IT IS HARD TO SAY GOODBYE

I have finished the final edit on Point Dume and sent it off to my brilliant, amazing editor, Aaron Schlechter at Overlook. I’m proud of this novel; I think it’s maybe my best one so far. You would think that I’d be elated–all that hard work and the book is finally, completely done. But instead I feel an overwhelming sadness. I already miss my people. I love these characters, even that jerk Frank Bane. I created them, sat on them until they hatched, then watched them grow into complicated people. I enjoyed their triumphs and felt their pain. I really did. I encouraged Janice when she took the reins and cried when bad stuff happened to Felix. I’ve been living with these people 24 hours a day for the last couple of years. So, how do I put them to sleep and make room for the next crew? Tell the next story?

First I’ve got to say that not all characters will allow themselves to be put down. Charles Worthington, from Chemical Pink, showed up in The Wentworths and he insisted on being included in Point Dume. I don’t think his character is ever going to go away and to be honest that’s okay; he’s like a favorite older son and I don’t mind making room for him. He is sick and twisted and endlessly fascinating to me so if he asks to be included, I say by all means. Norman Wentworth—of The Wentworths—still sneaks out and frequently checks in with me. He would love to go another round or even have an entire novel devoted exclusively to him. Judith Wentworth pops up for a chat now and then. And of course I was in love Jack Belmont (also a character in The Wentworths) and I still dream about him at night.

All my characters are alive and well but I have to keep them locked up in the cage. It’s not really a cage. It’s more like a basement with a sound proof door. I can sense movement down there, hear things being dragged from one end of the room to the other, objects being thrown, raised voices, but I can’t really tell exactly what’s going on unless I open the door. And I try never to do that. I have to lock my people away because there just isn’t enough room for everybody. My brain is a modest single story dwelling—just big enough to accommodate one saga at a time. I’d like to remodel and expand, maybe put in a second story, a three-car garage, perhaps a pool and a gazebo–maybe someday, if I win the lottery.

So now I’m in the sad process of herding my Point Dume characters together and throwing them down the basement stairs. Ellis and Pablo went without much fuss–which surprised me. Frank argued but Janice told him to shut up and he listened to her. He’s following his wife down there right now (I let him take his watch collection). Felix and I hugged and cried. I’ll miss him the most of all. He wants to take Rigoberta, the Sacapunta Kitties and all his friends. That’s fine. Whatever makes him happy.

They’re all in the basement now, the door bolted and locked. I’ve got some heavy housekeeping to do—scrubbing, mopping and vacuuming—and then I’ll get started on the next book. I’ve already met the main character. Her name is Delilah.