The author commentary of Pathways in the Dark continues with more insight into the Blackmail tale! SPOILER WARNING is in place!
The truth and nothing but…
I set rules when I write. I create a standard by which all stories set within a specific universe or series should adhere. This is meant to increase reader enjoyment, to play to their expectations, and offer them exactly what they’re looking for when it comes to my stories.
Greystone is very simple. Myths and legends create mayhem and murder in the city of Portents. Soriya and Loren have to stop them. Easy peasy. It is the impetus of every story breakdown, every script, every note I take when it comes to world of Greystone.
And then Blackmail came along.
Losing the supernatural.
It was never my intention. When I settled on a Myers story, my first instinct was to come up with a supernatural angle for her to confront. In terms of scope the Eyes in the Storm story from Tales from Portents sprang to mind. A way to build a world around this supporting character while also digging into who she was as a character.
Nothing worked.
Nothing felt true to Myers.
Because her story doesn’t come from the same place as Soriya and Loren. When it comes to Samantha Myers, her story is built around the mystery introduced in The Medusa Coin. Who is controlling her? Are they actually controlling her or is she a willing participant? And what do they have on her in the first place?
It was from these questions that Blackmail was forged. When I finally settled on delving into her past, I realized where the threat had to come from. Tying the two threads together made perfect sense from a narrative standpoint and kept the focus on Myers as a character instead of a plot heavy tale with no stakes.
Losing the supernatural, however, came with consequences…
Is this truly a Greystone tale?
If the supernatural is lost, if I break the rule that centers the universe of the series does it no longer belong? More importantly, will the reader enjoy it, having come to expect something completely different?
I struggled with this for a long time. Every revision, every readthrough, brought these doubts to the forefront and I had to justify Blackmail’s inclusion in the collection each and every time.
How did it make it through my inane questioning?
By the strength on which it stood as a character story. Myers needed more depth, she needed that extra element to proceed to Founder’s Day and A Circle of Shadows. Her mystery clouded her motivations and clarity on that front afforded her the chance at redemption or condemnation by the audience. I wanted to have that moment and continue to have those moments where you aren’t sure about her.
She represents a true threat to Loren. The unseen threat, on his end anyway.
What did you think about the change of pace for the series? A worthy exploration or did you miss the supernatural element in this tale?
I’d love to hear from you.
