Mik and Drew on who does what

By Drew

"Which one of you does what? I mean, it says Mik and Drew on the cover, so do you both write the book?"

That's a question we get asked a lot. Simply put, it depends on the book. One of us usually takes the lead for a given series, but when it comes down to the real hard graft, we tend to spilt into two major roles: character and plotting. Mik's strength is character and mine is plot.

When I'm asked to pick which one is most important, I say they are both important, but for different reasons. However, without great characters you won't have a series where people will want to return.

But then, without a decent plot for those characters to deal with, there'd be no direction and no feeling of satisfaction at the end, since nothing would have been wrapped up.

Yet, even after the plot gives the story bones and basic musculature, people will tend to remember the characters first and last. At times, it's almost as if the plot is needed to give the characters something to do and to give us as readers satisfaction and fulfillment, but emotionally, the plot is easily forgotten with the ease of a "who cares" shrug of the shoulders.

The thing is, with a series like The Maudlin Wives Inn, the plot is a mystery that is secondary to the characters, but without which, the book will feel vapid. So, that's why Mik leads The Maudlin Wives Inn from the point of character - setting Esther loose on the world - and then I follow with the boring plotty bits, while trying to make most of the clues as invisible as possible. Then we do it again together a million more times until we're happy.

So it's character first on the bones of a general plot, then the plot muscles and tendons are welded to the bones and the character is laid over everything again providing the contours and outer skin. 

As for plot, we also try to make sure that even though it can feel like it takes ages for the master plot of the book to become obvious, the first clues were laid out right at the very start. You'll see the same thing in the Two Old Twitchers series. If you knew what you were looking for, you would have found the main clues provided right up front. But hopefully, not enough to know which of the many paths are dead ends and which lead to the solution or unmasking.

However, for Mik and I, the fun is always in the journey with the characters. Each book is a summer road trip of sorts. Mik makes sure fun people are invited and I make sure I navigate us correctly to the destination. In that way, you can trust the trip will be worth it in the end and that it's always fun getting there.