Hopefully you've read Chambers's blog post about The Carter Seagrove Project so you'll you know already that we're ploughing on with the series. Stradler's Game is in review and we've started The Helios Protocol. Stradler's Game should make it to the shelf by the end of July.
I thought you might be interested to know more about our writing process; especially as this Inspector Fenchurch series is a bit experimental. When we wrote Dust Jacket, being self-contained, it was easier in some respects because we had a finish post to aim for. I would write a section, Chambers would review it and add something; and we kinda of flip-flopped our way through it; each of us had characters we were sort of responsible for. The series is different because it is on-going and we're discussing the plot and ideas a lot more before either of us puts pen to paper. It makes it harder because things change rapidly as a new idea comes to the fore; so a lot of re-working has been required. In some respects we're writing it as readers and not as authors. And unlike when we wrote, Dust Jacket, we're at the same laptop this time, which saves heaps of time because basically we're writing it side-by-side.
In terms of the plot, we've deliberately chosen not to reveal too much at a time in case it precludes something later; it's the joy (and pain) of writing without a plan (which neither us does anyway). That hopefully means that the plot stays fresh and exciting; if a little crazy at times. Stradler's Game is slightly longer than Black Veil; and we suspect that The Helios Protocol will be a little bit longer as well.
Research has been fun because the series so far has been set in 1935. I guess we have erred on the side of caution and not included a whole load of stuff that would attempt to make it sound and feel truly authentic; there are some key things which do date the story and that's fine but we didn't want to alienate any particular potential reader. The plot line is really quite timeless, and the love between Alfred and Adam certainly is! I re-read a whole load of Agatha Christie short stories and game to the conclusion that we shouldn't try to emulate the sound of the language too much because it would probably sound a little strange.
We're at the stage of reviewing Stradler's Game and that also allows us to tweak the plot for The Helios Protocol to a degree, but pretty soon, Stradler's Game will be fixed, and that will define a certain outcome for the next story as far as it goes.
Having fun trying to find images for the cover of Stradler's Game; feedback we've had suggests that you like the plain black backgrounds and the simple motifs; will keep looking for the motif which sums up Stradler's Game.
Alp
xx
I thought you might be interested to know more about our writing process; especially as this Inspector Fenchurch series is a bit experimental. When we wrote Dust Jacket, being self-contained, it was easier in some respects because we had a finish post to aim for. I would write a section, Chambers would review it and add something; and we kinda of flip-flopped our way through it; each of us had characters we were sort of responsible for. The series is different because it is on-going and we're discussing the plot and ideas a lot more before either of us puts pen to paper. It makes it harder because things change rapidly as a new idea comes to the fore; so a lot of re-working has been required. In some respects we're writing it as readers and not as authors. And unlike when we wrote, Dust Jacket, we're at the same laptop this time, which saves heaps of time because basically we're writing it side-by-side.
In terms of the plot, we've deliberately chosen not to reveal too much at a time in case it precludes something later; it's the joy (and pain) of writing without a plan (which neither us does anyway). That hopefully means that the plot stays fresh and exciting; if a little crazy at times. Stradler's Game is slightly longer than Black Veil; and we suspect that The Helios Protocol will be a little bit longer as well.
Research has been fun because the series so far has been set in 1935. I guess we have erred on the side of caution and not included a whole load of stuff that would attempt to make it sound and feel truly authentic; there are some key things which do date the story and that's fine but we didn't want to alienate any particular potential reader. The plot line is really quite timeless, and the love between Alfred and Adam certainly is! I re-read a whole load of Agatha Christie short stories and game to the conclusion that we shouldn't try to emulate the sound of the language too much because it would probably sound a little strange.
We're at the stage of reviewing Stradler's Game and that also allows us to tweak the plot for The Helios Protocol to a degree, but pretty soon, Stradler's Game will be fixed, and that will define a certain outcome for the next story as far as it goes.
Having fun trying to find images for the cover of Stradler's Game; feedback we've had suggests that you like the plain black backgrounds and the simple motifs; will keep looking for the motif which sums up Stradler's Game.
Alp
xx
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