“The Enemy Within” – a thirty-day revision – Day 13

This book has also been written for some time, like The Document, and the manuscript was also sitting in a box with half a dozen others gathering dust and not quite as complete, so this month it is going to get the makeover, a first draft for the editor.

And so it begins…

It depends on your definition of guilty

From the aspect of the poor agent who walked into a maelstrom, it has to be the planners, or at the very least someone within the organisation.

Leaks are rarely considered to be from the outside.

But, it could be someone on the inside trusting the wrong person. It’s a matter that will merit more investigation, after …

Well, there are those on the inside who believe that it was the planners, and one in particular, Evelyn.

While the protagonist also believes this is the case, and despite her protestations, because of the unique relationship between them, it is about to land her in a world of pain.

Meanwhile, the protagonist has a funeral to attend.

“The Enemy Within” – a thirty-day revision – Day 13

This book has also been written for some time, like The Document, and the manuscript was also sitting in a box with half a dozen others gathering dust and not quite as complete, so this month it is going to get the makeover, a first draft for the editor.

And so it begins…

It depends on your definition of guilty

From the aspect of the poor agent who walked into a maelstrom, it has to be the planners, or at the very least someone within the organisation.

Leaks are rarely considered to be from the outside.

But, it could be someone on the inside trusting the wrong person. It’s a matter that will merit more investigation, after …

Well, there are those on the inside who believe that it was the planners, and one in particular, Evelyn.

While the protagonist also believes this is the case, and despite her protestations, because of the unique relationship between them, it is about to land her in a world of pain.

Meanwhile, the protagonist has a funeral to attend.

“The Enemy Within” – a thirty-day revision – Day 12

This book has also been written for some time, like The Document, and the manuscript was also sitting in a box with half a dozen others gathering dust and not quite as complete, so this month it is going to get the makeover, a first draft for the editor.

And so it begins…

Searching for who is guilty

And, while that sounds like it might be easy … just look at those who are accusing you of being the one who messed up …. Clearly it must go back to those who planned the operation, and the intelligence, or lack of it, behind it.

But here’s the rub, you can’t have a relationship with one of the researchers, and then start blaming the back-room personnel.

Especially when they’re adamant they’re not to blame, and indignant you would accuse them.

And equally indignant if they had something to hide, which our researcher does.

So what does our illustrious ex-agent decide to do?

Investigate.

But, first, he has to go home and complain to his father, a man in a rather unique position, and, now, new plot line, the sort of man who can offer help – not the sort that is the pat on the back, and you’ll get to the bottom of it help – but a few interesting people with ‘talents and skills’.

I hesitate to use the word thug, it sounds so, well, thuggish!

“The Enemy Within” – a thirty-day revision – Day 12

This book has also been written for some time, like The Document, and the manuscript was also sitting in a box with half a dozen others gathering dust and not quite as complete, so this month it is going to get the makeover, a first draft for the editor.

And so it begins…

Searching for who is guilty

And, while that sounds like it might be easy … just look at those who are accusing you of being the one who messed up …. Clearly it must go back to those who planned the operation, and the intelligence, or lack of it, behind it.

But here’s the rub, you can’t have a relationship with one of the researchers, and then start blaming the back-room personnel.

Especially when they’re adamant they’re not to blame, and indignant you would accuse them.

And equally indignant if they had something to hide, which our researcher does.

So what does our illustrious ex-agent decide to do?

Investigate.

But, first, he has to go home and complain to his father, a man in a rather unique position, and, now, new plot line, the sort of man who can offer help – not the sort that is the pat on the back, and you’ll get to the bottom of it help – but a few interesting people with ‘talents and skills’.

I hesitate to use the word thug, it sounds so, well, thuggish!

“The Enemy Within” – a thirty-day revision – Day 11

This book has also been written for some time, like The Document, and the manuscript was also sitting in a box with half a dozen others gathering dust and not quite as complete, so this month it is going to get the makeover, a first draft for the editor.

And so it begins…

Continuing on from yesterday…

The mentor is dead, the asset in the field is presumed dead, the agent sent in as backup has been shot at, shot up, and grazed, his baptism under fire.

Now he had to go back home and face the music. That music, of course, is the debriefing, a chore that can take many forms depending on what the interrogators are after.

But analysing the operation through each of the events causes our new agent to question what really happened because things just don’t add up. The line of questioning…

Well, that’s going to be a new part of the story, which feeds into later chapters.

Of course, debriefings are really another name for labelling blame, and you guessed it, who’s the sitting suck?

So much for the budding career in intelligence.

Searching for locations: Queenstown Gardens, Queenstown, New Zealand

Queenstown Gardens are not far from the center of Queenstown.  They are just down the hill from where we usually stay at Queenstown Mews.

