Saturday, April 2, 2016

B - BIG LAKE

IS FOR BIG LAKE



The community of Big Lake is located on the shore of its namesake lake about 60 miles from Anchorage. Big Lake is famous for its recreational opportunities, such as swimming, fishing, and camping to name a few. 

Views of Mount Susitna, Denali, and the Talkeetna Mountains makes this resort town a favorite spot summer or winter.

I spent time in Big Lake when I lived in Alaska, and couldn't resist using it in my novel Murder & Obsession. It's a prime location for a surreptitious meeting.

Murder & Obsession
Excerpt:
A mixture of cherry, cerise, and mauve colors filled the sky, and Big Lake mirrored the hues, adding depth and shadow through small ripples across its otherwise glassy surface. The sunset exemplified one of the most striking John had ever seen, and he took a few moments to enjoy the beauty before his meeting.
Inside the entry, he discovered a note. “Make yourself comfortable. Be right back, went to town for groceries.” John checked the time. This doesn’t feel right.
John scrutinized the big room while he pretended to fuss with the bags. Gun at the ready, he continued his surveillance, looking to the loft for intruders. He listened but only heard the crackle of the fire in the huge fireplace across the room, the tick tock of a cuckoo clock above his head, and his own heartbeat. He slowly took off his jacket, just to give Eddie time to get in position and make contact with Brent. John placed his jacket on a hook and entered the living room, his gun hidden at his side. He took in his surrounding, but in the center of the room, his peripheral vision picked up a person sitting by the fire, in a chair not viewable from the door. He immediately honed in on the stranger.
                                                 *****





Yes, I snapped these pictures of Big Lake. Just to prove to all those that thought Alaska was an iceberg, that in the summer the temperatures are warm and the entertainment, the same as most states. The man in the white suit was the Finance Director of the Native organization where I worked as an accountant.
Manohar Nevaskar, a genius financial executive, hired from India. I learned so much from this man!
*****



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Murder & Obsession

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83 comments:

Ravyne said...

Gorgeous place! Love the excerpt from the novel. You have an amazing writing style.
Have a great weekend!
Lori

My A2Zs @ As the Fates Would Have It & Promptly Written
Follow Me (Ravyne) Twitter|Facebook

Yolanda Renée said...

Hi, Ravyne! It is gorgeous! Thank you. You too, it'll be nice to get a break on Sunday, won't it. LOL

Nicola said...

Great pics! So much could happy at a Big lake. The mind whirrs with possibilities. Have a great day, Yolanda.

Sally said...

It's lovely to see people enjoying a lake - it is huge!

Unknown said...

What a difference from the stuff I usually see on tv. I thought if I ever go there I'll freeze to death :D The Truck Traveller

Frank Parker said...

Your photographs are gorgeous. And the extract is a real hook for the book.
@fparkerswords
Frank Parker’s Author Site

Susanne Matthews said...

I was fortunate enough to take an Alaskan cruise last June. I was stunned by the beauty and majesty. We spent a night in Anchorage and met an 85 year old man who still pilots a float plane and loved the salmon chowder at Humpies. Put them both in my book, The White Iris. Gorgeous pictures. https://mhsusannematthews.wordpress.com/

Fran Clark said...

I enjoyed the excerpt! Yes you're right about the concept people have of Alaska, I certainly did so thanks for sharing.
Fran
@FranClarkAuthor
Writing Women’s Fiction

Yolanda Renée said...

Hi, Nicola, it's a great place!

Yolanda Renée said...

Hi, Sally, it's even more popular now!

Yolanda Renée said...

Hi, Zeijka, Nope, well, not until winter hits. LOL But during the summer it's lovely!

Yolanda Renée said...

Thanks, Frank. A very fun place but for my meeting, perfect seclusion.

Yolanda Renée said...

Hi, Susanne, and that's just part of the journey. So much to see. I hope you get to visit the interior too!

Yolanda Renée said...

Hi, Fran, it's easy to have such an opinion, but it's so different than what's shown on TV or talked about the most. Thanks for stopping by!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Tense excerpt!
I wondered why there was a guy at the lake in a suit...

Yolanda Renée said...

Hi, Alex, he was checking the site out. We had stopped for a few minutes during a business trip. LOL

Tasha Duncan-Drake said...

Love the pictures :) Looks like a good time was being had by all. I have never swum in a lake, only swimming pools - fallen in a pond or two though ;)
Tasha
Tasha's Thinkings | Wittegen Press | FB3X (AC)

Yolanda Renée said...

