FIRST SAY GOODBYE . . . AND THEN SAY HELLO . . . By Sand in Our Shorts Management

Maria Hudgins

As the saying, and the song, remind us, there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven, to include, of course, Blogs.

With a mixture of sadness (for us) and happiness (for her), we announce that one of our stalwarts—the incomparable Maria Hudgins—has asked to step away from her duties as a regular contributor to the Sand in Our Shorts Blog.

Maria has long graced the writing community with a vast body of work. She is the author of the Dotsy Lamb Travel Mysteries and the Lacy Glass Archaeology Mysteries. She has had short stories and novellas appear in a number of anthologies and periodicals. Her stories often feature her real-life interests such as chemistry, travel (she’s been to more than fifteen countries), archaeology, dogs, cats, and poisons. A native of East Tennessee, Maria now lives in beautiful Hampton, Virginia, on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay.

Maria earned a master’s degree in plant physiology with a minor in biochemistry from the University of Tennessee. Having never studied writing, she credits her English teacher mother with instilling in her a great respect for our language.

Thank you, Maria. Heartfelt wishes for your future endeavors.

And as we say goodbye to Maria, we’re excited to announce that well-known and respected author Ellen Butler has agreed to join us as a regular contributor to Sand in Our Shorts. Ellen’s first post is in the queue and ready to launch on Saturday, July 5, 2025. Let me assure you, it’s a humdinger.

In addition to Ellen, we’ve lined up some excellent “Guest Bloggers.” Stay tuned to https://sandinourshorts.blogspot.com/ for details.

BEST WRITING ADVICE (PART TWO) : DON’T LOOK BACK!

If you’ve read a good deal in the genre in which you plan to start writing, as I recommended in “Part One” of my “Best Writing Advice” series, then you’re ready to consider this next tip.

Never try to write a great or even good novel (or other piece of writing) on the first go-round. Even Hemmingway said, “The first draft of anything is shit.” While that’s a bit extreme not to mention a little vulgar, I get his point. Don’t try to write every line perfectly or worry too much about the final draft while you’re creating the first one. Not only will it take much longer to finish, but it can also get in the way of your creativity. Another drawback, especially if you do not have a very detailed outline, is that you may forget what you were planning to say next. Worse, you may never finish the piece. Trust me, I have files full of the beginnings of many good books.

AMBROSE BIERCE – PART POE, PART TWAIN, BUT 100% ORIGINAL by Michael Rigg

Ambrose Bierce (1842 - 1914?)

Born on June 24, 1842 in Meigs County Ohio, Ambrose Gwinnett Bierce was an American short story writer, journalist, poet, and veteran of the American Civil War, who ultimately became as influential as the better-known American authors Edgar Allan Poe and Mark Twain.

His book, The Devil's Dictionary, was named one of "The 100 Greatest Masterpieces of American Literature" by the American Revolution Bicentennial Administration. His story "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" has been described as "one of the most famous and frequently anthologized stories in American literature," and his book Tales of Soldiers and Civilians (also published as In the Midst of Life) was named by the Grolier Club as one of the 100 most influential American books printed before 1900.

A prolific and versatile writer, Bierce was regarded as one of the most influential journalists in the United States and as a pioneering writer of realist fiction. For his horror writing, Bierce has been ranked alongside Edgar Allan Poe and H. P. Lovecraft. His war stories influenced Stephen Crane, Ernest Hemingway, and others.

In 1896 Bierce moved to Washington, D.C., where he continued newspaper and magazine writing. In 1913, tired of American life, he went to Mexico, then in the middle of a revolution led by Pancho Villa. Bierce’s fate is a mystery, but a reasonable conjecture is that he was killed in the siege of Ojinaga in January 1914. Some speculate, however, that Bierce actually traveled to the Grand Canyon, where he committed suicide. 

