Evelyn David

June has been a whirlwind of a month. Were there only 30 days? Evelyn David has had a delightful time meeting fans, signing books, giving out chocolate!, and reaching out to new audiences. The Northern half spent June 9 at the Greenwich Kennel Club show and loved connecting with mystery lovers and some adorable four-footed friends. An afternoon in Stillwater, Oklahoma with a writers group gave the Southern half of Evelyn David the opportunity to share some lessons learned from writing Murder Off the Books and discuss the creative process. We both spent Father's Day celebrating the dads in our lives, but also guest blogging at Reviewedbyliz.com. The Northern half ended the month in Washington, D.C. - home of Mac, Whiskey,and Rachel - and also the site of the annual conference of the American Library Association. A book lover surrounded by those devoted to the written word. It was an incredible day. For those who are keeping count, Evelyn David has gone through about 500 pieces of chocolate this month!

Coming up in July? The Northern half of Evelyn David will be speaking on July 10 at the Roxbury Public Library (Succasunna, NJ); July 14 at the Fort Lee Public Library (Fort Lee, NJ); and on July 31 at the Delmar Public Library (Delmar, DE). The Southern half will be speaking on July 10 at the Lawton Public Library (Lawton, OK) and on July 19 at the Grove Public Library (Grove, OK). It is always so good to chat with friends at these events. If you're in the area, please stop by. Chocolate, bookmarks, and mysteries are on the agenda.

Congratulations to Kathryn of Tazewell, Virginia, this month's winner of a Whiskey coffee mug. We'll draw a new name at the end of July, so encourage family and friends to join our newsletter mailing list.

"Who's Got Your Back?"
"Elementary, my dear Watson."

Sherlock Holmes could have been responding to a question concerning the need for protagonists to have "sidekicks." From buddy movies to mystery novels and everything in between, the hero or heroine without someone "riding shotgun" is a pitiful sight to behold. Nancy Drew would have been just another nosy high school student without Bess, Ned and George. Would she have been as much fun to read about - or appeared as smart - without her trusty, if slightly dim, cohorts?

Sidekicks build character development and storyline. What better way for a reader to understand a protagonist than to observe the hero's interactions with his best friend? In Murder Off the Books, Mac Sullivan uses Whiskey, his Irish Wolfhound, as a sounding board. Caught in the act of confiding in his furry pal, Mac confesses to Rachel: "Sorry. I have a habit of talking to Whiskey; it's my way of thinking out loud."

Sometimes authors use buddy talk as a way to advance the plot. Sherlock Holmes explained to Dr. Watson and, in turn, the reader learned how the clues fit together.

Sidekicks allow you to see a fuller picture of your hero: warts, weaknesses, and fears. The best friend (wife, parent) may be the only one who knows the protagonist's hidden past, secret identity, or vulnerabilities. On Psych (USA Network), Shawn Spencer and 'Gus' Guster, best friends since childhood, open a psychic detective agency. Only Gus knows that Shawn has no more ESP than our furry pal Whiskey. Maybe less.

When creating a sidekick for your hero, keep these tips in mind.

1. Comic Relief Welcome. Sometimes the sidekick lightens up a dreary situation. In the midst of murder and mayhem, the best pal says or does something incredibly dumb and funny. Will Shakespeare taught us this lesson well. The grave diggers in Hamlet who sing and jest while surrounded by death break the tension of the scene.

2. Click, Case Solved. The best friend often says something completely unrelated to the murder, which serves as just the "aha" moment that the hero needs to connect the dots. Agatha Christie was the master of this technique. In The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side, a conversation with her dithery maid about an event that occurred years earlier is the vital clue the elderly sleuth needs to solve the murder.

3. One Swift Kick Delivered. Who does the hero or heroine trust to tell them when they screw up? Whether the hero is drinking too much, has lost all perspective, or just needs a haircut, the sidekick can be counted on to speak up. In Murder Off the Books, Mac's best friend Jeff is never afraid to voice an opinion, "Your problem is that you don't understand women." Mac might not have Jeff's experience with the fairer sex, but he does know the value of a friend - and so do we.

We continue to be grateful for your support and friendship. We wish for each of you a world filled with good friends - those who surround you and those you create.

Evelyn David

Hero/Heroine--------------Sidekick



Answers at the bottom of this page!