Author Linda Lovely is one of the hardest working authors I know. When an accident almost derailed her from attending the renowned Writers Police Academy, her friends and colleagues were shocked. Naturally, I had to get the gist of the matter. And who knew she was a home improvement expert? This is her story!
By Linda Lovely
It’s almost Halloween, and one creepy location always gives chills—a basement! Hey, it’s underground (like a grave), and really, really dark if the lights flicker out.
I grew up in a house with a scary basement. I have early memories of creaky stairs and a black as pitch coal bin. Wood planks covered a damp dirt floor with hair-like sprouts. Dusty bottles holding who knew what lined sagging shelves. We learned what when some of granddad’s root beer spontaneously exploded one hot summer day. His home brew had a real kick.
So how did the young me cope? I made up ghost stories and held séances to scare the pants off neighborhood kids who bravely traipsed down our basement stairs. Our fright outings usually ended above ground with Kool-Aid and Girl Scout Thin Mints. 
Making up scary stories helped me believe any monsters roaming our nether region had to be figments of my imagination. And I still tell stories ’cause there’s lots of scary stuff above ground, too!
Does the basement in my current house frighten me? Sometimes! But for different reasons—like radon, water and sky-diving. All things I can tell you how to fix!
Built on a hill, our house had an unfinished walkout basement that my husband and I have finished. Okay, it took us a dozen years, but who’s counting? It’s now lovely with two guest bedrooms, two full baths, and a family room with oak bookcases and a stone fireplace.
When we started finishing our “lower level,” we spent hours roaming home improvement aisles in Big Box stores. On one excursion, we bought a radon test kit. During construction, our builder told us radon wasn’t a concern in our area. So we didn’t insist on a just-in-case chase pump to force radon-laden air out from under our house and through the roof.
Our test-kit number told us he was wrong. When the radon pro looked at our graying hair, he said, “You’ll die of something else before radon can kill you. But you may want to install a pump to help with resale.”
We did, and our radon numbers now fall well below worry range. Our sage advice? 
If you’re building a house, include provisions for radon mediation during construction. It’s a lot cheaper.
Water has been another bugaboo. Fortunately, our minor floods from HVAC mishaps happened before our concrete floors were dressed with carpet or tile. Pans now rest beneath any unit that might leak, and each has its own H2O detector that wails if its feet get wet.
Our advice? Pans and detectors are cheap. Buy them now.
Here’s the final basement horror story. Last February I fell down our basement stairs. I broke my jaw, two teeth, my wrist, bruised my ribs, etc. I was hospitalized five days and had my jaw wired shut for a month. And while we’re talking home improvement, I only hope my personal plates and screws have a lifetime warranty.
How did I fall? Doubt I’ll ever know. I remember nada after leaving our bed, afraid my tossing and turning would wake my husband. Our basement stairs are a straight shot and my descent was closer to sky-dive than tumble. I broke through the drywall at the bottom of the stairs.
As you might imagine, I feared a repeat. Fortunately, our family doctor suggested the solution. “A person who’s half-awake or sleep-walking can open a door, but he can’t punch in a code.”
Our new basement door handle has two modes. With the daytime mode there’s no need to enter a code to come and go. In nighttime mode, the door only opens if you punch in a four-digit code.
Locks like ours can prevent accidents. I’ll be sure to have the handle turned to nighttime mode on Halloween.
Author Linda Lovely
About the author:
A journalism major in college, Linda Lovely has always made her living as a writer, primarily in public relations and advertising fields. Now, she’s focusing on her first love–fiction.
Her new humorous Brie Hooker Mystery Series is published by Henery Press. The first two books–BONES TO PICK and PICKED OFF–have earned great reviews.
BAD PICK, the third book in the series will be available for pre-order in late January.
https://www.henerypress.com/author-lovely-linda
https://www.amazon.com/author/lindalovely
About Bad Pick
Vegan Brie Hooker lives and works with her feisty Aunt Eva at Udderly Kidding Dairy, a hop, skip, and jump away from South Carolina’s Clemson University. Brie’s fun farm outreach attempt backfires when religious extremists decide goat yoga is a form of devil worship. Picketers at Udderly’s gates soon become the least of Brie’s troubles. Not only is she accused of murder, she worries the death might actually be her fault. Danger mounts when an old family friend’s visit ensnares Brie in a high-stakes feud between a U.S. Supreme Court nominee and the woman determined to expose his secrets.
Bad Pick is the third book in Linda Lovely’s Brie Hooker cozy mystery series and her eighth published mystery/suspense novel. Her goal is to deliver thrills and chills, while also ensuring justice is served, laughter is plentiful, and love triumphs. Lovely’s heroines may not be perfect, but they’re all smart, strong-willed and well-intentioned.
Interesting tale, but I’m so glad, knowing when it happened, that it is behind you and you can “lock” it out of happening again. Hope to see you (and Brie?) soon.
Wow! That’s a horror story for sure! Thanks for the info on house safety features. I’m off to get pans and detectors and maybe a radon checker — congrats, you’ve spooked me! 😉
OMG, you had a nasty tumble. I use locks with codes for all our doors that access outside. No key worries.
Thanks, Debra. It is definitely behind me. Played tennis this morning! And I’m writing again. Hope to have another book ready by spring.
Laura and Vicki– The locks and the detectors are quite inexpensive, considering the alternates, and it is great to go keyless. I have enough problems keeping track of my car keys.
That was such a scary experience for you, Linda. It was scary for your friends too. Glad to hear you can’t sleepwalk and skydive without punching in a code. The worst that could happen is a broken nose from walking into a closed door. (I have done that.) Glad you’re back to normal, whatever that is, and our lunch dates can continue.
Wish I could join you on those lunch dates, Polly and Linda. I know you have a blast. Linda, so glad you mended well and this story has a happy ending!
Wish I lived closer so we could celebrate your recovery. That was one dreadful experience. I’m so glad you’re back writing. I love the Brie Hooker series!
Thanks, Polly, Cindy and Donnell. I’m always up for lunch–especially now that my mouth is no longer wired shut. Maybe at a writers’ conference in 2020. Or, Cindy and Donnell come visit Polly and me.
Having just taken a bad bathroom fall, I can fully sympathize with your plight. Glad you have recovered and are back to writing. I’m a fan of Brie Hooker!
Thanks, Judy. Brie and her Aunt Eva are fun to write. Before my fall, the series even got me out to the local goat farm to try goat yoga!
Linda,
I’m so sorry you suffered so much when you fell down those stairs. I’m glad you’ve made a great recovery.
Yi Yi Yi, Linda! I’m glad you lived through that!! The code on the door is a great idea.
I can personally attest to the comfort of the guest accommodations that Linda and her husband offer. It’s a “lovely” house in every way! And now, sleepwalker proof.
Thanks, Kaye! You’re welcome to return anytime! Marilyn, I’m happy about the recovery, too. Seems like a long time ago already.