The Thrillers, how it all began

The idea for a novel was rolling around inside my head and to exercise the spirit so to speak, I decided to paint a picture just to see what would happen.  Josie MacDonald was the name of this character.  She was also a painter, but that's another story!

She was now real, no longer an idea and it was as if she was expecting more, so I had no choice, I had to write her story.    

The painting was used to create the cover for the book.

The Cellist came next with characters from The Witness coming alive once again.  I was on a roll and as ideas spilled onto the page new characters were introduced some of whom would become the mainstay of future adventures.  

I didn't want to end up writing police dramas.  Naturally because of the nature of each book the police element is very important, but I try to focus on the other characters, tell their stories leaving the police investigation to play out as a natural backdrop to the book.

 The Photographer is the next book in the series.  It focuses mainly on professional photographer Matthew Cunningham and his girlfriend Fashion Journalist Libby Ellis.  Again I had fun telling their story with the help of a few new characters. 

There is another novel, a thriller finished and sitting in a drawer in my study.  It has a working title and of course features many of the characters from the previous books.  This one will probably be published next Autumn, by which time a further book will be completed.

It was my aim to write five books in this series, but if I can keep the ideas coming and the plot fresh then I suppose it could go on for a while longer.  My reader numbers and feedback will probably determine the future of these thrillers.

Each book is a standalone novel, but I suppose it would make more sense to read them in order.

Happy reading everyone!

 

 The Photographer

 

Printing bookmarks for my new thriller The Photographer. 

Each time I sell a signed copy I include a custom made bookmark.  I have done this for all my books.

I usually have a book launch inviting up to 100 people, but due to the Covid pandemic this was impossible so I had to rely on social media to help launch my book.

The launch date was 30th November, just in time for Christmas but all the local seasonal fayres were cancelled.  This did nothing to help me market my book or raise my profile locally.

Hopefully next year will be better for all of us.

The Photographer

 Back of book synopsis with an additional tense quote.

    'Suddenly he was there beside her.  She could sense him, his shadow a spirit come to claim her soul.  Blinking rapidly in an attempt to clear her vision she believed that if she could make eye contact with him she could appeal to his conscience - but she was mistaken.  He was no longer there...'

The paperback version is available from Amazon and other good online bookshops from Monday 30th November.

The eBook version - coming soon.

 The Photographer

The cover to my next thriller.

The photographer will be available as a paperback from Amazon and other good online bookshops from Monday 30th November.

This is a photograph of one of my books arriving at a readers house.  It came from half way across the world.  The book was purchased online from Barnes and Noble because its out of stock on Amazon.

This was a lovely surprise.  Please continue to send me photographs of my books as they arrive. 

 

Chapter One

 The beginning of a new novel.

A pen full of ink, a list of characters and a blank notebook.

What opportunities are waiting to be had, what are the characters going to do, how are they going to react?  So many questions.

Whenever I pick up my pen I have an idea of where the plot is going but from previous experience I know that my characters are going to have their say.  I might know what I want to achieve but often reply on the characters to do the hard work.  Their interaction will lead to scenarios that I might not have considered or dialogue will change my ideas completely.  My style of writing involves me as some kind of referee running around my characters, steering the plot in the right direction.  Much of what appears on the page is made up of a collaboration between myself and people who do not exist.

This brings me to my next thought; Are characters real?  

Some of them I like and respect others I don't think much of.  I try not to have favourites, but inevitably some characters will stand out.  I wouldn't say they become my friends, there is always a distance between us although I know all about them and their secrets.  

What do you think?