Writing for a series isn’t just about penning a
few books and sticking book 1, 2 or 3 on the cover. Each book requires a self
contained story that links to the previous and following episode with an
ongoing story thread. When I first began writing Mrs Jones I had no idea it
would lead to further books, but as the character of Tommy Connell emerged I
realised that there were many things in his past that contributed to the way he
reacted to the present and it would take more than one outing to explore this.
Although each book in the series details a specific case, Connell and Lizzie’s
relationship evolves throughout and the ghosts from Connell’s past slither in
and out affecting his actions. In Molly Brown these things are hinted at a
little more and the character of Luther was introduced to carry the series on
to the third book. Luther knows things that Connell would rather forget.
In this scene Connell visits Luther a convicted
murderer, in prison. He’s the first person Luther has agreed to speak with
since his conviction. Connell assumes the meeting is about his current case.
Luther has other plans.
Excerpt from Molly Brown- chapter 19
Connell
meets Luther a character who will be influential in Connell’s future:
Pearce cocked his head, ghoulishly angling his
disfigurement as if he sensed Connell’s unease at the sight, and was enjoying
his discomfort. Was it the cause or the result of his madness? Connell wasn’t
sure; just relieved he didn’t have to live with it. And if he were honest, a
little disappointed at his own judgmental reaction.
“Sure I have. Just being polite, that’s all. I was going to ask after your day – like, how’s your day been, Tommy? But you look
beat up, so I figure it’s been a rough one. Have you had a rough day, Tommy?
Someone been yanking your chain? You wanna tell me all about it? I’m a good
listener. I listen all goddamn day. This place is just a big bucket of noise,
got to filter it out to get to the good stuff. You hear me, Tommy? Lots of
people yakking about this and that, about how they didn’t do what they’re
accused of doing or maybe they did. Who knows, Tommy, lots of lies and liars, a
man’s head could fill to bursting with all the noise in here.”
“I’m waiting.”
“That’s why it’s best to come at night,”
continued Pearce, “when it’s quiet as a grave. All you can hear now is your own
noise, your own thoughts and I’m betting you got plenty of those, Tommy, all
fighting for space. Like I said, gotta learn to filter, Tommy. Get rid of the
crap, it just aint worth worrying about. Are you a worrier, Tommy? The type of
man who allows something to gnaw away inside? I’m betting you are. Nothing
wrong with that. Shows you have a conscience. Some men don’t and that’s the
problem with the world today.”
“Is there a point to this?”
“There’s a point to everything, Tommy. Even the
things you figure don’t mean a shit.”
“Luther, you want to philosophize on the world
and the evils within it, go right ahead. But you can do it to the guy who
shares your cell, or the guard who locks you in at night. I don’t have the time
or the inclination to sit and listen to you.”
Connell pushed back his seat, placed his hands on the table to and began
to rise. The guy just liked the sound of his own voice and Connell was done
listening.
“I wanted to know how it felt,” said Pearce
slowly, drawing Connell’s attention back. He resumed his seat reluctantly.
Okay, so he’d give him another couple of minutes. He stretched out his legs,
eased the cricks in his neck and turned back to Pearce with a sigh.
“How what felt?” he asked.
“Helplessness, pain, impotence, fear…” His voice
drifted off, his thoughts elsewhere, his eyes momentarily unfocused.
Connell shrugged.”You’ve lost me, Luther.”
Pearce pulled himself back and flashed his black
smile. “When your boy was taken, when an evil man held a gun to his head, how
did it feel? Deep inside, in that part of your gut that you hide from the
world. Were you tempted, Tommy?”
Writing for
a series. {guest post} by: author B.A. Morton
Molly
Brown
Mrs Jones - Book 2
Mrs Jones - Book 2
B.A.
Morton
Genre: Crime/thriller/romance
Publisher: Taylor Street Books
ISBN:13 978-1481818612
ASIN:B00ARM6B7C
Number of pages: 292
Word Count: 81.000
Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/Kdi24jF_jzA
Book
Description:
A Child to save.
A Killer to catch.
Tommy
Connell’s playing with the bad guys again, but this time the rules have
changed...and he still hasn’t learned to play nice!
Connell’s keeping the wolf from the door, rooting out bad cops for his buddy Gerry Gesting. He’s handed in his badge, turned his back on all that, but...
When a weird little kid disappears into the night and no one gives a damn including the cops, he reckons that maybe someone should take another look.
The good cops are busy hunting down a serial killer...good.
The bad cops are busy hunting down Connell...not so good.
The serial killer, well he’s looking for victim number twelve, which is... definitely not good.
And little Molly Brown is about to throw an almighty spanner in the works.
Connell’s dabbling in things that he shouldn’t and it’s not the first time...
Mrs.
Jones
By
B.A. Morton
Publisher: Taylor Street
Publishing
Date of Publication: April 7,
2012
ISBN: 978-1468116885
ASIN: B006OEVRBM
Number of pages:256
Word Count: 88.000
Cover Artist: Bradley Wind
Book
Description:
A British girl with a secret.
A New York cop with a past.
And a mob that wants revenge
In the slickest, sexiest novel to
come out in a long time, ruggedly tough and honest cop Detective Tommy Connell
picks up an English girl, Mrs Jones, who claims to be the witness to a murder,
and falls in love with her. Well, Mrs Jones, whoever she is, must be very
attractive because an awful lot of people seem to want to get their hands on
her if they can get her away from Connell's determined hands, including some
organized crime boys along with the Feds.
Detective Connell definitely has
his work cut out for him if he wants to end up with the body of Mrs Jones, dead
or alive, that's for sure. All-in-all it's probably safe to say he hasn't a
clue what is going on. It is probably equally safe to guess that Mrs Jones
does. Not that 'safe' is quite the right word to use here.
About
the Author :
Born in the North East of England,
B.A.Morton writes crime fiction and historical fantasy all with a smidgeon of
romance thrown in. After a twenty year civil service career, she and her family
escaped the rat race and relocated to the remote beauty of the Northumberland
National Park. She now works part time in the village GP surgery and lives in a
cottage built on the remains of a medieval crypt – the inspiration for the
medieval fantasy trilogy, “The Wildewood Chronicles”. She keeps chickens and
dogs, enjoys country life and can be bribed with chocolate! Her debut novel
“Mrs Jones” a fast paced, romantic, crime thriller set in New York, was runner
up in the Yeovil Literary Prize 2011 and subsequently published by Taylor
Street Publishing. The sequel, “Molly Brown” was released in December 2012.
