These are exciting days with the release of my second novel, Book One in the "Under Suspicion" series; "Hit 'n Run". Today, I want to share a bit of background on the origins of the idea.
Typically, stories come to me from an accumulation of experiences I string together into a story.
The kernel of “Hit ’n Run” began when I was actually involved in a hit and run at the end of a bad day.
I was on my way to pick up my kids from school and just like my lead character, Lorna, I had to pull over while I tried unsuccessfully to explain to a client how I didn’t really understand cyberspace and sometimes e-mails do go missing. The absurdity of the conversation with this client was accentuated later in the day, after the accident, when I tried to explain to the police office that yes, I had indeed t-boned the car; however, the car had ran the stop sign and then proceeded to flee the scene. It was only when I explained my day to my husband and we laughed, deep in the belly, that I thought, ‘now there’s a scene I can use’.
The opportunity to use this event came much later when a relative recounted, loosely and only on cases now open to public record, how an undercover crime investigation went down. From there, Hit ’n Run was born, complete with full creative license and dramatic embellishments.
An initial problem with the story arose though with not simply bringing the characters together—the accident was already established—it was creating the caring moment. Why would Mitch seek Lorna out? Why would it matter? The first few drafts of the novel included a LOT of backstory—how they met—and it hurt to cut it out. But in the end, the story is focused, reads much better and I now have the materials necessary to build a series of books based on these characters for which I have fallen in love.
I hope you do as well!
Typically, stories come to me from an accumulation of experiences I string together into a story.
The kernel of “Hit ’n Run” began when I was actually involved in a hit and run at the end of a bad day.
I was on my way to pick up my kids from school and just like my lead character, Lorna, I had to pull over while I tried unsuccessfully to explain to a client how I didn’t really understand cyberspace and sometimes e-mails do go missing. The absurdity of the conversation with this client was accentuated later in the day, after the accident, when I tried to explain to the police office that yes, I had indeed t-boned the car; however, the car had ran the stop sign and then proceeded to flee the scene. It was only when I explained my day to my husband and we laughed, deep in the belly, that I thought, ‘now there’s a scene I can use’.
The opportunity to use this event came much later when a relative recounted, loosely and only on cases now open to public record, how an undercover crime investigation went down. From there, Hit ’n Run was born, complete with full creative license and dramatic embellishments.
An initial problem with the story arose though with not simply bringing the characters together—the accident was already established—it was creating the caring moment. Why would Mitch seek Lorna out? Why would it matter? The first few drafts of the novel included a LOT of backstory—how they met—and it hurt to cut it out. But in the end, the story is focused, reads much better and I now have the materials necessary to build a series of books based on these characters for which I have fallen in love.
I hope you do as well!