More often than not we approach the Gardens from the lakeside during our morning walk from the apartment to the coffee shop.  You can walk alongside the lake, or walk through the Gardens, which, whether in summer or winter, is a very picturesque walk.

There’s a bowling club, and I’m afraid I will never be that sort of person to take it up (not enough patience) and an Ice Arena, where, in winter I have heard players practicing ice hockey.

I’m sure, at times, ice skating can also be done.

There is a stone bridge to walk across, and in Autumn/Winter the trees can add a splash of color.

There is a large water feature with fountain, and plenty of seating around the edge of the lake, to sit and absorb the tranquility, or to have a picnic.

There are ducks in the pond

and out of the pond

and plenty of grassed areas with flower beds which are more colorful in summer.  I have also seen the lawns covered in snow, and the fir trees that line the lake side of the gardens hang heavy with icicles.

“The Enemy Within” – a thirty-day revision – Day 11

This book has also been written for some time, like The Document, and the manuscript was also sitting in a box with half a dozen others gathering dust and not quite as complete, so this month it is going to get the makeover, a first draft for the editor.

And so it begins…

Continuing on from yesterday…

The mentor is dead, the asset in the field is presumed dead, the agent sent in as backup has been shot at, shot up, and grazed, his baptism under fire.

Now he had to go back home and face the music. That music, of course, is the debriefing, a chore that can take many forms depending on what the interrogators are after.

But analysing the operation through each of the events causes our new agent to question what really happened because things just don’t add up. The line of questioning…

Well, that’s going to be a new part of the story, which feeds into later chapters.

Of course, debriefings are really another name for labelling blame, and you guessed it, who’s the sitting suck?

So much for the budding career in intelligence.

“The Enemy Within” – a thirty-day revision – Day 10

This book has also been written for some time, like The Document, and the manuscript was also sitting in a box with half a dozen others gathering dust and not quite as complete, so this month it is going to get the makeover, a first draft for the editor.

And so it begins…

Like I said, Day 8 was going to come back and bite

And, did it ever.

It’s got a lot to do with this fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants thing. It’s fine writing a story making it up as you go, without an official plan. If the ideas keep flowing.

But when revising it’s easy to see the plot holes or potholes maybe, and I just fell in one.

So, going back to the start…

Were in Venice … did I tell you I love Venice … where the story starts.

It’s that age-old premise, a mission that’s blown before the agent left home base.

The mission is simple: a retired agent is pulled back into the field for one last job at the request of a very important asset in the field, to bring them out of the cold.

Our new agent, whose mentor is being recalled, is assigned to back his mentor up, without his knowledge, as a precaution. Why the secrecy is not explained.

That’s the premise, and only became clear when I reached Day 10.

Day 11 promises to be a lot more interesting now.

Searching for locations: Queenstown Gardens, Queenstown, New Zealand

Queenstown Gardens are not far from the center of Queenstown.  They are just down the hill from where we usually stay at Queenstown Mews.

More often than not we approach the Gardens from the lakeside during our morning walk from the apartment to the coffee shop.  You can walk alongside the lake, or walk through the Gardens, which, whether in summer or winter, is a very picturesque walk.

There’s a bowling club, and I’m afraid I will never be that sort of person to take it up (not enough patience) and an Ice Arena, where, in winter I have heard players practicing ice hockey.

I’m sure, at times, ice skating can also be done.

There is a stone bridge to walk across, and in Autumn/Winter the trees can add a splash of color.

There is a large water feature with fountain, and plenty of seating around the edge of the lake, to sit and absorb the tranquility, or to have a picnic.

There are ducks in the pond

and out of the pond

and plenty of grassed areas with flower beds which are more colorful in summer.  I have also seen the lawns covered in snow, and the fir trees that line the lake side of the gardens hang heavy with icicles.

“The Enemy Within” – a thirty-day revision – Day 10

This book has also been written for some time, like The Document, and the manuscript was also sitting in a box with half a dozen others gathering dust and not quite as complete, so this month it is going to get the makeover, a first draft for the editor.

And so it begins…

Like I said, Day 8 was going to come back and bite

And, did it ever.

It’s got a lot to do with this fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants thing. It’s fine writing a story making it up as you go, without an official plan. If the ideas keep flowing.

But when revising it’s easy to see the plot holes or potholes maybe, and I just fell in one.

So, going back to the start…

Were in Venice … did I tell you I love Venice … where the story starts.

It’s that age-old premise, a mission that’s blown before the agent left home base.

The mission is simple: a retired agent is pulled back into the field for one last job at the request of a very important asset in the field, to bring them out of the cold.

Our new agent, whose mentor is being recalled, is assigned to back his mentor up, without his knowledge, as a precaution. Why the secrecy is not explained.

That’s the premise, and only became clear when I reached Day 10.

Day 11 promises to be a lot more interesting now.