Don't you love a good mystery?
I've always loved a good mystery... love to read Nora Roberts, Mary Higgins Clark among others. Not political spy novels, I have had enough of that stuff in my work. I like light mysteries that you can read while sitting in front of the fire sipping on a glass of wine or on a beach chair listening to the ocean and the seagulls. Light but still with a grabbing story. And so when I started writing fiction, I naturally gravitated to mysteries with what I call a splash of romance. I think every story needs a little romance, don't you? Nothing graphic or overpowering, but those slow growing feelings that neither of the main characters want or notice as they happen - but we see it as readers. Haven't we all been there? Had enough of broken hearts or breaking hearts and need a timeout. And bam, the guy or gal who's your best friend ends up that person that you can't live without? Cosmic punishment. LOL And my characters always seem to be a bit damaged as we all are... and prefer at the start of the story, a love-free diet. Yet, even my most confirmed bachelor or bachorette meets his or her match. I think that's why I love to write so much... my characters start out as one type and then somehow through the steps that they take in the story, they come out a bit different. One other reason I love mysteries are because they have good and bad guys... and sometimes you can't tell who's who.
I also love my characters to work and play in places that I have a deep connection with... thus Oyster Point, the setting for She's Not You. So where in the world is Oyster Point you ask? It's a fictional town based on the town of Wellfleet on Cape Cod. I have spent summers in that town since I was... well, I can't even remember the first time I was there... two years old maybe? And as all of us "wash-a-shores" say, that sand and salt seeps into your blood. So, as you will see, many of my upcoming books will take place in and around Wellfleet. I drove down this week to feel spring coming on and it didn't disappoint - it was a gorgeous. It was a low tide and the clammers were out pretty far with their trucks. The sun was warm, the smell of the ocean in the air, and spring was coming after a long tough winter of Nor'easters.
The pictures above show the famous town church which chimes ship's bells for the time. And the other photo is my childhood beach, where Jamie in "She's Not You" paints and sees a stalker.
Well, hopefully that solves a couple of mysteries!!
Back to editing my next book - almost ready - set in Wellfleet and then on to the next one, set in Paris and Boston. My sequel to She's Not You is also coming along. Jack and Jamie embark on another cold case!
Keep writing,
Till,
Judi
