Lou Paduano | Urban Fantasy Novels | Sci-Fi Crime Series

The Bridge Author Commentary 6

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The author commentary for The Bridge continues! I almost forgot to include this little tidbit, but can’t leave this book behind without discussing the arrival of new agent, Abigail Winslow! Big time SPOILERS for not only The Bridge, but Spectral Advocate coming up!

Abigail Winslow – your new DSA agent

Full disclosure: Winslow’s chapter with Metcalf did not exist in the first draft of this book. There was no new agent. There was no paranoia about Stallworth and Sullivan recruiting agents instead of Metcalf. None of this was in the original outline or draft of the book.

Where did Abigail Winslow come from?

Her entire role grew out of the need for a victim in Spectral Advocate. How messed up is that?

I needed a dead body in Spectral to get the ball rolling on Ben’s adventure with Cal Cooper. For awhile, it was going to be someone only connected to Cal. The more I looked into it, though, the more it made no sense to leave Ben out of the mix. It’s his damn series, after all.

Realizing my error, I thought about his arc. Everything with Ben is about a lack of trust, that feeling of isolation and paranoia when it comes to everything happening around you. By having Abigail as the victim, someone new to the DSA but connected professionally to Ben, it opened the door for the later revelation of her position right across from his apartment and able to spy on him.

Unlocking her reason for being

Figuring out her death, and how it relates to Ben, made her introduction in The Bridge a necessity. I didn’t want this to be a throw-away character. I never want to include anyone that doesn’t impact the story in a meaningful way. Yes, there are little roles to be filled, but there has to be a reason behind each one.

Abigail’s own purpose grew from her death to impact not only Ben’s arc in Spectral, but Metcalf’s in The Bridge. By developing her intro with the Metcalf interview, we see how Sullivan is slowly taking over the DSA piece by piece, and how that helps further the divide between Metcalf and Zac when she sees him speaking to Sullivan.

None of that comes about without the Winslow intro here.

It was absolutely strange to write her intro AFTER her death, but that’s just the way the season unfolded for me.

Next time:

I’m closing out my time on The Bridge with a look at the bonus material included with the book: The Grissom File!

The Bridge Author Commentary 5

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I’m talking about Morgan Dunleavy’s plotline, dealing with a potential suicide, in The Bridge today in my author commentary. This is a heavy one, so the SPOILER WARNING starts now.

Social Commentary

I’m not big on social commentary. There are times when it is absolutely necessary and times when you just want to beat your head against the wall rather than listen to one more word about something that charged and divisive.

Social issues have their place in fiction. They always have. Relevance is the key, and there was no way in hell I was going to touch on the idea of suicide unless it came from a place of character over shock value.

There were pieces put into place that made this topic vital to Morgan’s character arc. Her status as a physician was one such piece, and the most crucial as we come to learn in The Clearing that she was a doctor. WAS, being the key takeaway from the exchange.

Nothing is ever said without reason, and I knew there would come a time to explore Morgan’s past. The Bridge, already focusing on Lincoln’s through flashback, became the perfect place to bring Morgan’s own troubles to light.

Morgan’s Plotline

Since Lincoln’s past was being worked through by flashbacks, I needed to differentiate Morgan’s own thread. There was no back and forth. No split to bring readers up to speed on her past. That would have been massively confusing.

No, for Morgan, I brought in Zac as a sounding board. It’s verbose, sure, but their discussion in the book about Morgan’s time in the Middle East and the death of her patients at her hands served two functions:

  1. Obviously, it tells the reader what happened to her and why she hasn’t been part of her family since.
  2. It brought Morgan and Zac together, which created new complications down the line for both characters.

To connect readers with Morgan, I needed to dig into what happened with her and her brother. I needed a raw trauma that couldn’t be excused by either party. Her brother’s brush with death was the first element. Her complicity with the deaths of three other soldiers solidified not only her refusal to practice medicine again, but also why her brother tries to end his own life.

She has her justification for her actions. He has his own for trying to kill himself. Neither can be made to see the world from the other’s POV.

I really enjoyed (if that’s the right word for such a topic) playing Morgan and her brother off each other. I think it is one of the strongest exchanges in the series to date. As I mentioned in the opening installment of this commentary, conflict doesn’t have to be physical. Morgan’s thread in The Bridge was always meant to be an emotional struggle, and one that neither sibling is sure will end well.

