Layers to the story are so important!
At a book signing a lady asked me to explain my writing style. Specifically, she asked, “Why do your construct your characters with so many layers, and your plots with so many twists and turns?”
As a prolific reader, I had become bored with the action figure who sweeps in and saves the day, always successfully navigating through a barrage of gunfire, explosions and failed attempted assassinations. He or she
Life is full of love, disappointment, heartbreak, triumph and defeat, involving black and white choices tainted with all shades of grey. To me, the tale is more interesting when characters have depth and flaws, and when they lose a few battles as they fight through life’s struggles. But the depth of many characters requires time and space to build, and thus I chose a series.
In the novels that comprise The
Similarly, I build complex characters often seeking passionately committed relationships, who
In short, I build both the plot and my characters, the good and the bad, much like stories and people I have known in life. My fictional people and circumstances usually have some roots in reality. My heroic figures may lose loves and be injured, unable to always avoid the pain of life. My stories are plausible, as much of the plot has happened, is happening now, or can happen in the near future.
I try to design a fictional reality that will tug at the strings of your heart and conscience, urging you to confront life to decide what you believe is good or bad, honourable or immoral. If I am successful the end product will entertain and stretch me and many of my readers. Such readers share my appreciation for the real side of life, amidst all the intrigue, action and adventure.
But still, others may not appreciate the detail and depth in my people, the plot or the romance. And I respect their decisions to move on to faster-paced, less complex, more superficial, quickly entertaining reads. We all should read what we enjoy!
I hope you enjoy my series. Several murder mysteries will be included in the next books in the series, as The Beckett team navigates through their challenges. The first of these murders, based on an actual case, is chilling, as it looks into the heart and mind of a prolific serial killer. The murders, like the plots that contain them, will have unexpected twists and turns, packed with surprises.
Please enjoy whatever you choose to read. And please contact me on my website with feedback!