D. J. Adamson is an Award-winning author D.J. Adamson writes
mystery and science fiction novels. She is the editor of the book review
newsletter Le Coeur de l’Artiste. Her L’Artiste blog offers authors a venue to
write on craft, marketing, and the creative mind. D.J. also teaches writing and
literature and serves on various writing organization boards. Learn more about her, her books, her
newsletter, and her blog at her website.
A Muse? An Imaginary
Friend? Or someone real recreated?
Why can’t an adult have an imaginary friend? I started writing tonight about my muse
and realized that I don’t have a MUSE. No one muses my head. I have
visitations. Okay, I said it. Visitations. The main character comes and tells
me what has happened lately. Lillian Dove complains to me about her mother, her
desire for Detective Leveque but that Chief Charles Kaefring might be a better
choice on the boyfriend carousel. When she came upon Dr. Conrad out on the street
with blood on his clothes telling her his family was inside the house, hurt,
she came and told me. Does that sound strange? Why is it I totally understood
the movie HARVEY? Anyone else have “ visitations”?
Lillian Dove came to me through my aunt. My sister said my
personality was very much like my Aunt Lillian, someone I had never met because
she’d been estranged from my family due to her over-indulgence with alcohol
(although, I generally don’t imbibe more than a glass of wine.) At the time,
this over indulgence was not understood as an illness and possibly a genetic
trait. Thinking of writing a series, Lillian Dove came to me and said, why not
give your aunt recovery? After all, the Mormons save people after they have
passed. However, I didn’t want to write another “alcoholic detective.” There
are already so many in past history and current mystery books.
I wanted to follow my character’s recovery as she took on life without
taking a drink. All of us have addictions (quilters, you know you have loads of
fabric in your closets; readers, stacks of books; collectors, statues and
photos of cats, dogs, angels, etc; chocoholics, candy stuffed everywhere).
Lillian has more addictions and compulsions than Absolut vodka. All of her
bad habits are also who makes up who she is as a person. What is difficult for
Lillian is taking on life as it is; getting her nose into trouble with murder
cases; and her self-discovery without any expectation she is perfect.
I think that has been what is so likeable about Lillian and why she has
become a great friend of mine. She is honest in her journey, and while some of
it is not overly cozy—is murder ever truly a cozy subject?—she takes on crime
and life with humor and a reckless energy of never giving up. In a word, she is
“everywoman.”
Let Her Go
A Lillian Dove
Mystery, Book 3
Murder. Betrayal. Love Gone Wrong.
Dr. Conrad’s family is attacked. His wife is murdered. He and his son
are seriously injured. Teenage daughter Peyton is missing. When Lillian Dove
finds herself involved in the police investigation, she realizes Peyton Conrad
holds the key to unravel who killed her mother.
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