麻豆视频

Joan Havelange might live in Russell, MB. but her new book takes place in a Saskatchewan small town.

鈥淚 was born and raised in Saskatchewan, in the little town of Corning, Saskatchewan. Then married, moved to Windthorst before moving up to Northern Manitoba for 22 years,鈥� related Havelange, adding 鈥淚 now live in Russell Manitoba, but still a Rider fan, once a Rider fan always a Rider fan.鈥�

The new book Havelange鈥檚 first is titled 鈥榃ayward Shot鈥� a mystery that came about after the budding author watched a classic mystery tale.

鈥淚 watched an Agatha Christie movie and thought what if the protagonist wasn鈥檛 as genteel as Miss Marple, and had an attitude. I like comedy with my mystery,鈥� she said.

Havelange noted she has no formal training in terms of writing, having worked for a mining company in Lynn Lake Manitoba, and in the banking industry.

鈥淚 dabbled writing Romance books, but I鈥檓 not romantic enough,鈥� she related, adding she has learned 鈥渕urder and mystery is my interest.鈥�

But why take on writing a book in the first place?

鈥淚 like puzzles,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 think people want to try and solve the mystery right along with the characters, and if they can get there before the characters do, they are happy, and if they don鈥檛 guess right then, I think they are still pleased.鈥�

And that was Havelange鈥檚 challenge, one she said she seems to have hit.

鈥淭he publishing editor did tell me she didn鈥檛 know 鈥榳hodunnit鈥� until the last chapter, so I did my job, which made happy,鈥� she said.

The writing process for Havelange was one of developing the story on the go.

鈥淚t鈥檚 all about what if. For instance, in Wayward Shot two ladies are golfing one golf shot flies over a stone fence into a graveyard. It lands in the middle of a dead man鈥檚 forehead and he鈥檚 not six feet under,鈥� she related.

From there the story flowed.

鈥淵es it is easy, and it isn鈥檛, you have to set aside so many hours each day,鈥� she said, adding as an author she needed to stay on task. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a job, a wonderful job, but you need have dedication to your craft.鈥�

That also means bookwork related to writing a book.

鈥淵ou need a log of all your characters, how they look, their mannerisms,鈥� said Havelange. 鈥淵ou will not remember if she has blue eyes, trust me.

鈥淎nd a background story for them, you may not use it in the book. But it builds the character.鈥�

From there Havelange said she needed a path to follow.

鈥淵ou have to have an outline of how the story is going to proceed, chapter by chapter,鈥� she said. 鈥淭here are many drafts the first one is you telling yourself the story.

鈥淭hen you get to work. There are at least 10 drafts. Then you send it to Beta readers, who check for plot holes etc.

鈥淎nd then more editing.鈥�

So what was the most challenging aspect of the project?

鈥淔or me it was proper punctuation. A comma is a very important tool, which I am prone to use too much,鈥� said Havelange.

In the end the book has what Havelange was hoping for as she suggested the combination of mystery and comedy is the best aspect of 鈥榃atward Shot鈥�.

鈥淚t takes the ideas of who seniors are, and spins it,鈥� she said, adding the charm of a small town and its eccentric characters shine through.

And there is more to come from the fledgling author.

鈥淚 have traveled a great deal, the next one is set in Egypt,鈥� she said, adding the next book is at the beta reader stage. 鈥淚鈥檓 working on another now. Working title is The Trouble with Funerals.鈥�

The book is available through Coles as well as on Amazon, Kindle, and Kobo.