Writing Book Three - a glimpse behind the scenes!

 

The third book in the Caroline Jordan Mystery Series is The Body Beautiful. Taking up the Jordan PR story several months after the The Body Count, we find Paula Hughes preparing for her wedding. But what should be - according to all the romance novelists - a magical time is fraught with worries about her appearance. Paula has always been a little self deprecating about her looks, despite the fact that we know she's very attractive when viewed through the other characters. Both Caroline and DS Alan Doyle remark on her good looks, and most importantly warm and loveable personality. She attracts attention (albeit of a stalker-ish kind) from two of the male side characters in The Body Count. Caroline frequently compares her, favourably, to her very glamourous older sisters. To Caro, Paula is by far the best of the bunch. 

Paula herself cannot see this; she only knows she is "boring" and "unremarkable" compared to her out-going, pretty, sisters.

Adding to her woes is an unexpected issue with Stephen, her fiancé who makes up the third part of the Jordan PR partnership. Loyal and steady, Stephen is the man they all rely on to be...well, reliable. But he's taken to disappearing off, working late, and being unavailable. She can't even admit it to herself but Paula is worried...

The Progress, a new fitness movement that's sweeping across Ireland offers a solution to at least one of her problems. They promise fitness, health, weight loss, all in a community of likeminded people supporting and encouraging you.

But is this really what it delivers? 

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Meanwhile Caroline has her own issues. Her once-boyfriend, now double murderer, Rory has reached out from prison. He wants a favour, but not what she might expect. Apparently he's on the road to reform and needs her forgiveness. Obviously she wouldn't dream of getting pulled back in, not in a million years. So why can't she let it go, and move one?

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DS Doyle is in his usual state of suppressed vexation, mixed with dogged resolution. Political interests are putting pressure on the SCS to investigate things that technically they shouldn't be touching with a barge pole. Minister Lilian Roche is using the Justice department as her own personal fiefdom. But on the other hand Marie has decided they should move in together, assuming she can house her collection of handknits and craft tools. Doyle is bewildered to discover he might actually be....HAPPY?

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A host of minor characters move in the background, living their lives and unaware that a brutal murder is about to throw everything up in the air. 

Obviously as I write and then, gods help me, edit and re edit, some of this will change, some stories step forward and others recede, some characters muscle their way to the front and of course, I still don't know who is going to turn out to be the killer and why (it comes as a surprise to me every time, the joy of unplanned writing.) But I have a plot, a setting, characters and two previous books to draw on in building the world of Jordan PR

One trick I've learned is to create a mood board on Pinterest for the book. Every time I find an image that feeds into the atmosphere, ambiance, or society I'm creating, I save it. It builds up a visual inspiration for all things to do with the book. It might only have meaning for me, but it all contributes to the process.

The Body Beautiful will be out later this year. If these characters get their act together!

THE CAROLINE JORDAN MYSTERY SERIES (Amazon)

Direct signed copies 

Order / Buy in any good bookstore

All Links Here

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Plague and Procrastination...#covid #writing #amwriting #WritingCommunity #Readers #Reading #ReadingCommunity

 

Blank Pages Mocking Me

Well it happened, Dear Reader. The plague has struck our house in the form of two wee boys. The youngest turned 8 on Friday and had a positive test on Monday. What a way to celebrate! The 11 yr old promptly joined in the fun. Symptoms ranged from sick tummies to hacking coughs with a few brief periods between where they felt ok. Thankfully both have had one vaccination so far which seems to mitigate the affliction. 
The adults, including my 89 year old mother remain clear, so far. Antigen tests are being done with what we Irish all a "Flaithulach" attitude, meaning extravagant. I can't wait two days to test, it's every morning and just be grateful I'm not making ye do it every afternoon too. To add to my misery, I have a raging sore throat which is either the dreaded Covid or the antigen test has pushed my general sinus lurgy into my throat. Take your pick,
Of course enforced isolation should mean that I've got lots done. Hah! Goes to show what you know. OF COURSE I've procrastinated like a dithering hen. I find the fact of covid in the house stressful, and 90% of my brain is engaged in resolutely not thinking about all the horror stories of kids in hospital on ventilators. I have two books to work on right now, fiction and non-fiction, and what do I go and do? Start writing a Caroline Jordan Short Story for Valentine's Day. The Case of the Spearheaded Bog Spider is coming soon, unless I test positive in which case I'll be too busy cursing and wailing in the back garden. Fun, either way,
To inspire me I've been playing around with Doodly, a gift from my beloved Mr. I panicked a bit at first, I just couldn't see past the initial learning curve, but thanks to his calm explanation, I have managed to create a rough but not-too-bad video. I'll share it on here later. I'd work on the podcast/vlog but the STATE of me today, no one wants to see this level of swamp-witch. This isn't procrastination, it's an act of charity.
Hope this finds you all plague free and productive but for those who are neither, you are my people. I salute you. 

