Tag: NaNoWriMo

Mistaken Identity – The Final Editor’s Draft – Day 12

This book has finally reached the Final Editor’s draft, so this month it is going to get the last revision, and a reread for the beta readers.

…

Today I’m dealing with the art of elusiveness, and trying to emulate what it would be like to hide the truth from someone. It would require a great deal of elusiveness and guile to carry it off as though whatever you’ve been lying about for so long doesn’t come back to bite you.

Of course, if I tried it in practice I’d fail miserably, because I don’t have a poke face, and worse, I can’t keep a secret.

So, best not to ask me if I can keep a secret because I will say yes very earnestly, and then give it up when the pressure is on.

I’d never make a good spy either.

But it does make me wonder about all those people out there that constantly tell lies about everything, their past, whether or not they’re having an affair, where they’ve been, and what happened to the money.

Some people are very good at it, especially those who change their names, or have a half dozen different passports.

But, here, in this story, Jack’s mother probably just wanted to believe her twin sister had perished a long time ago, and the longer it became since she last heard from her, the more it was likely she was gone.

Pity. She’s about to come back from the dead.

And, of course, she does know about the doppelganger Jacob, because he had already visited her.

But as to why Jacob has come out of the woodwork, well that has something to do with the past, and an old flame Jack’s mother had a long time ago.

He too has come out of the past for different reasons, none of them good for her health.

More tomorrow.

NANOWRIMO – April 2024 – “The One That Got Away” – Day 16

A series of encounters

…

Agatha must have realised that her life was in danger, whether she expected her condition would worsen, sending her back to the hospital, or whether she was dying, that was clear enough in the letter she left behind, but that letter also had a fairly detailed rundown on everyone in the organisation, every suspicion she had, and what she and Howard were planning to do about it.

It was perhaps the most frightening document he had ever read, and with each succeeding paragraph, page, character, situation, and fear, he was able to slip into her shoes and feel the pain, anguish, and disappointment filtering through, and her feelings became his motivation.

This is the plan:

Meet the press.  Well, no, that wasn’t on the plan, but someone called a press conference, and he decided to crash it.

He had hoped meeting the General, one of the causes of her angst, would be later after he had time to prepare, but it wasn’t to be.  He’d met formidable commanding officer once before, and had heard far more about him, and perhaps had been at the end of an order or two if not directly, but he was also privy to scuttlebutt, and if rumours were true…

It doesn’t go well.

He does meet the impertinent reporter again with an interesting surprise attached.

There’s the other office, another PA, and yes it’s a test of patience he wasn’t expecting, but he did have some information on her that smooths the encounter.

And, so it goes, the usual grist to the mill…

…

Words today, 1,730, for a total of 26,667

NANOWRIMO – April 2024 – “The One That Got Away” – Day 15

A new meaning to ‘a change of life’

…

It was not the thought of having a large house in the most expensive part of London, the servants, or what he could do with the money.

That was all for the charitable intentions she had set out a long time ago when he had mentioned that there was a lot of good she could do rather than just spend it on drugs parties and alcohol.

Yes, that was the first of what he called the doosie arguments.

After that, it was the unkind remarks of her friends, what he called the hangers-on and aristocratic deadbeats.  It earned him no kudos, so he went off and did his own thing.

He should have tried harder.  It was clear she had loved him, but there were too many forces pulling at her, the friends, the lifestyle, the parents, the aristocratic blood.

That all came back in that moment he saw Adria, her best friend and perhaps the only other voice of reason, and who had been in the beginning his arch enemy, the one who tried hard to prove he was just like any other man; and in the end, became an ally when she found he wasn’t anything like she expected.

Just too late, the damage had been done.

This visit brought back some very raw memories, and having to work with her again was going to be difficult.  Perhaps it would only be fleeting because this was going to be a fly-in fly-out job, sort out the mess, and move on.

He could see the original bequest to her charitable organisation had been sequestered from everything else, and all he had to do was divorce the new charity, pull out her interest in it, or that of her organisation as a parent and let them sink into what she had called ‘piggie quagmire’.

It was what he had always feared would happen that someone like her father would intervene and take everything from her.  Having met Howard, he could see that would never have happened.

…

Words today, 1,863, for a total of 27,696

NANOWRIMO – April 2024 – “The One That Got Away” – Day 14

It wasn’t a hard decision

…

Michael may have thought he was done with the complications of life with the one woman he ever really cared about, but no.

Even in death, the tendrils of that time together come rushing back, just at the mention of her name.

And it explained that sudden almost crippling feeling he had several days before, that he could only assume was the moment the love of his life died.

It never occurred to him at the time it could be anything other than a virus or something he ate.

It was too soon, perhaps the punishment for the prevaricating.  Ever since the visit from Monte, she had been constantly on his mind, and it was partially the reason he had come home.

Yes, he had considered getting back in contact with her. Certainly, he had followed her life from the moment they parted, hoping she would change, that common sense and purpose would prevail, and eventually, they did.

It was also fascinating that she had children, the ages of which surprised him because the way he calculated it, they were conceived when they were together, convincing him she had been, as he suspected, having an affair.  Why she hadn’t married the man the moment she left was also interesting, but not something he pursued.

She had made her feelings clear, and her father didn’t have to try very hard to persuade him to leave.  If anything; he should have been more disappointed in himself.

…

Words today, 2,279, for a total of 25,833

Mistaken Identity – The Final Editor’s Draft – Day 8

This book has finally reached the Final Editor’s draft, so this month it is going to get the last revision, and a reread for the beta readers.

…

The story proceeds. That underlying suspicion of Maryanne’s motives rears its head again, but for different reasons.

