Charles Todd: On the Surprise in the Writing Process
New York Times bestselling author Charles Todd discusses the process of writing his new mystery novel, The Cliff’s Edge.
Charles Todd is the New York Times bestselling author of the Inspector Ian Rutledge mysteries, the Bess Crawford mysteries, and two stand-alone novels. A mother-and-son writing team, Caroline passed away in August 2021 and Charles lives in Florida. Find him on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
In this post, Charles discusses the process of writing his new mystery novel, The Cliff’s Edge, his hope for readers, and more!
Name: Charles Todd
Literary agent: Lisa Gallagher, DeFiore and Company
Book title: The Cliff’s Edge
Publisher: Morrow
Release date: February 14, 2023
Genre/category: Mystery, Suspense/Thriller, Historical
Elevator pitch for the book: In the aftermath of World War I, nurse Bess Crawford is caught in a deadly feud between two families in this 13th book in the beloved mystery series from New York Times bestselling author Charles Todd.
What prompted you to write this book?
Restless and uncertain of her future in the wake of World War I, former battlefield nurse Bess Crawford agrees to travel to Yorkshire. The mountains/Fells of Yorkshire are not often written about and yet it is a strange and wonderful part of the county. The mountains and valleys create a stirring backdrop for a mystery. There is a sense of haunting that was recreated in this mystery.
How long did it take to go from idea to publication?
It took about two years in total. Sadly, Caroline Todd the co-author of the mother/son team known as Charles Todd passed away suddenly in August of 2021. This caused a delay in the editing and acceptance process. With the publisher.
Finally in May of 2022, The Cliff’s Edge was ready to go to press with a release date of February 14, 2023.
And did the idea change during the process?
Yes, primarily in the writing process. As the characters develop they become real people who have their own ideas about what they will and will not do. A character may say or do something unexpected that requires a reevaluation of what was initially planned. Suddenly, they will appear in a scene or interject something in a conversation.
This goes back to not outlining. Strict adherence to any outline or plan will cause the characters to appear one-dimensional. Some characters became redundant and were combined into one. It was less confusing for the reader. Sorting out the lay out of scenes and who is where had to be changed for consistency. This was addressed in the writing and editing process.
Were there any surprises or learning moments in the publishing process for this title?
As a manuscript is reviewed and edited by professionals, a new and fresh look provides unexpected feedback. It is a very helpful process that teaches a writer how their work is perceived. Why is a room called X or what was the sequence of events in this action scene that created both surprise and an opportunity to learn?
Were there any surprises in the writing process for this book?
There are always surprises when writing a book. Because the books are not outlined, the criminal is unknown until the end of the book. We have often said, “If we know who did it, we would not want to write the book.”
This story in particular involved a lot of research and review of our notes/photos from having visited the location. Any specifics would reveal things the reader would enjoy.
What do you hope readers will get out of your book?
A sense of the place and the people who are characters in it. A better understanding the family dynamics still haunted by events from the war. Even after the Peace Treaty in 1919, the effects of the war on the people who lived through it lasted a lifetime.
If you could share one piece of advice with other writers, what would it be?
Patience. For yourself and for the characters. Let them develop and become as real to you as you hope your readers will too.
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.