I don't care for lake swimming, too much fish poop! LOL Thanks, Natasha!

Pat Hatt said...

Sounds like the perfect spot that would bring all walks of life indeed

Sophie Duncan said...

That is an absolutely beautiful picture - sunset and a mysterious strange - intriguing.

Sophie
Sophie's Thoughts & Fumbles | Wittegen Press | FB3X

Duncan D. Horne - the Kuantan blogger said...

Who would have thought it - Alaska has sun!
Open Minded Mormon A-Z

Yolanda Renée said...

It does, Pat, all walks!

Yolanda Renée said...

Thanks, Sophie. Alaska is!

Yolanda Renée said...

It'd better, it's none as the land of the Midnight sun! LOL Hi, Duncan!

Sandra Cox said...

That picture is stunning and your excerpt described it perfectly.

D.G. Hudson said...

Such a teaser from your story, it draws us in like the character is drawn into that room with the fireplace and the unknown person waiting. . .Very nice Yolanda! Alaska, like British Columbia isn't as cold all the time as everyone thinks, BC is probably warmer due to warm ocean currents. Love that first image, it's lush with colour.

Michelle Wallace said...

I love the visual...cherry, cerise and mauve...a great color combination.
A "prime location for a surreptitious meeting" - love that phrase. I need to pinpoint a location and add a shady meeting to my WIP story line...it's a great technique to develop the plot and add suspense.
Writer In Transit


Jo said...

What a lovely spot Yolanda. I would really like to visit Alaska one day.

Misha Gerrick said...

Big Lake must be a gorgeous spot to kick back.

Anonymous said...

I love the name. Simplicity itself. Lovely post and photos. Good luck in the challenge.

Hart Johnson said...

You've given me the shivers talking about swimming in Alaska. It's very pretty, but I'm already cold in Michigan!

Rhonda Albom said...

Another intriguing segment. And as for Alaska, we were there in an unseasonably warm summer and had fabulous weather. I have to remind myself that it a snow cold winter spot.

Li said...

Like many others, I have always pictured Alaska as icy and snowbound all year.
I love the name Brent, and I picture him as hunky. :)

Yolanda Renée said...

Thanks, Sandra! When I found that picture I used it as inspiration.

Yolanda Renée said...

Thanks, D. G. Lot's of folks still think it's an iceberg. Maybe that's good. LOL

Yolanda Renée said...

Hi, Michelle, It works doesn't it. I'm glad you were inspired.

Yolanda Renée said...

I hope you get to, Jo. And I really hope that bug problem get cleared up, soon!

Yolanda Renée said...

It's been highly populated, the bedroom community of Anchorage, now. Sad but the way of good real estate!

Yolanda Renée said...

True, a lot of places are like that in Alaska. Thanks, Stuart!

Yolanda Renée said...

I think sometimes Michigan is colder than Alaska! Sorry!

Yolanda Renée said...

Global warming is affecting Alaska in dramatic ways. It's sad!

Yolanda Renée said...

Hi, Li, he is, very. My hero, well, one of them. Thanks for stopping by! Summers get hot in Alaska, too!

Samantha Bryant said...

If we're ever in the same geography, we need to sit down and talk about Alaska. I miss it so much!

@mirymom1 from
Balancing Act

Susan Kane said...

Your fotos do dispel ice berg Alaska thoughts.

Unknown said...

Oh, it looks so serene in the summer. I'm not a cold weather person, but I'd certainly swing by there when it's warm. Captivating excerpt, as always:)

The AtoZ of EOS
#TeamDamyanti

Unknown said...

Okay, I think I could visit Big Lake without looking over my shoulder for ax murderers! I'm putting it on my Things to See in Alaska if I Ever Get There list!

Yolanda Renée said...

I would love that Samantha! I miss it too! Some day I tell myself, but hubby's never really been interested. Although, we lived in WA state - our compromise. :)

Yolanda Renée said...

Hi, Susan, I hope so - it's anything but!

Yolanda Renée said...

Thanks, Samantha, like I said, it's worth the trip!

Yolanda Renée said...

I hope you get there, nice to have a list, I love lists! :)

Think Positive, Be Positive said...

Hi Yolanda!

