Last Friday, I was up to my eyes in edits for #6 in my Dylan Scott series. I took a five- minute break to check Twitter and one tweet made me snort with laughter. The tweet in question was from our own lovely Maureen Miller (aka Gladys) who included me in her #FollowFriday suggestions and described us as future world leaders. At that time, I couldn’t have led the way out of a paper bag but I was more than grateful for the laugh.
I continued with my edits. Deadly Shadows, coming to a device near you in October, has a few dead bodies in it and my editor had expressed her regret that one particular character, a young girl, had met her end. I’d enjoyed writing the girl’s story and I, too, was sad to see her die. We all know, however, that in crime/mystery fiction, the good as well as the bad are murdered. Besides, there was no way round it. We’d have to live with it.
Cue sleepless nights. I thought about giving the character more flaws. That way, I reasoned, readers would be less upset about her death. Nope - it didn’t work. Cue yet more sleepless nights and long, long walks with the dogs. From nowhere the germ of an idea came to me. Maybe, just maybe, there was a way round it after all.
It has involved a lot of rewriting, a lot of blood, sweat and tears, but I’ve found the way round it. Now, as much as I like killing people off in my books, I’ve discovered that it’s even more exciting to bring them back to life.
Deadly Shadows still has a fairly high number of dead bodies but the young girl lives. Yay!
So Glady’s tweet wasn’t as laughable as I first thought. Not only can I murder people in the most cunning of ways, I can bring them back to life if I so choose. What power! Barack Obama? David Cameron? Bill Gates? Pah. As soon as I’ve had a coffee and a cupcake, I’m going to lead the world!
Shirley Wells lives in the UK with her husband and a selection of deranged pets. Her Dylan Scott series of mysteries is available from Carina Press and all good etailers.
11 comments:
Well done, Lord Chancellor Wells. :)
Here I predicted you would become a future world leader...little did I know that you would have the ability to restore life?!?
Love that, Shirley! I think you could rule the world. I'd vote for you (after a cupcake).
I'm a little nervous about the book I just pubbed. Not only did I kill cats, big ones, I also killed children. I cried writing the scene. It's based on anecdotes of what really happened, but even so... I'm glad your girl lived :)
Haha - love your post. The little girl lives! Cupcakes for everyone! (Hmmm...I think that was a less successful campaign for another ruler once upon a time..."let them eat cake"?)
I wielded my authorly power yesterday to tie up all my plot threads in a way to make my characters' world a better place. Such power. I'm giddy with it. ;)
Shirley, I'm fine with you ruling the world, as long as you use your power for Good... And cupcakes.
Go for the universe! As long as there are cupcakes :)
I'm with Toni - I killed the dog in the opening chapter of Honor Code. So far, no one has thrown anything at me, but I hated my villain for doing that!
(mumble, mumble... yeah, I wrote the scene...)
I'll exchange my vote for a chocolate cupcake. Deal?
I enjoyed your post. I'll need to remember it when I'm struggling with edits. If I go for a walk with the puppy and eat cupcakes a brainwave will strike! I, too, could rule the world :)
Glad things worked out for your character.
Maureen, you put the idea in my head. The Pips rule! :)
Toni, don't be nervous. Killing children is fine. Not so sure about those big cats, but hey, I'm sure you've done it perfectly.
Anne Marie - yes. Cupcakes for everyone! Isn't it a great feeling to make the world a better place?
Marcelle - my world will be wonderful. Cupcakes for all and champagne on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. :)
Cathy - you killed the dog? The dog? Ooh, I'm not sure about that. I mean, not the dog. Children yes. Cats yes. But dogs??? Oh my!
Elise - it's a deal. :)
Shelley - A good walk with a puppy works wonders. And cupcakes, of course. Yes, you can rule the world. We'll all take it in turns. :)
Our editor is a wise woman, Shirley. I've just spent the best part of two weeks rewriting something that I thought was spot on. Of course it wasn't, and she saw it at once. Have to love her!
Very happy that the young girl got to live! I look forward to reading all about how she survived.
Wendy, she's the best. We're so lucky to have her. I just love how she spots the weaknesses. My books are so much better for her input.
DJ - Hi, and thanks! Of course, now that she's survived, my editor might decide it doesn't work and that I'll have to kill her off all over again. :)
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