9 Comments
User's avatar
R. M. Greta's avatar

I'm worried for Brianna. This is a great story!

Expand full comment
Stephen Duffy's avatar

Thank you again! And you're right to be worried for her 😬

Expand full comment
Posy Churchgate's avatar

Brutal indeed - but social media IS — a double edged sword for sure. She should NOT trust her dad, but she hasn’t got the intel we readers have — it’s too early in the process, there are still glitches. Reading on!

Expand full comment
Stephen Duffy's avatar

One of the things I really enjoyed doing was giving the readers more info than poor Brianna! It happens a lot!

Expand full comment
Love PNR | Kestrel Caim's avatar

Brianna is so well written. You captured exactly what it feels like to be a young woman in a world that’s both cruel and familiar. Made me think about my own youth, and how differently it all would’ve gone if my midlife personality had been running the show back then.

Expand full comment
Stephen Duffy's avatar

What a lovely compliment — thank you! I've lived with Brianna for years, so I've gotten to know her rather well ❤️

There's probably a lot of myself in her. And, like you, I put up with more than I should have in my youth. X

Expand full comment
Daniel Puzzo's avatar

This is getting tense. Really into this!

Expand full comment
Stephen Duffy's avatar

Thanks mate! You ain't seen nothing yet 😬

Expand full comment
User's avatar
Comment deleted
Apr 27
Comment deleted
Expand full comment
Stephen Duffy's avatar

Great question! And yes, the pacing is deliberate. Chapters 1-3, I wanted to throw the readers in at the deep end, but for 4 & 5, the scene is now set, the tension/suspense is building, and slowing the pace only adds to that.

Being close to Brianna's thoughts and feelings helps too. For anyone who has ever had surgery, she's feeling that level of anxiousness x 1000 by the end of chapter 5.

Another conscious thing I'm doing is ending each week on a cliffhanger or with at least some sort of "I wonder what will happen next" moment. Call it sadistic if you like 😆

Expand full comment