-Kirsten Weiss
Talk to five different witnesses to a crime, and you'll likely get five different descriptions of what happened. Our brains filter our reality. We don't always remember things correctly. And the past isn't always what we thought it was.
As this year comes to an end, I've been facing a lot of "truths" about myself and my past that weren't really true at all. And I'm kind of pissed, to be honest. If I'd had a clearer understanding of what was what, I think my life would have been a lot more fun.
And just when I thought I had it all figured out, my writing life threw me another surprise. As some of you may know, I've been working on new editions of the entire Riga Hayworth series. I'd saved The Metaphysical Detective for last.
It was the first book I published, and I was dreading reading it. I assumed it would be the worst of the bunch. In fact, I've been secretly ashamed of that first novel. That's why I changed it from book 1 in the series to a prequel.
All for nothing.
I finally tackled it this week and edited it in record time. There wasn't that much to "fix." Yes, the style is a lot different from what I write now. It's more arty. (Artier? Is that a word?). The structure isn't something a traditional publisher would like to see. And my understanding of comma placement was deplorable. But it's fast-paced, the characters sparkle, and it's FUN.
I'm glad I edited it and the others in the series. (Those commas!) But I'm really glad that I'm now happy with The Metaphysical Detective. And I can't believe I spent all those years practically hiding it away.
What new perspectives have you gained this year?
