Midnight City
My first completed novel. I started this novel back in 2018, however it was more of a fantasy story at first. James Marden was still a detective responding to a domestic assault, and gets bitten by a vampire in the process, but that's where the similarities end. In the original draft, Lori, James' girlfriend, was a witch who would introduce James to the magical world and his newfound abilities. As I fleshed out the world, it was developing into the same stuff we've seen before. I was losing interest, and if I was losing interest how would I keep the attention of the reader?
Instead, the story shifted to a more grounded one. I still wanted the vampire elements, but not something on a grand or predictable scale. I asked myself the questions: if vampires existed in the real world, what would it be like? How would society deal with it? Where would it had come from? This led to hours and hours of research into diseases, how it can physically and mentally effect someone, and where my fictional virus could have realistically come from. I concluded rabies would be the closest in terms of infection and appropriate symptoms to my realistic vampire.
So, I tweak my story. Now it's a supernatural mystery of two detectives trying to solve a murderous plot to a century's old mobster family before it's too late. After listening to the song Violet City by Mansionair ( it's a really good song. Listen to it if you haven't already), I pictured the city I wanted to set the story in: Seattle. Had I ever been to Seattle? Absolutely not. Thus, more research had to be done, and many, many Google Maps searches.
This only left the characters. If I had to use one word to describe James Marden, it would be 'reckless'. While I tried to create a character the reader could root for, he is far from perfect. He does make questionable decisions. His ability to jump into a situation without thinking things through ends up hurting people he cares about, and it's something he had to deal with throughout the novel. Kate Wyndam almost fit the same vein; she was considered reckless by the people around her, until she sees in James how bad recklessness can be, and how it can make others feel. Kate, however, is a bit different in her approach. I wanted to make a strong character, but not one who was physically and emotionally immune to everything. Lately, we've been exposed to a lot of 'strong' female characters who have no flaws and thus are boring and impossible to relate to. I didn't want Kate to be this way. She's not a world class assassin; she's not a neurosurgeon who has over thirty black belts. She's just a detective with common sense. And one I hope is relatable to any reader.
When it came to the story, I had a general premise, but I created the specifics in the moment. I typically don't outline; I'm not that kind of writer. I prefer to be right there in the thick of it with my characters. This helps me keep characters consistent, and not do something for the sake of the plot. It can make continuity difficult to edit later, but for the most part I tend to aim for more of a natural progression than a beat by beat one.
The novel was originally planned for a 2020 release, but due to the pandemic shaking things up both globally and personally, it was pushed back until November 2021. I finally bit the bullet and published. This is my pride and joy. My fruits I labored over for three years. It was scary, exciting, and dreadful. This is something close to my heart, put out on display for the world to see. I thank every single person who gives it a chance. Gives me a chance.
Instead, the story shifted to a more grounded one. I still wanted the vampire elements, but not something on a grand or predictable scale. I asked myself the questions: if vampires existed in the real world, what would it be like? How would society deal with it? Where would it had come from? This led to hours and hours of research into diseases, how it can physically and mentally effect someone, and where my fictional virus could have realistically come from. I concluded rabies would be the closest in terms of infection and appropriate symptoms to my realistic vampire.
So, I tweak my story. Now it's a supernatural mystery of two detectives trying to solve a murderous plot to a century's old mobster family before it's too late. After listening to the song Violet City by Mansionair ( it's a really good song. Listen to it if you haven't already), I pictured the city I wanted to set the story in: Seattle. Had I ever been to Seattle? Absolutely not. Thus, more research had to be done, and many, many Google Maps searches.
This only left the characters. If I had to use one word to describe James Marden, it would be 'reckless'. While I tried to create a character the reader could root for, he is far from perfect. He does make questionable decisions. His ability to jump into a situation without thinking things through ends up hurting people he cares about, and it's something he had to deal with throughout the novel. Kate Wyndam almost fit the same vein; she was considered reckless by the people around her, until she sees in James how bad recklessness can be, and how it can make others feel. Kate, however, is a bit different in her approach. I wanted to make a strong character, but not one who was physically and emotionally immune to everything. Lately, we've been exposed to a lot of 'strong' female characters who have no flaws and thus are boring and impossible to relate to. I didn't want Kate to be this way. She's not a world class assassin; she's not a neurosurgeon who has over thirty black belts. She's just a detective with common sense. And one I hope is relatable to any reader.
When it came to the story, I had a general premise, but I created the specifics in the moment. I typically don't outline; I'm not that kind of writer. I prefer to be right there in the thick of it with my characters. This helps me keep characters consistent, and not do something for the sake of the plot. It can make continuity difficult to edit later, but for the most part I tend to aim for more of a natural progression than a beat by beat one.
The novel was originally planned for a 2020 release, but due to the pandemic shaking things up both globally and personally, it was pushed back until November 2021. I finally bit the bullet and published. This is my pride and joy. My fruits I labored over for three years. It was scary, exciting, and dreadful. This is something close to my heart, put out on display for the world to see. I thank every single person who gives it a chance. Gives me a chance.
Back Cover Description
The gift of perfection comes at a price.
Detective James Marden is one arrest away from bringing down the infamous Morellies. A family of mobsters who have ruled Seattle with an iron fist for the last hundred years.
However, everything is turned upside down when the mobster family is hiding a deep, dark secret.
One Marden stumbles into head first.
One year later, Detective Kate Wyndam is assigned to find out what happened to Marden, and how he may have been corrupted by the Morellies. Kate is not like the other detectives. She believes the case could not be so open and shut if the Morellies are involved, but there is more in play than even Kate realizes. Why is Marden on the run if he's innocent? Why do the Morellies have so much power and influence over the city?
And why is the CDC involved?
Kate may come to regret finding the answers.
Detective James Marden is one arrest away from bringing down the infamous Morellies. A family of mobsters who have ruled Seattle with an iron fist for the last hundred years.
However, everything is turned upside down when the mobster family is hiding a deep, dark secret.
One Marden stumbles into head first.
One year later, Detective Kate Wyndam is assigned to find out what happened to Marden, and how he may have been corrupted by the Morellies. Kate is not like the other detectives. She believes the case could not be so open and shut if the Morellies are involved, but there is more in play than even Kate realizes. Why is Marden on the run if he's innocent? Why do the Morellies have so much power and influence over the city?
And why is the CDC involved?
Kate may come to regret finding the answers.