"Heist at Bitterport Savings Bank" is off to the editor!

I celebrated today with a treat at the cafe – I've just sent my first mystery novel off to the editor! "Heist at Bitterport Savings Bank" (working title) is officially out of my hands and in the capable care of the Tule Publishing editing team.

Stepping Into Uncharted Territory

Writing a full-on mystery has been one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of my writing career so far. I've spent years crafting romance plots, but mysteries require a completely different kind of thinking. Suddenly I'm juggling clues, red herrings, alibis, and trying to play fair with readers while still keeping them guessing.

The red herrings were particularly tricky for me to master. I kept second-guessing myself – is this too obvious? Too subtle? Will readers figure it out too early, or will they feel cheated when the truth is revealed? It's a delicate balance between giving readers enough information to solve the puzzle while still surprising them with the solution.

I did a lot more plotting than usual – starting with who committed the crime and why, then working backwards to figure out how to plant the right clues at the right moments.

Building Bitterport Together

One of the enjoyable aspects of this project has been the collaboration with Juanita Kees (writing as Raven Corbin) and Suzanne Gilchrist. We've been building the town of Bitterport together, sharing ideas about the history, the geography, the local quirks that make a small Tasmanian town feel real and lived-in.

We have so many shared documents and maps to keep us on track! But each of us brings different strengths and perspectives to fleshing out this atmospheric ghost town that's being brought back to life.

The collaborative process has pushed me to think more deeply about setting than I usually do. I'm not a hugely descriptive writer, but when other authors are also playing in your sandbox, you need to make sure every detail feels authentic and consistent.

The Dreaded Send-Off

I won't lie – clicking "send" on that email to my editor was terrifying. This book represents such a departure from my usual work, and I keep wondering if I've managed to pull off the mystery elements successfully. Have I played fair with readers? Are the clues too obvious or too obscure? Does the romance subplot work alongside the mystery without overwhelming it?

Working with a new publisher also adds an extra layer of nerves. I know how my usual editor thinks and what she's looking for, but this is uncharted territory with Tule Publishing. I'm grateful that the editor has already been supportive and encouraging, but that doesn't stop the inevitable author anxiety that comes with putting your work out there for professional judgment.

Part of me is also nervous about how different this book is from my usual voice. Writing mysteries has required me to be more plot-focused and methodical than I'm accustomed to. I hope I've managed to maintain the character development and emotional depth that romance readers expect, even while serving the demands of the mystery genre.

What Comes Next

Now comes the waiting game while the editorial team reviews the manuscript. I'm trying to distract myself with other projects, but it's hard not to wonder what feedback I'll receive. And how much work will be required in the editing process!

This whole experience has stretched me as a writer in ways I didn't expect. Whether the final result is everything I hope it will be remains to be seen, but I know I've grown from tackling something so far outside my comfort zone.

I'll keep you updated on how the editing process goes. In the meantime, wish me luck – and maybe send some calming thoughts my way while I wait for that feedback email to arrive!

Until next time,

Kerrie