Let's Talk with Maggie Toussaint
Let’s Talk with Maggie Toussaint
April 27, 2017
Ripped from the headlines
by Maggie Toussaint
Usually when you think of stories ripped from the headlines of newspapers, you think of lurid crimes, of things that could never happen in your town or to your family. I was searching for an idea for a novella and I kept coming back to something that happened locally.
I live on the Georgia coast, and you may not know this, but loggerhead turtles return to the same beach each time they lay their eggs. In a given year, the barrier islands offshore of my county have visits by hundreds of turtles. Because the species is protected, each island usually has a college intern whose job it is to go out and look for new nests. The sites are then marked and checked on during the course of the summer.
Hatching is down to a science, and I won’t overwhelm you with every turtle fact I know. The case ripped from the headlines was about a turtle egg thief. An intern noticed sand disturbance at a nest, checked it, and discovered the eggs were missing. Yes, there’s a market for turtle eggs and each nest has about a hundred eggs.
The egg thief was caught, thanks to a clever egg sniffing dog, and served time for his crime. In addition he had to volunteer at a turtle rehab center over on Jekyll Island as part of his community service. When he’d served all his time and was a free man again, what did he do? Go back and steal more eggs! I kid you not.
They knew just where to look for the missing eggs, and, yes, he went back to prison, this time as a repeat offender.
I fictionalized parts of this true story in Turtle Tribbles, the second novella in my Lindsey & Ike Romantic Mystery Series. It releases on May 1 and is available for pre-order at KINDLE. If you’re not connected with me on social media already, I hope you’ll make those connections right now. The links are on the Booklover’s Bench home page in the left sidebar.
FOR FUN, TELL ME YOUR FAVORITE (chicken) EGG DISH FOR A CHANCE TO WIN REALLY, TRULY DEAD, Book 1 in the Lindsey & Ike Novella Series. Winner will be chosen by Random.org.
ALSO, OUR MONTHLY CONTEST GOES LIVE ON MAY 1. BE SURE TO ENTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A $25 GIFT CARD FROM US! THIS LINK WILL BE LIVE ON MAY 1: MAY CONTEST
Posted in Let's Talk, with Maggie Toussaint • Tags: BLB Discussion, giveaway, Let's Talk, Maggie Toussaint, Ripped from the headlines | 13 Comments
I’m partial to the Frugal Gourmet’s Crustless Quiche for a brunch dish. You can get it ready the night before and then pop it in the oven to cook the day you’ll serve it.
Love the Frug! I have every single cookbook, but haven’t tried this recipe. Hopping to that.
I’m all about advance food prep. I need to check this out. Thanks for sharing, Terry!
Egg Salad with Smoked Paprika or Eggs Benedict with a crab cake instead of the Canadian bacon.
Also…I would love more about that egg-sniffing dog! He sounds like he needs his own mystery series.
Oh, Tina! Eggs Benedict with a crab cake. My mouth is watering!
I’m not sure about a series with the egg sniffing dog, Tina, but I will consider it. Especially if he’s also trained for other scents. Maybe that would make a great short story series. Now you’ve really got me thinking!
I love good old egg salad on a croissant with a strip or two of bacon! I also love eggs either scrambled, friend, hard or soft boiled or over easy! I love eggs for dinner!
That sounds awesome, Terri! I love egg salad as well. Breakfast is my favorite meal, and I have had it for dinner on occasion.
Deviled eggs. Steam the eggs for 20 minutes. Then 20 minutes in ice water. Peels practically pop off.
Egg yolks mashed with mayo, mustard, and pickle relish.
Sometimes I use chow-chow instead of pickle relish. Sometimes I put paprika on the top. Sometimes I put some small pieces of cooked bacon.
No matter how many I make, there’s never any left over.
Thanks for the egg shell removal tip, Pat. We’re finally back on a diet where eggs are good for you and I’m looking forward to making a batch of deviled eggs soon. It was the part about getting the shells off that I was dreading. My deviled eggs usually look like casualties of war…
love scrambled eggs with bacon and cheese on top. A good protein meal.
Thanks for the idea, Bobbi. I’m a scrambled egg fan myself!
My winner for the Kindle download of Really Truly Dead is Bobbi! Congratulations, Bobbi!