Some novels take longer than others. Frozen Fire and Under Twin Suns were like that. Some come out as a bolt of lightening, like The Last Griffin. Each novel writes differently.
Then, there are those that are a giant puddle of confusion until a moment of clarity arrives. To Be Phoenix was like that.
On The Sly, a murder mystery, has been that type of challenge also. I’ve had to go through it time and again, sometimes radically changing what I put in, sometimes destroying whole plot lines entirely.
And I’ve been having the time of my life. I so, so love this book and Sylvia, my lead character. I love her brother, Aaron, and her two dogs, too: Ruffles and Satan. Her current love interest, Bobby. The lead detective, Nick Eccheli, and his wife, Cleopatra Johnson. I even love FBI agent Dawes and the Chief Medical Examiner, Gideon Hayes.
Mostly I love the city the novel is set in, St. Louis. It’s a fine city, one of the best you’ll ever come across.
So, I’m excited that I’m entering the fourth and (hopefully) final draft for this baby. Then it’s off to agents and publishers.
I don’t know when it will be out, but I know you’re going to love On The Sly like I do.
Wendy L. Koenig 