J.M. NORTHUP's BLOG

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Author Eileen Thornton - MEET MY CHARACTER

MEET MY CHARACTER BLOG TOUR


1) What is the name of your character? Is he/she fictional or a historic person? 

The main character of my story is Detective Andy Simmonds – fictional. All the characters are fictional as is the story, though some of the place names are real.

2) When and where is the story set? 

The story is set in London some ten years after the world had settled back to normal after the terrifying revelation of The Trojan Project

3) What should we know about him/her?

Andy Simmonds was a young policeman in the quiet market town of Wooler when the scandal of The Trojan Project erupted. He is now a Detective Inspector, having climbed the ladder at Scotland Yard.

4) What is the main conflict? What messes up his/her life? 

It seems that the legacy of The Trojan Project has come back to haunt him.

5) What is the personal goal of the character? 

To find out who is responsible for the destruction he and his colleagues are now faced with. They need to end it before it begins.

6) Is there a working title for this novel, and can we read more about it? 

I haven’t come up with a title yet. In the meantime I suppose the working title is Trojan Project II.  As for a sample, here is the prologue

The Trojan Project II
Prologue
“Oh my God! I don’t believe it!” Detective Inspector Andy Simmonds took a step back from the body. He ran the back of his hand across his brow and swallowed hard. “It isn’t possible.” He had honestly believed he would never come across anything like this again. It must be more than seven years now, since that dreadful episode.   
“What is it? Is he still alive? Sergeant Davis hurried across to where the inspector was standing.
“Shall I call the paramedics?” Constable Foster felt his stomach turn over. Had this poor man been alive when he first saw him lying there? If he died now, it would be his fault. How would he ever forgive himself? He felt the blood drain from his face. Why hadn’t he checked the body himself instead of accepting the cleaner’s word that the man was dead?
But he knew why. He had a dread of dead bodies and didn’t like to be near one, let alone touch it. Yet he needed to overcome this fear if he was to get on in the Police Force. He took a deep breath and stretched out his hand towards the victim. Perhaps now was the time to prove to himself and Inspector Simmonds that he was capable of being a competent police officer. However, before he could get any closer, the inspector grabbed his arm. 
“Step away!” Simmonds yelled, pulling Foster away from the body. “Both of you; don’t touch him! No one can help him now.”
But Foster was already bending over the body and caught a glimpse of what the inspector had seen. He clutched his hand over his mouth, hoping to quell the sickness he could feel rising in his throat.
“Not on my crime scene!” Simmonds pushed him towards the door. He could understand Foster’s reaction. It was exactly what he had done all those years ago. “If you’re going to throw up, then do it outside!” But then he remembered the crowd of journalists by the gate. “No! Wait! Find the bathroom.”
“What is it? What did he see?” Davis fired questions at Simmonds, as the constable headed upstairs, his hand firmly across his mouth.
Davis hurried across the room and gazed down at the body. “Oh my God! What on earth has gone on here?” He had seen many gruesome murders during his time with CID, but he was totally unprepared for a sight like this. He grasped the back of a chair to stop himself from falling over.
“I knew I’d come across that smell before, but I couldn’t think where.” Simmonds took a deep breath, as he pointed down at the man on the floor. “I remember it now, though I never thought I would see the likes of that again.”
“You mean you’ve actually seen this first hand before now?” the sergeant gasped. He still had one hand on the chair for support.  
“Take my word for it, I’ve seen it before.” The inspector paused. “But surely you remember reading about this?” He gestured towards the body. “It was splashed all over the papers and TV a few years back.”
“Yes, I do recall something,” said the sergeant, thoughtfully. “I was in my final year at university. However, I never actually saw one of the victims.”
“Well I did, and believe me, it was something I hoped I would never see again.” The inspector steered Davis towards the door. “I want this room locked and sealed. No one, not even the pathologist is to enter the house until I come back with an expert.”
“What about the press?” Davis pointed towards the street. The babble of voices outside had grown louder – the journalists were becoming impatient.
“I’ll speak to them on the way out. I’ll give them a cock and bull story for the time being.” He paused as the sound of cistern flushing drifted down from upstairs. “And get hold of Foster, for God’s sake keep him away from everyone before he starts blabbing his mouth off.”
Without another word, Simmonds hurried outside and after a brief interview with the journalists, he climbed into his car and slowly drove off into the night.
*
7) When can we expect the book to be published?

I am afraid most of the book is still buzzing around inside my head desperately trying to find its way out. (Pretty difficult task, I must add) So I guess it will be some time before the novel reaches the dizzy heights of publication.

Check out the trailer for the book that started it all:
THE TROJAN PROJECT

If you want to learn more about Eileen Thornton,
you can visit her author websites at the following links:

Want to read more Character Interviews?
Here are links to other author's participating in the
MEET MY CHARACTER BLOG TOUR:

Just click on their name to be redirected to their interview posts



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