Suicide

I tread as lightly as I can on the subject. There is a lot of pain in the world, and some need more support than others to see themselves through it all. If there is one takeaway from this book, I hope it is that there are people out there who will be by your side in an instant. Always.

Be it family or friends, doctors or neighbors, hotlines or support groups, there are resources and I hope those in need reach out. No one deserves to feel isolated, trapped, and caught in a well of despair.

If you feel that way, please be sure to reach out and talk to someone today. Call 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Hotline.

The Bridge Author Commentary 4

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The author commentary for The Bridge continues with a look at Zac Modine and his gradual descent. SPOILER WARNING is in effect!

Zac Modine

When I was originally outlining season one of DSA, I knew I needed someone to flip on the team. I didn’t want it to be an abrupt switch. For readers to feel a genuine shift there had to be some gradual change in the dynamics for the team.

For a while, Ben was on the docket, but in the long term that made no sense for his arc. His isolation was more important as was pulling him back, which you’ll see in Dark Impulses and we’ll discuss more with Spectral Advocate.

Lincoln had his own shift to make, with reasons all his own, so that took him out of the running.

No, the only character that made a lick of sense to me was Zac Modine. The end of Promethean perfectly set up his change, and The Bridge cements his eventual betrayal of the team.

The evolution of his descent

The original drafts made it clear Zac fell in line with Sullivan, but where it failed was in justifying such an action. Sure, there was a bond between the two of them but as previously stated in these commentaries, I never fleshed out Sullivan until later in the drafting process.

So by giving Sullivan more screen time, I was able to cement their friendship. Sullivan gives Zac the attention he’s looking for as well as the respect he’s shooting for with every mission planned and conceived. Building off that, Zac also begins to see Sullivan as the only one standing up for the same values at the DSA that Zac has always tried to uphold.

Every interaction was a chance to build their relationship and really sell Zac turning to Sullivan over Metcalf when it comes to the end of the season.

Introducing Adler

What clinched Zac’s descent was the introduction of Alison Adler to the series. Zac, for all intents and purposes, was king of the hill when it came to the DSA. He controlled the workflow for the research team. He planned the missions and developed the briefings.

Everything flowed through Zac.

Until Adler shows up. Her appointment as his deputy throws him for a loop. His relationship with Metcalf is fractured already thanks to the Henry Reed situation in Promethean, but this moment makes it clear that Metcalf has lost all confidence in him.

Adler wasn’t in any of the original drafts. She didn’t come into play until the opening of season 2, but that felt wrong to me. By adding her in here, I could establish her as a competent member of the team and why she sticks around when everything goes to hell in Broken Loyalties.

The Cost of Secrets

This has grown into a major theme for the series. Secrets have consequences. This is something you’ll see very clearly in Season 2, I promise.

Zac sees Adler’s recruitment as a betrayal, another secret and lie told by Metcalf. The consequence is his shift to Sullivan’s side that becomes apparent over the course of the next few books. It might seem small in the moment, but those slight shifts–those seemingly inconsequential moments in the books–build into huge changes.

That is the true fun of putting together not just one book but an entire season with DSA. Layering in those scenes so they pay off is one of the great joys I’ve found in writing.

I hope you feel the same.

The Bridge Author Commentary 3

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The author commentary continues with the second half of my look at Lincoln’s tale in The Bridge. The Witness plays a huge role in the DSA, and his story starts to come to light here. SPOILER WARNING is in effect.

The Witness

Villains are cool. They are iconic. They take over a narrative like nobody’s business. The Witness has that role to play in the opening season of the DSA. Who is he? What is his goal? There are a dozen questions about this guy, and I wanted that to be the case after The Clearing.

Lincoln’s tale offered a chance to bring more information to light about our enigmatic villain. His unsanctioned mission to take down the Witness comes to a head in The Bridge, but not everything goes as planned.

The Witness sets Lincoln up by bringing him to the one place he never wanted to be again: Des Moines.  The choice of location is critical to their interaction because Lincoln’s arrival is what sets off the string of flashbacks culminating in Morrison Engers’ death. It is a psychological move that completely overwhelms an already exhausted Lincoln, which gives the Witness just enough wiggle room to manipulate Lincoln into helping him.

That was the most important aspect of this book, to me. The Witness is in full control from the beginning–heck, from the note left for Lincoln to find in Promethean–and uses it to coerce Lincoln during their entire encounter.

