"A Voyage of Vengeance" is here

I'm thrilled with the reception the Duchess's latest tale has received thus far. With a colorful new cast of characters, "A Voyage of Vengeance" allowed me to explore Jax's relationships even more. Her developing romance with Perry, her friendship with Uma, as well as her interactions with all the guests aboard Rose of the Sea were extremely entertaining for me to write. 

When I started this novella, I had a very different ending in mind - spoilers ahead - as I originally pulled my inspiration from Agatha Christie's renowned Murder on the Orient Express. But as I started writing the book, the outline that I'd created seemed to ring false. As I wrote about these new faces that Jax was encountering, I felt that these characters warranted more than just being a group of associates all intent on wreaking havoc together. So, I found myself trying to figure out who-actually-dunit. What reason did anyone have aboard this ship to see a man dead?

It was rather intriguing for me to go where the story naturally took me. In my other novels, I knew from the beginning who the culprit was; the struggle was just getting the reader there. This time, I had no problem bringing my audience along on this journey, but I didn't really know myself who the criminal mastermind was going to be until I was nearly halfway through my first draft. I think it was a more stimulating experience, being just as much in the dark as Jax and Perry, trying to piece together the clues laid out in my own words. Eventually, my brain and my imagination caught up to one another, and I was able to solve the riddles that had been piling up all along.

I'm finding the same process to be true while writing Book 4; initially, I have a layout drafted about who is involved, what is happening, and where it all takes place. But confinement to an outlined story does not bode well for me, as I have found myself going off script more than once, trashing pages and pages of work because it didn't seem to fit the story that ultimately I am trying to tell. It makes for a draining process, even though these pieces are relatively short.

But that is all a part of the writing process; struggling to find the best way to tell the story roiling around inside my head. And I am extremely grateful that I get to experience this every single day.

Arms around,

S.B.