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Fracture is with the editor and should be ready very soon! My original plan was to published the book months ago, but 2020 has been quite a struggle. The good news is that I’ve retreated to my creative world and have been able to bury my head in stories. Fracture will be available by September 15th. After that, I have an idea for a holiday novella. Sylvia loves to take vacations. What kind of trouble can she sniff out during a holiday trip? We’ll see where that goes, but in the mean time, let’s learn more about Fracture.

In Fracture, Sylvia takes on a case that forces her to take the road. I’ve done my best to clean things up, but the book just went to the editor, so the prologue below hasn’t been professionally edited yet.

Fracture: Prologue.

Delaney pulled the front door closed, her heart beating rapidly against her chest. The day had finally arrived. Her hands shook as she fiddled with the key fob, pushing the button to unlock the door. Climbing into the car, she closed the door, sighed, and looked back at her home. Was she really going to leave it all behind? Definitely. Maybe. She wasn’t sure.

It had taken several months, but she’d finally reached the ten-thousand-dollar mark. Casually venturing to the bank during playdates with other stay-at-home moms, or stopping by at the end of a grocery run, Delaney Whitby had withdrawn small amounts of money, so the dwindling savings didn’t look suspicious. She was always bubbly and full of smiles when she walked into the bank, making sure to wear her least modest shirt—the one she kept tucked away in the back of the bedroom closet. The red v-neck swooped low enough to allure male bank tellers, but it also showed off her garments. A gentle tug at the edge of the shirt would hide the sacramental cloth’s rim—allowing her to maintain her dignity. Delaney did her best to deal with a male teller when withdrawing the money. Chatting away about home improvement projects and expenses for the children, the teller would complete the transaction without noticing that she had been dipping into the account, bit by bit, weekly. No one suspected what she was planning.

At church, Delaney had maintained her leadership role amongst the young women of her congregation. Spending each Sunday leading the women with righteous messages, advising young mothers who only had one or two babies, and banning together with more experienced moms like herself, who had four of five children, created a support system. Men in the congregation would watch her with envy, wishing that their wives were a little more like the selfless, beautiful Delaney. That Sunday, less than twelve hours before she would leave, Delaney thoroughly maintained the facade. All was well, and she was perfect.

Will I see the children again? Delaney wondered. She loved them, but nothing should deter her from God’s plan. Tears of anticipation and fear caused her heart to flutter and vision to blur. What waited on the other side of her journey? What would it be like to spend the first night away from her family? There was only one way to find out. She grabbed the lever and pulled it until the lock popped, pushing the car door open. She shook her head and slammed it closed. There is no time for such thoughts. 

The prophet had told her that time was of the essence. They had a short window to build Zion before Jesus returned. If she didn’t leave now, there would be no way to reap the full benefits of “the work”. The Savior has expectations, the prophet had repeated two days prior, before telling her, Now is the time. If you want to be a part of Zion, the decision must be made now.

They were going to build paradise, tucked between isolated mountain towns, and far away from secular society’s prying eyes. As for her current life—she’d been unable to convince Jeff that there was one Truth and she’d found it. She loved Jeff, but the more he denied the prophet’s words, the less light she saw in his eyes. He didn’t understand the proper plan of the Savior. Perhaps he would in time, but until Jeff was ready to commit to Truth, she could do nothing to help him. Was it wrong to abandon her marriage? Delaney couldn’t be sure, but there was a calling on her life. She had to do what was right.

Delaney reflected on the preparations she’d undertaken. Seven loads of laundry washed, dried, and folded, two weeks’ worth of casseroles prepped and stored in the deep freezer, premade shepherd’s pie and chili also waited, ready to be popped into the oven and cooked. Jeff wasn’t much of a cook, but by the time he ran out of the meals she’d left, someone from the ward would show up with provisions and help with the kids.

