If you like mysteries that include the natural world as a feature, the China Bayles Mysteries written by Susan Wittig Albert are just your cup of herbal tea. In these novels, China is a combination amateur sleuth and herb shop owner, a multi-faceted woman not unlike myself. The setting is an imaginary small town in Texas called Pecan Springs, which I swear is really Denton (TX) in disguise. Dentonites if the shoe fits, don’t blame me.
These are fun to read because you can learn a lot about herbs and gardening within the context of a mystery. Adding to the fun, China has started her own blog, which can be accessed at http://susanalbert.typepad.com/pecanspringsjournal/. I guess even fictional characters can’t help but blog. It’s just too compelling of an outlet.
If you know someone who does not like to go online (and who doesn’t know at least one peson like that), China has compiled some of her blog entries into a book called “China Bayles’ Book of Days: 365 Celebrations of the Magic of Herbs from the World of Pecan Springs”. I ordered mine from Amazon.com as a holiday present for an elderly friend. She just loved it. So if you know an herb lover who has everything, this is just the gift.
Thanks for blogging, China.
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