Friday, January 13, 2023

What If and If Only--Annette Dashofy

DEBORAH CROMBIE: What a treat we have for you today! One of our favorite authors here at JRW has not only a new book, but a new series out next week. We know Annette Dashofy for her wonderful Zoe Chambers novels as well as her terrific standalone, Death by Equine. Now, with WHERE THE GUILTY HIDE, she brings us the first novel featuring fascinating new characters Emma Anderson and Matthias Honeywell.

But what sparks the first little flame of inspiration for a new series? Here's Annette to fill us in!



ANNETTE DASHOFY:  It took me several years to develop the characters for this new series. I had a setting and some basic ideas, but I needed more. I needed a theme or concept to motivate both the main characters and the story. I needed to figure out what drove Detective Matthias Honeywell and Emma Anderson, not only in book #1, but hopefully throughout books two, three, four, and so on.

The answer came from an unexpected source.

 In November of 2019, I visited the Flight 93 National Memorial. Shanksville, PA, is only an hour or so from where I live, but I’d never been there until my FBI Citizen’s Academy Alumni group set up a tour. I expected to be moved, but nothing prepared me for the experience of walking those sacred grounds and wandering through the museum.


 
Note: if you ever go there, take tissues.

As I read the sequence of events that transpired on 9/11, listened to the recordings of the phone calls made by passengers to loved ones, viewed the personal items retrieved from the wreckage, emotions overwhelmed me. Especially when I thought of those who lost family and friends.




 I carried the heaviness of the day in my heart for weeks. And as so often happens to us writers, I began to work my way through my feelings by funneling them into the characters I was creating. For about thirty seconds I thought, what if my character had lost a loved one on that plane. Wisely, I dismissed the idea out of respect for all who did lose someone that terrible day. I didn’t want to minimalize what they went through. I can’t even fathom their level of grief.

But what if

Those two words are the cornerstone of most of what I write.

What if Emma and her sister lost their parents, not in a plane crash, but in a traffic collision? What if Emma and Nell had refused to go on that car trip with their parents? What if they blamed themselves for not going along to share the driving chores which led to their father falling asleep at the wheel?

 If only

 Two more words I embraced for these characters especially Matthias Honeywell. If only he’d taken the lead on the night his police partner entered the house first and made a tragic mistake, taking an innocent life, maybe—just maybe—the victim would still be alive. Maybe the guilt wouldn’t have driven Matthias’s partner to take his own life months later. If only.

As I fleshed out these two scenarios, I realized Emma, her sister, and Matthias were all victims of survivor’s guilt. Had they made different choices, those they cared about would still be alive.

Each dealt with it in different ways. Nell began numbing her pain with alcohol and drugs. Emma sought refuge in the arms of a man who turned out not to be the charming knight in shining armor she originally believed.

Matthias buries his guilt, compartmentalizing it along with other personal traumas from his past. Only his current partner in Major Crimes is aware of his unease around home invasions and heroes.

And even she isn’t privy to the deeper, darker survivor’s guilt he carries.

Alas, we don’t get to explore those secrets until the third book.

Readers and Reds, do you enjoy delving into the psychology of series characters?

DEBS: So interesting, Annette. My insights into my characters' psychology and backstories have tended to develop as I write, so I'm wondering if your ideas changed or developed differently as the characters came alive on the page. And I can't wait to meet Emma and Matthias!

USA Today bestseller Annette Dashofy is the author of over a dozen novels including the five-time Agatha Award nominated Zoe Chambers mystery series about a paramedic-turned-coroner in rural Pennsylvania. Her standalone novel, Death By Equine is the 2021 winner of the Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award for excellence in thoroughbred racing literature. Where the Guilty Hide (One More Chapter/HarperCollins UK, January 20, 2023) is the first in her new Detective Honeywell series set on the shores of Lake Erie.

Here's more about WHERE THE GUILTY HIDE.

On the shore of Lake Erie, Pennsylvania, a body lays half hidden, the waves slowly moving it with the rising tide…

In the early morning mist, freelance photographer Emma Anderson takes pictures of the rocky coastline. She moved to Erie to escape a past that haunts her but the last thing she expects to capture is a dead body.

