Guest Post: The Never-ending Mystery by Lois Winston

In a mystery, readers expect to learn whodunit by the end of the book. However, in an ongoing series, there needs to be an overall story arc encompassing the entire series. All personal issues can’t be resolved within the confines of one book. With each book the characters in the world I’ve created continue their journeys, pursuing their goals and dealing with the conflicts that get in the way of achieving those goals.

In my Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery Series, the first book, Assault With a Deadly Glue Gun, opens with Anastasia learning her recently deceased husband has left her with a staggering amount of debt. Throughout the series, one of her goals is to whittle down that debt.

Goals, motivation, and conflict are the backbone of any good novel, no matter the genre. What do the characters want? Why do they want what they want? What’s keeping them from getting what they want? Every major character in a book needs both internal and external goals, motivations, and conflict. In a stand-alone book, these questions are answered by the end of the book. In an ongoing series, they continue from book to book to book. Give the characters everything they want, and the series ends.

Although there are murders to solve in each of the books in my series, there are also personal mysteries. One of Anastasia’s first cost-cutting moves was to rent out the apartment over her garage, which she had previously used as her home studio. Her tenant is photojournalist Zachary Barnes. Zack decided to move from his Manhattan high-rise to the suburbs after his nosey neighbors repeatedly called the cops on him, claiming he was cooking meth, not developing film, in his photo lab.

Little did Zack realize he was trading one drama for another with his move to the suburbs. Eventually, he and Anastasia develop a relationship that goes beyond landlord/tenant, but there is mystery surrounding Zack. Anastasia begins to suspect his photojournalism is cover for a more covert gig with one of the government alphabet agencies. Of course, he denies he’s a spy, but isn’t that what all spies would do when asked?

A Sew Deadly Cruise is the ninth full-length book in the series. (There are also three novellas.) Up to now, neither my readers nor Anastasia have learned much about Zack’s background. That all changes with this book.

Not everything about Zack’s past is revealed, though, much to Anastasia’s frustration. I’ll continue to throw obstacles in her way and keep readers guessing for as long as they want to follow her journey. She’ll continue to solve at least one murder by the end of every book, but the financial problems that set the series in motion will continue to dog her. As for her relationship with Zack and various members of her family, all I’ll say is, to be continued…

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October 14 – Thoughts in Progress – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

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