[Sources, quoted above without precise attribution: Ambrose Bierce | Biography, Books, Short Stories, & Death | Britannica and Ambrose Bierce - Wikipedia]

PROMPTS TO INSPIRE YOU, PART ONE, by Adele Gardner, aka Max Jason Peterson

As Adele Gardner, I regularly run micro poetry and prose workshops every spring and fall, titled Adele's Writers Cafe. They're free, hosted by Hampton Public Library, and held entirely online. I now have a collection where you can find past, present, and future workshops in the series (ages 18+, free, but registration required for each individual session via Eventbrite):

https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/adeles-writers-cafe-micro-poetry-prose-3651389

All the sessions are live via Zoom, but they're not recorded, in order to protect the copyright and privacy of the authors for these new drafts. I create new prompts for each inspiration session in advance, compiling them on a handout distributed at the end of the event (I always strive to provide at least one more prompt than we'll probably get to, so you have something to take home and work on later). 

During the session, I give participants ten minutes per prompt to write, write, write. Then anyone who wishes is welcome to share what they created. There's no instruction or critique, just positive vibes. Participants may write short-form poetry or fiction.

We expect the work to be rough, our first thoughts and impressions, but there's so much insight, humor, and beauty that comes out of these sessions. Some participants have gone on to publish more polished versions of their work. Sometimes it just helps us get unstuck in our ongoing creations. (For example, a novelist might use a prompt to explore the psyche of a character.)

Since we could all use a lift to our inspiration from time to time, how about trying a few of these prompts on your own? Knowing that these are just rough drafts and you're not investing much time may help free your creativity. So set your timer for ten minutes, turn off the editor in your brain, and enjoy!

Returning: Your protagonist has been away a long time. Maybe they never wanted to come back; maybe they always longed to; maybe they’re drawn against their will, like returning to the scene of the crime. Maybe the old homestead is exactly the same, or maybe it’s unrecognizable or ruined. Maybe it’s time travel, and everything goes wrong—or your hero saves the day. Write about why they need to go or run; what’s stopping or driving them. Or who, because this can also be about “Until we meet again.”

Home: Sometimes home isn’t a place—but sometimes it is. Sometimes it arrives when one thought it wasn’t needed. Sometimes it’s the one thing our heart desires, and we go hunting high and low. And sometimes we discover it was there all along. Home carries a lot of emotions—positive, negative, or in between. Write about the concept, the reality, the people, the physicality. Focus on the sensory and/or the emotional, but take us there.

Song for ________:  Write a short piece paying tribute to someone in your life you’re thankful for, or about someone you admire whom you’ve never met: someone (any species) who’s had a positive impact, inspired you, changed your life for the better in some way, or whom you simply love.

Hard times: Sometimes adversity brings us closer. Sometimes we aren’t sure how we’ll ever get through them. They challenge us and bring out our best, our worst, our highs and lows. Show characters facing adversity or setbacks. This could be written from the point of view of “looking back” on times the character has survived.

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Adele Gardner's poetry collection Halloween Hearts is available from Jackanapes Press:

https://www.jackanapespress.com/product/halloween-hearts

Themes of Halloween, horror, Edgar Allan Poe, and Ray Bradbury. The press has seasonal discounts.

Max Jason Peterson has two stories in the new anthology Coastal Crimes 2: Death Takes a Vacation from Wildside Press.

If You're Scared, Honk by Judy Fowler

 

 

28 days ago, a Virginia Beach goose nested ten feet from my apartment door. I tried not to stare at her on my way in or out of the building. She never rose to eat; no mate came to feed her. An online wildlife site explained that she'd filled up on food prior to laying.  

By the third week, though, she looked darned hungry. Not just that, but I'd become aware that her safety was continously at risk. One day a truck backed up on the lawn and two workers chainsawed most of the tree limbs around her. She didn't budge. I was a nervous wreck.

    And who knew May weather in coastal Virginia could be so theatrical?  Pelting, torrential downpours. Windstorms that lasted twenty-four hours. Nights below freezing. I woke at intervals, thinking of her out there braving it all with no cover. Some evenings, feral cats wandered along the bank of the stream not two feet from her. 

Lawnmowers, joggers, and lengthy barking fests by un-neighborly dogs filled her days. If Fed Ex deliveries and the jarring sound of dumpster-lifts twice a week in the parking lot wasn't enough, a wood chipper was backed up onto the lawn for two days until the chainsaw and tree limb-removal project ended. I feared the wood chips might blind her. She knew the maxim, don't just do something, sit there. 

