Noodling away at the next book
Today I was reading an old history of the early United States Coast Guard and I think I found the MacGuffin for my next novel. You don't know what a MacGuffin is? The Maltese Falcon is probably the best example. In my published novels, the pirate treasure in The Bride and the Buccaneer is a MacGuffin.
I was reading about the USCG, actually the early Cutter Service aka the Revenue Marine, because they'd been part of the plot for Smuggler's Bride and I always wanted to do another Coastie book. So much good material there, especially in Florida history!
People ask me what kind of writer I am, a plotter or a "pantser", as in "I write by the seat of my pants." I'm a "pantser", though I prefer Nora Roberts' more elegant term, an "organic writer". I start writing and see where the story takes me. Once I start the "what if?" process, my brain cranks up and I find myself filling in gaps or raising questions at odd moments--it's one reason why I carry a notebook when I walk the dog.
So, I'll see where this story goes but I know so far it's got a Florida setting, a Revenue Marine hero and a heroine who has some valuable property--the MacGuffin. More on this as it develops!
I was reading about the USCG, actually the early Cutter Service aka the Revenue Marine, because they'd been part of the plot for Smuggler's Bride and I always wanted to do another Coastie book. So much good material there, especially in Florida history!
People ask me what kind of writer I am, a plotter or a "pantser", as in "I write by the seat of my pants." I'm a "pantser", though I prefer Nora Roberts' more elegant term, an "organic writer". I start writing and see where the story takes me. Once I start the "what if?" process, my brain cranks up and I find myself filling in gaps or raising questions at odd moments--it's one reason why I carry a notebook when I walk the dog.So, I'll see where this story goes but I know so far it's got a Florida setting, a Revenue Marine hero and a heroine who has some valuable property--the MacGuffin. More on this as it develops!
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