The Sapphire Veil is the working title. You need a working title to give a project some permanence in your mind. Without giving any hints or spoilers, I can tell you it’s about a young, strapping lad who falls for the wrong kind of dame. Which femme fatale conventions I adhere to—and which I subvert—are for you to find out.
There will be two impossible murders. The first is already clear in my head; the second is a bit dicey, but I’ll take another week to iron it out before I begin writing dialogue. More importantly, I have the theme of the piece firmly in place.
Maybe I’m just getting old.
When I wrote Goodnight Irene (forty-odd years ago), I had no idea what the theme was. I knew the plot. I knew I wanted to write a detective novel. And I knew I wanted some kick-ass shit to happen. But I didn’t know what the thing was about. I only figured that out after it was finished. The same thing kept happening—every time, I’d write it like some dumb twenty-year-old, charging ahead with an erection and a ton of unearned confidence.
My short story journey is what finally made me aware, before I begin writing, of what the piece is about. For The Sapphire Veil, the theme is this: the most convincing lies are built from truth.
The difference between a good detective and a great one is the ability to question the obvious.
That’s what I’m currently working on. I’ll post more updates along the way, but yeah–I’m back in the business of writing novels.
I also want to thank everyone who’s bought my latest book. I always tell myself that if no one read my writing, I’d still do it. Readership and support do make it more worthwhile though. For anyone who’s ever bought a book, left a review, or even a comment—from the bottom of my weary, leery, lecherous heart, I appreciate you.
James Scott Byrnside 