The Mystery at Squaw Island Lighthouse

By Cynthia Jaye

LIGHTHOUSE DIARY OF HYACINTHIA, 1895
"Today, high waves were crashing against rocky Lake Michigan’s shoreline. Skies black
with thunderclouds flared lightening wildly in the distance. It was early afternoon. My father, the Lighthouse Keeper said it looked like a bad Northeaster was blowing in and we'd better make ready for the coming severe storm. Fog and rain began moving onto the island at sunset and father sounded the steam foghorns at five-minute intervals. I was taking a walk near the wharf to watch the storm, when my mother began calling me to come in. I slipped on the jagged rocks and was swept into the lake by giant waves.
PRESENT DAY...THE LIGHTHOUSE CLUBHOUSE
Aubrey looked at me, eyes wide and frightened. "How
could she write this if she didn't survive?" she whispered.
Kirsten and Aubrey, best friends and lighthouse buddies are off to Squaw Island, Michigan. This time, they discover mysterious footprints and see odd lights in the lighthouse at night while other totally unexplainable events keep happening that the girls cannot explain nor prove to Kirsten's parents.

This short mystery, intended for children aged up to twelve years old or so, contains information about real lighthouses in Michigan, USA. Set at Beaver Island, and nearby Squaw Island, the book recants some moments in history about the area and its native American inhabitants. Most important, the story and dialogue hold young readers in suspense until the very end.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cynthia Jaye
• Release date: May 9, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310406553

Cynthia Jaye

A mother to five grown children, I've been writing since I was seven.As a recent college graduate at age 57; I am just now beginning to attempt to publish my writings from years ago, so that may be interesting. I have published a few poems, many newspaper articles for small presses, and series of articles and columns for small press magazines.I am a former contributing editor to Great Lakes Cruiser Magazine, also contributor to The Lighthouse Digest Magazine, Grand Rapids Magazine, and The Cleveland Plain Dealer.I grew up in Michigan, California, Ohio and a few other states along the way; still looking forward to growing up a little bit more in a few other locales before the journey is over.

Book preview

The Mystery at the Squaw Island Lighthouse

by Cynthia Jaye 2015

Published by Cynthia Hector Johnson at Smashwords.

A sneak preview:

LIGHTHOUSE DIARY OF HYACINTHIA, 1895

Today, high waves were crashing against rocky Lake Michigan’s shoreline. Skies black with thunderclouds flared lightening wildly in the distance. It was early afternoon. My father, the Lighthouse Keeper said it looked like a bad Northeaster was blowing in and we'd better make ready for the coming severe storm. Fog and rain began moving onto the island at sunset and father sounded the steam foghorns at five-minute intervals. I was taking a walk near the wharf to watch the storm, when my mother began calling me to come in. I slipped on the jagged rocks and was swept into the lake by giant waves.

PRESENT DAY...THE LIGHTHOUSE CLUBHOUSE

Aubrey looked at me, eyes wide and frightened. How could she write this if she didn't survive? she whispered.

I don't know, I whispered back. This old lighthouse log entry seemed to be written by a young girl. The hairs on the back of my neck rose straight up and I noticed Aubrey had goose bumps on her arms like mine. Let's just keep reading.

The next entry read, Yes, I perished on the rocks that awful night. I drowned in the cold, stormy waters. Just like Lake Superior, this lake did not give up her dead. My parents never found my body washed out to freezing lake depths. Wow, she has to be a ghost. Aubrey breathed. Tiny bumps rose higher on my back as we read on. Hyacinth wrote more...It's hard to believe I am now a ghost.

MYSTERY AT SQUAW ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE

Devereaux-by-the-Sea is the name of our Lighthouse clubhouse that my Dad built. My name is Kirsten. I live in a small town in Michigan. It is a few hours from the Great Lakes of Michigan, very far away from any oceans or seas. My Dad is an engineer for the United States Coast Guard. He studies lighthouse history. He knows all about lighthouses and tells me a lot of great stuff about them. He has maps of Michigan waters and many books about Michigan’s Great Lakes, especially lighthouses.

My best friend Aubrey Lane really loves lighthouses too. That is why my Dad built our own special lighthouse out by the ponds in our backyard. The clubhouse is twenty-five-feet tall, a round white tower structure. It has a winding staircase just like a real lighthouse except these steps are made of wood instead of traditional wrought-iron. Dad built a lantern room at the tower top where he plans to hook up a light soon. We can step into the lantern-room and look out over fields and