Aloha dear readers!

One of my favorite moments in completing a book is when I get to write this letter to you. Thanks for being on this journey with Sophie and me!

I continue my exploration of villains in this book. Yes, Akane Chang may be a sadist, but he still has feelings. He grieves for his murdered family and swears revenge, as anyone might. Terence Chang (who first appears in Twisted Vine and Fire Beach of the Lei Crime Series) evolves, hosting a bloodbath to take leadership of the Chang empire. Can you do evil in striving to do a greater good? Terence is exploring that—and where will it end? Will he be able to do good out of his evil, or will his actions corrupt him further? Stay tuned!

Connor, as the Ghost, dances with that dilemma, too. It’s a question that fascinates me.

And Pim Wat? Who knows with that woman! But one thing is sure—we haven’t seen the last of Sophie’s enigmatic mother or her intriguing sidekick, Armita.

I’ve long been fascinated and moved by the pageant, spectacle, and powerful cultural celebration that is the Merrie Monarch Festival, taking place every spring in Hilo, Hawaii. I’ve been talking about incorporating it into one of my stories for years, though I’ve never personally attended. It’s a bucket list item!

Challenges with handling the subject matter, however, have kept me from doing so until now—the main one being that the Festival is something of a sacred cultural activity. I’d be loath to offend, however inadvertently, by misrepresenting any aspect. It’s a tricky thing to be a haole and write about Hawaiian culture. I’m privileged to educate the public a bit through an entertaining story, but I do so with the utmost care, respect and even awe.

Awe is the feeling I get most when watching the Merrie Monarch Festival. (If you haven’t seen it, search for it on YouTube or other video channels. You won’t be sorry you did!) Because of that awe, though I knew the Merrie Monarch would be a fabulous centerpiece to build a mystery around, I didn’t want to kill any dancers, desecrate any heiaus, or corrupt any kumus.

Because of those concerns, I went with a case of embezzlement by one of the evil Changs, a “safe” way to delve into the topic. I wasn’t able to get into the intricacies of the Festival, competition procedure, judging, and hula practices due to that. Maybe someday, and another book… But even the few paragraphs I wrote describing the hula feel infused with mana, and I hope you feel that too.

Wow, this book! I was consumed with it! I couldn’t plot using my usual outline. I felt my way through, chapter-by-chapter, unsure where I was going but allowing it to draw me relentlessly forward. I’m already writing the next one, Wired Courage #9, in the same way.

Sophie pregnant? What the heck?

Yes, there was a hint that appeared organically in Wired Secret #7 that my brain, cued by the questions of readers, hatched into a huge plot element in this story. As I went with it, I realized that Sophie’s pregnancy is the perfect vehicle for her healing. And Alika’s. And Jake’s, and Connor’s, too. Babies often bring healing.

And just as often, terrible heartache.

All the way up to writing the scene where Sophie finds out who the baby’s father is, I didn’t know who it was going to be. Didn’t know how I was going to tie up the relationships. And finally, the characters themselves told me, resolving themselves into an unconventional but functional “family,” like so many blended ones in this modern age.

Thanks go out to my faithful copyeditors Don and Bonnie, and my typo hunters Angie and Shirley, and of course, to my indispensable business manager, Jamie Davis. You all keep me functioning and the books on track. Thanks also to Ihilani for your consult about the Festival, and Walt for helping with tech consult. It clearly takes a village!

If you enjoyed Wired Fear #8, would you take a few moments to write a review? They are so incredibly important to a book’s success, and even a few words can make a big difference. Mahalo in advance for your support and sharing of the books!

I hope you’ll continue Sophie’s journey with me in Wired Courage #9. Excerpt follows.

Until next time, I’ll be writing!

Much aloha,

Toby Neal