OK, I’m no mastermind, but I have been planning some crimes. Fictional ones, obviously.
Box of Clues, which is in the current (April) issue of Woman’s Weekly Fiction Special took over fifteen years from first draft to publication. The two main characters, Reverend Jerry Grand and his nephew Mike feature in a novel I’ve started work on. If I’m hoping that crime will pay for me, I’d better write at a faster rate.
Even at car chase speed, it’s going to take some time to get it finished and published. If you can’t wait that long, you might like to take a look at Firestarter, which is both a crime story and a romance.
Patsy Collins 
I read it yesterday, and it’s a fun read as well as having some crime. Glad you persevered and great to see it in print with the fun burgular to match.
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Thanks, Suzy. It was a fun story to write. And rewrite. And rewrite…
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Fifteen years? Is that a record? Sounds more like the sentence you’d get if you topped someone!
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It’s a record for me so far. Maybe when I’ve been writing for sixteen years I’ll beat it?
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Fifteen years? Well, it can take a while to hone something to perfection.
But fifteen years…?
I’m sure it was well worth waiting for. Congratulations!
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For a large part of that I was learning to write, Helen.
Of course I’m still learning. I hope that continues.
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Congratulations, Patsy! I’m glad I’m not the only one who holds onto stories for years until they eventually get published! But as you say, it’s a learning experience. Every time I dig out an old story, I try to improve it.
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Sounds like an excellent approach, Fay.
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Fascinating! Going to start rummaging immediately for snippets of yore – must be a jewel in there somewhere! (or a launchpad at least…)
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I’m sure there will be, Dolores. I do like the idea of a half finished story being a launchpad for another piece of writing.
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