I'm a firm believer in telling the truth, in large part because it's easier to remember. And when it comes to secrets, they're completely safe with me, since I tend to forget them. If someone I know is keeping a secret, it's safe too -- from me at any rate -- because I have zero curiosity. If people want to share something, they have to volunteer the information; I'm not likely to pry it out of them. My husband is forever asking me what someone said about one thing or another, and I have to confess I have no idea, because I didn't ask. "How can you not ask?" he exclaims. All I can say is I never thought of it, which though true is a pretty pathetic excuse. (Pandora, I ain't.)

      So how does such an inept gossip and prevaricator come to write three books rooted in secrets and lies? I'm guessing here, but how about I have a wicked imagination? What about I think most people are curious and deceitful and I'm merely reflecting the world around me? Or maybe I've been duped and grilled by others so often that I'm simply recording life events? 

      No. It's because a story built around secrets and lies keeps readers guessing. What's true? What isn't? Who is hiding what and why? After a while, you suspect everyone of holding back or outright lying -- as well you should. (That's the whole point!)

      And if I'm being totally honest (why would I lie?), the accumulation of secrets and piling on of lies in the trilogy was not premeditated. (I almost wrote premedicated. I'm not sure what that is, but it's food -- or drugs -- for thought.) 

       Ahem ... I digress. 

       In the beginning, there was just one book --The Druid and the Dragon, because I find Druid lore fascinating, and who doesn't like dragons? And then suddenly one book was scheduled to become three. Since there wasn't a unifying theme for The Seer Trilogy at that point, I had to find one. I had to come up with an explanation for how Maeve had ended up in the situation she was in. I seriously had no idea what that was beyond being connected to her birth. It was only as I began writing The Bridge of Whispers that her truth started showing itself. But each new thing I discovered about Maeve revealed truths about the other characters in the story too, and they weren't always comfortable or safe truths. Hence there was a lot of coverup.

      I really was weaving a tangled web, and hanging onto all those threads got quite complicated. Hopefully it has all come together and the truth is satisfactorily revealed in The Sorcerer's Revenge.

• studies indicate that prosocial lies (those told in order to help others) take considerable cognitive and emotional effort, and therefore tired people are less likely to do it. (So if you need someone to lie for you, make sure you catch them after a good night's sleep.)

• scientific research indicates that the more people lie, the less guilty they feel about it. (It's like their conscience died for lack of use.)

• the 3 most common deep, dark secrets people keep concern: 1) an affair 2) an embarrassing incident and 3) your web-browsing history

• a survey of 10,000 people showed that the average person is keeping 13 secrets at any given time

• if you MUST get a secret off your chest, tell the cat, or failing that, choose someone who shares little information about their own private life, for this is likely a person who doesn't feel the need to blab. 

Secrets and lies can have effects you haven't thought about. As you read The Bridge of Whispers, consider the following questions:

• Minor figures aside (eg. - Finn and Cara), can you identify any characters in the first two books who haven't lied or kept a secret?
• What were the consequences of each character's lie or secret?
• How might things have worked out differently if the character hadn't lied or kept a secret?
• Do you think each character was justified in lying or being tight-lipped?
• Did discovering each secret or lie change your opinion of the character who perpetrated it?
  

• I'm waiting for reviews to start coming in for The Bridge of Whispers. So far I've seen only one; that was on Goodreads. Four out of five stars, so I'm encouraged.

• I'm also waiting to hear from my editor re: her initial take on the first draft of The Sorcerer's Revenge. They say no news is good news. I hope that's true.