A Dead Red Cadillac
is the result of writing instructors telling
me I should write what I know. Turning around in my tracks, I felt like the proverbial
basset hound, "Where is it? Where is it?" Oh, yeah, three hundred yards
from my house was a line-up of Ag-Cats, a grumpy old owner (my dad, and my boss), three hard-ass
pilots, and a passel of helpers who giggled every time I gave them orders.
It
was also the hardest job I've ever done--up at 3 a.m. every day, seven
days a week, all summer long.There's
a picture of me standing next to one of the big Ag-Cat's. A strong wind
could've blown me over, I was that skinny! No wonder the help snickered
when I walked by. However, I learned to tuck my girly-looks into a ball cap and baggy
jeans, and finally mastered my don't-mess-with-me scowl.
I eventually left for another
job, one that paid better and had better hours, but I also came away with a lot
of stories. These books, starting with A Dead Red Cadillac are based on my experiences
running my dad's crop-dusting business, and then my son's work in the Aero-Ag business.