When I started The Red Road, I knew the event I wanted to write about and how I wanted it to end. But everything in between was made up in the moment. That’s the way of a pantser. I chose the date for the Red Road based upon a piece of actual history.
One setting in the novel is the Lakeview Country Club, loosely based on the Lakewood Theater and Golf course in my hometown. The theater has existed since 1921 and has hosted many Hollywood stars. It was a testing place for Broadway and lured stars like Humphrey Bogart, Groucho Marx and Betty White.
I chose 1933 because that was the year the Groucho Marx appeared in Maine, and he is certainly a name that most of my readers would know. In an attempt to add historical accuracy to the novel, I looked for other events that occurred in 1933 and multiple storylines were born.
For instance, 1933 was the last year of prohibition. My original intent was never to have bootlegging enter into the story, but it was an intriguing concept to me. If I was a bootlegger and knew that prohibition would end, what would I do to make sure I made the best use of what time was left? That is where the Moreland family was born.
In my new book, The Robin’s Gaze, a simple search of Irish superstitions and traditions lead to multiple story lines including the belief that deceased loved ones can see you through the eyes of a robin and Edna’s revealing that she is pregnant through the use of the nativity scene at Christmas.
The best part of being a pantser and discovering storylines through research is that I get to be surprised at what is about to happen to a character as much as a reader.
Do you have a book club? If you choose to read any of my books in your book club, please reach out and I will be happy to answer questions or even attend virtually.
Thank you for your continued support.
Jon aka J.E. McCarthy
Visit Lakewood Theater at https://www.lakewoodtheater.org/
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