After nearly two decades as a mystery writer, I’m having second thoughts. I’ve spent the last two years researching and writing Whacked, a murder mystery set at the beautiful Wentworth By the Sea resort. As the fifth installment of my Kary Turnell series, Whacked is definitely the best of the lot. However, I’m thinking about sending Kary on a vacation of sorts once it has been published. My next book, titled Another Paradise Lost, was scheduled to be another Turnell book. Now, I’m not so certain. The number of other mystery writers, both good and bad-albeit-popular [did someone mention Dan Brown(?)], is staggering. Two weeks ago, I spent a delightful afternoon with a lawyer turned mystery writer named Chris Casko. Chris has written a compelling mystery titled The Elimination Plan. Yet, he struggles to get anyone to notice. Like yours truly, he has a comparatively small, but faithful, following. The problem for the Caskos and Okrants of this world is how to take the next step. 

I love to write, and will continue to do so until the cows make their last trip out to pasture. I’m seriously considering writing Another Paradise Lost as a novel, set in the milieu of a beautiful community that is struggling to survive the two-headed monster: growing speculation and tourism. The star-crossed couple, Mateo and Adela, are a metaphor for the changes that are happening in beautiful Rincon, set on Puerto Rico’s Caribbean shore. I’m already looking forward to writing this one. 

My next effort will be The Young Upstart (tentative title), a classic Western. It’s the story of Andy Scott, youngest son of the town marshall of Flagstaff, Arizona. Andy will face life-altering issues stemming from his contrasting life experiences: as a student at Yale University, and as the most natural talent with a six shooter the West has ever seen. 

I have three other book ideas in mind: a story for teens, a collection of short stories set at Ocean Beach Park in New London CT, and a history of the Inuit cooperative movement in Arctic Canada . . . maybe when I’m ninety.

I’d be very interested in your reaction to all of this.

3 Responses

  1. How bout instead of putting Kary to rest for a while; place him in Puerto Rico on a vacation. I remember a Columbo episode (actually I think I remember all of them), where he was away in Mexico on vacation. He got involved in solving a murder thru the local police captain who desperately needed his sleuthing eye. That way, you can introduce a new main character for perhaps future novels set in Puerto Rico, while keeping Kary alive and well and in the picture. If the new character is charming enough, he (or she) will be a delightful and fresh addition to your mysteries. I love your writing style, so anything you decide to do will be worth the effort.

    1. Actually, that was my original intention. However, I’m about to expand my horizons. I may return to mysteries someday, but there are some interesting fish to fry out there.
      Thank you for the compliment. You’re a really nice person, Dot. I think you’ll find today’s post interesting (in about an hour). Mark

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