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So what's New for 22? My plans for the coming year, including new #books and #podcast

The Year Ahead...
Well I hope we all survived the festivities, or lack of them. Ours was a mixed bag - sadness because one family member wasn't with us for xmas, and although he's safe and in the best care, it was upsetting versus the joy of being home with the boys for pretty much two solid weeks, broken only by a trip to visit family or visits from family.

 Conscious of the rising Covid cases here in Ireland, we made a decision to cut contacts as much as possible (and even then Omicron crept closer and closer to our circle.) This made for a bit of a flat run up to xmas but a really nice chilled family oriented break over the new year. There'll be many years ahead hopefully, where we can socialize and make pieces of ourselves running from household to household; this was a year we'll remember for board games, family movies, minding Granny and lots of cuddles. 
So as the dust settled on the boys going back to school (I have an entire rant on that subject but I'll spare ye...) I began to plan out 2022. And I thought I'd keep it simple, but then a few amazing opportunities presented themselves on top of the projects to which I had already committed myself. So here is the amended plan for 2022, wish me luck!

JANUARY 2022

New for 22 -
1. The Body Beautiful, book three of the Caroline Jordan Mystery Series will be out later this year: catch up on the previous books HERE

2. Draíocht Ceoil, The Sound of Magic in Irish Tradition, a non fiction work that will explore the practice of Irish traditions using sound and music will be out later this year, and will have additional online recordings and help to supplement the book. Pre-orders will open in Autumn. This book can be read alone or use it to supplement the classes on Rosc or Draíocht Ceoil at the IPS. 

3.There are exciting plans afoot to host a podcast, featuring both Irish Crime Fiction and additionally the Poetry Series on Alzheimer and the family carer, in two separate blocks. This will require a commitment of time and effort on my part but I'm really excited by this new opportunity and hope to have it up and running in late Spring.

TEACHING
 I will be teaching two brand new classes in 2022 on the  Irish Pagan School (May and October) and you access my previous classes there too. The IPS promotes Indigenous Irish education on folk magic, folk lore, Old Irish and Modern Irish practices and Irish Spirituality. It offers a huge range of free material, affordable packages, scholarships and quality live and recorded classes. Details of the new classes to be announced, so keep an eye out.

As ever, always delighted to hear from you at Author@celebratingwords.com - If you would like to participate in the PODCAST either as a Family Carer or a Crime Fiction Writer or reviewer, please do contact me.

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The Body Count Publication Day! #book #booklaunch #newbook #crimefiction #murdermystery #mysterybook #irishwriter #ireland

 

It's Publication Day !!
The Body Count, A Caroline Jordan Mystery Book 2 is here

New Friends. New Clients. New Enemies.
Old Secrets...

It's 2012 and the banking scandals have hit Ireland hard; the Bank of Leinster finds its image in need of emergency help. Which means Jordan PR is about to pitch for their biggest contract yet - the only problem is the fresh corpse in the Bank's meeting room!

This time Caroline is determined not to get involved. Political reforms loom, there's a wedding to plan and an iconic Art exhibition to arrange. But in Ireland, old secrets bind strange fellows and as Caroline realizes the web of lies runs from the boardroom to the art world, DS Doyle calls in a favour.

Can Caroline resist investigating the rising Body Count?

Fun, fast-paced, modern murder mystery set in Dublin, Ireland among politicians, socialites, bankers, Anglo-Irish aristocrats and eccentric artists.

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09L8CWHWK

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09L8CWHWK

ALL LINKS https://bio.link/germoorkensbyrne

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Caroline Jordan's #Dublin : Merrion Square, #LeintsterHouse #GovernmentBuildings #TheMerrionHotel and more

 

When she's not in her office in Christ Church, Caroline Jordan is usually to be found dealing with her political clients - first the late, unlamented Minister Fitzpatrick and now the leader of the Irish Government himself, An Taoiseach Michael T O'Mahony. This work takes her to a different part of Dublin City, the areas surrounding Leinster House, The Offices of An Taoiseach and Government buildings. 

This includes the beautiful Merrion Square, with its sculptures (notably the Oscar Wilde statue and The Victims) and the War Memorial, These are more than just works of art or tourist stop off points, these represent deeply felt emotions, and events that Dubliners still care about. The affection felt for Oscar is visible in the cheerful "howya's" of regulars to the statue as they walk past. There are few visitors unmoved by the unusual war memorial (that commemorates as much those lives lost in the cause of Peace Keeping with the UN, as those lost in war in the more aggressive sense.) 