By the end of the third week, I did something. I anxiously threw bread crumbs near her. She left three large eggs to eat them, and sat again. I tried again the next day, but a gander barreled up out of the water and I ran in the house. It relieved me to know he'd arrived. Goslings from other broods began to parade in the parking lot behind their parents. I prayed "our" eggs would hatch and end my obsessive misery.    

Instead, more challenges arrived. She sat through two 85-degree days in which a family of five humans fished at the newly-cleared spot where she sat.  They cast their rods over her head. I feared the children would take it further.  She never moved. 

Yesterday, she was gone. Her eggs were gone. Had I been right about those children? 

Later in the day, she was back. 

This morning, a gander on patrol met me at the bottom of my outdoor stairs. His wings stretched outward to warn me not to come any closer to his lady or the three goslings who pecked on grass behind her as if nothing significant had transpired overnight. The doting mother looked exactly as she would in a storybook.

I've admired the sight and sound of geese in flight, a lofty presence evoked in Mary Oliver's  poem, Wild Geese. The cultural status of geese, however, is higher than I realized. An International Goose Day celebrates Elizabeth I's "lucky" lunch menu on the day her fleet defeated the Spanish Armada. The goose has been considered lucky since that day.

 Authors and illustrators build careers around Mother Goose stories and rhymes, and, in Pennsylvania, children save a day to dress up as their favorite Mother Goose characters. Now that I see what a stand-up gal she is, I understand why they love her.

As a writer, I'm no naturalist. For me, her ordeal had a crime or thriller flavor. It didn't inspire a cozy mystery, either, not after what I read about gosling-related murders on askanaturalist.com. 

The moral? Don’t get too close, physically or emotionally, if you don’t wish to be rattled by the adventures of Mother Goose. Perhaps she took her mind off it all by thinking up new rhymes and stories. I wrote nothing but this post, which I deliver to you with great relief. 

HANGING OUT WITH FBI SPECIAL AGENTS by Sheryl Jordan

 

I had the pleasure of attending the 2025 FBI Citizens Academy at the Norfolk Field Office. My time at the academy began when fellow author and friend Allie Marie posted on Facebook that the FBI was accepting applications for their 2025 session in October 2024. I was immediately interested.

The Citizens Academy is an engaging six-to-eight-week program that gives business, religious, civic, and community leaders an inside look at the FBI. Classes meet in the evening at the FBI field office. The mission of the FBI Citizens Academy is to foster a great understanding of the role of federal law enforcement in the community through frank discussion and education.

FBI employees, former Citizens Academy graduates, and community leaders nominate candidates. Participants are selected by the special agent in charge of the local FBI field office.

The application process began with completing a short form on the FBI website, where you provide your general information and a brief statement of why you are a good candidate for the class. Next, you wait for an email congratulating you for making it through the first phase of the selection process. (I assume you would receive an email saying you weren’t selected if you didn’t make the cut, as the class size is limited to thirty participants.) The congratulatory email includes a five-page background check application and information on the fingerprint process, which requires submittal by a set deadline. The wait was about thirty days, give or take a few. I received the final confirmation email that I was accepted. Then the fun began!

Entering the FBI Campus

When you arrive at the Norfolk Field office, the building is somewhat intimidating, with the twelve-foot-high black wrought iron fence surrounding it. You enter the security building, where you must give your state or government-issued ID to the security guard, place all personal items in a grey bin, while the guard looks over your ID and ensures you are on an authorized list. Next, you are asked if you have any weapons, explosives, or electronic devices that you better not have, or you will be denied entry. You are then directed to stand before a walk-through metal detector until another guard tells you to proceed. It never failed, I always set it off and had to stand facing with my back to the guard with my arms raised to shoulder height and palms facing down to be checked with a metal detection wand. I felt like I was at the airport going on a trip! Next, we proceeded out the back door to the main building to be escorted to the conference room.

Classroom Presentations

Each class began with dinner provided by the FBI Citizens Academy Alumni Association (FBICAAA). We enjoyed meals from restaurants such as Mission BBQ, Jimmy John's, and local businesses while socializing and building relationships with classmates, agents, and support staff. After dinner, each session started promptly at six p.m. with announcements and a welcome from the Special Agent in Charge, who also briefly explained the agenda for the evening. We were given a handbook with thirty-seven pages of information, including the history of the FBI and three pages of common FBI acronyms, which leads one to believe there are many more. The presentations were informative and fun. The agents provided abundant unclassified and detailed information about how the FBI operates, its history, the myths and truths, the Norfolk Field office, the day-to-day, which isn’t necessarily day-to-day, as they all have multiple duties. For instance, an agent assigned to the Cyber Crimes Division may also be part of the Evidence Response Team.  

