I sent off the second Beaufort book to my agent last week. He applauded the hook and the continuing tension. But in writing book 2, I realized I needed to rewrite at least the opening of book 1. It has been taking up hard-drive space again. This morning, it went out to a reader.
Is it better? I hope so. I cut a thousand words and added others. The tension in the beginning chapter feels more real. I, along with my character, imagine a knife to the snake’s throat. And lots of blood pulsing from his neck as he begs forgiveness — and she walks away.
She has issues, small-town-spinster issues. Thirty-seven-year-old-virgin issues. But then, if you were in her place, wouldn’t you?
He, of course, faces none of Tadie’s woes. Here, he wades near the La Paz Malecon.
