HOW MY WRITING HAS CHANGED by Randy Rawls
When I began writing a long, long time ago, my stories
were basic mysteries. A crime happens and my protagonist becomes
involved. Through good investigative
techniques and luck, he finds vague clues and puts them together to uncover the
criminal. I say basic because, I suppose, that’s about every mystery that
has ever been written.
However, over the years, as my protagonist has changed
from Ace Edwards, Dallas PI, to Tom Edwards, S FL PI . . . and eventually to
Beth Bowman, S FL PI, I find that my stories have become more real life, more
based on the headlines in the news.
For example, Tom Edwards
rescued a thirteen-year-old runaway, then backtracked to discover why she ran.
His investigation (THE RUNAWAY) led him to her father who had been shoved
out of her life when she was very young. During the course of the
writing, Tom (and I) discovered a lot about runaway teens, why they run and
what happens to them.
Then a five-year-old girl was kidnapped and it became
Beth Bowman’s job to recover her. Another crime straight out of the
headlines. Too often, the child is found
dead in our real world, tragic losses. Fortunately, in BEST DEFENSE, Beth
was able to make the recovery, saving me the trauma of writing something worse.
How about the drug problem across our country today?
We read about the arrests, trials, and sentencing of the little fish—users,
pushers, mules—but we seldom hear of big dogs, those making millions of
dollars. So, when I finished a standalone book, JUSTICE SECURED, I
discovered that’s what I’d written—bringing down a crime lord.
Then came a book looking at the “professional
demonstrator/rioter” business. We seem to go through cycles where
demonstrations are peaceful and controlled. Those are protected by the
First Amendment. Then we hit a string
where rioting, looting, and destruction of others’ property makes the headlines.
Nothing in our Constitution gives the latter a “right.” My latest book SAVING DABBA takes on this
problem—again, straight out of the headlines.
Now, I’m taking on illegal immigration and those who take
advantage of those poor people whose only hope is to find a better way of life.
There are truly despicable crumb-bums out there set to prey on these
people—and they do. Beth Bowman finds
herself dragged into this world as she tries to help a teenage illegal
immigrant. With luck, this book will receive a title and be published
during the fall/winter of 2018.
I made no conscious decision to switch to stories
spotlighting the daily weaknesses of our society, but that’s what has happened.
There is enough evil out there to keep me on the keyboard forever. My approach is no longer that of the pure
mystery. They are more a hybrid between
mystery and thriller.
The one point that has NOT changed, though, is the
language I use. It might not be ready
for a ballroom, but it’s not in the gutter either. It will always remain living-room clean.
I wonder what changes other authors have made without
realizing such were occurring. Do you find yourself writing in a
different genre than the one you started in?
Have your stories become more (fill in the blank) than when you
began and, was the change intentional? Just curious.
Bio:
Randy Rawls was born and reared in
Williamston, North Carolina, a small town in the northeastern part of the
state. From there, he says he inherited a sense of responsibility, a belief in
fair play, and a love of country. As a career US Army officer, he had the
opportunity to learn, travel, teach, and hone talents inherited from his
parents.
Following retirement, he worked in other ventures for the US
Government. Every job has in some way been fun. Even the dark days of Vietnam
had their light moments, and he cherishes the camaraderie that was an integral
part of survival in that hostile world.
Today, he has short stories in several
anthologies, and a growing list of novels to his credit. As a prolific reader,
the reads across several genres and takes that into his writing.
He has written
mysteries, thrillers, an historical, and two fantasy/mystery/thrillers
featuring a Santa Elf. The count is now at fourteen and growing. He is a
regular contributor to Happy Homicides, a twice annual anthology of cozy short
stories. He also has a series of short stories featuring a cattle-herding
burro. Wherever his imagination will take him, he follows.
Buy links for Saving Dabba
Buy link for Jingle and his Magnificent Seven:
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