She’d packed one bag of prairie dresses and garments—although she wasn’t sure if those items would be needed where she was going—and stuck it in the trunk of the car a week ago. The ten thousand dollars was taped to the top of the glove compartment, and her cellphone—which she’d been directed to leave at home—was still in her pocket. It was the last remaining strand of her life, and even though she knew she would be required to do so, she wasn’t ready to give up her cellphone. Forcefully turning the key in the ignition, Delaney started the car and took off, her head jerking from the momentum. She zoomed down the street, the tires screeching when she reached the stop sign. Delaney felt wild and uninhibited—free and anointed. Filled with reckless courage, she whipped the corner onto Michigan Avenue, enjoying the feel of the car tilting a bit on two wheels. It’s like being a warrior. I’m going into battle and fighting for what’s right.

Delaney rolled down the windows and let the thick, warm Michigan air fill the car. Speeding through town, she took pleasure in the cars shrinking in the rearview mirror. After tailgating a Dodge Ram, Delaney swerved to the left, cutting off a Mustang before mashing the accelerator. She had plenty of time, but adrenaline pushed her faster and faster down Michigan Avenue, rushing for the freeway.

She’d purchased the plane ticket a month ago, and by the time they discovered the car, she’d be at her destination. Speeding down I-94, Delaney Whitby gripped the steering wheel, her palms sweaty, and the backs of her hands red from the pressure. The late spring southeastern Michigan sky was gray and heavy with clouds. She pulled into long-term parking at the airport, grabbing a ticket for the car, knowing that she’d never need it. Delaney parked the Dodge Intrepid in a corner space, turned the car off, and said a prayer. Heavenly Father, I hope I am doing the right thing. Send me a sign if I’m not.

Sitting in silence, anticipating a flash of lightning or a phone call—anything to indicate she was making a lousy decision—Delaney waited. After several minutes, she closed her eyes and sighed. Nothing had happened. Heavenly Father had delivered his answer. She opened her eyes and muttered, “thank you,” climbed out of the car, grabbed her luggage from the truck, and took off for the terminal.

 

Dear Readers,

Please forgive my absence. 2020 has been quite a year so far and as I reflected on my own experiences, distraction set in. With that said, I know that writing, adding my voice, even in a fictional setting, matters. As an African-American woman living in Utah, in the United States of America, I have information to add to discussion on race and inequality in the world. Yes, the lives of African-Americans matter. That’s not a way to devalue other lives, it’s just a reminder that the lives of minorities have not always mattered, and even now certain lives don’t receive the care and consideration they deserve.

With that said, many voices are ignored. For example, I listen to a lot of podcasts about missing persons. There are a few podcasters out there that make sure they cover the broad spectrum of missing persons, but there is a need for more coverage of missing persons of color. For example, three weeks ago I heard about Terrance Woods Jr for the first time. He went missing in Orogrande, Idaho October 5, 2018. He is from Maryland and doesn’t have ties in this part of the country. I live in Utah and whenever there is an Amber Alert or missing person case in Idaho, I hear about it. This time, however, I never saw an article on about Terrance Woods Jr. He is reported to have run off into the woods. The sheriff in the area thinks he got a ride out of the area. As a black man, he would stand out in Idaho, if he caught a ride to another location, someone would have noticed him. But if no one knows he’s missing, no one is going to report seeing him. So, in an effort to make sure that we remember as many missing persons as possible, I want to do

Here are two things to look for in July 2020:

Forgotten Lives-a podcast covering missing persons of color. I started this project in 2018 but stopped because I felt like I wasn’t a good podcaster. I’ve come to the conclusion that I will not get better if I don’t keep doing it, so the podcast will return next month. Episodes will resume in July 2020.

Fracture: Book 3 In The Sylvia Wilcox Series

This time around, Sylvia and Martin take on the case of a woman who disappears on during a routine trip to the grocery store. I will post the prologue in the next few days but for now-just in case you have forgotten-here’s the cover again. Stay tuned!

