The Tourist Killer ends and A Year Without Killing opens
in Manhattan near Penn Station.
Here's a shot I got from Hoboken.
The Eight Sentences:
“I am sudden death.
Unexpected.
Unwelcome.
Final.” -- For over thirty years, it was the credo of one of the most successful and least known professional assassins in history. In A Year Without Killing, Claudia Barry takes a year off from work.
She doesn’t leave her weapons at home.
The Back Story:
Today's excerpt is the promo line for my third novel.
If that was all you knew about the book, would you click your mouse to find out more?
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Louella said, “Bye bye, now,” and lowered the receiver of her vintage 1963 telephone onto its cradle. She went into the kitchen and selected her favorite glass from the cabinet over the sink. One of these days, I’ll splurge and get a wine stem. This glass the Welch’s grape jelly came in is fine for now. She poured it half full of Bell’Agio Chianti, held it to her nose and looked back at the bottle. Hmm...vintage 2012. Oh well, two tears in a bucket.
By the time she was settled into her recliner, the glass was almost empty.
The Back Story:
In this scene from my third novel (a WIP, A Year Without Killing) Mrs. Johnson is back at home after a mugging and purse snatching. She's safe but upset. She was the recipient of the good deed from Claudia Barry, mentioned in THIS BLOG a few weeks ago.
Claudia entered a public restroom on the main floor near the ballroom where the breakfast meeting would occur. No one saw her exit. In one of the stalls, she changed from her business suit which consisted of a blouse, skirt and jacket into dark slacks and a white button down men’s oxford shirt. She removed the brunette wig and shook her head letting her fresh cut hairstyle fall into place. Next the makeup was removed with cold cream to reveal her Gulf Coast tan. Her skin was smooth and clear and would pass for the fresh-shaved face of a man. She packed the clothes she had worn coming in and stepped out into the hallway. Claudia Barry disappeared into the crowd.
The Back Story:
The next morning was the beginning of a personal challenge. She had two self-assignments. First, she wanted to infiltrate the wait staff of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, and for at least a few hours, become one of them — as a male. It was important for her thesis to show, how using deception, timing, and disguise, she could move in close to important people in spite of security. Second, her next goal would be to disappear from the premises undetected. Her effective use of group dynamics would be put to the test. She’d have to rely on an unplanned diversion to occur — unless she could come up with something on the spur of the minute.
The inspiration: This scene from the movie, Victor Victoria made a memorable impression. When it came time for a scene in which Claudia Barry would pull off an amazinge deception, the idea of Julie Andrews portraying a man was a great inspiration. Fast forward to the 4:45 mark in this scene (unless you'd like to enjoy the entire production number):