One side of the Square runs opposite to the Entrance to Leinster House, the seat of the Irish Parliament known as The Dáil (pro. Doyle or Dawl) or  Dáil Éireann. As described in The Body Politic this was once a ducal palace, designed for the Duke of Leinster, acquired for the State and enlarged and modernised over the decades, although the centre part is still the original building. Caroline's original boss the Minister for Justice* operates out of The Department of Justice on St Stephen's Green but his basic paranoia meant he stayed closer to the seat of power whenever possible. When she starts working for the leader of the Dáil himself, Michael T O'Mahony* she finds herself working in the Offices of An Taoiseach. Taoiseach is the title of the Irish Premier and means Chief, or leader. The second in command is the Foreign Minister, An Tánaiste. The use of Irish terms for our parliamentarians is an important statement of cultural and political freedom; members of the house are called Teachtaí Daile or TDs **

Politicians like to do themselves well in terms of wining and dining and Irish ones are no exception. Luckily for them there are number of fabulous pubs and restaurants nearby. The best are The Merrion, and The Shelbourne, two landmark hotels in the city. Visiting dignitaries and celebrities stay in both, and afternoon tea in The Merrion is an institution among Dublin society. But for a sneaky pint, if they're not using the bar in the Dáil itself, you might well spot a politician (maybe in earnest conversation with our Caroline!) in Buswell's Hotel, itself a legend in the city. Doheny and Nesbitts on Baggott street is another old pub with a modern clientele, where advertising and PR execs rub shoulders with musicians and the occasional Hipster or tourist. Of course with their own bar and the Oireachtas* restaurant, it's hard to tempt the political animal out of its lair. 

When she can, Caroline will walk back towards the Grafton Street area, away from the rather rarefied air of the Dáil and into the heart of the best pubs and restaurants in Dublin 2. The Long Hall is her favourite, and many a huddled conference has been held there between her, Paula and Stephen, the trio that make up Jordan PR. She'll grab food in the excellent San Lorenzos or Green Hen restaurants, and coffee in any of the great coffee shops like Kaph on Drury Street. Her job brings her to every trendy restaurant and "must be seen here" venue but when she's with real friends, she wants real food and drink. Meet in Brooke's Hotel, enjoy a drink in their ultra comfortable lounge, and then wander from there to see what's open. Bar with No Name, while trendy has the virtue of having a great atmosphere, and the Stag's Head is another place to stop for a drink and a chat. (Caroline and the gang have been known to leave work early on a Tuesday to catch the Ukulele Tuesdays in the Stag's Head, but if anyone asks they were all working late!)

Being a Southsider, she rarely ventures Northside - the rivalry between both sides of the city runs deep! - but like all Dubs, she's convinced the worst bit of Dublin is better than the best bit of the rest of the country. Everyone outside Dublin is a Culchie, Irish slang for a country bumpkin. Her city, Dublin City, has it all.

* All names and indeed, personalities of politicians in TBP are fictional and bear no resemblance to anyone living or dead. Any such resemblance is coincidental. If anyone thinks they recognise themselves I'd keep quiet about it. It's probably not a compliment. 

** A Teachta Dála ( /ˌtjɒxtə ˈdɔːlə/ TYOKH-tə DAW-lə, Irish: [ˌtʲaxt̪ˠə ˈd̪ˠaːlˠə] ; plural Teachtaí Dála)

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The final Stretch - when the end of the first draft is in sight! #writing #WritingCommunity #TheBodyCount #CrimeFiction #Mystery

 After days of frantic writing, a wonderful and miraculous thing has happened. All the messy plot points began to resolve themselves into a coherent narrative and in 6 chapters I've gone from flailing around to writing the end of the book. There's a chapter or three to go yet, but I know who the murderer is and I know why. I have two subplots to tie up. and a few loose ends will need to be sharply snipped but the end is in sight!

If I can pull this off in the next 7 days, I will actually be in position to start revising almost immediately. Ah yes, the joys of writing. You slave to get the words on the page and then ruthlessly slash and burn your way through them. How far do you trust your own voice over the received wisdom of editors? How much do you adjust to fit a genre, or do you forge ahead with your own, not quite fitting in vision?

That's all next week's problem. For now I'm just happy to say, I've entered the home stretch. See ye at the finish line!

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New #Authors, New #Books to discover in August, all under $5

 

New titles and New Books to Discover in August

Pre-order USA Today Best Selling Author Molly Fitz's compilation of new authors, While the Cat's Away for only 99c! 

ALSO THE BODY POLITIC is only $1.99 on Amazon for AUGUST 

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