Fact & Fiction

Drum roll ... WORD COUNT UPDATE ... 41,303.

I recently introduced myself over at The Mystery Writer's Forum and asked a few questions relating to the location of my novel. Nice bunch of folks over there. Welcoming and helpful. A real community of like-minded souls. I'm sure I'll be visiting more often.

Back to the biz.

Originally I had planned to set the novel in the not-too-distant future, in a fictional town/city/suburb based on Newtown, a suburb in Sydney. My home town.

After working with a mixed bunch of fictional and real names I felt it was time to settle the subject once and for all.

There's still a few details to flesh out, but I've moved to - roughly - the present time and my present location: Newtown, Sydney, Australia (actually, I live in Erskineville, which is the next suburb south).

I only had to change the one character, plus a few street names.

So, exit stage left for Detective Sergeant Roger Thornberg of Newtown Police and enter ...

Roger Thornberg, Licensed Detective (yes, they are often referred to as 'inquiry agents' in Australia, but not always). He's lost his uniform and a few years, gained a belly and sideburns, and changed his speech habits. He runs an agency up the road from Danny's called Thorns & Roses and he's supervising Danny for the 12 months needed to approve his application to become a licensed detective. Danny's already done the government-approved course so that's all that's holding him back now.

I think he's much a more interesting character to work with and I find it far easier to 'write' him. I can see him clearly in his brown and pale blue recycled suits and shirts with oversized collars and oversized sideburns. He's a throwback to an Australia of the 70s and represents the old guard.

Who's the new guard then?

Danny Hawaii of course.