Erie City Police Detective Matthias Honeywell has been investigating a spate of home invasions but when one of the robbery victims turns up dead, his case evolves into homicide. Emma’s first encounter with Detective Honeywell leaves her shaken when he reminds her of her ex-fiancĂ©-turned-stalker. Matthias misinterprets Emma’s anxiety and suspects she knows more than she’s letting on.

With the threat of another murder and no obvious leads, will Emma and Matthias overcome their mutual distrust and work together to capture a killer?

 

74 comments:

  1. Congratulations, Annette, on your new book [and your new series] . . . I’m looking forward to meeting Emma and Matthias.

    Do I enjoy delving into the psychology of series characters? I definitely do; it’s always interesting to discover the why as the characters’ backstories are revealed . . . .

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    1. I hope you enjoy getting to know Emma and Matthias, Joan!

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  2. I am so happy to see you here today, Annette. You have become a dear friend, which has enabled me to tell you personally how much I love the Zoe Chambers series and how it got me through the first year of the pandemic. And, I know you winning the Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award for Death by Equine was a thrill for you, and it was a thrill for your friends and fans, too. So well-deserved. You had a very good year last year, and it couldn't have happened to a nicer person. This year is starting out well, too. I'm in the middle of Where the Guilty Hide, and you have done it again, made me fall in love with your characters. Mathias and Emma are finding a place in my heart with Zoe and Pete. There is really something special about your writing, Annette. Congratulations on all your success. I know I'll be saying that a lot more, too.

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    1. Kathy, now you've gone and made me cry. And I haven't even had breakfast yet. Love you lots, my friend.

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  3. These backstories really make the characters come alive. Very interesting to see where you got your inspiration. I certainly never would have guessed.

    This is a wonderful debut. Then again, this is Annette we're talking about, so is that really a surprise?

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    1. Aw, thank you, Mark. You and Kathy Reel have made my day (week, month...)

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  4. I definitely enjoy delving into the psychology of the characters in a series. Over the years, that has become more important to me than trying to solve the mystery. I wish you the best with your new series, Annette!

    DebRo

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  5. This sounds like a great new series. I like it when two who have to work together to solve a crime start off on a suspicious note. It makes for such interesting reading, trying to keep track of their attitudes while trying to figure out "who dunnit". The trip through theFlight 93 National Memorial sounds like such a sobering experience. So sad.

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    1. Elizabeth, I always regretted not starting the Zoe Chambers series earlier in Zoe and Pete's relationship. I'm grateful to have the chance to explore Emma and Matthias's very first encounter and how they develop from there.

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    2. Annette, I love the way you introduced the relationship of Zoe and Pete in your books. It was so real! No "meet cute." She knew him. He was one of the guys. When he bolted after their first night together, I wanted to brain him. See? Perfect!

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    3. You've made me laugh this morning, Judy! Thanks! I'm so glad you've connected with Pete and Zoe.

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    4. I am with you, Judy!

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  6. Welcome Annette and congratulations on your upcoming new series. Having met them already, I can't wait to explore those deep dark secrets. As to the psychology of characters in a series, that's what we hope to see in future books and we say to ourselves, that's why they are who they are.

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    1. Thanks, Dru! I can't wait to slowly reveal what goes on inside the minds of Matthias and Emma!

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  7. I'm so excited for this new series, Annette. Yes, we are good friends, but you're also one of my must-read authors. I have both the ebook and paperback coming my way! (Readers, you can order the British release with free shipping from Book Depository.)

    I never heard about your trip to the memorial. I can only imagine how emotional it must have been, and good for you for channeling that into your characters.

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    1. Thanks so much, Edith! Yes, one of the things about having a UK publisher is the paperback comes out sooner over there.

      And thanks for your kind words. You know I feel the same about you!

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  8. Congratulations, Annette, on this new series. I am always fascinated to learn of an author's motivation for their writing, and these characters' backstories sound rich and interesting. What a lot to mine throughout the series for you -- and what a treat for us readers!

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  9. Annette, I am very interested in characters' back stories. I definitely care more about character than plot and get very attached. That is why I LOVE series. Sometimes it feels like you can give them a call, or stop by for a visit when you are driving through their area. They become old friends. You absolutely want to know more about them.

