P.I. Cri-Fi
The novel I’m planning to go back on submission with in January falls under the general category of crime fiction, and under the general subgenre of private eye novel.
P.I. Cri-Fi.
You heard it here first.
One of the problems with private eye novels (or with any novels, for that matter) is coming up with a main character who stands out from the crowd.
Do we need another Philip Marlowe, another Spenser, or even another Amos Walker?
Nope. Those are all great characters, but they’ve been done. And done, and done...
Sometimes, especially with a P.I. novel, it’s tempting to fall into the voice of parody. Amusing, but not what I’m after.
What am I after?
I want a guy who’s honest. Compassionate. Loyal. Intelligent. A good lover and a capable fighter...
But, I also want a guy who’s wounded. Deeply wounded. So wounded, in fact, that the very essence of his being aches with it 24/7.
Is this the guy?
Twenty years after crawling from the fiery wreckage of a chartered jet and witnessing his wife and daughter perish, a blues guitarist turned private eye makes a horrifying discovery: the crash was not an accident...
Meet Nicholas Colt, PI. Once a successful recording artist with mansions on both coasts, he now resides near Jacksonville, Florida, in a 1964 Airstream Safari travel trailer. He’s forty-five, living paycheck to precarious paycheck, and is forever haunted by the memory of his wife and daughter. His music died with them, along with any faith in a higher power.
I think this is the guy. He’s my guy, anyway, and he’s different from every other private eye out there.
After a third major rewrite, the book is back in my agent’s hands now, and I’m hoping it will be back in some editors’ hands within the next month or so.
Will the third time be a charm?
Stay tuned.
Your turn. What makes your character stand out from the crowd?
P.I. Cri-Fi.
You heard it here first.
One of the problems with private eye novels (or with any novels, for that matter) is coming up with a main character who stands out from the crowd.
Do we need another Philip Marlowe, another Spenser, or even another Amos Walker?
Nope. Those are all great characters, but they’ve been done. And done, and done...
Sometimes, especially with a P.I. novel, it’s tempting to fall into the voice of parody. Amusing, but not what I’m after.
What am I after?
I want a guy who’s honest. Compassionate. Loyal. Intelligent. A good lover and a capable fighter...
But, I also want a guy who’s wounded. Deeply wounded. So wounded, in fact, that the very essence of his being aches with it 24/7.
Is this the guy?
Twenty years after crawling from the fiery wreckage of a chartered jet and witnessing his wife and daughter perish, a blues guitarist turned private eye makes a horrifying discovery: the crash was not an accident...
Meet Nicholas Colt, PI. Once a successful recording artist with mansions on both coasts, he now resides near Jacksonville, Florida, in a 1964 Airstream Safari travel trailer. He’s forty-five, living paycheck to precarious paycheck, and is forever haunted by the memory of his wife and daughter. His music died with them, along with any faith in a higher power.
I think this is the guy. He’s my guy, anyway, and he’s different from every other private eye out there.
After a third major rewrite, the book is back in my agent’s hands now, and I’m hoping it will be back in some editors’ hands within the next month or so.
Will the third time be a charm?
Stay tuned.
Your turn. What makes your character stand out from the crowd?
posted by Jude Hardin | 7:07 AM
6 Comments:
Well, right now I am writing about a girl whose mother died in childbirth . . . and the girl is forever bonded to Death and can talk to him.
E
Sounds very interesting, Erica, and a bit scary. My kind of story!
Jude,
Sorry I didn't get more comments to you before you handed off to your agent.
I like Colt and plan to finish the book this weekend. I think it's good and just didn't have many comments, other then the ones I already sent you.
Being an old shade tree musician myself, Colt kind of strikes a chord with me....
Good luck -- I hope it works out.
Dave:
Thanks for reading, man.
In book #2 maybe Colt will have a memory of playing at the Holiday Inn in Quincy.
;)
Hmm, according to you, I'm writing a psycho ex stalker. I know you think you have all kinds of experience there (my sympathies...;-) but what if the ex is actually stalking the psycho? Ya with me?
Colt kicks ass! But I already told ya that.
I just popped in to wish you the bestest and merriest!
2009, Jude. My gut says so! (and, ah, yeah, you should really listen to it, because it's big right now)
Thanks, Lainey! Bestest and merriest to you, too.
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