 

 

Sylvia Wilcox is hitting the road in Fracture! A missing persons case leads Sylvia to the Utah, a state that has recently become a destination for those looking for a fresh start, the best snow on earth, or a safe, comfortable neighborhood full of friendly faces.

I moved to Utah in 2010 because the economy was strong, and Michigan’s economy had been in dire straits for years. The best part of my story about relocating across country is that I never planned to stay. I mean, think about it. Utah. Who lives there? It seemed like a strange  Well, it turns out that my decision to remain in Utah might not have been so strange. As I look around the state, I see people pouring into the Salt Lake Valley from around the country. Before you move to the Beehive State, here are five things you should know.

Today, I’m going to go through five things people should know before they move to Utah.

5. It’s Not As Religious As It Used To Be, But It’s still Pretty Religious

In the 1840s, Mormon pioneers made the trek across the the country to Utah. While several Native American tribes, fur trappers, and the occasional Catholic priest were already traversing the area, the Mormons moved in and made the place a state. It took over fifty years for statehood to be established due to the faith’s practice of polygamy. But, there have always been people in Utah that are other religions, or don’t have a faith at all. With that said, in 2020, Utah is the “most religiously homogenous state” in the country. Recent statistics show that the population of active members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is declining, especially in the state’s largest county. Even so, 60.68% of the state is on the rolls at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints(Salt Lake Tribune). But this number is deceptive. Non-practicing members of the LDS church are counted as members, even if they haven’t attended church in decades. In order to not be counted, members have to ask to have their names removed from church records. This is a bit cumbersome and can cause trouble with family members and friends, so many inactive and non-believing members leave their names on the roll. In reality, I’d say the number of active members falls below 50%, but that’s just a guess.

Even with the decline of active members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Utah is still largely Mormon. Some areas are more heavily populated with Mormons, and while those will still be decent areas to live,  communities that are overwhelming Mormon will be difficult places to live for non-Mormons. People will probably speak to you and occasionally make small talk, but it will be very hard to make lasting connections unless you join the LDS church.

So, where is the best place to move in the state? Salt Lake County is going to be the best place for transplant, non-LDS people that move to Utah. Utah County is arguably going to be worst place for a non-LDS transplant, but there are also a few rural counties that are isolated, have poor job prospects and high suicide rates. In northern and central Utah you will find what some call Jack Mormons, people who have some belief in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but do not adhere to the Word of Wisdom-which forbids alcohol, coffee, and for some, tea. You will also find transplants that have moved to Utah for the mountains and trails, and many of them are not part of the dominant faith, so no matter where you move, as long as it isn’t a ranch in the middle of nowhere, or on the edge of the desert, you should be able to make friends.

4. People Are Friendly, But It’s Hard To Make Friends

Utah is one of the friendliest places I’ve ever been, but building lasting friendships is hard. The one exception to this rule is if you have a ready-made community waiting for you. For example, if you’re into Crossfit, you love to hike, have a religion, or already know people, you’ll be fine. But if you’re moving in for a job opportunity, and you don’t know anyone, be prepared for a little isolation.

The good news is that most of the people you encounter are going to be nice and happy to make your acquaintance. Smiles and friendly nods will greet you on the streets of Salt Lake City, and a few people will make small talk, but that might be all it is. The best way to make friends is to have a thing. Any thing that you like to do. Strike up conversations over coffee, or during walks through Liberty Park, and make as many connections as you can because there is a good chance that most of them aren’t going to turn into close friendships.

3. Utah’s Government Is A Bit Controlling…But Only On Specific Issues

When I moved to Utah I thought the government would be a small dot in the rearview mirror of my car. Uber republican state means less government, right? Well, that’s true for some issues. For example, if you want to homeschool your child, Utah takes a very hands-off approach that allows parents to have complete autonomy when it comes to educating their children. Also, guns are readily available for anyone to buy and open carry is legal for anyone 18 and up, but if you want a bottle of wine…Well, you can only get that from a state run liquor store. Pornography websites might have a warning label on them by the time you get here, but that hasn’t become an official law just yet. Polygamy will probably be an infraction, something akin to a traffic ticket, after the currently legislative session, but that is where the freedom ends. Provo, where Brigham Young University is located, recently voted to allow brewpubs in the city. This is the first time Provo, Utah has allowed beer to be brewed in its downtown since Prohibition, but there is currently a referendum underway to overturn this law. As a new resident of Utah, you can expect what most would call social issues to be heavily legislated.

