McDaniel authored this collection of short stories to honor many friends and acquaintances from Seattle who are overlooked in the mainstream media.
She was born and raised in Seattle’s Mount Baker Park community during the 1960s, and moved to North Seattle during the 1970s. She left home and Roosevelt High School after the ninth grade. Like the main character, Violet Wander, she lied about her age and waitressed graveyard shifts at the Moore Hotel Cafe when she was sixteen years old.
She lived in Belltown, and rode a bicycle—but never in the street. She took care of her grandmother every morning for years. And yes, Anna liked the pudding at the cafeteria in Harborview hospital. There was no money or time for school. The Rocket was everywhere. It was free, and it was her free community college. She never told Charles R. Cross any of this until 2024, when she hired him to edit this book.
She was a freelance writer for several magazines during the ‘90s, like City Heat, The Stranger, Wire, and The Rocket. She wrote more about reggae, jazz, blues, and gospel happenings in Seattle than rock music, though she loves rock. She doesn’t applaud music that inspires hatred, exclusion, or violence—no matter the culture or era.
It started with an idea that she pitched to Charles R. Cross, former Editor in Chief at The Rocket magazine. He liked the premise, but not her grammar. The editing job became a masterclass in fiction writing, and Seattle music history. Charles line edited much of the rough manuscript until his sudden passing in August of 2024.
Her fiction was both inspired by and researched on The Rocket’s new online library: washingtondigitalnewspapers.org archives.
The book stalled while Zola found another editor.
Gillian G. Garr, former Senior Editor at The Rocket magazine did a great job with the limited time she had available. She kept Charles’ edits inline with that spare, Rocket ‘zine style.
The original Rocket style sheet is in use here today. If you want a free copy of it contact Zola.
The first edition was published in fairly rough condition, because it needed more professional edits and formatting for Kindle Direct Publishing. Zola felt it was more important to get it done than wait for tomorrow to deliver perfection. She started the second edition the same week the first edition came out.
Zola loved her friends, and thinks you will too! Thanks for taking a look, and for your kindness!
Pink Umbrellas Love Rainydaze 