A Goodreads user
asked
P.J. Tracy:
Traci, You and P.J. co-wrote "Return of the Magi". Did you also co-write "Nothing Stays Buried" or was this your first solo project in the series?
P.J. Tracy
Hi GJ,
Good question with a complicated answer! What eventually became known as "Nothing Stays Buried" was a manuscript PJ and I had agonized over and was supposed to have become the fifth book in the series. At the time, we were both going through some difficult, emotional events, not the least of which was PJ's diagnosis with severe heart failure, so we wanted to find ways to address loss but also imbue hope into the piece. In retrospect, I realize that we were both too emotionally raw at the time to execute the task properly -- things just didn't gel so we shelved it and wrote "Shoot to Thrill" instead.
Years later, when PJ was quite ill, I excavated it from the land of lost books and realized that some of the characters and elements we had created together were wonderful building blocks that definitely had a place in the next Monkeewrench book. PJ agreed, but it was a page one rewrite I sadly had to conquer mostly on my own. It doesn't resemble the first manuscript at all except for the intent and some of the characters (Walt and Marla in particular.) That was my gift to PJ, taking a beloved piece of ours and turning into something that we could see published. She never saw it in book form, but she did see the initial cover art, which we both thought was fantastic.
So after that long windbag, I can say that it was my first solo effort, but PJ's influence and heart and soul are deeply embedded in it, which makes it all the more special and I know she's smiling down now.
Good question with a complicated answer! What eventually became known as "Nothing Stays Buried" was a manuscript PJ and I had agonized over and was supposed to have become the fifth book in the series. At the time, we were both going through some difficult, emotional events, not the least of which was PJ's diagnosis with severe heart failure, so we wanted to find ways to address loss but also imbue hope into the piece. In retrospect, I realize that we were both too emotionally raw at the time to execute the task properly -- things just didn't gel so we shelved it and wrote "Shoot to Thrill" instead.
Years later, when PJ was quite ill, I excavated it from the land of lost books and realized that some of the characters and elements we had created together were wonderful building blocks that definitely had a place in the next Monkeewrench book. PJ agreed, but it was a page one rewrite I sadly had to conquer mostly on my own. It doesn't resemble the first manuscript at all except for the intent and some of the characters (Walt and Marla in particular.) That was my gift to PJ, taking a beloved piece of ours and turning into something that we could see published. She never saw it in book form, but she did see the initial cover art, which we both thought was fantastic.
So after that long windbag, I can say that it was my first solo effort, but PJ's influence and heart and soul are deeply embedded in it, which makes it all the more special and I know she's smiling down now.
More Answered Questions
A Goodreads user
asked
P.J. Tracy:
i just read DEAD RUN picked it up at the dollar store rack. it was amazing, where and how did you get the idea of this story?
Ana Rosado
asked
P.J. Tracy:
Hello. I would like to know if PJ Tracy intends to write more about Sheriff Iris Rikker and if so, is the main character in a new series a possibility? Snow Blind was one of the best for me in the Monkeewrench series and a lot due to her. I think I would just like to see her grow as a Sheriff and a woman. Thanks
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