2. The Economy-Jobs EVERYWHERE!

Jobs are plentiful in Utah.  If you want to find a job, you’ll probably be able to find one within a week of starting your search. Salaries are historically low in Utah, but you can always find a job. Now it might not be the job you want, and you might need two or three jobs if you want to buy a house, but you’ll be able to find employment.

Some of the major employers might have decent salaries are eBay, Amazon, and Adobe. There is a section of the state called Silicon Slopes, and that is where you will find tech companies that pay well and have good benefits. Hill Air Force Base is another great place to work in Utah because the salaries are not based on the state’s low pay rates. Instead, you will enjoy salaries based on the cost of living set by the federal government.

4. Safe and Comfortable Neighborhoods…But It’s Going to Cost 

Utah is a great place to live, but the price of housing in some areas may cause a bit of stress. No, in order to move into an affordable area, you will have to be open to living away from the best place, in terms of building your social life, in the state. Salt Lake City is the best place to live in the Salt Lake Valley, and I absolutely loved being in the city, but over time, the price tag was too much. I live in the hip and happy 9th and 9th neighborhood where I was paying 850 for rent in 2012, and that’s before utilities and a required media package. When the rent was raised to 910, I decided it was time to move. Eventually, I was priced out of the market and moved to West Jordan.  And that was in 2012.

If you’re interested in living in Salt Lake City, you will probably end up paying about 1500 in rent. If you want to buy a house…All I can say is that you better bring a hunk of cash with you. My advice, bite the bullet and move north. Not to Davis County, but Weber County. You could move to one of the small cities in the Ogden-Clearfield area and find a place that costs a bit less. Utah County is also going to be cheaper than Salt Lake County, but remember, Utah County is uber religious, so if you’re not into that, choose another county.

1. Downtown SLC, Historic 25th Street in Ogden, and Everything In-between

Historic 25th Street is a wonderful place to visit if you make your way to Ogden. It’s a great place to swing by after a visit to Antelope Island, but there isn’t much to see in the city, which is more of a town for me. There are plenty of restaurants and little shops to stop by while you’re in town, and classical turn of the century homes you can stroll through.

Downtown SLC is a world class city that contains plenty of things to see and do. Visit Temple Square and take a tour of the tabernacle.  After that, you can spend some time in at City Creek Mall, a massive luxury shopping center full of eateries and top notch stores where you can buy a souvenir for family members back home.

One of my favorite things about liing in

Utah has nice cities but, it is nature that people come to visit. Moab, Canyonlands National Park, Zion National Park, really you need to visit all the national parks, and as many of the state parks, but there are also just beautiful natural areas in your backyard you must visit.

Stay tune for Fracture, the third book in the Sylvia Wilcox series. You will be able to purchase the book on my website in April and other platforms, such as Amazon, Kobo, Apple, and other book publishing platforms as well.

Resources

A Brief History of Fry Sauce, Utah’s Favorite Condiment

https://www.eater.com/2016/8/6/12054512/fry-sauce-ketchup-mayo-utah-condiment

Explaining Polygamy and It’s History of the Mormon Church

https://theconversation.com/explaining-polygamy-and-its-history-in-the-mormon-church-81384

10 Things To Know About Utah

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/articles/2019-01-04/10-things-to-know-about-utah

Like many U.S. cities, Salt Lake finds it ‘can’t build way out’ of affordable housing shortage

https://www.deseret.com/utah/2019/9/22/20870741/utah-salt-lake-apartment-rent-prices

National Park Service

https://www.nps.gov/zion/index.htm

Discover Moab

https://www.discovermoab.com/

 

 

 

 

 

Nothing gets a writer motivated to finish up a novel more than receiving the cover art for the book. I LOVE this cover!

