Novel Proposal - Willie's Requiem

Drug lords are running a processing plant in the ocean side tourist town of Saint James. Newspaper reporter NAN McHOUGH stumbles upon the case while writing a human interest story of a local citizen who was run over by a mule. McHough works with a local detective and love interest until he is murdered by local gangsters. Now, she has two stories to investigate. LEE BURKE, her editor continually pushes her to write a high profile story. BOLGER JONES, an elderly pseudo-doorman of the building in which she works, becomes her confidant and supporter.

MANNY MANINA, a photographer working as a stringer for the newspaper, an elderly Christian woman, and an off beat preacher all work as support for her efforts which carry her across the worst parts of the city and encounters with some of the marginal people of the town.

Her investigations begin to get too close to the criminals and she finds herself framed and in jail for the very things she is investigating. While in jail she is befriended by a partner of her former boyfriend. Also, during this time she begins to rediscover her faith in God, and though a series of happenstance comes face to face with her belief.

Eventually, she becomes a personal aid of Minina’s aunt. ROSA MININA is an elderly blind woman who takes McHough into her home during McHough’s lowest times. Based in the Minina home she is able to investigate the drug ring and find evidence that leads to a major twist in the case.

A new love interest develops for McHough, and with her new life in the church she begins to see a brighter side to life.

Read a scene from Willie's Requiem