    Thank you for sharing your process on creating Mattias and Emma and also for letting us know a little about the way their personal stories will be revealed. Visiting a site like the Flight 93 Memorial is heart wrenching. It is incredible how you turned that heaviness in another direction and brought these new characters to life.

    Congratulations, Annette. I wish you much success. This series is going to be a new favorite for me.

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  10. Fascinating Annette--now we all can't wait to read it! I went to the 9/11 museum in Manhattan--similarly horrifying and moving. But I often think of the people on the plane, and the decision they made to sacrifice themselves...so brave!

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    1. Lucy, they truly were heroes. The entire day was horrific, but by the time Flight 93 was highjacked, the passengers knew what their fate would be. Word had reached them about the first three planes. I can't even fathom what they and their families went through.

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  11. Congratulations on your new series! Sounds like another winner.

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  12. ANNETTE: As a long-time reader of your Zoe & Pete books, and Death by Equine, I knew you would create compelling characters that we would care about and root for. Thanks for sharing the inspiration for the backstory of Matthias, Emma and Nell.

    And many thanks for giving your Facebook group members early Netgalley access to WHERE THE GUILTY HIDE. It's a great start to a new series with HarperCollins: One More Chapter.

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  13. Annette, the 'what-ifs' and 'if-onlys' are always alive to possibility in a writer's mind, I think. I love how those thoughts fleshed out Matthias and Emma for you. I don't consciously think about the psychological depth of characters, but my favorite authors are those who reveal this as a series grows from book to book. I'll be searching out Where the Guilty Hide, for sure. And the cover is perfect!

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  14. Congrats on the new series, Annette! I can personally vouch for the fact it's another winner.

    Like Debs, I tend to learn more about my characters psychology as I write. They have a wonderful way of surprising me at times.

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    1. Thanks, Liz. And I'm sure Matthias and Emma still have plenty of surprises for me.

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    2. I'm a little awed that you have this so well thought out, Annette. I'm going to try taking a page from your book.

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    3. It was really fun to flesh out the backstories before starting to write. It could also fall into the category of procrastination too. ;-)

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  15. Congratulations Annette. I love the focus on survivors' guilt, and find it very intriguing. I will definitely look for your books.

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  16. Congratulations! You know I am a huge fan! And I think you’re so wise… “If only” is such a powerful motivator. Trying to make up for mistakes of the past can be so deeply felt, and frustrating, of course, because it is almost impossible. Isn’t it?

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    1. Thank you so much, Hank! It really is impossible. And universal, I think. So we can all relate.

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    2. It's easier to forgive others for their deliberate mistakes, than to forgive oneself for an inadvertent one. It is huge to still live your life "in spite of."

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  17. Annette, I'm so pleased for your well-deserved success! It's been such a treat to watch your career unfold over the years, and having a dozen books from you to enjoy is the best part.
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    Looking forward to meeting Emma and Matthias! Congratulations, my friend.

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    1. Thank you so much, Karen! (And I hope we can get together for lunch again one of these days.)

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  18. When I review a book written by someone I know, as I am about to do in few minutes, I say 'what if I hate this? Not a problem with WHERE THE GUILTY HIDE, Annette, your clean writing, and well thought out story line... what a great read it is. Query: Where do the characters names come from? Thank you for the new series. Write fast.

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    1. Thank you, Coralee! I'm writing as fast as I can! As for the names, I got hooked on Ancestry a while back and discovered Matthias Honeywell was my 5-time great-grandfather who served in the Revolutionary War. But more importantly, what a fabulous name! I knew I had to use it. And my maternal grandmother's maiden name was Emma Nelena Anderson. Her friends called her Nell. So she provided two character names!

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    2. I wondered this, too, Coralee. Matthias Honeywell is a great name and one we are not likely to forget!

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    3. Isn't it terrific? Especially after I finally trained my fingers to type it without stumbling! Ha!

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  19. I already want to know more about Emma and Matthias! Always fun to find a new series.

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  20. I've been looking forward to reading this one for quite some time and now that I know more about what it is about, I am even more eager to read it. I love series books because the reader can get to know the characters, which is even more important than the mystery, as far as I am concerned.

