Brian Feehan: On Going Deeper Into Characters
Author Brian Feehan discusses writing his new paranormal romance novel, Harmony of Lies.
Brian Feehan lives in his mind, creating vibrant characters that talk very loud and far too often. When real life comes knocking, it is likely to be the love of his life Michelle or their son Dylan. Together, the three of them live on the northern coast of California, which is far different than any other part of California.
Brian is fascinated by both the written word and learning new subjects. He is always up for a laugh, a game, or a drink with friends and family. He is also the son of #1 New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan, who started his training to become an author before he was old enough to walk. For more information about Brian and his novels, please visit brianfeehanauthor.com and join his mailing list.
In this post, Brian writing his new paranormal romance novel, Harmony of Lies, his thoughts on the purpose of writing the first chapter, and more!
Name: Brian Feehan
Literary agent: Steve Axelrod, The Axelrod Agency
Book title: Harmony of Lies
Publisher: Penguin Random House/Berkley/Jove
Release date: February 21, 2023
Genre/category: Paranormal Romance/Fantasy Romance/Urban Fantasy
Previous titles: Harmony of Fire
Elevator pitch for the book: In the mysterious city of San Francisco is a legend of a ghost within a piano, that kills musicians. Through lies, deceit, and love, Owen and his crew are headed right into its trap.
What prompted you to write this book?
I wanted to see what was going to happen next in the Alice and Owen story. I wanted to feel the adrenaline and chemistry. I wanted to dance into the unknown, filled with magic, music, and friends, through a twisting ride of deception, violence, and mystery while capturing the wonder and danger of San Francisco through the extraordinary people that live there.
You might like to know that the title itself influenced its journey. In the first novel Harmony of Fire, the title came after, but in Harmony of Lies, the title showed up in the very first chapter and that resonated in the matrix of the story.
How long did it take to go from idea to publication? And did the idea change during the process?
This novel took about two and half years from idea to publication. I wrote the opening chapters about 12 different times and none of them really worked. At last, I was able to take the best of what I had in my mind and add in the missing pieces of what I needed, and what I thought the reader needed. The first chapter broke and “we were off to the races” as they say.
I tend to struggle with an opening chapter, and I hope I always will—because chapter one is more than the beginning of a story, it’s more than a continuation of the last story; it’s an introduction between the writer, the characters, the plot, and the audience, both individually and collectively. Chapter one sets the foundation for everything I hope to achieve.
In Harmony of Lies, I wanted a veiled mystery and intriguing journey through the spirit of San Francisco. A journey that navigated the lies, all while feeling the struggle of Alice and Owen trying to hold on to one another. The golden city is such a beautiful and shadowed destination, rich with history, music, and vibrant characters. The novel turned and twisted in my hands as I wrote it.
Were there any surprises or learning moments in the publishing process for this title?
I am lucky enough to get to work with Berkley Publishing, part of Penguin Random House. From the president Ivan to my editor Cindy and the entire team, they dedicate their talents, time, and effort to my novel (and others) and are amazing professionals! They do the heavy lifting when it comes to publishing and I’m grateful. This amazing teams allows me to focus my time and energy on writing…the thing I love most.
Were there any surprises in the writing process for this book?
Harmony of Lies is the second novel in the Alice and Owen series, so the main characters are the same. When I wrote the first novel in the series, I wanted it to be something special, I worked hard to give the reader and the story everything I had. I wanted the novel to have fireworks that shot all the way to the stars while also having a story that felt like a warm cozy fire you can snuggle up to.
In starting book two, there’s a realization that a lot of the fireworks are gone and used up. The audience has already had that experience. I loved writing this novel because I had to go deeper into my characters, deeper into myself, and deeper into what I believe the audience wants and needs.
What do you hope readers will get out of your book?
When the reader puts this book down, I hope they feel refreshed, inspired, and strong. I hope it resonates with them and they say “Wow, I can’t wait for the next one!” That’s the simple answer.
I spend countless hours thinking about the reader and doing my best to respect who they are and what matters to them. I want Harmony of Lies to connect and give something back, so it needs to be more than a novel, it needs to be a conversation between us.
If you could share one piece of advice with other writers, what would it be?
Write as if you are Superman, and it’s your responsibility to save the day.
Robert Lee Brewer is Senior Editor of Writer's Digest, which includes managing the content on WritersDigest.com and programming virtual conferences. He's the author of 40 Plot Twist Prompts for Writers: Writing Ideas for Bending Stories in New Directions, The Complete Guide of Poetic Forms: 100+ Poetic Form Definitions and Examples for Poets, Poem-a-Day: 365 Poetry Writing Prompts for a Year of Poeming, and more. Also, he's the editor of Writer's Market, Poet's Market, and Guide to Literary Agents. Follow him on Twitter @robertleebrewer.