His manipulation was so critical to me. The Witness is still the villain of the piece, but not in a physical manner. He’s the brains to Marcus’ brawn. So when readers get upset at the lack of fighting, I always try to point out the internal conflict Lincoln is forced to endure thanks to the Witness’s words.

That is true power and sets Lincoln off in a new direction.

Why Des Moines?

Two reasons for the city in Iowa.

  1. I needed a larger city with bridges that ran through it. Big, iconic bridges to carry over the fear Lincoln’s held since he was a child.
  2. I needed an important primary state. Morrison was running for highest office in the land, making it vital that any visit he made was to a state that isn’t already locked down in terms of elections. Iowa is one of those early caucus states for the primary, making it a must-visit for Morrison.

Lincoln’s choice

I touched on this earlier, but everything has a cost. Lincoln’s questions at the end of Book One set the stage for his betrayal of the DSA by the end of this book. Not that he sees it this way. Metcalf does, of course, but in Lincoln’s mind he is working to save the DSA and everyone else with his decision to join the Witness.

His turn stems from the flashbacks throughout, from his inability to save Marcus in the end, and through the Witness’ keen manipulation of events. I wanted Lincoln to make a conscious decision on his own, but did he really accomplish that?

Probably not.

Then again, do we make our own decisions on a daily basis? Or are we manipulated by those around us, be it our kids, parents, spouses, co-workers, social media, advertisements, and so many other things, to choose the path of least resistance?

That was the conflict of Lincoln’s tale, and what it sets up is the end of his story…

Next up:

Another dark turn, this time with Zac Modine.

The Bridge Author Commentary 2

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The author commentary for The Bridge continues! This installment looks at the past/present split of Lincoln’s tale as well as the impact of the Engers family on the character. SPOILER WARNING starts now!

Past/Present Split

I am always looking for new ways to tell a story. There are a million of them, to be sure, but only a few tried and true methods are typically used to pull a reader into a tale. For the first two books of the series, I held to the inciting incident method. Something bad happens somewhere and then we head right to the main characters who eventually learn about this situation and head off to solve it.

This method works well. There are variations, of course, and you’ll see plenty of them when you read. For The Bridge, though, I wanted to focus directly on Lincoln MacKenzie. This is his book, so how best to showcase him as a character.

The past/present split offered the perfect device to provide this insight into Lincoln. The concept of the bridge itself immediately became apparent to me, and served as a way to connect past and present events. Everything we do matters in where we are headed and how we want to get there. There is always a bridge before and behind us. That’s what this book was to me.

Lost probably used this tool more effectively than most. Each episode offered a glimpse into a character’s past in the midst of them dealing with some present day crisis. (It was also the most frustrating at using this method, but that’s an argument for another day on another platform…)

Lincoln’s tale

You’ve probably heard this before, but I love characters. Not just main characters. Every bit player brings a smile to my face when I get the chance to put them in a situation. That was how Pratchett became such a huge player in Greystone. Those scenes in Signs of Portents where he shows up to throw a few jokes around offered enough of a foundation for me to build on throughout the series.

Lincoln, though, is not some bit player. He’s a member of the DSA Field Team, and as such, I felt deserved to take center stage as his role in the series takes a dark turn.

Star Trek: The Next Generation used this model to craft some of the best seasons ever written for television. Every week, the show focused on a specific character. Events spun out to impact more than this principal player, but all centered around a more personal tale by focusing on a specific character instead of the entire cast each and every episode.

That was the thought behind The Bridge, and Lincoln’s tale. He alluded to his past in The Clearing by telling Ben about the charge he failed to protect during his time in the Secret Service. The Bridge offered an opportunity to delve into that more, and really build some pathos for Lincoln.

The Engers Family

A hero’s tale is only made more compelling by the villain of the piece. In The Bridge, Marcus Engers takes on that role. The past scenes allowed for his introduction, and for readers to really see who this bastard was right from the start.

Those scenes also introduced Morrison Engers, and the impact of his relationship with Lincoln.

There is no climax to the book without the flashbacks. They don’t work unless you see what happened before to bring us to this moment in time. Marcus would have been one-dimensional, and Lincoln’s struggle to save him at the end would have felt emotionless compared to the heart-wrenching ordeal it truly was for the man.

Marcus Engers

The name stems from a former project of mine. I wrote the first three issues of a comic series called The Agency back in 2005. It was a West Wing approach to superheroes where a government agency was in charge of heroes. It dealt with the bureaucracy of such an organization and the people behind it, not the flashy fights.