I’m stopping by from the #AtoZChallenge. I have two blogs in this challenge…my author blog at THE STORY CATCHER (www.donnalmartin.com) and my KICKS Kids Club blog (www.kickskidsclub.blogspot.com.

If you get a chance, check them out and good luck with the challenge!

kaykuala said...

Yolanda Ma'am, Wow! An accomplished murder thriller writer.That's great! Your blog posting is so full of wonderful things and fun. Hank loves the info on local tourist attractions which otherwise may be missed by those not familiar. It is going to be an education for me. Will look up your A of yesterday and hope not to miss anymore of yours forthwith. Thanks for stopping by twice.

Hank

Yolanda Renée said...

Thanks, I will!

Yolanda Renée said...

Hi, Hank! Thank you. I look forward to learning more about you and your blog too!

Jeffrey Scott said...

Love learning more about Alaska. The excerpt was also great again today. :)

Elizabeth said...

Big Lake sounds like a great place to visit. Your book excerpts keep leaving me in suspense :)

Nilanjana Bose said...

That description of the sunset is to die for! Cerise, mauve and cherry! Love the photos too.

JazzFeathers said...

Writing of a place you know well is such a plus in any story. There are things you can only learn on site and things that only you will notice in your own way. It's a great writing experience :-)

@JazzFeathers
The Old Shelter - Jazz Age Jazz

Unknown said...

It's weird how many people think Alaska is permanently under ice and snow like the North pole. I knew it wasn't and relied on great pics (like yours here) to research the setting for the WIP I'm writing now. Thanks for sharing about Big Lake! Have a great weekend, and good luck on the A-Z!

Bish Denham said...

Well, I didn't think the water would be very warm... :) Silly me, people can acclimatize to almost anything.

Bish Denham said...

Well, I didn't think the water would be very warm... :) Silly me, people can acclimatize to almost anything.

Jazminn Skye said...

This was interesting to read because I'm actually moving to Alaska in a few weeks.
That's the main theme of my blog for the A to Z Challenge!

Best of luck rest of the challenge.
Jazminn
Under Jazminn Skyes

Deborah Drucker said...

I like your idea of linking your A-Z posts to different parts of your book. And it is interesting to hear about Alaska. :)

Yolanda Renée said...

Thanks, Scott!

Yolanda Renée said...

Hi Elizabeth, that's good right?

Yolanda Renée said...

Thanks, Nila!

Yolanda Renée said...

Hi, Sarah, it helps!

Yolanda Renée said...

Thanks Lexa, they still do despite all the evidence. LOL

Yolanda Renée said...

Acclimating is very important! Took me a full year. :)

Yolanda Renée said...

How exciting, I'm envious. I'm coming by to learn more! :)

Yolanda Renée said...

It made sense at the time. Hi, Deborah!

Walkersvillemom said...

It sounds like a beautiful place. Good luck on the challenge! We're doing “I’ve Got The Music In Me” this year on The Road We’ve Shared. – looking at how important music is in the Down syndrome community. I hope you’ll stop by and see/hear! http://theroadweveshared.com/category/a-to-z-blogging-challenge-2016

Debbie D. said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Debbie D. said...

Sorry - major typo! What I meant to way was:
One of my clients is taking an Alaskan cruise this June. That's something I'd love to do, as well. Your description at the beginning of your excerpt whets the appetite!

Debbie D. said...

meant to SAY. Sheesh! I'm getting punchy.

Notes Along the Way with Mary Montague Sikes said...

What a great descriptive set-up for forewarning of danger ahead! Nice!

Mary Montague Sikes
Notes Along the Way
The Artful Way

Ella said...

I have been to your B-Big Lake! I lived in Anchorage for three years-it is stunning and so are your words~ Nicely done!

Yolanda Renée said...

Hi, Mary, yes, much danger ahead!

Yolanda Renée said...

Hi, Ella, thanks, I love it. Sharing that with you makes me smile! :)

Yolanda Renée said...

Hi, Debbie, I know what you mean, I've been doing way too many of these half asleep or barely awake. LOL A cruise is such fun, but unless you visit the interior you're missing so much more! :) I'd love to be your tour guide!

Yolanda Renée said...

I will, Walkersvillemom, I love the theme! Thanks for stopping by my blog!

Melissa Sugar said...

Great set, foreshadowing and suspense. I'm going to love following your blog post during the challenge.

The Happy Whisk said...

I'm blowing through blogs this morning and playing catchup and at first, I thought your title was Big Cake.