Brownstonelit's Blog

1/8/2013

While researching this book for Charley… I ran across two names that have a potential tie to what was commonly referred to in the 60’2 and early 70’s as the “Dixie Mafia”… or somewhat more appropriately termed…the “Cornbread Mafia.” Now what do you say does Charley’s murder have to do with the Dixie Mafia? Well now, that remains to be seen. But the most important thing is that back in the day… and you can attest to this for me Grim- those lose cannons didn’t all reside in Valdosta! Some of thos loose cannons ran the rest of the state that your dearly beloved and incarcerated law enforcement leader did not. Hmmmm… Let’s take a look shall we?

Your 4 in flannel had no problem with murder- neither did the mafia.

Your 4 in flannel had no problem with porn and prostitution-neither did the mafia.

Your 4 in flannel had no problem with illegal hooch- lord knows neither did the mafia.

Your 4 in flannel had no problem with kidnapping…rape…torture…drug running…gun running…burglary…counterfeit money…car bombs…car theft- amazingly enough? Neither did the mafia!

See where I’m going with this? Some of the same key players had bigger aspirations than just your sandy little burg and some of them were connected to folks who lived quite a bit north of your sandy little burg. This is the new road. The new project. This is where Charley now leads.

Aside from additional evidence and clues that must be forwarded in Charley’s case…we now look to another county in the state of Georgia…to another murder… to another child who lost a parent to unwarranted violence. Charley’s book ends with the introduction to the next case, or rather cases that I will be working in the next book under the working title of, THE DEAD LINE, Copyright 2010.

Do not worry though- I have not abandoned Charley or my pursuit to bring his killers to justice. Just know that the blog does not always give a true reflection of where things are… or where they aren’t. It is best that I keep you guessing.

Is she done with this and moved on to that? Am I safe to crawl out of the shadows and back into the light? Think children…have I ever let go of ANYTHING?

NO. I have not. Like the junkyard dog we all fear, I am just getting warmed up-just testing the chains that bind me for the moment. I wait. I watch…and when ready…I will bite. Until then, I’ll just go fishing. Got me some good bait and I’m just itching to cast my line. Gonna catch me a big fella too. Oughta be some good feasting coming up…don’t worry ya’ll. I’ll send an invite when I get ready to FRY that fish! After all, best fish ever caught was the ones flopping about on the wet pavement just a 1000 feet or so from the Withlacoochee River. You know Grim, the ones that was there that night-dancing in the rain- trying not to drown in their own lies. Hear tell that’s where Charley liked to catch his fish…had some good bait too that night…but nothing like the bait I got!

Rumor has it-worms aren’t the only way to catch a fish. Sometimes you gotta think outside the box…the lunch box that is! Know what I mean, Grim?

Hope you had a good New Year’s …

1/6/2013

And so it has come…

The day I have feared and fought for, for four years…the weaning day. Like a beautiful relationship that has blossomed and run its course, the death of Charley Covington can now become the celebration of this life and his legacy. Will the book change what has been written?

Yes…even as it changes the past it will alter the present and the future for all connected to this crime. For both criminals and victims bound to this case by its tragedy and its consequence–each will be eternally altered for what has been written here, what has been shared- what has been taught and what has been learned.

Is Charley a better man for what I have done?

No…Charley is the man he has always been; a kind and loving soul who got his head turned in a moment of weakness and his heart betrayed in a moment of despair. A father who loved his children, a husband who fell in and out of love with his wife a hundred times over the course of their 19 year marriage- just like every other long term couple will tell you- if they do not lie. Charley was a man who saw something wrong in this world and in the midst of his own catharsis- tried to change the course of history for those who could not do it for themselves.

Am I a better woman for what I have done?

Yes…because somewhere in the midst of my own catharsis he reached out and found me-to keep me from making the same mistakes-to show me a loss before I could affect it. Because of his kindness, I am kinder. Because of his faith, I am more faithful. Because of his devotion- I am more devoted. Because of his death I have a greater life…

I am a mother who loves her children and a wife that now cherishes a husband who has been there for over 30 years waiting patiently for me to love him back the way he deserves. He is the man who brought me from young adult through motherhood and menopause, and gifted me the valuable lessons of loyalty and conviction. Together, he and Charley have taught me that love is not always a rush of affectionate feelings- a flash of pheromones…some days it is little more than a decision that we must make until the rush returns again and confirms that we are on the right path.

Because of Charley…I not only see the wrongs committed by others… but the wrongs I have committed myself. Because of his example, I will do my best to change the course of history for those who cannot do it for themselves… to decipher the shorthand of the dead and to hold the hands of those still alive who grieve their loss. This is my duty- this is my calling.

Charley and I are forever- we are written amongst the stars and he has promised to never leave my side. As the days move forward, he has promised to hold my hand as I venture into other worlds that I cannot even dream of yet. He will guide and hold me steady as I pen my way across the heartaches of other souls who wait for healing and for justice.

Does this mean the blog has ended? No… For this blog will continue as we all continue. Discoveries in this case have led me to another and it is for that set of victims that one door must be traversed to get to the next. Do these doors close behind me as I go? In a sense they will always be open…but in another I cannot tether those behind them to my side without stalling them in their evolution. As for Charley? Divine love requires that I must let him go…to walk amongst the stars- to seek the face of God and to joy in the marvels of his own salvation.

Do I love Charley Covington? Would it surprise you to know that somewhere in the deepest part of my soul I believe we have always been one- not in the sense that human’s find necessary to label. Charley and I have a soul recognition that I believe defies the boundaries of conventional wisdom- that breaches the veil of death and that cannot be contained by the human heart- but by the divine.

The rendering is bittersweet- for even as I am letting him go- I am holding him tighter.

Stay close dear friend…you are and forever will be… my heart…my angel…my shepherd.

1/4/2013

I had originally thought to put the first chapter out in the blog- just to wet your whistles for the book.

Then I let a few treasured folks read it to get a feel for their gut reactions.

Their responses were all great, but one in particluar caught my attention.

It began with:

“OMG!  Couldn’t take my eyes off the words until I read everyone… I loved the…”

And ended with:

“…I must admit I’ve never seen a bigger ‘pair’ on a woman outside of  Texas! Can’t wait to read it in it’s entirety.”

I’m thinking maybe I should just wait until it comes out in print. That way you can all be surprised!

1/1/2013

Wow!  How crazy does it feel to write that?

Even more… how crazy does it feel to finally get to tell you that it is done! The book is finished. Really finished and I am at peace with what has been written, discovered and what will continue to unfold from its writing.

I will most likely write more later, but for now?

Happy New Year to all those who have kept pace with this case, counseled me as to how to investigate it, cushioned me from its dangers and comforted me as it continually broke my heart.

For you dear Charley…

For you dear Julie…

For you dear Roxanne…

Fir you dear Jessica…

For you dear MOT…

And even for you dear G… this has been written.

Thank you dear R and thank you to me for never giving up.

Happy New Year dearest Charley- I promise you it will be!