Writing Exercise (it's spooky!)

So we got a dog, an Australian cattle dog, a young Blue Heeler we named and renamed for ten frustrating days before settling on Casper (because he has a blizzard-like coat, not because he's an invisible presence, let me assure you of that!)

Casper is adorable for all the usual reasons, of course. He's cute (see the evidence, above), cheeky (ditto) and brings the family together, which is no mean feat now we have teenage sons who'd rather be anywhere but, like, together thanks very much.

But there's one other perk of having a pup that I hadn't factored in, but which has already paid dividends, big time.

Casper is my creative muse.
He jolts my imagination into gear.
He makes me want to write another book.
And he does this by taking me for "walkies".
What a good boy!

Plotting My Path

In case you hadn't noticed, I've been a bit uninspired of late. I've been feeling a little slouchy in the story department. I have a bunch of 'novels' in progress on my hard drive, but nothing that really, well, drives me. Which means the progress has been more Mini Minor than Ferrari 458.

After producing ten novels in relatively quick succession, I'd come to a creative halt. A road bump if you will.

Then, last week, Casper changed all that. Here's how it happened.

For those who don't know, my days are usually spent sitting at my desk in the Byron Bay hinterland, tap, tap, tapping away at freelance work, editing and/or fiction—if I'm lucky. I get up from my seat from time to time, to stretch the limbs, make a cup of tea, ransack the pantry, but, for the most part, I'm stuck on my butt, tap, tap… well, you get the gist.

Not anymore, folks!

Now thanks to my feisty canine companion, I'm urged to get vertical more regularly than ever before, and for longer periods of time. And it's not just great for my health and thighs, although it is, in equal measure. It's been like steroids for my leetle grey cells. So much so, the last time Casper and I went for "walkies", I conjured up an entire murder mystery before I even got past the front gate. (Which is actually not as extraordinary as it sounds, I live on seven acres.)

As he pulled me down the road, bursting at the leash, I let my mind gallop along behind him, and gallop it did—straight to a convoluted plot that involves a missing daughter, a shifty family, and an innocent, caught up in the chaos.

And it's not the only one. I've imagined two more storylines on stray adventures with my dog, one for my Ghostwriter Roxy Parker, and one for the Agatha Christie Book Club.

I won't say any more than that, wouldn't want to give too much away, but I'm so excited to have renewed creative vigour and I have a vigorous pup to thank for that.

Now, if he'd just let me sit at my desk in peace, I'd actually get around to writing them...

Happy reading (and walking), everyone!

xo Christina

Roxy's 6th mystery brings sparks - good & bad!

So there she is, minding her own business again—or rather, poking her nose into a client's—when our industrious ghostwriter Roxy Parker stumbles upon another grisly murder. (What? No!) This time Roxy's client, an uber-sexy rock star with a v. messy background, is zapped to death by his Fender Strat guitar.

He literally burns to death in front of her eyes!

There are some very dodgy suspects watching from the crowd, and at least two or three on stage right alongside him, including his beloved wife ...

In my sixth Ghostwriter Mystery, Roxy is back with a sizzling crime and a soft spot for a man who just might be the murderer. (Why must she always fall for the bad guys?!) Everyone's pointing the finger at the local sparkie (aka electrician), Sam Forrest. He's got a very good reason to want the rock star dead, and Roxy knows she should be avoiding the man at all costs. The problem is, she's nursing a broken heart after her failed relationship with Max Farrell, and there's something about Sam she can't resist. He has big puppydog eyes and an even cuter puppydog! And he's begging for her help.

Has Roxy just met the new man of her dreams or is she being taken for another ride?

Stay tuned, folks. You'll find out for yourself in a few weeks. I've just finished writing the latest adventure in Roxy Parker's life, and this one is set in the hinterland behind the rockin' town of Byron Bay. It's currently with my US editor. I'm hoping to have it up on Amazon and Smashwords in the new year.

Until then, be sure to catch up on Roxy's other adventures first if you haven't read them all via Amazon or Smashwords. And listen out for fresh books sales and title/cover reveals in the lead up to the launch.

If we don't speak beforehand, have a fantastic festive season and may there be lots of riveting mysteries in this year's Chrissy stocking!

xo Christina