My Alter Ego Is A Children’s Writer
She stopped my criminal career in its tracks — but only temporarily
When I took a break from crime (writing about it, I mean) to create a children’s book, I had no idea who I was about to meet. I was still wrestling with the swap from 21st century policing to the angst- and dilemma-ridden life of the pre-teenager in the modern world, when my publisher told me:
“You’re a crime writer. You can’t leave your lane.”
Secretly pleased to find I had a lane — after a lifetime of being all over the road — I asked what the consequences were for the book, and was introduced to my alter ego.
“Meet Melodie Trudeaux, author of Horse of a Different Colour.”
I shook hands with myself — not the easiest manoeuvre but I’ve weathered worse.
“How do you do, Melodie. I’m Penny. I have a lane.”
And so Melodie Trudeaux entered my life. She’s a fantasy and sci-fi fan who would love to visit the International Space Station. She has a website, and blogs regularly about space travel and horses.
Horse of a Different Colour was published in 2016, which immediately spawned the problem of the sequel. It needed one. Melodie and I had plans but here’s the problem — it’s busy in my lane. And when I’m busy, Melodie can’t find time to write.
Although she never gave up on her writing — dabbling in short sci-fi and being prolific enough on her blog to be detrimental to mine — getting that second novel off the ground remained troublesome.
However, waiting for time to make itself available doesn’t work. Drastic action was needed. It came unexpectedly out of the covid pandemic. A friend, who’s a riding instructor, was looking for ways to occupy the hundreds of children who had counted on spending Spring of 2020 in the saddle and who were now locked down at home.
She decided on a creative writing competition. Would I like to donate some books as prizes? Of course I would, but only Melodie’s book was suitable. Inspiration! What if Melodie offered as a prize the opportunity to name a character in her new book? She’d have to write it then.
Melodie and I had a terse exchange involving lanes and whose was busiest, but we accepted the challenge.
While my back was turned, my friend — never one to miss an opportunity — appointed me to the judging panel and commandeered my website to host the competition details. In the end, her talent for grabbing opportunities amassed such a huge number of prestigious prizes that I thought Melodie’s offer would be drowned out and I wouldn't need to worry about it.
Is that how it happened? No, of course not. In the end, not only did the audio edition of Horse of a Different Colour go out to a group of prizewinners, but Melodie acquired 18 new cast members for her sequel. These were introduced to the world in July 2020 by Professor von Puppet.
The sequel, Horse of the Same Colour, is coming along nicely. The effect on me and my lane has been a severe curtailment of any criminal activity, but normal service will be resumed soon.
