Brandon Witt
Neet,
Thank you so much for reading it, and I'm thrilled you like it! The Shattered Door was started because of the death of my cousin Gabe. In the first drafts, the book went back and forth between the perspectives of Brooke (me) and Donnie (Gabe). I think I was still to close to the loss of Gabe and and it just didn't flow correctly. The decision to write this book was while driving back from Missouri after Gabe's funeral. Gabe died in almost the same way as Donnie (although a touch worse in real life, to be honest, just couldn't bring myself to put in more real life details into his death).
A complaint I often get about Shattered is Donnie's death. That is was pointless, that it didn't add to the book, that it was too out of the blue, etc. I would say that I completely agree with this. However, that's exactly how Gabe's death was, and continues to be. It was out of the blue, it was pointless, and left a devastating aftermath for everyone. Donnie's death in the book wasn't to provide a plot twist or advance the story. It was simply a life reality and my way of honoring Gabe.
I hope that helps. Is that the answer you thought it would be?
Thank you so much for reading it, and I'm thrilled you like it! The Shattered Door was started because of the death of my cousin Gabe. In the first drafts, the book went back and forth between the perspectives of Brooke (me) and Donnie (Gabe). I think I was still to close to the loss of Gabe and and it just didn't flow correctly. The decision to write this book was while driving back from Missouri after Gabe's funeral. Gabe died in almost the same way as Donnie (although a touch worse in real life, to be honest, just couldn't bring myself to put in more real life details into his death).
A complaint I often get about Shattered is Donnie's death. That is was pointless, that it didn't add to the book, that it was too out of the blue, etc. I would say that I completely agree with this. However, that's exactly how Gabe's death was, and continues to be. It was out of the blue, it was pointless, and left a devastating aftermath for everyone. Donnie's death in the book wasn't to provide a plot twist or advance the story. It was simply a life reality and my way of honoring Gabe.
I hope that helps. Is that the answer you thought it would be?
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