Why Do The Hard Ones Always Turn Out To Be the Best?

I think that my third book in The Reboot series, The Harbinger of Retribution is one of my best. Even though it was so hard to write.
Now don't get me wrong, I love the book and the way it turned out, I think it’s one of my best. It’s just wasn't the book I originally set out to write, and taking a plot you have already settled on, finding out it doesn't work and then rewriting is very hard. I know because it also happened on the fourth and soon to be released fourth book The Wrong Ghost. There's a reason for that title.
Anyway back to The Harbinger of Retribution. Neat title huh? I usually have trouble with titles, but this one came easy. It was the only thing about this project that did.
Although it wasn't the idea that started the series, that is a book that is coming later in the series, the urban legend of the statue with a curse on it was an early idea. The problem was that I fell into a trap I sometimes encounter, I tried to do a dark and disturbing plot. In case you haven't read my books, I don't do dark and disturbing plots. There's a reason for that, I don't do it well.
Of course I finally realized the plot wasn’t working which meant I had to do total rewrite, which I hate to do because I had to delete pages (I hate doing that!). Finally, I got the book done in the light hearted spirit of the other two books, which is not easy when you’re dealing with a statue with an attitude. Just kidding. It’s just a statue.
Even the cover was a challenge, understatement, but I think it is one of my best.
Anyway, here’s the description of my hard work:
The Harbinger of Retribution is a thing of beauty and of nightmares. A seven foot tall statue of black marble depicting a cloaked woman with two swords crossed over her chest, residing in a back room of the local church in the town of Redemption which has seen more than its share of unfortunate events. At least that's how the story goes and why Irene's Eerie Adventures has come to town.
Cameraman Troy Stenson is elated to find that the object of their investigation does not disappoint in the sinister factor, on the surface anyway, and it even has a curse. The only cloud on his horizon is his partner, Irene Waters, who refuses to judge by appearances alone. To Troy’s chagrin she is proven right as it soon becomes clear that the only trouble being caused by the statue is figuring out what kind of trouble it's supposed to be causing. Mostly because no one can agree on what the supposed curse is actually supposed to do.
There is the information given by Reboot's now infamously incorrect Research Department stating the Harbinger's mere creation caused disaster to its talented but eccentric creator, and then to the town that harbors it. A story encouraged by the ancestors of the artist who claim that the statue really belongs to them, and denied by the pastor of the church where it now resides. Straightforward enough, except the situation is further complicated when the Reboot team finds a competing legend warning that the Harbinger's departure would lead to disaster in Redemption. As for the townspeople they are split as to which story to believe, and the rumors and tall tales just keep getting bigger and more out of control. Irene and Troy and do their best to sort out what facts they have, but are hampered in their investigation by the lack of assistance from their boss, Bernie Youngman, who has suddenly turned surly and uncooperative.
These events may have soured Troy's initial hope of an exciting story, but Irene is convinced that there is more going on than a mere curse. Solving that mystery, however, will involve overcoming her issues with pastors, separating who is lying from those who are merely indulging in wishful thinking and convincing her partner that there really is a story to be had even if it isn't the one he wants.