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I'm adjusting to October in Colorado -- as in adjusting on a daily basis. Three days ago it was above 70F in the daytime, yesterday it snowed. The same happened a week ago, and the see-saw continues. Colorado weather is, as advertised, a little bit crazy. I haven't had to experience my worst fear yet: driving on a snow-packed street. I break out in a cold sweat just thinking about it. The moment approaches and I'm not too excited about it.
On the plus side of things, I'm very happy with my basement office. It's private, a little bit dark, snuggly warm and best of all -- solitary. I've always liked hideaways and tree forts and cabins in the woods, but I've never had a cave to call my own, until now. It's very conducive to writing (now that I'm writing again) and it satisfies all my (barely) hidden hermit impulses. 'Leave me alone', is my new battle cry.
The fourth installment of the Smoky Barrett series, ABANDONED, comes out in the U.S. today. I really like the new cover, and honestly, I really like the book, too. I actually creeped myself out a little while writing it, something I always consider a good sign.
Imagine this: someone kidnaps you, shaves your head, assigns you a number, and throws you into an dark cell. You stay in there for seven years, with no light, no human contact and no hope. You have no idea why this has occurred, and your captor never enlightens you. There's no sexual component, no overt torture, just inexorable time, permanent darkness, and unending solitude.
I wanted to write a killer who runs cold, not hot, who's driven by something other than pure depravity. Someone so cold and detached that he calls what he does to his captives, simply, 'storing meat.'
Put a writer in a dark basement and he'll come up with all kinds of things...
Hope you enjoy.
Best,
Cody |
