My next novel will be my twenty-eighth. Leaving aside the “how did that happen?” question, I’m returning to Sci-fi this time. However, it’s not a tale that’s set in the far future, or on some other planet.
In fact, it was based on a situation that developed from an ordinary event. As so many of my stories do, I saw a different outcome from a mundane beginning.
Let me explain.
One day, last year, I was having coffee with my wife in a café in St Marychurch, near Torquay. The place was busy, when we’d finished I went to pay and leave, while Yvonne visited the bathroom.
People watching is one of my favourite hobbies, so while waiting in the street, I got distracted by what was going on around me. When I heard the café door open behind me. I turned, only it wasn’t Yvonne coming out, it was someone else. A moment later, she appeared, and we carried on with our day.
No big deal, you might think, but it gave me an idea.
What if the person who came out of the café and went home with you acted like your wife, but you soon discovered that they weren’t?
It was a concept that intrigued me, with potential for exploration in so many directions. Leaving aside all my other projects, I let my imagination run wild and used the month of November to write what I saw in my mind’s eye.
Seventy-three thousand words later, My Place or Yours? went off to my editor.
It had become a tale of alternative dimensions, quantum mechanics, personal relationships and a whole lot more.
Becc and Andy are happy together, just another normal suburban couple. They work hard, look forward to holidays and live contented, ordinary lives.
Then, in an instant, Becc changes. Andy enters a nightmare, where he can’t grasp what’s happened to his wife and the life that felt so familiar.
Meanwhile, Becc notices a change, too. Andy has suddenly become someone else. In everything he says and does, she can tell that he’s not the man she’s known for so long.
There’s a simple explanation.
If they’re ready for it.
My editor sent it back with many corrections and this comment,
“That was brilliant! You have this skill that taps into nightmare scenarios, but always with a twist.”
It then had a name change.
Here’s the start of it all.
I stood outside the coffee shop, waiting for Becc. The bags were heavy in my hands.
“I’m just going to the bathroom,” she had said, as we finished our drinks. “You pay, I’ll see you outside.”
It was a dark November evening; low, angry clouds scudded across the sky and the streets were busy with people wanting to get home. The shops were lit with Christmas displays, gearing up for the season of dramatic overconsumption. I peered in through the café window, our table had already been filled by one of the queue that snaked back almost to the door.
Suddenly, one of the crowd on the street bumped into me. They were moving fast, it unbalanced me for a moment, and I staggered sideways. “Watch where you’re going,” I shouted, but they had already gone.
As I bounced off a litter bin, I fell to one knee. I hauled myself upright and sorted myself out. Then, I heard the sound of a siren somewhere behind me. I looked around to see if I could spot it. Was it the police, chasing whoever had just bumped me?
“Ready?” said Becc. “Let’s get back to the car, it’s freezing.”
I turned; she had come out while I had been distracted. Her hood was pulled tight, hiding her face. She was scarved and gloved against the chill. All I could see was her breath coming out as she spoke.
I followed her to the car, watching the shopping bags she carried in each hand swinging as she strode, purposefully, the pedestrians giving way to her.
Her progress reminded me of an icebreaker, clearing a path through the solid press of humanity, with me following in her wake. The car park was full. I noticed an ambulance in the far corner, lights flashing, as I hurried to keep up with Becc’s long-legged stride. That must have been what I’d heard.
We got to our car. “I’ll drive,” Becc said, pressing the button on her key fob that unlocked the doors. We loaded up and left the car park, setting off for home through the evening rush. She was silent, concentrating on the nose-to-tail traffic. The heater was working overtime to warm the inside of the car.
“You alright?” I asked. She was quieter than usual.
“Sure, just concentrating,” she said, keeping her gaze on the car in front, its brake lights splitting into patterns on the windscreen as it started to rain. The wipers throbbed as they cleared the sudden downpour. We jolted as the queue stopped and started. “Miserable, isn’t it?” she added. “I’m looking forward to our time off.”
So was I. Even better was the fact that we had both managed to get the same week. Even though it was November, while I was hoping for some better weather, it didn’t really matter. We had days out planned, plus there was quite a bit of decorating that needed doing.
It was boring, mundane stuff, but better than hauling myself into the office every day. At least we’d have some time together. With both of us working long hours, there was little enough time for us to spend together. With Becc working on Saturday and having Monday off, Sunday was the only full day we spent together. Being able to relax and enjoy each other’s company while we worked at our own pace for a week was appealing.
We turned onto our street, and I noticed that several of the houses had put their Christmas lights up while I’d been in town. It was a bit early for that. Although I was in the minority, I always thought that Christmas shouldn’t start until December. Becc swung the car into our drive and parked. I got out and went to lift the shopping from the car, as Becc opened the front door. In two trips, I dragged all the bags inside and dumped them in the kitchen. The house felt warm and comforting.
“Right,” Becc said, her back to me. “Let’s get this lot unpacked, then we can get ready to go out.” She pulled off her gloves and took off her coat. Blonde hair spilt down her back.
That was where the nightmare started. Becc had short, jet-black hair. Or at least, she had done when she had got up and gone to the bathroom in the café, less than an hour ago. As she spun around and faced me, I saw a sharp, angular face. She fixed her gaze on me, and a huge smile broke out.
She was pretty. But it was a stranger’s face.
“Who the hell are you?” was all I could say.
If you want to find out who really came out of the café and what chain of events it all set in motion, you’ll have to read the rest of the story.
The novel will be published on May 1st on Amazon, Apple, Kobo and several other retailers. As well as the eBook, a paperback will also be available.
Pre-order links coming soon.
If you want to know more about anything to do with my writing, just drop me a comment. Until next time,
Happy reading.
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