Character evolution


This has been a very interesting week for me and my first “baby” that is soon to be “born” unto the reading world. The baby in question is A Blade Away and, after my editor worked her magic on the text, we decided some serious changes were necessary to avoid a possible nightmare of a problem.

The situation is this: When I developed the Fringe Killer series I wasn’t imagining a technical police procedural series of books. What I was imagining was a series of “thrillers” that focused on the human equation and the relationship between two partners and various members of society that were often overlooked or shunned.

When I created these characters I envisioned two partners (also best of friends), both of which were detectives in the homicide department. The problem developed when, as the first case moved along, mistakes in procedure were made that wouldn’t be made by seasoned detectives. In the end, the partner I had envisioned as the secondary (Skip Abrahm) wound up questioning the primary partner (Jamie Davenport) on some of her actions and why she neglected some issues.

After numerous phone and email conversations with my editor, I finally realized the real problem was the Jamie was more a student and Skip her mentor. So, after making some minor changes every single question was answered and every doubt was brushed away. The pieces of the puzzle fell into place and I have a completely different dynamic that has the capability of giving both Jamie and Skip a better over all arc and many more hurdles that can block their way.

Now I have a younger Jamie than I originally envisioned, but one that is more human. One of the elements most crime-thrillers neglect is the struggling officer, trying to learn the ropes. That is what I now have in my Fringe Killer series and I couldn’t be more pleased.

It just goes to show you what a good editor can do for you as a writer.