Authorpreneur Dashboard – Ian Martyn
Inspector Kirby balance book edited 1 MASTER 2
Science Fiction & Fantasy
A pair of shoes at the side of the road, how weird can that be? Newcastle Detective Inspector Jonah Kirby, called ‘old school’ by his junior colleagues ends up with the cases other officers don’t like to handle, the weird ones. When a young girl is reported missing Kirby investigates. All he has to go on is the pair of shoes. It’s only been a few hours, but to Kirby it doesn’t feel right and in his experience things not feeling right often lead to things not being right. He’s confronted on the street by a grey cardigan wearing, elderly lady, who’s eyes hold more history than the local library. She tells him to visit local shopkeeper Harold Longcoat. Little does Kirby realise that his weirdness scale – weird, very weird and extremely weird – will soon need extending. Magic is spread thin in our world. However, as Kirby finds out, just because we’ve forgotten about it doesn’t mean magic isn’t there for someone intent on using it. A contemporary mystery with a touch of the paranormal and supernatural.
Book Bubbles from Inspector Kirby balance book edited 1 MASTER 2
The weirdness builds
In this chapter we meet Kirby and Harold's main adversaries for the first time. It establishes something of their characters and builds on the increasing weirdness. Also, hopefully posing more than a few questions in the reader's minds.
Starting to believe
Despite everything Kirby believed about the world he lived in Harold had convinced him that another world, no matter how strange, might indeed exist
First meeting with Edna
The "she" in question is Edna, an elderly lady in a grey cardigan who is so much more than she appears. This is Kirby's first contact with world of Edna and Harold Longcoat and suggests this case may not be quite so straightforward.
Kirby's copper's brain
I feel this short passage establishes Kirby is prepared to act on his instincts and to trust the instincts of others. This becomes even more important as the weirdness of the case increases.
Establishing Inspector Kirby
Early in chapter 1 I wanted to establish Kirby's character. He's a bit eccentric, a bit "old school". I also wanted to hint at a dry sense of humour. It also sets him up for getting all the "weird" cases.
