I’ve been reading another of my own books – it might sound strange or smug, but in fact I’m interested in seeing how the way I write has changed, and trying to be objective in any self-criticism, or self-praise! For the last nine years I’ve been writing my Radwinter series – which started off as a stand-alone, and somehow developed in a very unexpected way. I think after the present one, Thomas Radwinter might take time off from getting involved in mysteries which inevitably lead into dangerous situations, and just keep up with his hectic family and busy professional life.
The book I’ve been re-reading is ‘The Stalking of Rosa Czekov’ and it’s pretty obvious from the title what it’s going to be about. This is the blurb:
Rosa Czekov is an ordinary person who, through an extraordinary act of courage, brings herself to public attention. Rosa is modest and private, and this unwelcome publicity attracts a stalker who makes her life a misery and brings her to the verge of a breakdown. Her cousin, Tyche Kane, has a mission to discover who is tormenting Rosa and bring him or her to retribution. In the course of her pursuit, Tyche uncovers many secrets in an effort to prove Rosa was not just imagining her persecutor. However, her quest not only puts her own life at risk, but endangers Rosa’s friends and family and leads to the murder of someone very close to her.
The book begins with various people visiting Rosa’s grave on the anniversary of her death, one of whom is Tyche Kane who apparently is visiting from Australia. She begins to meet those who had been closest to Rosa, including her husband, Luka, and her sister, Gerry, and also her secret lover. When I started it I had a vague idea of where the story-line would go, but I find when I’m writing unexpected things happen. Luka invites Tyche to a dinner party – which was my way of telling the reader something about her past, and to set up some of the characters who might possibly be the stalker.
Unexpectedly for Tyche, but even more so for me, Luka’s best friend and wife who were invited, just as walk-on parts as far as I was concerned, became major players. Characters I’d created as bit-parts, suddenly became crucial to the whole story – and when the story ends for the reader, for me these “people” carry on their lives which have been turned upside down by Tyche’s investigation.
The story concluded, the last words were written, the reader was left to make up their own mind about what (if anything) happened next, but I was left with Tyche setting off on a new adventure. So, in my head, Tyche’s life continues vividly – as she tries to work through the trauma she suffered in the book. She is not, however, alone. A friend she made on her mission has left his past life and is with her. I feel tempted to write it but I have resisted, thinking it would be self-indulgent, so I think Tyche’s story will still end on the last page, and any one who reads it can imagine for themselves where she goes and what she does next!
In case you haven’t read ‘The Stalking of Rosa Czekov’, here’s a link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/STALKING-ROSA-CZEKOV-Lois-Elsden/dp/B08M7J3SZG
Lois Elsden 