Wendy has also
put her marketing knowledge into book form in her Power Packed Book Marketing –
something many authors have been grateful to read! First a
little about the new book.
Cass Claymore, a red headed,
motorbike riding, ex-ballerina inherits a Detective Agency, and accidentally
employs an ex-con dwarf and an octogenarian. Hired by a client who should know
better, Cass has no leads, no clue and a complete inability to solve a case.
Still a girl needs to eat and her highbred client’s offering good money.
Join her as, with bungling
incompetence, she follows a trail littered with missing antique teddies,
hapless crooks, a misplaced Lord of the Realm and dead bodies. Will Cass, and
Scotland, survive?
The first
Cass Claymore book, Antiques and Alibis, is available from Amazon and other platforms.
Inspiration Behind the Stories
Rosemary,
thank you for the invite to your blog. It really is a pleasure to be here.
You’re very welcome, Wendy!
Today I would like to talk about inspiration in the hope it will help others on their writing journey. I also hope readers will find the post interesting and informative.
The saying goes that inspiration is slow in coming. In my case the opposite is true – my brain is so stuffed with stories it’s a job to decide which to follow first. My first series, the DI Shona McKenzie Mysteries, was inspired by a dream, or rather a nightmare. Yes, I know you shouldn’t start a story with a dream, and I didn’t. Honest guv. The book which arose from this, Killer’s Countdown, actually starts with a stand-off in a frozen Scottish wood. This has led to six books in the series, with the seventh, Killer’s Curse, being written as we speak.
On 1st August 2018 I launched a new series – Cass Claymore Investigates. Where the inspiration arrived for this one is anyone’s guess. I am a huge fan of Janet Evanovich’s comic crime series. I wondered if I could write a Scottish version of this, with less exploding cars of course. Dundee isn’t that big and if cars keep exploding there would be none left.
I brainstormed the most unlikely Private Investigator that Dundee could ever come across. I ended up with a red headed, motor bike riding ex-ballerina. A principal dancer with the Royal Ballet no less. Or at least she was. This Cass Claymore was born. Then the fun started. In strolled another character called Crammond McQuillan, an ex-con dwarf. The conversation went something like this.
Quill: Crammond McQuillan at your service. I’m your new character.
Me: No, you’re not. Shove off.
Quill: I’m afraid that’s not possible, I’m here to stay.
Me: Fine. (Through gritted teeth) I suppose you might come in useful.
Quill: Dear Lady, I’m one of the main characters.
And what a character he turned out to be. I’m so glad he turned up and is now Cass’s assistant. Sometimes the best ideas present themselves in the strangest of ways.
This series is not intended to take itself seriously. It’s comic crime where the laughs come thick and fast. A madcap caper through Scotland where the reader hangs onto the shirt-tails of the story and comes along for the ride.
My final words, when it comes to inspiration, let your imagination run wild.
Too true, Wendy. Thank you!
Wendy H.
Jones is an award-winning Scottish Crime Writer who lives and sets her books in
Dundee, Scotland. She is also an
International Public Speaker talking about writing and marketing. Killer’s Crew, the first book in her DI
Shona McKenzie Mysteries was the Winner of the Books Go Social Book of the Year
2017.
The Dagger’s Curse, the first book in her Young Adult
mystery series, was a finalist in the Woman Alive Magazine Readers Choice Award
2017. She has signed a publishing contract with Malcolm Down and Sarah Grace
Publishing for the first book in a children’s picture book series, based on a
true story about a little Buffalo in Scotland. The first, Bertie’s Great Escape will be released late October 2018.
When she’s
not writing, Wendy spends her time travelling the world. She is also President
of the Scottish Association of Writers and co-founder of Crime at the Castle, a
Scottish literary festival held at Glamis Castle Scotland.
9 comments:
Many congratulations, Wendy. Love that one of your main characters refused to let go!
Thank you, Wendy and Rosemary, and many congratulations! I loved reading this inspirational post. So entertaining and uplifting. I really enjoyed the character who wouldn't let go! xxx
Thanks so much for commenting, Rae!
Many thanks for your kind comments, Joanna - I liked that too!
I know, they’re in charge
Seriously, I have no control
Thanks for inviting me, Rosemary. It was fun
I loved this. Quill was my favourite character in the book. This is what can happen when a new character pops up in your mind and insists on muscling their way into the story. It's the workings of the unconscious and we must go with it when that happens.
Many thanks for your comment, SC!
SC Skilman, I have a soft spot for Quill as well. He’s such a charmer.
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