The email was direct and to the point. Kathleen Bailey let me know that she had recently published a collection of short stories. Would I like a copy of the book for a possible review? I was short on time, but something made me click on the Wikipedia link she included at the bottom of the page.
The Dallas native’s bio started with a brief summary of her career, which included serving as deputy assistant secretary of the Bureau of Intelligence and Research and assistant director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency during the height of the Cold War. I was now intrigued. Then I read her book, which included nonfiction tales about encounters with Elvis, B.B. King, and Queen Elizabeth. We must meet, I told her. So she invited me to her home.
I thought she lived in Mesquite, which is why the heading above was my working title for the story. Turns out she technically lives in Dallas city limits. And that Wikipedia page was just the tip of the iceberg. You can read about her incredible life story here, which was originally published in the December issue of D Magazine. It is online today.
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