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Wednesday, April 20, 2011

The Process of Writing


Someone recently asked me about the process of writing a novel. For me, I explained, it all begins with a vision, or rather an idea. As I continued to expound on my process to this friend, I thought maybe I should blog about this as I complete my new manuscript, IAI

As prep for this shift in the blog, I felt it would great if I posted the first chapter of my second novel, DRT (to be released in fall of 2011), so that you could sample my style of writing.

Well as they say, “Here goes nothing.” Hope you enjoy it. 


DRT pages 1-9( 2/9)
Chapter One

    Wet snow looked like a spilled cherry snow cone spreading from beneath the man’s downturned face. Detective Nate Richards of the Treasure Valley Metro Police looked down at the body stretched out on the ground at his feet. A quick glance suggested a single blow to the side of the man’s head had ended his life. Nate shook his head, dislodging snow from his loose curls; the white flakes contrasting against the coffee-colored tone of his skin. He shivered, I hate winter. Nate looked up, momentarily drawn by the halo that encircled the streetlight as its russet glow illuminated the night sky.  
     His partner, Detective Chris , worked a short distance away talking to the on-scene patrol officer. The unbroken surface of the snow, pristine in its whiteness, made the whole scene eerily bright. MacGilvery cupped his hands and blew into them attempting to thaw them out, his gray-blue eyes reflecting the light from the snow. He had been assigned as Nate’s partner when Nate’s previous partner, twenty-year veteran Sabrina Jackson, retired after being shot in the line of duty by a rogue cop.
     Looking up with the memory, Nate flexed tight muscles in his jaw and stooped to better examine the body. Remembering his scripture reading from that morning, Hebrews chapter nine verse twenty-seven, “Since human beings die only once, after which comes judgment.” Nate wondered where this man’s soul was now.
     He looked over the crime scene trying to decipher its secrets. Shaking his head from side to side he considered the snow. It was not helping, no footprints led to or away from the body. The snow will have to be collected and sifted, for possible evidence. He rubbed gloved fingers across his chin.
     “Mac,” Nate called out. “Witnesses?”
     “None. A man walking his dog found the body and called it in.”
     Nate made his way over to Chet Baraza, the patrol officer in charge, and looked in the direction of the sirens sounding in the near distance. “I guess we can tell the paramedics to downgrade,” Nate said extending a hand to Baraza.
     The group of patrol officers laughed. Baraza chuckled and shook Nate’s hand. “He’s DRT. Dead right there, man, this one’s not going anywhere on his own. He must’a dropped like a sack of potatoes. Farrumph!” the officer said and gestured as if dropping a heavy load.

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