Summer's End
You’ll gather from this picture that we’ve been away for sand, sea and sun. And Romans, of course. You might not at first know where, if you are paying attention to the deep blue sky and pure white sand. Guess away — I’ll let you into the secret further down.
Guest Author Val Penny
First, I have good news. As well as my own ramblings this autumn, I’ll be treating you to interviews and articles by wonderful guest authors. We’re starting with the inimitable Val Penny, prolific and popular author of the Edinburgh Crime Mysteries. Here she is, at her desk. Don’t let that cherubic countenance fool you — Val writes with pace and deadly verve. Today she’s sharing with us how she keeps her characters dynamic.
Keeping Characters Dynamic
Thank you so much for inviting me to your site today, Jacquie. It is lovely to have the opportunity to be in touch with your readers and tell them about my new book, Hunter’s Secret and some of the characters who tell this story.
I only started my writing career after I had been treated for breast cancer and took early retirement. Who would have thought that something so devastating would lead to such an exciting new job?
I write crime fiction particularly, because that is the genre I enjoy reading, and when I began my first novel, Hunter’s Chase, I always knew that I wanted the novel to be the first in a series (although each book can be read on its own). Therefore the characters would need to advance, mature and change while their story-lines develop, to retain my readers’ interest.
In order to do this, before I start writing I create full biographies and back stories for all my main characters. This allows me to know not only what they look like but what they like to wear, what they choose to eat and drink and how they spend their leisure time. Even more important is that I know how each of my characters will react to the variety of different difficult and unpredictable situations that I create for them.
My readers do not need to know every detail about the different characters, but it is important that I do, and I share the information necessary to my readers as each story unfolds.
Let me take Hunter Wilson as an example. He is a son of the manse; in other words, his father was a Church of Scotland minister so, although Hunter is not particularly religious, he was taught the difference between right and wrong from an early age. My readers are also familiar with the fact that he drinks good quality black coffee and not the instant coffee most of his team drink. He enjoys pub grub from his local bar, where he plays darts and likes going out for Indian meals with his partner, the pathologist, Dr Meera Sharma.
Hunter’s relationship with Meera has developed over the series so far, from the admiring glances he snuck during Hunter’s Chase to one of the secrets he is withholding from her in the next book to be released, Hunter’s Secret.
Most importantly, readers have to know that they are able to trust Hunter to do the right thing, act fairly and to keep Edinburgh safe.
The Blurb from Val’s latest hunter book, Hunter’s Secret.
Detective Inspector Hunter Wilson is called to the scene of a murder. DCs Tim Myerscough and Bear Zewedu find a corpse, but when Hunter arrives it has disappeared, and all is not as it seems.
Hunter recalls the disappearance of a dead body thirty years earlier. The Major Incident Team is called in but sees no connection – it is too long ago. Hunter is determined to investigate the past and the present with the benefit of modern DNA testing.
Tim has other problems in his life. His father, Sir Peter Myerscough, is released from jail. He, too, remembers the earlier murder. There is no love lost between Hunter and Sir Peter. Will Hunter accept help from his nemesis to catch a killer?
Hunter’s own secret is exciting and crucial to his future. Will it change his life? And can he keep Edinburgh safe?
The Author
Val Penny has an LLB degree from the University of Edinburgh and her MSc from Napier University. She has had many jobs including hairdresser, waitress, banker, azalea farmer and lecturer, but has not yet achieved either of her childhood dreams of being a ballerina or owning a candy store.
Until those dreams come true, she has turned her hand to writing poetry, short stories, nonfiction books, and novels. Her novels are published by SpellBound Books Ltd.
Val is an American author living in SW Scotland. She has two adult daughters of whom she is justly proud and lives with her husband and their cat.
Author Contact Details
https://www.facebook.com/Authorvalpenny
www.facebook.com/valerie.penny.739
www.facebook.com/groups/296295777444303
https://www.facebook.com/groups/167248300537409
https://twitter.com/valeriepenny
Back to my hols…
If you guessed we were visiting the Channel Isles, you’re getting very warm. We were in fact on Alderney, and the main picture is the glorious 4th century Saxon Shore Roman fortlet at Longis Beach, an absolute gem. We were treated to a wonderful afternoon here, expertly guided by noted Roman fiction writer, journalist, and good friend, Alistair Forrest. He writes a mean Substack, too; look out for his newsletters.
There is a lot more to Alderney than just Longis fort. It may be tiny, but the whole island is a palimpsest of history, from the Neolithic through Roman, Norman, Napoloeonic and Victorian times. Right now Alderney finds itself in the news as more evidence emerges of the Nazi occupation, when Alderney was dotted with concentration camps, gun emplacements, and the very strange five-storey naval range finder the locals call the Odeon.
It’s also a uniquely beautiful place, and I urge you to visit, even if only to experience the delights of being flown there in a tiny Dornier by an experienced lady pilot of a certain age, who is amazing skilful in crosswinds.
Other September News
Since publication in late August The Loyal Centurion has been doing me proud. Available for Kindle at £3.99/$4.99, and now in beautiful paperback for £7.99/$10.04, it’s already garnered 19 Amazon ratings, a 4.5 average.
Readers’ reviews are saying of this third Quintus Valerius mystery:
best so far of this fascinating and intelligent series;
a serious mystery grounded in amazing historical and geographical research;
I was suffering goosebumps as the tension ramped.
One keen reader picked up on the word play of the title, wondering exactly how many loyal centurions she was detecting. No spoilers, but you’re right on the nail, Pauline Ridel!
For Antipodean readers the first in the series, The Governor’s Man, is still on special offer at $Aus1.49 till the end of September. I’m delighted how many more Aussies are meeting Quintus and Tiro for the first time this month — but hurry up, guys, you only have a few more days at this price.
In October we’re planning a week-long promotion for UK and US readers. Both The Loyal Centurion and my second Quintus Valerius book, The Carnelian Phoenix, will be available from 6-13 October at 99p/c. Of course, we’ve kept all three books free to read on Kindle Unlimited.
My publisher, Sharpe Books, has now packaged the series into an omnibus edition. So far in ebook only, it’s titled The Emperor’s Man. If you’re new to my books you can pick up all three for just £4.99 /$5.99 and settle in to read!
Finally, for all you real-book lovers, the whole series is now shelved by my lovely bookseller friends at indie bookshop Malvern Book Cooperative . Plus, following a serendipitous visit to the delightful Roman town of Alcester, I’m very proud that the stunning little Roman Museum at Alcester is also now stocking the Quintus Valerius series. I’m in talks for the same to happen soon at Abernethy Roman Museum , on Tayside. The quicker readers among you will know how significant Abernethy (boasting an immense Severan fort known to the Romans as Horrea Classis, as well as the ancient hill fort of Castlefort looming nearby) is to the action in The Loyal Centurion.
I hope to have more news about author events this year and next, in my October newsletter. Meanwhile, enjoy the autumn, and keep reading!
Looking good, girls and A!
Lovely to have you, Val!