The story you’ve just read wouldn’t exist without a brilliant piece that Kate Dalby published yesterday over at The Train to Titsville. I won’t spoil it—you really should read it for yourself—but suffice to say it featured one of the most gobsmacking pranks I’ve encountered in years. It stayed with me, burrowed deep, and within hours… Maggie B. was tapping her foot, waiting to be let in.
I wrote to Kate after reading it and said:
I absolutely loved this one, and now I’m a big fan of Tara Wernsky. I need her back story… I'm seeing her as a failed corporate big shot (brought down by severe impostor syndrome) turned artist / amateur sleuth, revealing the truth about what's really in the prize-winning jam at the Women’s Institute.
It seems Maggie B. overheard.
Read Kate’s story here—it’s wickedly smart, laugh-out-loud funny, and the sassiest inspiration a character could ask for.
A note on the origins of Maggie B.
The story you’ve just read wouldn’t exist without a brilliant piece that Kate Dalby published yesterday over at The Train to Titsville. I won’t spoil it—you really should read it for yourself—but suffice to say it featured one of the most gobsmacking pranks I’ve encountered in years. It stayed with me, burrowed deep, and within hours… Maggie B. was tapping her foot, waiting to be let in.
I wrote to Kate after reading it and said:
I absolutely loved this one, and now I’m a big fan of Tara Wernsky. I need her back story… I'm seeing her as a failed corporate big shot (brought down by severe impostor syndrome) turned artist / amateur sleuth, revealing the truth about what's really in the prize-winning jam at the Women’s Institute.
It seems Maggie B. overheard.
Read Kate’s story here—it’s wickedly smart, laugh-out-loud funny, and the sassiest inspiration a character could ask for.
https://open.substack.com/pub/katedalby/p/lies-damned-lies-and-sassistics
😂😂😂 this is fabulous.
I couldn't have done it without you, Kate... or Tara!
I'm already working on a few more Maggie B. stories. :-)
Brilliant! I’ll look forward to seeing Maggie in action!!
We all have some Maggie B. in us! Good for her!
My partner just inferred that this story might be more than slightly autobiographical in nature, and I have to say that I resemble that remark! 😁
"Case #12:"
I hope this means that there are _at least_ 11 more -gate stories. Please.
"manilla envelope" Plot twist!
Well done. I love the pacing during the tasting: "Cassiss. Pear. The faintest hint of vanilla."
h/t Kate Dalby (who I also hopes has at least 11 more stories she's willing to share!)
Thanks so much!
I'm just putting the finishing touches to a second Maggie B. Casefile, "A Matter of Plot", which will be out later in the week!