A few months ago, I premiered my sixth book, Hart of Madness. With several book signings under my belt and a successful marketing program under way, I am ready to take on the next project. But, I can’t decide on the topic for my next book.
You might think that writers have a hundred ideas for stories waiting to jump onto the page. My books are rather specialized, however. I need a tragic event or time period to use as a backdrop. The place where a mystery unfolds. Such as the Triangle Factory fire in 1911, New York City, or the Salem Witch trials, in 1692, Massachusetts.
I also need a modern story line, where science or technology can resolve the historic mystery. Digital photography and facial recognition as in the Civil War photographs, document analysis, as in the witch trials, DNA, fiber, ballistics or fire forensics to name a few areas of specialty in crime investigations.
And, most important, I need a mystery to get me jazzed about doing the research required to make a fictional account as authentic as possible. The further back in time I go, the more difficult it is to make the modern story work.
Here are a few ideas I’ve bandied about:
- 1492 The Spanish Inquisition and a lost pendant of Queen Isabella, which turns up mysteriously today in a box of jewelry discovered by a Jewish descendant of the Inquisition.
- 1587 The lost colony of Roanoke, an island off North Carolina. What happened to the missing English men, women and children that settled this colony before Jamestown?
- 1917 The disaster in Halifax, Nova Scotia, when two ships collided in Halifax Harbour, one loaded with munitions. The tragedy killed more than 2,000 people, many school children.
- 1942 World War II A Jewish musician is condemned to a concentration camp and his music is stolen by German musician. In modern times, can the music be attributed to the real composer?
I’d love to get your feedback on these ideas or any others you think might fit my book concept of historical mysteries solved by modern technology. Many thanks.
I like the Halifax idea!
This means a trip to Nova Scotia. Aww, gee.
I’ve always been intrigued by the disappearance of everyone on Roanoke. Surely today we’d have an idea. I don’t think they all starved to death, but I do think the women disappeared with Indians into the forest and the remaining men “went native”. Let’s see what solution you give it.
Thanks, Penelope. Archaeologists are still working to find remains of the colony but so far no luck.
Music and musical instruments were stolen from so many gifted musicians that I’m sure there are stories there. For some additional ideas, explore the research of Thomas Levy at UCSD. He’s using modern technology to explore ancient archaeological sites. Also check out the CISA3 Archaeology site (http://cisa3.calit2.net/arch/index.php) for more interesting research projects. No idea what stories might emerge, but Dr. Levy is a fascinating man and his students are doing some exceptionally interesting work.
Thanks, Diane. Interesting. When I was at the Fleet, we worked with Calit2 and Maurizio Seracini on an art project. They’ve done some amazing work with technology uncovering what’s beneath a painting. That gave me background for my book Deadly Provenance, about the Nazi confiscation and a missing Van Gogh painting. This sounds like a good fit for my next book, whose working title is The Final Note. Nazis make great villains, don’t they. I will definitely get in touch with Thomas Levy. May I use your name?
I really like the Spanish Inquisition idea.
Thanks, Athina. Still haven’t decided. Sigh.