Catherine Dilts
  • About Catherine
  • Catherine Dilts - Blog
  • Short Stories
  • Annie's Fiction
  • Survive Or Die
  • Rock Shop Mystery Series

Oreodont Fossils

9/27/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
Guest blog: Writers are often advised to write about what they know. This can present problems. Visit me at Motive Means Opportunity, where I talk about When What You Know Is Boring.

Denver Mineral, Fossil, Gem and Jewelry Show 2016

Last week, I promised to introduce the folks who talked to me at a previous mineral show, when I was still coming up with ideas for book three in my Rock Shop Mystery series. Today, I introduce Jim and Cindy Ackerman of Oreodont Fossils.

Oreodont Fossils 
Jim Ackerman is a geologist and paleontologist located in South Dakota. The newspaper and plaster wrapped objects on his table caught my eye. When I asked, Jim explained they were DIY fossils - Do It Yourself. Aspiring paleontologists could practice their skills by carefully carving away the dirt from an actual fossil. 

PictureTreasures on the Oreodont Fossils table
As the Oreodont Fossils logo says, Jim and Cindy are "bringing the past into the present." They are eager to share their knowledge. When Jim told me about the world of paleontology, several ideas for a novel buzzed around my head.

You never know what's going to spark fictional inspiration. 
In Stone Cold Blooded, I include a plot thread based on a disagreement between two fossil collectors decades prior to the story. Morgan Iverson's neighbor Eustace dies under unusual circumstances. One of her running club friends once attempted to interview Morgan's neighbor for a film about local history.

     “Was my uncle in your film?” Morgan asked.
     “No,” Chuck said. “The filming began after he passed away, and by then Eustace had gone around the bend. He ran the director off his place with a shotgun. Although Caleb and Eustace didn’t make it into the film, I heard second hand the story about them digging up dinosaur bones to sell to museums and collectors, until they had a disagreement.”
     “I don’t remember Uncle Caleb talking about his neighbor,” Morgan said. “I was in my twenties when he passed away, but I would have remembered him mentioning a feud.”
     “And now Eustace is gone, too.” Vonne leaned her elbows on the heavy wooden table. “So what happened up there Monday?”

PictureFossil turtle from Oreodont Fossils that found its way home with me
If I got any details about fossil collectors right, I credit Jim Ackerman for giving me a peek into that world.

Book Three in my Rock Shop Mystery series will be released October 10. Join Morgan as she attends a mineral show that just might resemble the Denver Mineral, Fossil, Gem and Jewelry.

0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Subscribe to this blog:

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

    Archives

    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.