Ripped From the Pages: Wild Horse Peaks

Northern Arizona University lies at the foot of the San Francisco Peaks in Flagstaff, Arizona. When I went to school as an art major, I fell in love with everything about the area. For years, I carried a romantizied version of the school and town in my head. Writing a romatic suspense series set there came naturally. Wild Horse Peaks is the series. I changed the moutain name, and Flagstaff became the town of Timberline. There's a famous haunted hotel in Flagstaff called the Monte Vista. It became the Gand View Hotel for the series.

In The Power of Love and Murder, the third book in the Wild Horse Peaks books, Penny gets the starring roll after her audition in the first book of the series, The Art of Love and Murder. This was her first scene in the first book.

Ripped from the pages... of The Art of Love and Murder

“Hello, Ms. Dahl. Were the tacos at the Kachina as good as I promised?”

Lobby of the haunted hotel and inspiration for the Grand View Hotel in the book.

The young hotel clerk greeted Lacy as she strolled through the nearly century old lobby on her way to the stairs and her room. The young woman’s petite stature and perky, twenty-something personality seemed in direct contrast to the black spiked hair, piercings and black rimmed eyes. Lacy had dubbed her the Black Fairy when she’d checked in two hours ago.“Every bit, Penny. And the margarita was strong.” She wondered if the young woman always dressed Goth or if she embraced the spirit of the Grand View Hotel’s reputation. The night shift and the Agatha Christie setting suited her look. “I think I’m tired. I better get to bed.”

Penny smiled an impish, close-mouthed grin. “Got big plans for tomorrow?” She crossed her arms on the white marble counter. Black, elbow-length gloves with the fingers missing displayed delicate fingers ending in black nail polish.

“I’m getting out tomorrow for some research I’m doing, hit an art gallery and maybe a museum.” Lacy breathed in the musky scent of the ages-old lobby. Or maybe the Black Fairy’s perfume? 

“Are you writing a book or something on Timberline?”

Standing in the stairwell of the real hotel  and inspiration for the book.

“No, I’m trying to find the artist of some sketches left to me.” She yawned. “And I better get to bed so I’ve got the energy for the long day tomorrow.” She hiked her purse strap higher on her shoulder. “Is there a park nearby or somewhere I could do a little running in the morning?”

“A small park. One block north and a couple of blocks west. But it’s pretty small.” 

“I’ll have to make do. Goodnight, Penny.”

“Goodnight, Ms. Dahl.”

The short flight of stairs challenged her as she trudged, tiredly pulling each foot up to the next step.The floral carpeting, narrow hallway, and gold patterned wallpaper transported her back in time. The renowned hotel, beautifully restored, reflected the era of the 1920’s. The antiquated wall lamps dimly lit the hall, casting warm shadows of the past. She walked where many famous people had traipsed in the last century.

One of the many famous who have stayed in the hotel.

Halfway down the hall, she stopped at her door and fished out her old-fashioned brass key from the pocket of her jeans. Had her mother and father walked this hall, slept in one of these rooms, maybe made love? Drowsily, she mused as the heavy key clicked in the lock. Had she been conceived here, only to be left orphaned months after her birth, before Kaya Mockta and Hartmut Luschin could be married? 

I've stayed in the hotel, and I did see orbs in the pre-dawn hours. Really! I also found the room Paul McCartney stayed in, and I touched the door handle. That's as close as I'll ever get to him. I hope you'll venture into the hotel and the town of Timberline through the books of The Wild Horse Peaks.

You can find all of the books here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BNC7LT9J