Tag: NaNoWriMo

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.

NANOWRIMO – April 2024 – “The One That Got Away” – Day 11

You can’t keep a good person down

…

So, what do you do when you discover your life’s work has been hijacked, not only by people you thought you could trust but that unfortunately includes your father.

Guinevere is in charge, making changes, hiring cronies, and pandering to the passed-over celebrity who is now the face of her organisation.   An advertising campaign that cost a lot of money, salaries and benefits to the management and talent, and something else entirely for her father.

He had been waiting in the wings a long time to get in the door, and her incapacity was his one chance.  She had kept him at bay, and if it had not been for her illness, and the accident, he’d still be in Siberia.

So, what does a stranger in her own castle do?

Plot against those insidious creatures that have taken over.

This is where we discover the plans, she implemented with Howard just before she was incapacitated.  That and the investigations she had Monte the private investigator undertake on all of those now working in her organisation.

A very interesting collection of individuals, all of whom had something to hide, and because of this, a means of leverage.

Plans are drawn up, and shots are fired over the bow as a warning.  Everyone has been told, the proverbial is about to hit the fan.

…

Words today, 2,013, for a total of 20,075

NANOWRIMO – April 2024 – “The One That Got Away” – Day 10

A third of the way

…

Part one sets the scene, we are introduced to the characters, and we get some insight into the machinations of business and the underlying problem of Agatha’s health.

It could be for any number of reasons, hard living when younger, and a little bit older too, it could be the pressures of work, the pressures of motherhood, trying to find the right man knowing he doesn’t exist and worry about people trying to take your money.

Being titled and wealthy is not a benefit, it’s really a curse.  It often works to her advantage, but in others, well, it just doesn’t.

Her health issues have so far been undiagnosed.  She has seen any number of doctors, and none can find what is wrong.  Lethargy, constantly tired, often feeling nauseated, always at the mercy of common colds and viruses, the notion of taking a few months off to try and recover is not an option.

The thing is, the answer to her problems, getting qualified people to run her organisation was a good idea, and she thought she had picked the right people.  And once they start, the subtle changes begin, the little things like being left out of the loop, that sense that she is being spied on, paranoia fed by the illness, and observation, cause her to become unpredictable, then, at the height of it, after discovering what is a revelation, she is incapacitated.

In a sense, she had planned for just such an eventuality, in another, it was almost inevitable.

NANOWRIMO – April 2024 – “The One That Got Away” – Day 9

Guinevere

…

There is always a reason why someone wants to leave an organisation where they had been successful, to a point.  After all, the charity business was a rather small world, and it wasn’t hard to find out all the goings on.

Except when an organisation no longer wants to keep a certain employee and is prepared to write a glowing recommendation to hasten their departure.

Guinevere hadn’t done anything wrong; it was just she wanted to move in a new direction, and probably what sealed her fate, wanted a large increase in salary.

Charities tried very hard not to have expenses that exceeded the value of their bequests.  Sometimes they failed, but those were foundations set up by individuals looking to gain tax and other benefits.

And since Agatha was looking to expand her organisation by actively seeking outside donors, Guinevere had been successful in setting up a similar process in the last organisation she worked for.

And after speaking confidentially to Agatha’s father, she knew it was the position she was looking for.  All she had to do was convince Agatha and Adria.  That, of course, might be easier than she thought, discovering that Agatha was unwell, and would be stepping back for a while.

An old adage comes to mind as I’m plotting this, with friends like these, who needs enemies?

…

Words today, 1,718, for a total of 16,133

NANOWRIMO – April 2024 – “The One That Got Away” – Day 8

…

Howard Joffs

…

Howard is Agatha’s lawyer, but more than that, he is a friend and has been ever since they started university together.

He was fully aware of who she was, the title, the heritage, the expectations, and her need to rebel in her own way.

He watched her destroy a marriage that would have worked if she had let it, with a man who was, in the end, too good for her. 

And, along the way, Howard always thought one day she would wake up and see what was in front of her, the man who loved her.

The pity of it was she had sent him to the friend zone and did not think of him in that way, having discovered the truth one night when charged with a lot of alcohol, he told her how he felt.

She was not reviled, just amused.

It was then he realised there was only one man for her, the one she could never have, even though he knew she harboured a secret desire for them to get back together.  Only recently did he discover that man was the father of her children.

But despite his unrequited love, he still did anything and everything she asked, and more.

And would until the day she died.

…

Words today, 1,870, for a total of 14,415