This is what plotting (fictional) murder looks like…

Can I let you in on a little secret?

I’m plotting murder. Multiple murders, in fact. 

That’s not the secret, though. The secret is that plotting murder isn’t really all that difficult. 

It’s the motives that are tricky—and, admittedly, fun.

Because I’m plotting from a fictional killer’s perspective (much to your disappointment relief, I’m sure), I have to put myself into that character’s shoes. What do they want more than anything in the whole, wide world? In what ways has their tortured past affected them? How have all their experiences and decisions put them on this path toward their inevitable demise? Do they have regrets? 

And can they be redeemed?

I’ve been working on book two of the Breaking News Mystery Series off and on for a couple of years now. Much to my (and your) relief disappointment, it has not been playing nice. It’s been fighting me every step of the way.

Much like my killer… and my heroine.

But last weekend, I had the house to myself. I used my blessedly quiet alone time to plot murder most foul… and, more importantly, the events that lead up to it.

I went back to basics: Got out the Post-Its, cleared off my dining room table, cued up some sinister mood music, and re-plotted the book for the third time. And I finally, FINALLY, got to the end. I figured out my killer(s): Who they are, what drives them, and why they do what they do.

Everything just clicked.

The good news for you is, the majority of the book is already written and just needs revised. (Just needs revised… ha! trust me, it’s not as easy as “just” revising.) Then I will finally have a complete draft, which I can send on to a couple of beta readers, revise and clean up, and prepare for my ARC team.

And then I’ll ship it out to virtual bookshelves everywhere—including yours.

Want a sneak peek? If you can use your photo enhancement skills to sharpen that photo above, you’ll be able to read my entire outline. If that’s not one of your superpowers, don’t worry. I’ve got plans to share an excerpt with my subscribers this summer!

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Quick question for you…

Anonymous Source ended with one major question answered, but because I’m an evil mastermind, I purposely left a whole bunch of loose ends, just to mess with you. (Yes, YOU personally.) I’m curious: What lingering questions have been keeping you up at night? Drop a comment below, and I’ll pick one question to answer in next month’s newsletter.

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