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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 13, 2017)
8 Wednesday, December 13, 2017 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon ‘Cozy mystery’ novel set in Sisters By Jodi Schneider Mcbamee Correspondent PHOTO PROVIDED The abstract paintings of Pam Jersey Bird will be featured at Sisters Art Works. Art exhibit features Pam Jersey Bird “Moving Through Light,” Sisters Art Works Exhibit, open weekdays, features art- ist Pam Jersey Bird’s large abstract paintings. The community is invited to a reception December 22 from 4 to 7 p.m. during the 4th Friday Art Stroll. Gather in the gallery to experience the vibrant acrylic paintings of celebrated artist Pam Bird. Refreshments will be served and a beautiful fire pit will light the scene. The Roundhouse Foundation is sponsoring this exhibit in support of arts and artists in Central Oregon. All proceeds from the sale of the artwork will go to a non- profit cancer research fund. Pam Bird’s work pro- vides a moving emotional experience. Not unlike a musical composer, she cre- ates a harmonious arrange- ment of visual elements with rhythmic variations and contrasting notes. The paint- ings create a shimmering interpretation of the natural world. Pam Jersey Bird had a diverse career in the arts. She worked as an art museum education director, art instructor and was an award- winning artist. The com- munity is encouraged to cel- ebrate Pam Jersey Bird. Sisters Art Works is located at 204 W. Adams Ave. in Sisters. Always up for a puzzle to solve, local author Lanagan Vitaceae is particularly engrossed in writing “cozy mysteries.” And inspired by the real town of Sisters, one of her series, “Murder at the Tumbleweed Tea B&B,” is a murder mystery that entertains. Most cozy mysteries are set in small towns, like Sisters, and involve a sleuth who is not in a profession related to crime-solving. “A cozy mystery needs to have that small-town feel,” Vitaceae told The Nugget. “That kind of setting makes it believable that all the suspects know each other.” Vitaceae has been writing stories since she can remem- ber, and wrote her first novel at 16, but tossed it aside. She grew up reading cozy mysteries, and her cre- ative inspiration was Agatha Christie. However, the key element that really pulled Vitaceae into writing myster- ies was a series of unfortunate events that happened earlier in her life. “When I was in middle school I found out that my friend’s mother had been mur- dered years before,” Vitaceae said. “With a mystery still surrounding the murder, my friend and I would go to the library and research, trying to investigate on our own.” Vitaceae attended college in Portland and received a paralegal degree, then con- tinued with her passion for writing, but never published anything. Turning 40 last year inspired her to self-publish. “After writing four cozy mysteries, and the shock of getting older, I figured it was time to find a publisher,” Vitaceae said. Cozy mysteries put an emphasis on plots and char- acter development. The main character is usually an ama- teur sleuth with a likeable per- sonality who can get the com- munity members to talk freely — that is, gossip — about each other. “When I was a kid I used to play the Old Maid card game, and that’s where I picked up my main characters name in ‘Murder at The Tumbleweed Tea B&B.’ It just stuck with me. Tess (the main charac- ter) tries so hard to be a suc- cessful professional but she’s young and klutsy. She’s got this incredible drive and will work herself to a frazzle to be successful.” The narrative revolves around last summer’s solar eclipse in Sisters: As Sisters is preparing for a ton of people coming through town for the event, no one was prepared for a fire on the mountain or a murdered tour guide. Each of Vitaceae’s mystery series all have a running theme of social economic injustice; it’s what sets her apart from other cozy mystery writers. “There is usually some financial struggle going on with the main character and PHOTO PROVIDED Vitaceae set “Murder at the Tumbleweed Tea B&B” in Sisters. some of characters may also have health issues, such as ADHD,” said Vitaceae said. “I think a lot of health issues and people going through hard- ships are underrepresented and its my point to bring aware- ness to those issues, with- out being preachy about it. “And since each of my main characters has a little bit of me in them, it actually helps me to work through dif- ferent issues,” she added. Vitaceae has also written “A Friendly Murder,” a cozy mystery series that takes place on the Oregon Coast, “Murder in the Palm of Your Hand,” and “Murder Between the Lines,” from her Palmistry Mystery Series. Since Vitaceae has an idea of how each series is going to progress, you can look for- ward to a second book in the Tumbleweed Tea B&B series. You can find copies of “Murder at the Tumbleweed Tea B&B” at Paulina Springs Books or on Amazon. Holiday Specials Happ y Holidays! 10% off th ru 1-31-18 Sisters Nails & Spa The Royal Experience Acrylic • Gel • Solar • Organic Dip Powder • Shellac Pedicures • Manicures • Waxing • Foot Massage • Nail Art 541-904-0979 | Next to Bi-Mart | Open Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