Of course, Jack, the main character has a name, if not a little trite but it suits him, has always been suspicious because he’s not the type to be approached by beautiful women, and yet, so far has managed to allay those fears but is the perfect companion.

But, what’s a self-confessed gate crasher got up her sleeve.

Out of the hospital and on their road trip, they’re heading for an island and a hotel that overlooks the Mediterranean, which might be synonymous with the perfect location for romance.

But all of that is shattered when he sees her with another man, at the rear of the ferry, and the animation in her manner tells him the man is not just someone who ran into her.

Jack knows who it is, and what he does, so that makes the meeting even more mysterious.

And perhaps dangerous.

Yes, we are exploring the theme of ‘everyone has secrets’.

More tomorrow.

NANOWRIMO – April 2024 – “The One That Got Away” – Day 13

Cue Michael

…

It wasn’t as if he was waiting in the wings, ready for the call.

The truth is, it was not the call he ever wanted to receive.

Though, to begin with, it wasn’t a call, but a visit, advising him to expect a call.  Monty arrives at his hotel room, in the depths of Africa, about to go home.

It was a very strange meeting, talking about a ghost from the past.

Then, finally, back in the city he had called home, he gets a call from Howard.

A visit, a proposition, a confrontation in a hotel bar.

This is definitely not your typical day after being told your wife, the woman you thought you had divorced a long time ago, has just died and left you everything.

Everything, when it came to Lady Agatha had a whole different meaning to that of anyone else.

It was not the first surprise that day, and it wasn’t going to be the last.

…

Words today, 1,901, for a total of 23,554

Mistaken Identity – The Final Editor’s Draft – Day 8

This book has finally reached the Final Editor’s draft, so this month it is going to get the last revision, and a reread for the beta readers.

…

The story proceeds. That underlying suspicion of Maryanne’s motives rears its head again, but for different reasons.

Of course, Jack, the main character has a name, if not a little trite but it suits him, has always been suspicious because he’s not the type to be approached by beautiful women, and yet, so far has managed to allay those fears but is the perfect companion.

But, what’s a self-confessed gate crasher got up her sleeve.

Out of the hospital and on their road trip, they’re heading for an island and a hotel that overlooks the Mediterranean, which might be synonymous with the perfect location for romance.

But all of that is shattered when he sees her with another man, at the rear of the ferry, and the animation in her manner tells him the man is not just someone who ran into her.

Jack knows who it is, and what he does, so that makes the meeting even more mysterious.

And perhaps dangerous.

Yes, we are exploring the theme of ‘everyone has secrets’.

More tomorrow.

Mistaken Identity – The Final Editor’s Draft – Day 7

This book has finally reached the Final Editor’s draft, so this month it is going to get the last revision, and a reread for the beta readers.

…

What’s the best way to recover from being shot by the police? Go on an all-expenses paid holiday.

Within reason, of course.

Of course, he was on holiday, not quite all expenses paid, but for the duration of the conference. Getting shot and having a prolonged stay in hospital put paid to that, but there is an upside.

The police, in exchange for silence and an indemnity, are happy to send our intrepid conference goer on a tour of Italy. There are benefits on either side, the police don’t get a lawsuit, and he gets to spend a few days touring.

Of course, Maryanne decided to tag along. She had been filling in for him at the conference, unbeknownst to him, and lined up a couple of free venues. In exchange for favourable reviews.

But what is the real reason Maryanne is along for the ride, or she might put it, ‘carry the bags’?

That saying ‘if it’s too good to be true, it probably is’ sticks in the back of his mind, but he doesn’t discourage her from coming with him.

Is he lucky, or is he cursed?

More tomorrow.

NANOWRIMO – April 2024 – “The One That Got Away” – Day 12

As one day ends, another begins

…

Here’s the thing…

What happens when the planets line up, and everything goes wrong.

Howard calls at Agatha’s residence for an early morning meeting only to find that she has finally succumbed to her illness.  He is completely shattered and it will take time to gather himself and work out what to do.

There are people to notify.  Firstly Adria.  Secondly, the authorities.  Thirdly, those on a list they had created for just such an eventuality, though her incapacity was not expected to be death.

Fourthly, her parents, but that was not the most expedient.  Just before he called her father he sent a message to Monte, telling him to find Michael, the man she had never divorced, as an absolute priority.

He was hoping her faith in Michael would come to fruition.  For the future of her charity, and for the future of their children.  And that was the last of his priorities, informing the children, a job he wished he could pass to someone else.

How will those at her charitable organisation react?

…

Words today, 1,578, for a total of 21,653

Mistaken Identity – The Final Editor’s Draft – Day 7

This book has finally reached the Final Editor’s draft, so this month it is going to get the last revision, and a reread for the beta readers.

…

What’s the best way to recover from being shot by the police? Go on an all-expenses paid holiday.

Within reason, of course.

Of course, he was on holiday, not quite all expenses paid, but for the duration of the conference. Getting shot and having a prolonged stay in hospital put paid to that, but there is an upside.

The police, in exchange for silence and an indemnity, are happy to send our intrepid conference goer on a tour of Italy. There are benefits on either side, the police don’t get a lawsuit, and he gets to spend a few days touring.

Of course, Maryanne decided to tag along. She had been filling in for him at the conference, unbeknownst to him, and lined up a couple of free venues. In exchange for favourable reviews.

But what is the real reason Maryanne is along for the ride, or she might put it, ‘carry the bags’?

That saying ‘if it’s too good to be true, it probably is’ sticks in the back of his mind, but he doesn’t discourage her from coming with him.

Is he lucky, or is he cursed?

More tomorrow.