"Dave Cubiak saved my life." Novelist Patricia Skalka talks for the first time about how writing her 7-book Dave Cubiak mystery series helped her work through the grief following the death of her husband.
USA Today picked her first novel as the book to represent Wisconsin in its special feature: “50 States/50 Books to Read.” Now she's out with her final book in the Dave Cubiak Door County mystery series.
"One-to-One with John DeDakis" goes one to one with Patricia Skalka.
See and hear it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17vv2BSQ27Q&list=PLXDV_HPUqtvvV-j0lyb2BsaZNSW3GCcDP&index=1&t=1668s
I spent my first 23 years in Wisconsin, so immediately I was interested, even though I'm not interested in murder mysteries unless they are uncovering the ancient past by archaeology or DNA. I have never been to Door County but when I was four and five my mother and my grandmother traveled to Door County and came back with 10 gallon tins of fresh cherries they picked. My twin Roger and I were given the task of using a bobby pin to remove the pits before they were canned. We were sloppy because later, when we ate cherries in the winter we held contests to see who would find the most pits. The contest didn't require any skill like most of our contests, because it was totally random.
My immigrant ancestors came to the port of Sheboygan where both of my grandfathers were born in the same year. And my father was a huge Packers fan like I have started to become, but to my knowledge never attended a game in Lambeau Field. So Door County is a mystery to me.
My family has never spent a lot of time mourning. Although my mother never really got over my becoming paralyzed at 20. So I was interested when that discussion came up. But I run into many poets who have experienced great loss like that. When my brother Roger lost his second wife of 25 years from an accidental fall about six years ago, after he settled her affairs he resumed life very well and currently has two girlfriends that keep him company in his many activities with his deceased wife's extensive local family.
Patricia had a job of a lifetime for 20 years with Reader's Digest. While I never subscribed, like my grandmother did, whenever I got a chance I would read through issues. I can see where working for a company that required you to write 6000 words and then cut it to the bare-bones 2000 words not only would give you a thick skin like I have, but make you a great writer, as well.
I have jousted with the writer from Green Bay who is the direct opposite of Patricia and I on issues but hides them in stories that he makes quite fanciful. So far, even seems grateful for my sharp criticism of his seeming lack of understanding.
Ron