Official Interview: S.C. Burns

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Official Interview: S.C. Burns

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Today's Chat with Sarah features S.C. Burns author of Cookesville, U.S.A.

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1. When did you write your first book and what was it about?

Writing for approximately two years, I finally published my first book in the spring of 2003. This book was based on social rules and norms (especially for women), from England and Scotland—to the New World in the early 1600s. A historic fiction, it was entitled Daughters of Juno, Chronicle I: Matilda of Argyll. I intended to make this the first in a series, emphasizing Europeans transporting their cultures and traditions to the New World, and the oppressive methods they used to build empires—through indentured and enslaved laborers. This took readers from Scotland and England to Jamestown, Virginia. It was published by Ivy House Publishing and Pentland Press. I revised it slightly in 2007 and republished it simply as Matilda of Argyll, published by University Press of the South. Using much of this book's research, I am ready to publish a new book based on this period, 1630 to early 1640s: The Accidental Indenture; A Riches to Rags Story. This is a riveting and romantic love story.

2. What's your favorite part of being a writer?

Being a teaching historian for the past thirty years, I love to pass along the dramatic stories that unfold through the centuries and eras—analyzing cause and effect. I find that, through creating fictional stories based upon reality, I can make readers love to learn those history lessons through the struggles and triumphs my characters experience. The experience of creative writing is a private world—a cozy space, so to speak—where the creator and their very real characters live together for a period of time. Each time my readers enter that space, they journey through a world I created!

3. Let's discuss your book Cookesville U.S.A. Can you give us a brief synopsis?

My current book is a work of historical and fictional satire. It is based upon the dramatic history of Bakersfield, CA, its connection to Hollywood, and the people and resources that have made this valley town wealthy and notorious. The reader views the town of Cookesville, first through the eyes of its founding family—the Cookes—whose story begins in 1846 Santa Fé before transporting them to the California Gold fields in 1849. By 1850, Frank Cooke, his Choctaw wife Lily, their Chinese friend and cook, Hop Li, and many Native American workers traveled southward to establish their namesake town in 1850. The 20th-century story continues as the complicated crimes of passion and lust are revealed through leading attorneys, politicians, and one notorious criminal investigator. From 1846 onward, the reader can trace the history of the mixed breed (Caucasian and Native American) Cooke family throughout the 20th and into the 21st centuries. The chief protagonist in the story is a man named Lyndon Wethers (Lynnie). His life, character and associations follow the steps of the most notorious, real-life criminal investigator in Bakersfield history. Most of the crimes are very closely based upon crimes and trials occurring in Bakersfield throughout the 20th century. Lynnie’s associations with the mob in Las Vegas, especially Bugsy Siegel, are authentic to the real-life “Lynnie.”

4. How did your life experience influence the book?

I knew many of the people on whom my fictional characters are based. Many were tennis friends and opponents; others I met through social circles—at tennis and country clubs or through my career duties. My husband is retired from a long career as first a criminal law attorney, then a family law attorney, and finally an administrative law judge in the California Prison system. He worked closely with the authentic “Lynnie.” As early as 2005, he introduced me to “Lynnie.” We began meeting him for lunches, as I detail in the book's concluding section. He and Steve shared stories of crimes and affairs, some with which I was familiar and others that were extremely shocking. I invited “Lynnie” to my home for dinner and continued to interview him about these stories. On one such occasion, he shocked Steve and me with the story of someone who attempted to murder him, in a covert manner—a man he thought of as his best friend for many years. You can understand why I had to fictionalize the names and alter a few circumstances, in order to protect both the innocent and the guilty.

5. Cookesville is based on Bakersfield, California. Why did you decide to use Bakersfield?

The fictional narrator who introduces the book is based on my personal experience. I never wanted to live in Bakersfield, though my first marriage eventually brought me here. I had grown up on the Ohio River (Northwestern Kentucky) for twelve years, before being transplanted into California’s Orange County. My first marriage took me to San Francisco, then British Columbia. Living in these beautiful regions fed my attitude that Bakersfied had nothing to offer. After the marriage dissolved, my children were in school here. I remained in Bakersfield for that reason and because of my teaching career here. When I was eventually hired to teach at College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita, I plotted my escape from Bakersfield again, and then I met Steve. Each attempt being foiled, I looked on the bright side. This community has been home for several decades, and I’ve had a good life—based on the very reasons I state in the book. Affordability of property, many methods of growing wealth, participating in social groups and events, and finally—I know the people and hidden stories. Meeting the real “Lynnie” provided the conduit for a deeper dive into those untold tales. This convinced me that someone needed to share the secrets of a town created by Wild West vigilantism, built on the wealth of agriculture and oil, and how the greed of wealth helps drive people toward passionate affairs and crimes. You can be bored only if you choose to do so!

