Trails of Blood was by far the hardest book for me to write. Combined with story and personal life issues, writing Trails of Blood was far more difficult that Seattle Massacre. I began writing Trails of Blood last year, June 1st, 2011 is the actual date. When I started writing it, I had moved into my apartment. I had no internet or cable, so the only thing I had to occupy my time was writing and DBZ dvds. Over the course of a month, I had watched all of DB and DBZ, as well as being one chapter away from completing the first draft. The title then was Secrets Revealed.
After I began my relationship with 'the bitch', she suggested that I change the Ripper side of the plot. After some heavy consideration, and a new set of dreams which seemed to come up with a better story for his plot, I did change it eventually. I completed seven of the fifteen chapters before I went down to Colorado to visit her.
I will not include what happened in Colorado, as those who know already do. After what happened, my muse to write for Trails of Blood (changed title to Trails of Blood at this point, which was the title for book 6, which is now The Zugzwang) had died. Three months later, I was involved in a car accident that fractured my hip. What would have been an excellent opportunity to work on Trails of Blood. However, my muse for writing was still crippled due to my living condition.
It wasn't until I moved out did I start writing again. I completed the second draft of Trails of Blood in four days, writing six chapters and heavily editing the rest. What should have been done nine months ago is now finally out.
There are several differences between Trails of Blood and The Seattle Massacre. First, writing style and focus. In Seattle Massacre, roughly 70% of the focus came from Richard Holcomb. Now, it's split more evenly between characters, with Crystal Rio and the Ripper having about 60% of the focus.
Also what's new is the characters. I've introduced about ten new main/minor supporting characters that will have a huge influence in the upcoming books. New characters include Crystal Rio (Main Protagonist), Eduardo Arias (Love interest/supporting), Daniel Frost (Main Antagonist), Patrick McKenzie (Minor/supporting), Francis Kelly (Main Antagonist), Fiona (Love interest/supporting), Hans Bischoff (Minor/supporting), and Alexander Rooke (Antagonist). There are a few recurring characters, such as Brittany Luman (Supporitng), Reece Baker (Supporting), but most importantly, the return of the Ripper (Main Protagonist).
Another change I've made is to make the Ripper the one that's at the disadvantage, opposed to having the constant advantage like he did in the Seattle Massacre. This book also deals more heavily with psychology and detective work, opposed to extreme gore. In this book, only ten people die opposed to the sixty-seven in the Seattle Massacre.
While Trails of Blood is a different kind of book, it is still a sequel I believe that readers will still enjoy, and will look forward to the third book in the series, The Ripper Puzzle.
