Young love, part 2
Well, that was a marathon! Eleven months after I started, I have finally tied up all the loose ends on the Lennie and Bertie trilogy, and it is ready to go off for polishing. Since I started this journey in 2015, I have usually stuck to the same formula: work on a new book while the previous one is being edited, and at the same time plot the next book. Usually, it takes me about three months to complete the first draft of a novel, and that has always worked for me. This new trilogy was an entirely different beast - three full-length novels but one extended story. I enjoyed these new characters (along with some old ones popping up because, well, it would be rude not to, right?) and the story was fun to write. The whole process, eleven months on what was effectively one story, has left me feeling like I’ve been working on it for evvvvva… It was interesting, though, and the first time I’ve undertaken something so different. The question remains - will Lennie and Bertie return? The honest answer is I have no idea yet; I literally have no plans for it. Maybe I’ll see how the readers like these new characters (you’ve briefly met them in ‘Bertram Hervé’s Final Case’). I think if you’ve enjoyed the previous books, you’ll enjoy these. They’re both young Parisian police officers, both queer and both navigating problematic love lives while at the same time dealing with the disappearance of three teenage girls and the brutal death of a known sex offender. I like that they’re different to Coco and Hugo, but still set in the same mould. I would like to see them again, but I’m not sure whether I feel like doing another long, three-novel-length story for them. So, who knows? The second I post this blog and turn my attention to something else, the chances are another idea will pop into my head, and we’ll be off again. Therefore, all I’m saying is: watch this space!
For now, though, I’m happy to move on to a fresh story. So, what’s next? Well, before the trilogy takes over all of summer 2027 (each volume will be released a month apart), we have a December 2026 release (Coco book 6) and probably a March/April 2027 release for the next Hugo book. We’ll share more about both as their releases get closer. Right now, my attention is drawn to what’s next, and that idea was a little left-field. A while ago, when I began the Lennie & Bertie trilogy, I reintroduced a new character who had first appeared in ‘Josef.’ Ivri Levy joins the trilogy as a young foresnic technician. Ivri is, of course, the son of a certain Josef Levy. Josef, you may remember, first appeared in ‘Hugo & Josef ’, a story that took Hugo Duchamp back to his teenage years, where he discovered, amongst other things, love. I had always maintained that Hugo and Josef’s story ended there, but it appears that wasn’t to be the case. So, my next novel will be ‘Hugo & Josef II’ (I know, an original title, but it fits the purpose). I admit, I’m looking forward to putting these two characters back together, now fully grown but still wondering about the love that got away. Obviously it’s still early days, but I can tell you it will be a standalone novel. It will be a murder mystery, but also an exploration of these two men and what happens when they find themselves together again after decades of being apart. I’ll keep you updated as it progresses.
Apart from that, how are things with you all? I hope it’s good. We enjoyed (mostly) the long hot summer, but I confess I’m a little pleased that cooler days are now upon us - I’ll undoubtedly change my mind on that subject when it becomes cold and wet and dark, but hey ho, you can’t have everything. For now, I will say goodbye, wishing you all good health and happiness. And again, thank you for all your support; it really does mean the world to me!
Gx