Lots going on "at the beach"

     The weather has been great, with temps in the high 60's and low 70's and plenty of sunshine. If I had not torn my calf muscle several weeks ago, I would probably be out playing golf.
     Cypress Bay Golf Course, which is just up the street from us in Little River, was sold (again) to a housing developer and will close March 1st. Cypress Bay will be the first full 18-hole course to close for planned redevelopment since 2007. Approximately 20 18-hole courses closed between 2005-2007 for planned redevelopment, and many remain undeveloped, including the former 54-hole Bay Tree Plantation, a few miles from Cypress Bay on route 9.
     The massive Grande dunes development, which brought a new level of luxury to Myrtle Beach, has been sold to a North Carolina based company. LStar Management of Raleigh, NC. closed the deal on Friday to buy the 2,200 acre development that spans from the Oceanfront to west of the Intercoastal Waterway. The deal does not include the public resort golf course, the Marroitt, and The Marina Inn.
     For those of you who have read my book Murder on the Front Nine, you may remember that the book begins with a ferry boat ride from Southport to Bald Head Island.   On this past Tuesday, that same ferry ran aground, sending passengers flying. The Coast Guard rescued and transported 14 injured passengers back to Southport where one passenger was airlifted from the scene. The 64-foot ferry Adventure ran aground shortly after leaving the city of Southport for Bald Head Island. At least 30 people were on the ferry at the time of the accident. One passenger said it was like "hitting a brick wall" when the ferry ran aground on a sandbar. As of Friday, the ferry was still stranded on the sandbar.
     Real estate has slowed down over the Holiday Season but reports say things will begin again on an upbeat note after the first of the year. Don't wait too long or else all of the good deals will be gone.
     One of the pictures I have included is of "yours truly" from way back in 1957 with an old girlfriend (Paula Ann in chapter 1 of my book). I can't believe I was ever that young, that I was ever that thin and that I even had hair. Of course the last time I saw Ann, she looked the same. Doesn't seem fair!
     I have been working on my second book Cougars at the Beach and things are coming along very nicely. Hope to have it finished by Spring.
     My lovely bride Beverly and I want to wish all of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
See ya, Steve & Bev

                                                                      Me 1957

                                                   Writers Workshop Christmas get together

                                                             Cherry Grove Beach

                                                              Cherry Grove Beach

Ohio & Other Connections "at the beach"

     On Saturday I was invited to participate and do a book signing for my book MURDER ON THE FRONT NINE, at an Open House at My Sister's Books in Pawleys Island. Bev and I had a great time, they provided great food, and we met a lot of interesting people. The only problem was that, of course, it was scheduled for the same time as the OSU Michigan game. When we arrived I looked around and there was no TV. Bummers! I found a Bar & Grill two doors down and they had the game on their TV, so I spent the day between meeting, greeting and hopefully signing books, and running back and forth to get updates on the game. It was an all around exciting day. First of all, we met a lady who lives in Burmuda Run in Advance, NC, which is where one of our classmates, Tammy Fairchild, used to live. Second, one of our LHS classmates, Susan Hines Butler, who now lives in Pawleys Island came by to say hello and she was telling us that one of our high school English teachers, Mrs. Susla, lives just down the street from her. The funny thing is that I refer to her in my second book, COUGARS AT THE BEACH, not by name, but as a teacher that Mickke D had a crush on in high school. What a small and wonderful world! Next Bev and I decide to take a break, so we go down to the Bar & Grill to watch some of the game. We start a conversation with our waitress and she says her parents live in Ohio, but that we have probably never heard of the town. She tells us her parents are from Beverly and of course Bev and I, and our golf group used to play golf down there years ago. She could not believe that we knew where Beverly was located and had actually spent time there. It was a totally great day. We met great people, I sold some books and Ohio State won. It doesn't get any better than this.
     Real estate has slowed down but there are still quite a few good deals down here. If you're looking to spend the winter somewhere, come on down. There are great deals on condos everywhere.
     See ya, Steve & Bev

                                     Yours truly with Bess, one of the owners at My Sister's Books

                                                    Waitress who's parents live in Beverly

                                                           One of several book buyers

                                                        Susan, yours truly and Bev