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    1. I agree about characters being more important than the mystery, Judi. And thank you! I hope you enjoy it! (One more week!)

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  21. Congratulations on the new series and the new publisher, Annette! I really loved Zoe Chambers, and I look forward to meeting Emma and Matthias!

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  22. Annette, the description of your visit to the Flight 53 memorial is incredibly moving, and such deep insight into the new characters it inspired makes me want to start reading the first installment today. Best of luck with WHERE THE GUILTY HIDE.

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  23. I keep trying to be thoughtful and speak to the "what ifs" we all have but everything I try to write just sounds weird. The reason why a character responds differently than I thought they would, or even as I would, is often why I get hooked on a series.
    I'm looking forward to reading your new book but now I'm frustrated...... I can only find this as an ebook when I quickly looked your new book up in a couple different sites. I'll take a look at the Book Depository, that Edith mentioned, later today.

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    1. Sorry for the frustration, Deana. My new publisher is digital first in addition to being in the UK. There will be a print version available in the US, but probably not until summer. As Edith mentioned, you can pre-order it (UK print release is March 2) from the Book Depository and get free shipping.
      https://www.bookdepository.com/Where-the-Guilty-Hide/9780008556242

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    2. Also, I'm as frustrated as everyone else. It's my book and I can't get my hands on it! So I too have ordered from them!

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    3. Book Depository is great, Deana. I order from them all the time. Shipping if free and sometimes books are less expensive than the US editions.

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    4. I was really surprised at how affordable they are!

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    5. Deana here - I will most definitely be looking up The Book Despository this evening. Thanks for the info

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    6. Deana, did you see the link I shared above? Making it as easy as I can for you (and anyone else) to find it.

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  24. Every character should have a backstory and it is a privilege for the reader to get to know it over time. Only then can we begin to understand why a character acts in a certain way for no discernable reason. I think "if only" can be the saddest, most frustrating words to dwell on.
    I loved Death by Equine! Any chance we'll see those characters again?

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    1. Oh, me too, Annette! I loved the characters and the horse racing setting!

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    2. Pat and Debs, I've learned to never say never. Right now, with two series under contract, I don't have the time to write another Dr. Jessie Cameron book, but you never know what's down the road where publishing is concerned. Thank you both. I'm glad you enjoyed Death By Equine!

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  25. Annette, as we've been talking about audio, I wondered if you expect this series to be published on audio at some point?

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    1. YES! One More Chapter almost always puts out an audiobook of their releases. I don't have a release date for that either, though. (Picture me constantly logging in to the different bookseller websites to see if there's a pre-order or release date for print AND for audio. I might be slightly obsessed.)

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  26. Can't wait for this to release. Thank you for sharing the character inspiration and backstory. I feel like an insider!

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  27. WHAT IFs are the jumping point for many mystery novels, right? I often imagine what if. For example, when I saw that photo of the man who worked for Oracle Corp. He died on 9/11. I'm sorry to say this but if he had never been on that plane, then he would be still alive and NO guarantee that he would still have a career with Oracle. A friend worked for Oracle and received his severance package within a year after 9/11. It is ironic that after the company's health plan paid his medical expenses, they let him go. I think they did not want to keep him because they did not want to continue his health insurance. I

    In regards to your question about the psychology of the characters, that is a great theme. I love the novels by Sara Blaedel and Jacqueline Winspear because they often venture ? into the psychology of characters. These two names are off the top of my head.

    I'm sure there are many, many, many great mysteries by many wonderful authors who venture into the psychology of the characters.

    Oh, I remember now that Hercule Poirot and Jane Marple often look at the psychology of the suspects in Agatha Christie novels.

    Diana

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    1. All good points and good examples, Diana. What ifs can spin you off in a gazillion directions.

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  28. I love knowing a little of the background, and OF COURSE we want to learn more as this wonderful series continues. More!!! (no pressure . . . ;-)

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    1. Mary, I'm working on the second in the series as we speak (write?) It's due to my editor February 1!

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  29. Congratulations, Annette on the new book! The characters sound fascinating. It also takes me time to figure out the depths of my characters. And the what if/if only insights are so valid.

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