It's always fun to welcome a guest blogger. Paige Shelton's second Farmer's Market mystery, Fruit of All Evil, has just been released. Her first mystery, Farm Fresh Murder, introduced Becca Robins, who makes jam on her farm and sells it at her twin sister Alison’s farmers market, in rural South Carolina. Today, I'm welcoming Paige as guest blogger.
In FRUIT OF ALL EVIL, the owners of Bailey's Farm Market install a new lighted road sign for the market. When writing about the sign, even I was surprised that the vendors weren’t all that impressed by the new addition. They weren’t unhappy; they just didn't have much time to concern themselves with such things. It's funny how characters take on a life of their own. As a writer, you might think you've created them but you probably only created a spark of them. Once they're there, on paper or on your computer screen, if you try to make them do something that seems wrong to their personality, they'll fight you all the way. And they'll usually win. I shouldn't have been too surprised by their reaction. After all, technological advancements have mostly occurred outside the farmers' market world. However, I recently saw a commercial for a credit card processing attachment for cell phones. Those vendors who take credit cards will probably be very happy to replace those big, old knuckle buster manual slide machines they've been using.
Despite the new road sign, Bailey's, like most markets, will always have stalls made of canvas tent walls. Display tables might change a little over time, but mostly they will just be tables. Folding chairs will be the seating of choice. And Becca, the protagonist of the Farmers' Market Mystery Series, will always have a number of overalls in her closet.
The important things about all farmers' markets have nothing to do with technology. The important things - the fresh foods and the amazing artistic products - will always be based in simplicity. Homegrown and homemade will always be the two most important product descriptions. Time marches on and technology advances the world around us, but Bailey's will always honor the simple traditions that all markets were built upon. I know this because the vendors told me.
The important things about all farmers' markets have nothing to do with technology. The important things - the fresh foods and the amazing artistic products - will always be based in simplicity. Homegrown and homemade will always be the two most important product descriptions. Time marches on and technology advances the world around us, but Bailey's will always honor the simple traditions that all markets were built upon. I know this because the vendors told me.
And, thanks for stopping by Paige!
Paige Shelton's website is www.paigeshelton.com
Fruit of All Evil by Paige Shelton. Penguin Group (USA), ©2011. ISBN 9780425240229 (paperback), 304p.
