I was asked: What was the toughest part of writing Pieces of Ivy?
Aside from the flood of story details that pushed the first draft to more than double the finished novel’s final length and having to cull many darlings, it was realizing how appalling the motive behind Ivy’s killing was.
As the story unfolded for me, the revelation of who killed Ivy so malevolently stunned me and drove me to consider the thin skin of darkness that slithers beneath even the most unsuspicious flesh. There is no question that the slaughter of the precious Ivy Turner was absolutely horrific, but the underlying why that presents itself without exposing the explicit motive to the reader I think is even more jarring and disheartening than every cruel wrong that was inflicted on that wonderful young woman.
Pieces of Ivy was so uncomfortable to write because I had such a clear vision of not only the beauty that was Ivy Turner, but also the astonishing bright soul, living without judgment … living live and out loud … making her the least deserving of such terrible torments. This made extinguishing her light in such a horrifying way so hostile and intense … which in story, therefore, so necessary. And then laying this all upon Vicki, who outwardly appears to have it all, including attitude, but inwardly has a persistent being that no one would ever wish upon their foulest enemies.
Toughest part to write of course was the slow reveal of Ivy Turner’s vicious torments before she dies … and after. It truly tapped into the disturbing darkness that humanity is capable. And worse, it’s nothing that would shock in today’s news if you care to read a little deeper. I think the real twist was the who and the why, once you got past the what and the how. And having this then follow so literally into Vicki’s life unleashes an inescapable burden that I almost feel bad putting my star protagonist through, especially given the already heavy chains she bears. But only just a little bad. It has to be a gripping story right? Or you wouldn’t continue to flip those pages.
Story should be a challenging journey of through the character’s eyes, often down terrible circumstances and for worse reasons. As readers, and writers, it gives us a safe place to explore the horrible—but that makes it no less uncomfortable. Fiction is for entertainment. Good entertainment is always emotional … sometimes that emotion is horrific in it’s connection.