Arts and Craft

by Heloise West

The idea for the story started with an image and a conversation between two men. They were in the deep woods and one was trying to talk the other out of suicide. Gradually they began to tell me their story, and once that happened, the story didn’t waver. Well, it had its side trips, though not for long, and once it came to a screeching halt, but the basic idea just kept unraveling and unraveling until I found its core.

How it happens? I don’t know and maybe it’s best not to know?

I also am not a plotter, so I can’t sit down and decide what’s going to happen when. I don’t have that type of control over the unraveling of the story.

Sometimes I think it’s a conspiracy between my subconscious and unconscious mind, the creative muscle that I call the Angel in the Pit.  And my mother, because she was an artist and I grew up around creative process, surrounded by unfinished work, works in progress. So I feel stories in complex layers.

When you’re writing mystery, unseen forces work on your heroes.  Look at the central mystery–a missing person, a dead body, stolen work of art, and that’s your preliminary sketch. The writer has to fill in the detail to create the larger story with shading and underpinnings that complete the picture. Okay that’s true for most stories, but I think it’s particularly evident in mystery and suspense stories.

Much of what happens in this story is a front to what is really going on, but the writer has to make those facades work for the characters. Every character has his or hers deeper desires and goals, his/hers personal experience colors his/her perceptions. Those color the perception of the reader, also.

Characters are what make stories complex to varying degrees–I did know this story needed to have a lot of character elements going on in order to keep the suspense going, to keep the reader guessing and turning the page.

Thanks for having me here today!

Heloise

About Hitting Black Ice

ER physician’s assistant Hunter guards his heart carefully, but that doesn’t stop him from falling for Shawn, the front desk clerk.  He keeps his distance from relationships for a reason, but just can’t help himself when it comes to Shawn.

Shawn is on the run from the law and love to protect himself and anyone else involved. One man is dead because of him, and his life now is simple and easily thrown into a bag at any hint of danger. Until he meets Hunter, and he no longer wants to run.

Forced into a hostage situation, buried passion explodes in the aftermath, and sex in the supply closet brings their hearts back to life. Tentatively, step by step, they begin to explore a relationship together until the past catches up with Shawn.

FBI agent Nick Truman has finally found his man, but when Shawn escapes, he focuses his attention on Hunter. Shawn returns, even though it means sacrificing himself to save Hunter from the man who framed him for murder.

Available at: Loose Id

An Excerpt from Hitting Black Ice

It was nine o’clock. They’d long lost the reservation. Hunter turned away from the warm lights of the restaurant, heart heavy. Shawn was too good to be true. For all he knew, he had a problem like Jerry’s, who’d often left him waiting, wondering, and ultimately fearing as dinner sat cold on the table. He gave in and took a step toward home.

“Hunter!”

He whipped around.

Shawn rushed toward him. He slipped on the snowy sidewalk, nearly going down, but Hunter ran at him, and they crashed together so hard his teeth clicked. Shawn’s arms went around him and his around Shawn, and they managed to hold each other up.

“I’m sorry,” were the first words out of Shawn’s mouth.

“All you deserve is pizza crusts,” Hunter mock-growled and kissed him, unconsciously trying to taste booze on his breath. Like Jerry and too many broken promises. Relieved it was only peppermint mouthwash, he didn’t stop kissing him.

When Hunter let him speak, Shawn said, “I’m starving, I’ll take it.” He pushed Hunter a little away from him. “Jesus. You’re freezing.”

“And starving. There’s a Greek pizza place down this way, come on—”

“I’ll make it up to you,” he said, taking Hunter’s hand.

About Heloise West

Heloise West, when not hunched over the keyboard plotting love and mayhem, dreams about moving to a villa in Tuscany. She loves history, mysteries, and romance of all flavors. She travels and gardens with her partner of 10 years, and their home overflows with books, cats, art, and red wine.

Find out more about Heloise on her Website, Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter or email her at heloisewest@hotmail.com.

As part of this blog tour, Heloise is giving away an eBook copy of Hitting Black Ice to one lucky winner!! To enter, just click the link below!

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Please be aware that the only way to enter the giveaway is to click the Rafflecopter link above. Any comments on this post will not count towards entering the giveaway unless otherwise stated but are still welcome anyway.

Good luck!