For the last few months, I have been developing a new detective. My earlier Angelis books have been a combination of procedural crime fiction and supernatural/fantastic fiction. I’ve come to a natural pause with those Angelis stories now. Therefore, the time to write something new has come. I have created a new detective, and the story will be purely police procedural crime fiction.
This may be the opportunity to try finding a publisher rather than self-publishing. So, starting with a more defined genre is going to help. Self-publishing works for some people if they are lucky and willing to put in the effort of developing their brand and marketing it relentlessly. This is where I’ve been least successful. I don’t have the money for book designers, editors, and advertising. I’d love to meet my readers, go on tour, and promote my book, but I’m not sure where to begin. I need help. For me, writing the story has always been the easy part.
New Detective Creation
Creating someone unique rather than falling into stereotypes is harder than it appears. Just look at TV detective dramas, and you’ll see great detectives with unique characters. Ask yourself why you do you love them? None of us enjoy two-dimensional characters. We want depth, and we want to see how they cope under pressure. We don’t have to like them. Some of the better detectives can be cantankerous and self-obsessed. We just need to care about what happens to them.
How do I create someone who is different? Something new. It’s hard without being completely off-the-wall. We want our senior detectives to be brilliant and in command, but they must have an Achilles heel that can derail them if they are not careful. A vulnerability that brings these demigods down to Earth.
I believe I’ve found someone with a unique story and a unique viewpoint. I’ve brought in two historical events that have shaped my detective. Events that could have brought you and me to our knees. Generally, troubles make, break, or shape us. My detective has been shaped by his.
Development
Currently, my new detective novel is under development, and I’m about halfway through. My plan, and it is just a plan, is to finish the first draft by mid-April. I feel confident that the new detective is fully rounded, as are the surrounding team. Which is a good point, because there is an array of other detectives I’ve had to create to support my new protagonist.
I’m also writing in a different style than my earlier novels. Instead of the first-person present tense, I’ve moved to the more traditional third-person past tense. This has helped me re-tune my character’s voice.
The murder plot is done, and the character plots are forming, so now it’s just a matter of me finishing it and sending it to agents and publishers.
Wish me luck.