. The driver jumped out and came around to the hospital side of the driveway.
“Hey, Beverly. How’s our guy doing?”
“He’s still got a terrible headache and the ride out didn’t help.”
Det. Frank, of the Miami Police Department, pulled the rear door of the patrol car open. “I got permission to take Mac home,” he said. “He gave so much help to us on that last case, the supervisor insisted I use the patrol car with so much extra room in the back.”
“Thank you. Do you think we can walk him to the car?” Beverly asked.
“Not necessary. I’ll get him in.” Det. Frank went over to his friend, bent down and whispered, “This might hurt a bit,” as he scooped the 165 pounds of injured man into his strong arms. “I’m glad you lost a few pounds while you were here.”
Mac groaned again as his old partner stood with him in his arms and walked the two steps to the open back door. Stooping til he was level with the seat of the vehicle, his knees creaking with the effort, he gently placed the man into the car. “Umph,” was the only sound from the patient.
Beverly quickly pushed the wheelchair back to the area where the nurse stood to retrieve it, then rushed around the car to get into the other side in the back seat. As she closed the door, she turned to her husband. “Okay now, darling?” she asked as she gently pushed his salt and pepper curls out of his eyes and tucked them under the bandages. His almost 6 foot frame fit easily in the back seat and dwarfed his tiny wife. Beverly lost a few pounds just from worrying about her husband. Her pony tail swung back and forth and she tucked the blanket around her husband. “All set now,” she said to the driver. “Ready to go.”
Det. Frank silently put the vehicle in gear and slowly pulled away from the discharge area. He looked into the rear view mirror at his charges, wincing as he saw Mac’s drawn face and closed eyes.
“The girls are waiting at home with Ruby,” she said to Det. Frank.
“How’s Ruby doing?”
“She feels so responsible for Mac getting shot. She wanted to do something to help.”
“None of it was her fault. She shouldn’t feel bad. She lost enough herself.”
“That’s what I told her,” Beverly said. “I think she just needed something worthwhile to do.”
“How are the girls taking it?”
“You know Angel. She doesn’t show emotion. But Tessie, she cries all the time even though the doctor told us Mac would be fine in time.”
“Well, head injuries can be slow healing. The stitches will be out in a few days and he’ll have a souvenir of that case forever.”
“I know. I’m just so glad he’s going to be okay. Ruby’s going to go to his office and fill in for me for a few weeks that he needs to recuperate and I don’t want to leave him.”
“She was a great secretary to the Major. Does she plan to return to her old job?”
“We don’t know yet as she hasn’t decided. The Major gave her some mourning time for Brandon and wants her back when she’s ready.”
As the car drove under the speed limit towards the Scott home, the quiet conversation lulled the patient to sleep. Mac’s head slumped over on Beverly shoulder. She placed her arms around him protectively, careful not to bump his injured head.
“Did you seen the morning paper?” Det. Frank asked.
“No, I haven’t been following any news since Mac was shot, except about the man who did it.”
“There was an accident at the Wildlife Zoo in the Everglades.”
“What kind of accident?” she asked.
“A trainer was pinned by one of the elephants. He was following his normal routine, he told the police, when the female started being aggressive with him. If it hadn’t been for the small space at the bottom of the building, he would have been crushed. He flattened himself against the wall as the elephant attacked. Only when another trainer was able to get the elephant away, could he escape. No injuries, but a huge scare.”
“People sometimes get careless and forget that these are wild animals.”
“Well, I took my kids there when they were younger, and the trainers seemed to be perfectly in control. One of the elephants was trained to paint pictures while visitors watched. It was so cool!”
“Yes, we took the girls there once or twice. They love animals and we always enjoyed ourselves.”
“Here we are,” Det. Frank said as he pulled up in front of the house.
“Look, the girls are at the door,” she said as she watched the front door of the house open and her two teen daughters came running down to the car.
Det. Frank turned off the motor, exited the vehicle, and came around to the passenger side. “Girls, give me room now to get your father out,” he admonished.
The two girls backed up. Tessie’s eyes were red from crying and Angel put her arm around her.
“See, Tess. Dad’s fine.”
Beverly had exited the car and was coming around to the other side. She went to the girls, gave them a group hug, then stood while Det. Frank got Mac out. “Did the hospital bed arrive okay?” she asked.
“Yes, Mom. Everything is ready. They set it up in the family room,” Angel said.
“I made Daddy some cookies,” Tessie said.
“I’m sure he’ll be pleased. But he’s very tired from the trip so let’s give him some time,” Beverly said.
Det. Frank picked up Mac from the rear of the car and headed towards the front door. Ruby was standing there and pushed the door open as they got to the step. “To the left,” she said to Det. Frank. Beverly and the girls were close behind.
#
After settling the patient into the hospital bed that was already in a sitting position, Det. Frank stood, arched his back to get the kinks out, then turned to Beverly and the girls who were quietly fussing over their father.
“I’ve got to get back to the precinct,” he said. “You can call me anytime for anything you need.” He gave Beverly a small hug, nodded to Ruby who was standing nearby, then left the house. Tessie and Angle, one on each side of the bed, were patting their father’s hands.
