The Last Laugh
Now Available!
A book about murder and comedy. With twists and turns around every corner, it’s sure to be a surprise.
Meet the Author
Donna Wylie
Donna never runs out of ideas
Everything is fuel for the fire of Donna’s imagination. Everyday occurrences become plot twists. News stories prompt a flurry of “what if” questions: What if that happened here? How would I feel if that happened to me or someone I know? How would I respond in that situation?
Some authors tell you the secret to their success is that they write every day. Donna’s suggestion to potential writers is this: don’t think of writing or story-telling as a separate activity. Life is the story. You just need to capture all the fascinating, split-second, here and gone moments of it! Her advice is simple – carry a notebook and pen with you at all times. Or have an app on your phone where you can enter notes. Whatever you use, be ready. Ideas come at the speed of life! Don’t lose them!
Donna writes in many genres
Donna’s philosophy has always been that life is too interesting to confine yourself to just one genre. Poetry was her first love and continues to be her passion, but she also writes non-fiction books and articles that are focused on educating and helping others.
Novels are a more recent interest, an outlet for both her imagination and her sense of humor. If you think murder can’t be funny, you need to read her books. They reflect Donna’s other philosophy – that life is too short to be taken seriously!
Donna loves to help others
Donna used to think writing a novel was beyond her abilities until 2010 when she accepted a challenge to write a novel in a month. That experience reinforced her belief that everyone is capable of writing, a philosophy she loves to share with others. She loves to encourage new authors, young and old, and is always ready with positive feedback and helpful suggestions.
Her book on job hunting was born from a desire to help people seeking employment but who don’t have money to spend (waste) on employment counselors. Her “7 Stages of Teeth” series was created to help people going through the process of getting dentures. Her passion and the underlying desire in everything she does is to make the world a better place.
Sneak peek
The Last Laugh
Why you’ll
love it
Humor
And the cop says….I don’t care what the dog said, I’m giving you a ticket anyway!”
The crowd exploded with laughter. There were snorts, giggles guffaws, even some whistles. Some people were laughing so hard they had to wipe tears from their eyes. Chickey went on.
“I have the worst timing. I called a friend today – caught him in the middle of a golf game.” He paused, throwing his hands up in a helpless gesture. “He was understandably teed off!”
He smiled and mugged for the cameras. He was determined to win this competition if it killed him! Or – rather – everyone else!
A gorgeous assistant
Lynn leaned toward the injured man, making a great show of examining his bruises. Chickey stared, mesmerized, at the small glimpse of cleavage this vantage point gave him access to and breathed the heady but subtle scent of Lynn’s perfume.
Later, watching the ambulance pull away from the theater, Fitzhugh remarked, “That was some interview technique, detective.”
Lynn smiled. “Momma always said – use what the good Lord gave ya.”
“Well, Momma would be proud,” Fitzhugh replied.
An Old School Cop
Fitzhugh’s desk was a jumble of precariously balanced piles of file folders and books. It was a system only understood by its creator.
Visitors to the area, whether guilty or not, invariably felt intimidated by both the mayhem and the man. His investigative style was unique, bordering on the unorthodox sometimes, but almost always effective. His ability to solve cases was the stuff of legend.
Fitzhugh was an intimidating man, both physically and intellectually. At just under 6’ 4”, his stocky build made him appear even larger. When he fixed his gaze on a suspect, the green of his eyes seemed to burn like kryptonite.
Murder is funny
“Hey, Fitz, ya got another dead comic! They just pulled the guy outta the river. It seems they found him…”
“The river…” Kelly said. She and Fitzhugh exchanged knowing glances and Fitzhugh spoke up, interrupting the detective.
“Was it a guy name of James Yellowfish?”
“It was… yeah! Geez, Fitz. What are you, some kind of psychic?”
“Don’t have to be,” Fitzhugh explained. “Just gotta have a sense of humor.”
"Twin-triguing" Mystery
“WHAT ARE YOU DOING here!” the question came from both twins in unison, each one glaring at the other. Their expressions were so similar that for a moment it was as if they spoke into a mirror.
“You. Are. Out. Of. Your freaking mind! There is no way in hell I’m taking the rap for you on this.”
“But – Chickey. You have done such a good job of hiding me all these years. It’s like I don’t exist…” Luke trailed off, smirking, waiting for Chickey to understand.
“I…I told the detectives about you!” Chickey sputtered.
“Did you now? And did they believe you? Did they ever see us together?”
A family Secret
He tried to make allowances for Luke, tried to remember the damage to his brain from the nitrous oxide overdose so long ago. He should be used to this by now. Luke’s childish sense of humor, his tantrums and impulsiveness. He shouldn’t get upset with Luke.
“It wasn’t Luke’s fault. It wasn’t Luke’s fault.” Chickey kept repeating this mantra until his breathing had quieted and he was calm again.
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