Cover of The Man by the Lake
Hi there,
It’s been a while…
I hope you’re all healthy and safe.
I never entirely stopped writing, although my production was low. Moreover, I never published anything I’d written. I’m going to repair that and start with a short story, a thriller. Baby steps.
As per usual I’m doing it all wrong. Common writer wisdom has it that you should write in the genre that readers expect from you. “They” seem to think that readers are simpletons who can’t (under)stand a change in pace or a new perspective. I explicitly disagree. Readers are smart people, and all smart people are readers. But, anyway, according to traditional writing wisdom I’m doing it wrong. Again.
Allow me to elaborate.
The Spencer Boys
The Man by the Lake is set in the world of Just Don’t Mess with Us: Family Matters, a series of interconnected stories. I had just finished A Dish Served Cold, and I urgently needed some levity and fun after the grim dystopian world I had written about.
The stories of Just Don’t Mess with Us: Family Matters were never meant to be taken seriously. They are satire, light fare, to be forgotten as soon as read. I had great fun writing them, and, a very select public of readers had fun reading them.
The five stories relate the adventures of four guys living together in a polyamorous relationship. They try to keep their true relationship out of the spotlight by posing as brothers. The Spencer boys are very protective of their little family. It is vaguely hinted that this is because all of them, except the oldest, Matt, have a troubled past.
After Just Don’t Mess with Us: Family Matters I started writing Dark Tales of Randamor the Recluse. Although these books were on an epic scale, with a cast numbering in the hundreds and an intricate plot and convoluted sub-plots, I never entirely forgot about the Spencer boys.
Especially their possible backstory intrigued me. This story, The Man by the Lake, reveals one of these painful and distressing pasts.
And here is why I’m doing it wrong.
Wrong again
Just Don’t Mess with Us: Family Matters was over the top, verging on the absurd, frivolous and nonsensical amusement. By all rights you are entitled to expect more of the same. Well, you’re not getting it. This story is nothing like that. You will recognize some tropes and characteristics, but that’s about it. This story is much darker and hardly humorous. It asks some tough questions and leaves it to the reader to answer them. Also, while gay relationships are implied, there is no on-screen sex.
See? Completely wrong.
Ah well, I nevertheless hope you’ll enjoy it.
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Will it be available on amazon uk?
It already is: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09G5MM2NV
“Readers are smart people, and all smart people are readers.”
I am in full agreement. I imagine that is why some writers use multiple psuedonyms when in fact, IMO, such is totally unnecessary. Readers love to see the versatility of their favourite writers.
TMbtL is a very interesting and enjoyable read. I do hope some smart aleck doesn’t figure anything out regarding Danny (if there’s an investigation).
Thanks Andrew. Keep ’em coming as much as you can.
I will, and thanks for your kind words.
Really happy you share with us, loyals followers, your last Pages… I’ll read than with pleasure. I dare to tell a little regret for not having in a single book all the installements of the Lee-Lak’s Gold (I keep the folded in an e-mail archive…).
Thank you and stay safe
Thanks Fausto.
As to Lee-Lack’s Gold… who knows? Maybe one day…
Thanks for the link. It wasn’t showing up the last time I looked.
My pleasure.
Hello Andrew, I’m so happy to see you are writing again. I’ve recently read your series Invisible Chains, Invisible Hands and just couldn’t put the books down, I felt so much improvement in your writing with each volume, I absolutely loved it. Do you plan to continue the story? I confess that the only thing missing for me was more scenes with Ehandar, more insight on his feelings and development, he was by far my favorite character. It would be amazing to see how his relationship with his brother could develop as they grow older. I have my fingers crossed that the series is not over yet. Thank you for all the fun you gave us with these books!
Hi Ana,
Thank you for your kind words.
No, the series is not over yet. Too many threads are still unresolved. But I can’t tell when I will continue the main story lines. All I have is a tentative title for the next trilogy: The Invisible Crowns.
Meanwhile, I’m writing a few cozy mysteries with Rahendo and Ryhunzo in the unlikely role of intrepid sleuths. Expect the first one, Dagger of Deception in the first weeks of 2022. I already have the story for the second one. I just need to iron out some rough spots here and there. Oh, and write it, of course…
I know it’s not what you expected, all the more so since Ehandar hasn’t any part in either story. Anaxantis has a minor one in the first one.
Nevertheless I hope they will tide you over.
Andrew, thank you for your reply. I can’t wait to find out what Rahendo and Ryhunzo are up to now, they are hilarious and all the scenes with them are priceless. Meanwhile I’ll be sending you some good vibes so inspiration for Invisible Crowns will hit soon!