Russell, MB. author Joan Havelange has a new mystery for her fans.
鈥淎bout three years ago, I took a trip to Egypt,鈥� she explained. 鈥淎nd as I toured the ancient temples and viewed the fascinating artifacts from Egypt鈥檚 past, I knew there had to be a mystery for my protagonist.鈥�
The new book; Death and Denial is a follow up to Wayward Shot (featured in Yorkton This Week in April 2019), although both books can stand alone.
鈥淚n Wayward Shot Mabel and Violet, my two protagonists were hot on the trail of a murderer. In Death and Denial, Mabel is trying to prevent one,鈥� offered Havelange.
The author said the germ of an idea for the story came down to the simplest question a writer can ask themselves; what if?
鈥淲hat if Mabel hears a murder plot and no one believes her?鈥� asked Havelange.鈥淭hen a murder is committed, but still, no one believes her.
鈥淣owthe adventure begins, she has to cope with the language and culture barrier.鈥�
聽Havelange said when it comes to penning her books she finds the process quite enjoyable, at least mostly enjoyable.
鈥淲riting is the fun part. Editing is not,鈥� she said.
鈥淲riting is a job, the best job ever, but a job. And you have to keep to a writing schedule as much as you can. I block out chapters, of what will happen, and when. Although sometimes my characters seem to take off in a direction I had not planned.
鈥淎nd I have to write to catch up. I have a bio of each character, so I don鈥檛 get confused. Trust me; you won鈥檛 remember if they have grey hair and blue eyes and hate country music.鈥�
Interestingly, the writing process does not get easier.
鈥淒eath and Denial was harder to write; Wayward Shot was set in a small town which most people could relate to,鈥� said Havelange.
鈥淎nd the ladies were new to solving mysteries. So there was a lot of easy humour. I still wanted the humour, but the ladies had to evolve and still retain their eccentricities.鈥�
There was also the foreign locale to work with in the new novel.
鈥淚 wanted to give the flavour of Egypt, but keep the story moving,鈥� said Havelange. 鈥淚 needed to describe the ancient wonders of Egypt without making it a travel-log.聽
鈥淢ystery, humour and adventure was my main goal.鈥�
That said there were pitfalls to avoid.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 want the characters who were Egyptian to be stereotype,鈥� said Havelange. 鈥淭he Egyptians they met on their trip, all have different educational levels, so they speak differently. They all speak in English, of course, but each has a different way of phrasing words.鈥�
But, Havelange said it comes back to her core characters when she thinks about the best aspect of the latest offering; 鈥渢wo little ladies from Saskatchewan, in a foreign land, outmaneuvering the Egyptian police, and a devious killer.鈥�
And, in the end Havelange is happy with her new tale.
鈥淵es, I am happy with Death and Denial. There is a cast of tourists mixed with Arabs, unexpected twists and set against the background of the Great Pyramids, on the Giza Plateau, the Great Sphinx and the Valley of the Kings; not to forget the deadly cruise down the Nile,鈥� she said.
Havelange said she hopes the book appeals to 鈥渢hose who love travel, adventure, humour and mystery.鈥�
And a third book is in the writing stage with 鈥楾he Trouble with Funerals鈥� expected to be released in December.
