What's On the Bench?

 

My Big Project at the moment is a suspense novel: The Buddha Head. My Dad fought in the Korean War. He was in the Navy, and when he talked about North Koreans, he would shake his head and say "Those people are crazy." Made me curious.

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Years later I met a Brazilian man who used to work for the United Nations and had been assigned inside North Korea. He had pictures of wild stuff, like billboards depicting Korean soldiers stomping the heads of Americans or crushing us in other ways. What was up with that? I didn't hate or even think about North Koreans. So, why did they hate me so much? 

 

One thing led to another and now I'm writing this book! I've found myself making delightful Korean friends in Utah. Studying maps. Researching life in both North and South Korea. Creating a tightening story of deceit, fraud, North Korean operatives damaging America and Americans. And Americans and South Koreans going on the offense.

 

Of course, I have to have an ancient artifact. It's a thing for me. In this case, an old wooden Buddha head with cracks, peeling paint and a stunning secret.  

 

It's going to take me a good ole while to write this entire story. But I'm heading to Korea in May, and will report back with pictures.

 

I hope I live through this; I flush, smoke and gasp if I eat five alarm food. Uh-oh.