6. Which character was your favorite to write and why? Which was your least favorite?

As my friend Peter Friedman said about this book: “Although California of 1851 might feel like a John Ford movie while Cookesville of 1961 reads more like Raymond Chandler, altogether it defines an identity that is uniquely American—that we are a land of both scoundrels and heroes and we’re not entirely sure which ones deserve our deepest affections.” I begin with this quote because I have to say—my favorite character is Lynnie, in spite of his nontraditional life and methods. Like the man his story is closely based on, Lynnie’s story is so much like the Frank Sinatra song, I Did it My Way. When it came to his passion for sexual encounters, he was both talented and scandalous. When it came to solving crimes, he was a pragmatist. Whatever it took for him to get the “bad guy” or cover up for a wealthy client, he got the job done. He had certain principles he wouldn’t veer from. One of those was his attempts not to bring children into this world, and especially not into his life—because of the horrible crimes he witnessed. On the other hand, he broke many a woman’s heart because of this “principle.” He may have left a trail of offspring behind as well. Nevertheless, he lived a long and exciting life, crossing paths with notorious gangsters and criminals of various sorts. He was never bored, and I was never bored with exploring and bringing these stories to life!

7. How would you describe the book's ideal reader?

This is an adult book with explicit adult crimes, affairs, and sexuality. My close friends from the tennis community and neighbors have consumed this book voraciously—recognizing many of the stories and people. Several people tell me they’ve read it thoroughly three times, each time picking up details they hadn’t noticed before. I moved events to different decades in some stories just to disguise the real characters. As one of my friends has stated, “Why would they want to come forward to criticize you for telling their stories? They wouldn’t want anyone to identify them as the cheating spouse or the criminal.” This town is a unique valley town. Unlike Southern California and Bay Area towns, it has borders whose cities run together and are so much alike. The real Cookesville—Bakersfield—was and is a Wild West town. The ranches and farms continue the traditions of the early founders, and many of the founding family names continue to enrich this community—generation after generation. Original stores, restaurants, and businesses share a common history, and they mark the passing of decades on their walls. Considering its growing size and boundaries, it is rare to see this type of continuity in a town established in 1850—the year California entered the Union as a state.

8. What's next for you? Do you have more books in the works?

I will soon publish my latest book, which follows the path of a young Scottish woman born into wealth. It follows British and Scottish history, the roles of males and females of many classes, and follows this young woman and her coming-of-age story in Jamestown, Virginia. It is a passionate tale of the greed for property and wealth in the New World, and how that impacts Native Americans, British indentures, and eventually, African indentures and slaves. The title of this book: The Accidental Indenture; a Riches to Rags Story.

I like to end with fun questions.

9. What author do you consider your favorite?


Honestly, there are almost too many to mention. Of female authors, I grew up reading mysteries about Trixie Belden, Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys. As a teenager, I learned to escape into Agatha Christie mysteries. I even read the grand dame to my young children at night time, right before bed. We would start each reading session by reviewing where we left off the night before. They loved it! Personally, I loved to escape all by myself into Daphne Du Maurier’s books, especially The Adventure of the Woman in Frenchman’s Creek. I also loved the works by Frances Parkinson Keyes. Her book, Dinner at Antoine’s, led me on tours of New Orleans and the South. I’ve read nearly all of the works of James A. Michener, and have been told Cookesville U.S.A. reads like a Michener tale. I also loved and read all books by Steinbeck and Hemingway. In my foray into adult mysteries, I’ve grown very fond of John Grisham, Michael Connelly (especially the Bosch series), and Nelson DeMille. There are so many more, but time doesn’t permit. Honestly, I think it takes being a voracious reader to become a writer.

10. What literary figure do you most want to have a meal and conversation with?

If he were still alive, I would love to discuss the wide-ranging interests of James A. Michener. Of those still alive, I think time spent with Michael Connelly would be enriching—especially about Los Angeles history and crime.

11. How do you relax?

I love to spend at least an hour in the pool, swimming and doing pool aerobics. In cold weather, I head to the gym with my phone and earbuds to listen to books on Audible—hence, my drive to make Cookesville available on Audible. The sound effects and mood music really set off the passionate and dramatic stories effectively. When I’ve finished a day of teaching, writing, exercising, and cooking, I like to settle down in my beautiful living room, watching a streaming series. One of my favorites is All Creatures Great and Small, on PBS. I read those James Herriott books in the late 1970s/early 1980s. Extraordinary stories from the Yorkshire Dales—where I spent several nights in 2002, on my way to Edinburgh, Scotland.

12. Are you a morning person or a night owl?

I’m definitely a night owl! 🦉 I work hard and exercise hard, so I have to spend many hours relaxing for bed. My streaming series help me get there!
A book is a dream you hold in your hands.
—Neil Gaiman
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