Tuesday is the D-Day. Deception Creek Publication day.
Ugh. I’m nervous. I always get nervous when a book comes out – you’d think it would get easier, but it doesn’t. I have a need for you readers to like my characters, like my story and basically like everything about the book!
Usually I have a strong female lead character in these contemporary novels. And I do, Emma Cameron, a farmer. But this time, Emma has had to share the spotlight with an ex-crim named Joel Hammond.
When I first started writing, Joel came bursting into the scenes with a loudness I hadn’t experienced before. He’s a really gentle character, but when he was trying to tell me what his story was, he was insistent, which made his voice loud! (I’m sure that sounds strange but the fact is, these characters have their own personality and guide the book more than me writing it.) Joel has spent a lot of time in jail and he’s been badly hurt in many aspects of his life, which is why he tends to be a gentle man. A man who holds integrity above everything else.
So, Emma, who should have been front and centre, found herself fighting for prime position in this novel. Emma is a woman who is grieving her marriage. Oh, don’t get me wrong, she wanted it to end, but every loss – whether needed or wanted or not – has a time of grief around it. She’s also trying to overcome the past; a time where she was the first on the scene of a horrific car accident.
Both Joel and Emma haven’t had life go the way they thought it would for them and have run to the place they’ve felt the safest. Their home.
A home, which just happens to be Barker – the Australian version on Midsomer! And the home of Detective Dave Burrows and Senior Constable Jack Higgins.
Both coppers are on high alert after they’re informed that Joel is on the way home because as country town coppers, they know that country towns have long memories and can hold grudges for even longer.
Throw in a bit of cyber crime – a crime that takes Dave out of his depth, and a cult like family, there’s a bit going on in this book.
Deception Creek is one of my favourite books I’ve written. It is slightly different to others, with Joel sitting shoulder to shoulder with Emma as the main character, but all the hallmark Fleur McDonald mysteries and writings are there.
You can order Deception Creek from all good online bookstores, or pop in to any book store across the country and you’ll be able to pick yourself up a copy.
Now, could I ask a favour? Please get vaccinated against COVID-19. Why am I so bold as to ask this of you? Well the fact is, I’m missing you all and I haven’t been able to get on the road to visit you in nearly two years! Our premier over here in WA is making life pretty tough to get in and out of WA, which means I’m a bit hesitant to go anywhere until we’re all opened up again, in case he locks me out of WA! So if you wouldn’t mind getting that little needle in your upper arm, I’d be grateful. I’ve had mine done in anticipation of being able to get out and see you all again.
Oh and one more favour if you wouldn’t mind. If you buy Deception Creek and like it, would you let me know? Or leave a review on Goodreads?
That’d be awesome. Enjoy!
Now onto other projects…
Well, I’ve got a few deadlines in 2022. 1st March, 30th of June and the 1st of September. So three books next year. I love it when I get to clean off these white boards and start on another book.
As much as I find the writing process hard, starting is exciting! It’s getting to know the new characters, playing around with a plot and working out who I’m going to hurt badly and who is going to have a good life.
Three book deadlines in one year sounds a bit crazy doesn’t it? There will have to be a bit of bum-glue in my office over the next twelve months and I’m doing something I’ve never done before, which is writing two books at once. (Let’s hope I don’t mix the characters up!) At first I was pretty nervous about trying to do this – don’t get me wrong, I really wanted to, but I was still nervous. Then someone gave me this quote (and I love a good quote!).
“You can do anything you put your mind, heart and soul into. More than you could possibly imagine.”
So, that’s what I’m going to do. Put my mind to it and hit these deadlines on the nose.
We’re heading into harvest over the next few weeks, so things will be pretty busy outside as well as inside. Incase you didn’t know, I’m over on Instagram as the.roamingwriter where I post about all things harvest, farming and travel for research (I promise it’s research!). Love the farm stuff and that’s what I’m about to head out to do now.