Personnel Stats

The FBI Headquarters is in Washington, DC, with fifty-five field offices across the United States and Puerto Rico. Many field offices are subdivided to include resident agencies with jurisdiction over a specific area.  The most prominent field offices are in Los Angeles, New York, and Washington, DC. There are legal attaché offices known as legats overseas. These offices are usually in American embassies. The FBI Norfolk Field Office is the third smallest of all field offices. It has one resident agency, the Peninsula Resident Agency, in Newport News, VA. The Norfolk Field office covers Hampton Roads, Williamsburg, Yorktown, Jamestown, Franklin-Southampton, Suffolk, Smithfield, and the Eastern Shore. The Norfolk Field Office opened on December 15, 1941, one week after the U.S. entered World War II. Due to the significant naval presence in the Hampton Roads area, the office focused on national security issues such as sabotage and espionage.

There are approximately 38,000 FBI personnel worldwide.:

·       37% - Special Agents

·       63% - Professional Staff

o   13% - Intelligence Analysts

o   7% - Staff Operation Specialists

The FBI works closely with police departments, the Naval Criminal Investigative Services (NCIS), the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), fire departments, the Coast Guard, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and other agencies while investigating cases.

Mission, Vision, Priorities

“The FBI's mission is to protect the American people and uphold the Constitution of the United States. Its vision is to stay ahead of the threat. The FBI is an intelligence-driven, threat-focused national security organization with intelligence and law enforcement responsibilities. Their Priorities are to focus on threats that challenge the foundations of American society or involve dangers too large or complex for any local or state authority to handle alone. In executing the priorities, the FBI, as a national security and law enforcement organization, will produce and use intelligence to protect the nation from threats and bring to justice those violating the law.”

The FBI has jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 federal laws. The major national security priorities are counterterrorism, counterintelligence, and cybercrime. Then there are Criminal Priorities, including Public Corruption, White Collar crime, Civil Rights, Organized Crimes, and Violent Crimes.

Case Discussions

The Special Agents took us on a journey through a few of their resolved cases from the beginning to the end. The cases involved attempted solicitation of a minor and human trafficking; the take down of a local gang; an espionage case, and a fraud case. The interactive presentations allowed us to analyze the evidence presented. Then we collaborated as a class to determine the outcome. I had heard and read about most of the cases in prior years, so it was fascinating to get the inside scoop on what really occurred, not just what was reported in the news, how the FBI was involved, watched interrogation interviews, surveillance video, taped confessions, etc. At each presentation, the Agents emphasized that the FBI TV shows do not represent how the FBI operates! Cases can take months to resolve, although some are closed quickly. And they don’t storm into buildings or homes for every case they investigate. I would like to share more details, but I don’t want the FBI showing up at my door! We were instructed not to share specifics about the cases.

Hands On Fun

One session was dedicated to touring certain areas of the building. We were split up into three groups. My group went to the Firearms Training System (FATS) room first. It was a simulator on a big screen with different scenarios of you encountering situations where you observe the scene playing before you. You must make split decisions on who the threat is and shoot at the screen until there is no longer a threat. It felt like you were a part of the scenario, and I was a bit nervous. I didn’t do so well. I waited too long to fire the laser gun.

Next, the group went to the Gun Vault. This is the room where they store weapons they no longer use. The agent explained the gun type and the specifics of several of them and passed them around the room so we could see the details up close and get a feel of the weight of each one. There was a wide variety of guns, some I had heard of but hadn’t seen.

