
will be interviewed here at scribbleandedit
over three consecutive days from Monday 12th - Wednesday 14th August 2013.
Here's the opening to Milo's novella, Immaterial Evidence:
Excerpt Immaterial
Evidence © Milo James Fowler
They say no good deed goes
unpunished. I had two bullet holes in me to prove it.
My tale of woe, like so
many others before and since, starts with a girl. But this one was just a
kid—snatched off the street while out for an evening stroll with her parents. I
should have known better than to take the case, considering how little I had to
go on, but times were tough, and I needed the money.
I couldn’t have known how
much it would cost me in the end—or how special that girl truly was.
“They’re here.” Wanda
Wood, my part-time secretary and full-time confidant, let the drapes fall back
in place on her front window. “You sure about this, Charlie? Leaving town?
Ain’t like you.”
“Can’t stay here. Not with
Ivan gunning for me.” I winced, adjusting the sling that held my right arm. I
glanced around Wanda’s apartment—a nice place, but not nearly big enough for
the both of us. Had it been a week already? “As much as I’ve appreciated it.”
“I wouldn’t let anybody
come after you.” She sat down beside me on the sofa.
“My own personal
bodyguard.” I chucked her under the chin.
She shook her head, blonde
curls bobbing. “You save that little girl’s life, and you’re the one who pays
for it. Office burned to the ground, your friend killed—” Just as her eyes
started to glisten with tears, she turned away from me. “Life really ain’t fair
sometimes.”
“Hey.” I touched her
cheek, and she fixed me with her pair of shining sapphires.
“The mayor’s office is a
real step up, don’t you think?”
“I liked working for you.”
“And you will again.” I
stood. “Soon as I get my detective agency up and running in Little Tokyo, I’ll
send for you. It’ll be just like old times. You’ll see.” I raised an eyebrow at
her. “Unless you don’t like the idea.”
“Oh, I like it fine.” She
took the crooked arm I extended toward her—like I was the one escorting her to
the door and not the other way around. “I’m just afraid I’ll never see you
again.”
“You should be so lucky.”
She gave me a playful
shove. I gave her a peck on the cheek.
“You’re a hero, Charlie.
Don’t let anybody tell you different, not even your own self.”
Have any of you kept your original MS's from years back in your earliest writing days, like Milo?
Thanks for having me, Madeleine! I think I was 14 when I typed up "The Case of the Double Murder" -- it's really awful, but at least Charlie and Wanda survived the 20-year interim to appear in my latest novella.
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome Milo, Glad to host you.
DeleteMadeleine Sara 19 hours ago
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the excerpt, Milo. I was hooked from the first line.
Your original MS reminds me of my early writing days, too. Looking forward to seeing the interview unfold. Spent ages on this page trying to get Blogger to stop double spacing the lines!!
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Reply
Crystal Collier 1 hour ago
Wow. So loved this bit. Connected with the characters instantly, and the first line? So awesome. I want to buy it and read on, but I can't! I have to go edit. :(
Reply to CRYSTAL - yes do and enjoy. Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteSorry your message disappeared when I changed back from Google+ commenting as it was proving a headache for quite a few of my regulars.
Awesome seeing both manuscripts together--it must have been so cool to bring to life for your readers characters that have meant so much to you for so long. I can't wait for the next three days of interviews. :)
ReplyDeleteYes I love seeing author's original MS's. It gives such a personal nostalgia to the writing journey.
DeleteMilo, it was interesting to see just how much ones writing does change over the years. I saved a short story I wrote when my sons were in high school, but it was so bad, I couldn't salvage anything. Thirty years passed before I wrote again.
ReplyDeleteI like your writing style very much. After reading your book, The Backtracker, last night, you've got yourself a 'forever' fan.
Madeleine, Your blog is very nice.
Bless you Leona. Glad you are enjoy the author interview and excerpt.
DeleteThis excerpt hooked me in as a reader. Sounded intriguing.
ReplyDeleteYes I agree Nas, thanks for stopping by.
DeleteHi Maddy! Hi Milo! I think Milo's strength is his ability to hook the reader right away, then continue to write in a tight style throughout. Great excerpt Milo.
ReplyDeleteAgain I agree with you Denise. He has a great writing voice too.
DeleteI have kept some of my earliest mss ... not that I'd share them with anyone, though! :)
ReplyDeleteLOL! Awh bless! Yes I have some old stories somewhere. I guess they show how far we have come in our writing, hopefully.
DeleteHi Madeline,
ReplyDeleteRemember the "Guess the lie" contest on Crystal Collier's blog? You won an eBook of Twinned Universes! Congratulations! Please e-mail me at ulbrichalmazan@sbcglobal.net and tell me where to send your copy and what format you prefer. Thanks for playing!