First Drop

From the Author’s notebook

The idea for this story came through my day-job, working as a photo-journalist for many years. I used to go out to the Spring Break Nationals every year to cover the car and car stereo show. Daytona Beach was always crawling with teenagers who came from all over the States to celebrate the first proper break from school, to hang out, party, and check out the cool cars on display. If you were on the run with a wanted teenager, I thought idly, what better place to hide out?

From that basic idea, the whole of the story developed. The title FIRST DROP came from the rollercoaster analogy – once you reach the top of the first lift hill and hit the first drop, you can’t stop and you can’t get off. You just have to sit tight, hold on, and hope you survive to the end of the ride.

It never occurred to me that my US publishers would pick up this book – number four in the series – and then ask for “Second . . . something” as their next foray. Endless confusion has resulted!

The peripheral characters in FIRST DROP are among my favourites. I particularly like the retired FBI guy, Walt, and have even toyed with making him – and Harriet, of course – the hero of his own story. Maybe one day . . .

FBI Special Agent In Charge, Andrew Till, was another notable character. The real Andrew Till is one of the staff at Lancaster Public Library, who were so supportive of my early work. His colleagues confided that he had always wanted to be a character in a book, and it was my pleasure to include him here.

Please note, by the way, that this book was written during 2003 and first published in 2004. Back then, mobile phones, smart phones, and instant anywhere-access to the internet was nothing like as easy as it is today. I always had Charlie as a bit of a late-adopter when it came to technology. Perhaps the events of this book finally convinced her she needed to catch up a little.