The main character of my classical music suspense series, Boston pianist Maggie O’Shea, spent over a year sleeping in a desk drawer. Even now, as my fourth novel, Shadow Music, is released, I honestly never believed I would publish one book, let alone four. But there is always a story behind the story…
I knew that my first manuscript, The Lost Concerto, was in trouble when my agent called and said, “Pour yourself a stiff drink.” Countless rejections later, I parted with the agent and locked my manuscript (along with my confidence) in a drawer. I didn’t write for over a year. But the characters kept knocking on that drawer, and I knew they deserved life—especially my pianist Maggie, grieving the loss of her husband and her music. Writers cannot not write, and when the knocking grew unbearable I unlocked that drawer. Brutal editing followed. I deepened my core characters and added complex new ones, leading to new plot. I re-told Maggie’s story through the emotional chords of the Grieg Piano Concerto. Finally, I introduced a rescue Golden Retriever who brought humor and humanity. My publisher loved it.
Now, years later, Shadow Music continues Maggie’s story. I’m forever grateful that I trusted my characters and answered that ‘knock on the drawer.’
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