Our last stop was in the Evidence Response Team (ERT) area. ERT is responsible for working with other law enforcement agencies to gather evidence at crime scenes and transport it to the Field Office for processing. We made a cast of a shoe print just like they do on the true crime shows! We were also shown the various techniques they use in the finger collection process. I asked if any surfaces they couldn’t obtain a good lift from. They said they can lift a print from any surface. They must utilize the best method for the surface type. They demonstrated fluid detection with luminal and various black and blue lights. They have a heavy-duty machine for checking larger areas, but it’s heavy and a bit cumbersome to maneuver. We headed outdoors to the ERT trucks. It was phenomenal to see all of its features. It carries every supply imaginable. There were built-in generators and floodlights for when they process a scene at night or in a dimly lit area. The ERT vehicle was so organized that even the ladders had special compartments.

The SWAT Experience

The last day was dedicated to an FBI Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) presentation. It took place at the firearms range. After a brief but informative presentation, the SWAT team performed two demonstrations. The first was how they serve warrants on a person who violated a federal law in some capacity. They first used a drone for surveillance. Then they went in to ensure the building was clear. The next demonstration was of a suspected hostage situation. They yelled FBI, identifying themselves, then threw flashbangs in the building. Next, they went in, fired a few shots, and cleared the building. It was intriguing to see how every move they made was precise and how they utilized nonverbal signals to communicate.

After the demonstrations, their tactical gear was displayed for us. The SWAT agents explained what each item was and what it is used for. The gear is hefty, from the head protection to the body shield they carry. You must be in excellent shape and strong to wear it all.  

Next, we had target practice using four different firearms. An MP5, a Glock, a Tommy Gun, and an M4 SWAT Rifle. I got several bullseyes with the MP5 and Tommy Gun. Having agents on the FBI SWAT Team tell you how great you did at the range made my day!

Graduation

The graduation was bittersweet. It was great to have completed the academy, but a part of me was sad it had to end. The ceremony started with the Special Agent in Charge thanking everyone for their commitment to attend the eight-week program. He reiterated that the FBI does the Citizens Academy to increase awareness about the FBI, strengthen relationships, and improve understanding between the FBI and the communities it serves. We received our certificates and took pictures.

I met some wonderful people. All the FBI personnel were pleasant and accommodating. They had us laughing a lot. I admire their dedication to the bureau and the communities they serve.  

I am grateful to have had the opportunity to participate in such a program. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in attending.

Have you attended Citizens Academies like the FBI, Police, Fire Department, etc.? If so, what prompted you to participate? Are you interested in participating in any?

Did I mention there is an FBI Norfolk PA Store where you can purchase memorabilia? I couldn’t resist purchasing the FBI stuffed animals, a couple of shirts, and coffee mugs!

 

https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/norfolk/community-outreach          

MALICE DOMESTIC - WHERE EVERYBODY KNOWS YOUR NAME by Teresa Inge

Last month, I had the pleasure of attending Malice Domestic, an annual convention that celebrates traditional mysteries, with a focus on Agatha Christie-style storytelling. Since its inception in 1989, this event has brought fans and authors together for a fun and friendly experience. Currently held each April in Bethesda, Maryland, it offers a mix of author panels, book signings, and engaging mystery-themed activities.

My own journey with Malice began twenty years ago, accompanied by my husband, daughter, and mother. Although I was initially nervous—surrounded by so many accomplished writers and knowing no one—I was warmly welcomed by Malice volunteers, members of Sisters in Crime (SinC) an organization dedicated to supporting female crime writers, as well as other authors and fans. I then realized I had found a place where I truly belonged which reminded me of the Cheers show theme song.

Fast forward to last month, and Malice Domestic still exudes the same heartwarming “family reunion” vibe, complete with cheerful hugs, laughter, and enthusiasm shared with old friends and new ones. Over the years, this convention has had a profound impact on my writing career. It has helped me forge connections with fellow writers, build lasting friendships, discover publishing opportunities, and hone my writing craft. Now, I take pride in welcoming newcomers, just as I was embraced all those years ago.

This year's highlights included Malice Go Round Speed Dating, New Authors Breakfast, an annual lunch with the Short Mystery Fiction Society, a SinC gathering featuring an "Agatha signature cocktail" and appetizers, a captivating Sherlock Holmes play, the Agatha Awards banquet, an after-party, and panels like "Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys" and "Living in a Modern World: Women Take the Lead." There were fabulous interviews with the guest of honor Marcia Talley, lifetime achievement honoree Donna Andrews, and toastmaster Gigi Pandian as well as a book room overflowing with literary treasures, rounded out an unforgettable experience.