Stay tuned for updates on the release date!

Hello everyone! Today is January 17, 2020 and I am recording a brief update on Fracture, my current fiction project. It’s cold and snowy here today which makes it the perfect day to sit down and reflect a bit on what I’ve been writing. As mentioned before, I have decided to change the name of the next book in the Sylvia Wilcox series to Fracture and the change of the title has helped spur some new ideas, which is great. Along with those new ideas, I’ve spent some time thinking about some of the underlying themes of the book.

The idea that there is one singular Truth is dangerous. Humanity has had varied experiences throughout existence and every culture has its stories, myths, and histories that shape the way they live. When we come to the conclusion that we have the Truth about something, and feel that we don’t need to hear other opinions or stories of different experiences, we become fundamentalists. And when we become fundamentalists, we lose sight of logic. During the course of writing this novel, I’ve done a some research into the fundamentalism of different groups.  Some of those groups are religious, others are political, and still others start off as social groups. I was searching for more information on groups that isolate from the rest of the world, and have insulated themselves with the idea that leaving the group will bring about social rejection or damnation. Secular groups employ similar tactics as religious groups, but the losses might not be as severe as losing salvation. Instead, distancing one’s self from a secular group may mean the loss of money, power, and social connections. Here’s an example: Anyone can run for political office, but the higher the office, the less chance they have of being elected unless they align themselves with a specific political party. Once elected, the person may feel like they can’t truly govern if they are beholden to the party, but leaving the party usually means their political career is over. But the stakes are higher when a person is tightly weaved into a belief system that requires complete and total dedication, and discourages questions.

Faith And Truth Are NOT The Same

Religion is related to philosophy, and the idea that one religion is more true than another is a foreign concept to me. Not to mention, if you “know” that something is true, you don’t need faith to believe it. More importantly, how do you know something is true? Because someone told you? Because your grandma tells faith promoting stories about your family during the holidays? None of theses things can be proven to be absolute truths.

That brings me to Fracture. I live in Utah and I must admit, this place is incredibly fascinating and foreign to my senses. My parents never pushed religion on me, but we did go to a Methodist Church on Sundays, and I attended parochial school. I never thought the other faiths were less true than mine. In fact, I wanted to learn about other traditions, and I’ve been to a mosque, Jewish temple, Buddhist temple, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the majority of Protestant churches, and a couple of different branches of Orthodox churches. I never thought one or another was “true” or “false” or anything along those lines. Instead, I thought, it’s wonderful that the diversity of humanity is represented by all these different faith traditions, and the plethora of traditions made sense to me because humans are so diverse. We’re all just trying to understand why we’re here, why we exist, and what we should be doing with ourselves. So, I’ve always been comfortable with faiths that were completely different from my own. I mean, everyone must find their own path, right? Well, in 2010 when I moved to Utah, I encountered people who were absolutely sure that they had the truth. I mean, absolutely sure-truth with a capital T. Now, most of the people I know that are in the Mormon Church do not flaunt this ideology much, but that attitude is weaved into the culture. And for some, those who might have a touch of narcissism, may take the ideology to another level. Most will just be arrogant, but what happens when one of the “chosen one” decides that they are a little more chosen than the rest of the people in their faith? What happens when someone becomes more and more chosen, and they become a self proclaimed prophet? This is where fundamentalism comes into play.

Fracture is about a woman who is searching for truth. She takes a look at her life and starts to wonder if she indeed has the absolute, bonafide truth about everything. At this point I’m sure you are scratching your head and thinking, “How can anyone have the truth about everything?” The answer to that question is at the heart of the third book of Sylvia Wilcox series.

