I want to share something I learned when I sat down to write Lord and Lady Crosswick’s finale, Fortune's Final Frenzy. Writing the last book in a series is a very different challenge than writing all the books that came before. When I had a “pre-game” conversation with my editor, she gave me great advice and posed some daunting challenges. Take a look at what she had to say:
Make certain the book can stand alone. I’ve done that with each book so that didn’t terrify me.
Drag the main themes that ribbon through the series into the final book and bring them to a satisfactory conclusion. In the Lord and Lady Crosswick Mysteries, overriding themes are dealing with their new title and extraordinary wealth, navigating the high stakes art world, exquisite entertaining where danger often lurks, jealousy, family and, of course, solving crimes. All I had to do was make certain all the motifs were included, treated in a new and interesting way and tied up with a satin bow. Easy, right? 😧I have to say, that struck fear in my heart.
The most important challenge in the final book is to maintain consistency in existing characters but keep them fresh and entertaining. Now, that’s a real toughie, because after you’ve written close to half a million words, it’s easy to get tripped up. But you have to be ruthless or you’ll end up looking foolish. For example, Philip’s eyes are described as bright green in book one, Money, Murder, Mayhem, so he can’t have a steely blue stare in book four, right? Believe me, you mystery readers are sharp. You'd catch that in a minute and I'd look like an idiot!
My deepest hope is that, when you read Fortune’s Final Frenzy, not only will you think, “Well that was a wonderful series. I’m going to miss Philip and Genevieve,” but you’ll be completely sated, as if you’ve just eaten an exquisite four-course-meal in the most delightful company, paired with the perfect wines, and a trés élégant chocolate soufflé for dessert.
Until next month,
Cheers and Santé,