“Is Daddy unconscious?” Tessie asked, a frown on her face.
“No, dear. He’s just exhausted,” Beverly said. “Just sit with him for a while and I’ll make him some chicken soup for when he wakes up.” Beverly motioned to Ruby to follow her to the kitchen.
“Is Mac going to be okay?” Ruby asked.
“Yes, but it’s going to take time. The bullet only grazed his skull, but when he fell, he hit something.
“Concussion?”
“Yes. So he’ll be fine in no time. How have the girls been today?”
“Tessie cries all the time, and even Angel can’t console her. I’m so sorry for all this,” Ruby said.
“Ruby, look. You have to understand. My husband knows how dangerous things can get sometimes. This isn’t the first time he’s been shot.”
“No? He’s been shot before?”
“Yes. Some years ago , while he was sheriff of Crestview Pines. He was trying to stop a burglary and the man had a gun. It went off while they were struggling.”
“I didn’t know.”
“Well, we don’t talk about it much. The girls were too young to remember. He spent 63 days in intensive care from a bullet in his spine. They were worried he’d be paralyzed for life, but he came through it okay.”
“How did you manage?” Ruby asked.
“It was a difficult time. If it hadn’t been for friends and the police department, I might not have made it. They paid our bills, brought us groceries, watched the girls while I went to the hospital every day and were just there for us. It took a while, but we made it.” Beverly heated the soup that the church had brought, poured some tea and set everything on a tray to take into the large family room, now setup like a hospital room.
“Let me take it,” Ruby said. “I want to help as much as I can.”
“Ruby, just staying here with the girls has been a big help. And just because we’re home now, don’t feel you can’t come over anytime you want. I’d appreciate the company.” Beverly handed her the tray as she spoke.
The women returned to the living room and saw that Mac was awake. Tessie and Angel were talking quietly to their dad, both of them smiling.
Mac raised his gaze as best he could as they walked towards the bed.
“Oh, good, darling, you are awake. I’ve brought some chicken soup,” she said fussing with the blankets covering him.
Ruby pushed the tiny table closer to the bed and set the tray on it. “Girls, let’s go into the kitchen while your mother helps your father eat a little. There’s enough for everyone.”
“I want to stay here with Daddy,” Tessie said.
“I do too,” Angel repeated.
“All right girls. Just give me some room. Tessie, please go over beside your sister while I sit there,” Beverly said.
Tessie nodded, and left the chair for her mother while she moved to the other side of the bed.
“I’m going to leave now,” Ruby said. “Junior will be wanting some supper himself.”
“Thanks for everything, Ruby,” Beverly said as she took up her position to feed Mac. “Call me tomorrow.”
Ruby nodded. “I’ll see myself out.”
END OF EXCERPT
Happy reading and writing! For a complete list of the books in the series, please go to:
www.kathymckenzierunk.com. If you have already read any of the books, please go to www.amazon.com and write a a5-start review!
Kathy
If you finally have your book in hand whether hardcover or trade paperback, however published, you might plan a book signing. If you have a signing where you have your books for sale, like at a fund raiser or book fair, and it is not a retail establishment that has its own sale tax license, you are liable for collecting the tax if your state has sales tax.
I am in Florida, and our sales tax is required to be collected and paid to the state. To be sure I was responsible for the tax if I personally sold books, especially at the upcoming Miami Book Fair, I wrote to the Florida Department of Revenue. Here is an excerpt from their reply:
From: Florida Department of Revenue
The Department of Revenue has received your email regarding filing for a sales tax exemption certificate for a new business as an author selling books.
The sales of your books are taxable transactions, and an application must be made to become a registered sales and use tax dealer before conducting business in this state. Florida’s law provides that each sale, admission charge, storage, or rental is taxable unless the transaction is specifically exempt. The state sales tax rate is 6 percent, plus any local discretionary sales surtax. Dealers are responsible for collecting sales tax at the time of each sale and for remitting the tax for each collection period to the Department, along with a Sales and Use Tax Return (Form DR-15 or Form DR-15EZ). A return must be filed even if no tax is due.
Be sure to check your state requirements. The way I am handling it is that I am including the sale tax amount in the price. Then I will submit the required forms and fees at the required time. So if I sell my books for $10.00, the price is really $9.44 plus $.56 tax. Then I will submit the $.56 tax. Be sure to calculate this amount from your profits.
The good thing is there is no middle man, and you will make more selling your book yourself, no matter if your publisher supplies the books or you print them yourself.
I hope to be able to keep the blog going during National Novel Writing Month that started November 1. I might share excerpts of my story, “Murder at the Zoo.” Stay tuned. Check out my updated web page with all my books listed at www.kathymckenzierunk.com.
By the way, you should check out the free site www.goodreads.com, where you can join the community of readers and also purchase my books as well as Mari Mitchell Porter’s.
Happy writing and reading!
Kathy McKenzie-Runk
From Junior Journalist to Mystery Writer 