 

2020 is upon us! I LOVE New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day because they provide transition from one year to the next. This year is also special because it is the beginning of a new decade, and the last decade was phenomenal for me, I am elated to discover what the next ten years has in store for me.

A New Decade (Well, Kind Of…)

Okay, so I know that technically the new decade doesn’t start until 2021, and 2011 is when the last decade began. BUT, that’s not how my brain works. It likes even number and for me, the decade started today, January 1, 2020.

Yesterday, I took some time to reflect on December 31, 2009. I remember it vividly because it was the last New Year’s Eve spent in Michigan. I had a sinus infection the week of Christmas, and I was still feeling sick on New Year’s Eve. In addition to being physically sick, I felt like my life was stagnant. I was living in Ypsilanti, Michigan, tucked away in an apartment my friend owned, and my career prospects were dismal. After completing six years of college, and earning two degrees, I was working a part-time job and picking up other part-time jobs when possible, because the economy in Michigan had slowed to a standstill. Of course, I would have gladly taken a full-time job, but the endless applications I submitted never resulted in a job with sustainable income. In 2009, I’d contemplating moving to a new state, but I was nervous about leaving everything and everyone I knew behind. That night, something shifted in my life.

I got off work around nine that evening and headed home. I declined a friend’s invitation to ring in the New Year at his place, and spent the evening I read the last chapters of my 80,000-word literary fiction novel. My heart was heavy as I ran through the usual questions and self-doubt. Was my book good enough to publish? Would anyone want to read it? I was terrified to find out the answers to those questions.

At midnight that evening, I had a cup of tea and contemplated my life. What was I doing? Where was my life going? While those questions swirled around in my head, I realized that I didn’t have any answers. Sad and confused I muttered to myself, “Do something big in 2010.”

I needed to shake things up and that’s exactly what I did. In September of 2010, I bought a one-way train ticket to Salt Lake City, Utah. My goal was to head to the mountains and spend time writing and querying agents, to see if I could get my book picked up by a publishing company. I didn’t set a time limit or the rest of the itinerary because I had no idea what I should do next. It helped that I had a good friend that lived in Salt Lake City. He said I was more than welcome to crash with him if I wanted to come and check the place out. I wasn’t sure what was going to happen, but it didn’t take long for me to realize that there were opportunities in Utah that simply weren’t present in Michigan. So, I decided to rebuild my life from scratch in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Looking back on the past ten years, the person I was on New Year’s Day 2010, couldn’t have ever imagined the person that woke up this morning, New Year’s Day, 2020. During the last decade, I’ve taken two solo cross-country road trips, met the man of my dreams and got married, moved to a new state, wrote and published three books (two in 2019), got back in touch with spirituality and faith, and moved deeper into the Mormon Mecca that is Utah. Those are just some of the highlights. There were many more, as well as low times that caused me to question where I was going in life, but all in all, it was a fantastic decade.
My goal is to do something big this year, just as it was in 2010. What is that thing? I don’t rightfully know at this moment, but I’m open to big, life shifting changes.

So, that’s how I’m starting 2020. The Success Principles audiobook by Jack Canfield is playing in the background as I write this, and I am ready for a positive and prosperous year. How are you feeling on this first day of 2020? What goals have you set for the year? Drop me a line and let me know what you have in store for 2020!

The Writing Life

The title of the next book in the Sylvia Wilcox series had been changed from Remnant to Fracture. Why? Well, it turns out that there is a splinter group of the LDS church that is called the “Remnant”. Since Fracture does have a Mormon splinter group, I don’t want anyone to think I am referring to the actual group that exists. Fracture is fiction and I don’t want anyone to think otherwise, so I’m changing the name. Also, there are a few other books with that title Remnant, so I think it is best to just change the title of the book.

Stay tuned for the prologue of Fracture! A sneak peek of the novel will be available later this month. If you haven’t signed up for my newsletter, please do so. Newsletter subscribers get goodies and information before anyone else.

Hope January 1, 2020 was a wonderful day for you!

Cheers!

Braylee Parkinson