80,000 words into this second book and I have finally been forced to address three rather significant plot holes that I have known about for some time but was kind of hoping would resolve themselves in some miraculous way.
However, as I approach the thrilling finale and realize that it isn't really all that clever I know I'm going to have to take a step back and fill in those holes. Only that will allow the nail-biter of an ending to make sense. And as Anne McDermid advised, one ignores a clever plot at one's peril.
I put my thinking cap on, all the while trying to remember that everything has to fit with the theme of this book - How guilt and shame can distort perception and cause unnecessary suffering.
The first plot gap was coming up with a believable motivation for the evil actions of the main antagonist. So far his reasons were kind of weak and a little scattered but this turned out to be relatively easy to fix. In fact, I think I came up with a particularly brilliant idea.
The second involved getting rid of Maitland. I needed her to be unable to come to the rescue and the only way I could do that was to come up with a reason why Grace would decide to ask Signy to work on this case with her without telling Maitland. A little harder but definitely doable.
The third giant sinkhole was the question of why Signy would call on the Tracker for assistance when Grace disappears. She is trapped in the States, harboring a woman and a child who have just become the subjects of an Amber Alert. She knows Grace has gone to see the woman's husband and now Grace has disappeared. Why in God's name would she not reach out for Maitland's formidable assistance under these dire circumstances??
Not to mention that the Tracker is being stalked by an assassin, and when he rides to the rescue, unbeknownst to him he brings along a big stinking pile of trouble of his own.
That is when I sat back and freaked. It is all getting too COMPLICATED!
This book has turned out to be much more of a Grace and Signy show that I had intended and I wonder if the inclusion of the Tracker is detracting from their dynamic? And yet, it would be so much more interesting if Signy gets to reunite with her newly discovered brother. Besides, I like the Tracker....
Heavy sigh....gulp...unfortunately, .I think that if I want this book to really crackle I am probably going to have to do a lot of new writing, a lot more cutting and even more re-writes.
Why am I doing this? In what universe is this fun?
What inevitably spurs me on is that I know that the solution is hiding just behind a half open door in the back of my mind. I realize that if I put my shoulder back to the grindstone I will find it and I'm certain that in the long run I will be happy that I put in the effort.
crap....
