Start a new series? Not on your life. I'm still working on my first and only, the Dot Meyerhoff mysteries. But when I'm stuck, wondering what else Dot has to do (plenty is the answer) I can still dream. My series are set in the Silicon Valley, where I live. While there's much to mine here for a writer, I have friends whose series are set in France, Africa, Italy, and Canada. Not to mention protagonists who go off on cruises to any number of exotic locations. The research for all these books is, of course, tax deductible. I'd love to spend six months in Italy writing a mystery. Maybe Dot should take a trip. If she ever ties the knot (an expression she hates) and marries Frank, I could send them to Fiji on their honeymoon. Or on a cruise. I've never been on a cruise. No reason why I my fictional protagonist shouldn't. You've heard about vicarious trauma? Why not vicarious fun?
On occasion, when Dot tires of counseling cops with issues like police suicide (Burying Ben), PTSD (The Right Wrong Thing) and investigating crimes against children (The Fifth Reflection) I think I'd like to write cozies. Or cozier books. My mysteries deal with serious subjects, but they are not graphic - all the sex, violence, and harm to victims is off-screen. Way off screen. Dot's pretty funny. So are some of the other characters. Humor is how cops deal with stress. So does Dot. So do I.
The other day I picked up a Nancy Drew mystery. Such innocence. I can't imagine writing a mystery where the central crime was stealing vegetables from a neighbor's garden. But a gang of kids tracking down a child molester, now that has some appeal. Or rescuing their trafficked school chum? A few not-so-small things keep me from trying. I have no children of my own, no nephews or nieces. My psychology practice was adults only. I'd have to spend hours in the library, reading young adult novels, which is not a bad assignment. Unless I get a chance to go to Fiji.
Always a great way to start my Friday, Ellen. I'm with you on YA though I inadvertently created a fairly likeable 11-year old (not in real life).
Posted by: camille minichino | August 18, 2017 at 08:19 AM
Maybe Nancy Drew will stumble across a body lying between those tomato plants in that vandalized neighbor's garden, Ellen.
Posted by: Michael A. Black | August 18, 2017 at 09:01 AM