Marcus Engers was the main character in the series, the newest recruit to the team who wanted nothing more than to show the world the wonder heroes offered. His name grew from his initials. M.E. Me. I was that kid, wanting to tell the world about the wonder of heroes and of comics and everything that went with it. (Yeah, I’m a nerd. Deal with it.)

I lost steam on the project, which I did quite a bit back then, but maybe one day I’ll dig it out to share the scripts completed.

Next time

A look at the Witness’ role in Lincoln’s tale and how the past impacted Lincoln’s decisions.

The Bridge Author Commentary 1

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Welcome to the author commentary for The Bridge. This book holds a special place in my heart, but might be the most devisive installment in the DSA’s opening season. SPOILER WARNING is in effect.

Let’s take a look at the process behind the book, shall we?

The Bridge

DSA has always been about connections, about second chances, and the decisions we regret in life always–ALWAYS–coming back to haunt us. The Bridge was a chance to spotlight those moments for the cast.

This book started as a character piece, which is how books should start, in my opinion. I knew I had a fantastic ensemble cast with multiple players able to take the lead on an adventure whenever the need arose.

The Bridge was my attempt to spotlight those characters, by splitting the team up along three separate tracks.

Using the ensemble cast

To me, there is no point in writing the book if the characters don’t contribute to the storyline. I wanted to pull apart each player and do a deep dive into how they arrived at the DSA and why. Be it Lincoln, Morgan, or Ben, all had a past that has brought them to the DSA, some trauma carried over that has molded these people into who they are.

Morgan and Ben are the main leads. I wanted to establish that in Promethean. This is their “show.” But they don’t stand alone in this.

Lincoln’s arc was a crucial element to explore in this season and The Bridge offered the perfect setup to bring that to life.

B Plot to A Plot

I love serialized storytelling. You know that about me at this point. Building subplots until they explode to the forefront is something I am always looking to do throughout this series, and everything I write.

Lincoln was relegated to the backburner in Promethean. Here, he is given the room to tell his story in a way that provides insight into his background, while also pushing the main narrative forward toward the end of the season.

Isolating the cast

Over the first two books, you followed these characters interacting with each other and building relationships. Morgan and Ben. Zac and Metcalf. Lincoln and Ruth. Even Lincoln and Metcalf to some extent. These are established dynamics.

My goal with The Bridge was to isolate the major players in the series and throw them into situations that push them to their limits. Ben is snatched by the NSA and confronted by Stallworth and Sullivan. Morgan is forced to deal with her brother, his family, and her past mistakes. Lincoln, alone on an unsanctioned mission, confronts the Witness and is forced to relive the worst day of his life.

I wanted to test the characters. Pushing them, forcing them to deal with the past in order to face their futures was something I thought was very important to connect readers with these characters.

The action issue

Here is where the divisiveness comes out. There are only a few moments in the book where action is at the forefront of the conflict. Lincoln’s past in the Middle East offers a taste, as do the other flashbacks dealing with the Engers’ tragedy, but for the most past the action comes at the climax of the book between Lincoln and Marcus.

That’s it.

I’ve heard complaints about it. Looking back, I totally understand those complaints.

But I also see conflict slightly different than most readers. Beating the hell out of someone is certainly one way to go. Setting up massive action set pieces is always a treat and a visual spectacle for the imagination.

Conflict, though, can also be internal. Morgan’s thread in The Bridge is rife with conflict. Her past mistakes, her dealing with her brother’s suicide attempt and the distance between Morgan and her brother’s family are full of tension and conflict.

Dialogue plays a huge part in conflict. Ben’s inability to trust anyone after the events of Promethean play a large role in his interactions with Kanigher, Martin, Stallworth, and Sullivan. I wanted those moments to be tense, to feed into Ben’s paranoia over his new life with the DSA. No fights were necessary, though the chase at the beginning was added in after the initial draft to build suspense.

Conflict comes in many forms. To readers here, though, The Bridge didn’t fulfill their hopes on that front.

Criticisms

I take them to heart. You won’t see another book like The Bridge again in the DSA. There will always be those tense scenes where dialogue plays the main role in adding to the conflict, but they won’t monopolize the entire book.

Personally, I love this book. It was incredibly challenging to write such personal stories about Lincoln and Morgan, and I thought they really helped connect them with readers.

What did you think of the book?

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