#GuestPost – Ann Girdharry talks about creating Kal Medi in London Noir @GirdharryAnn #crimefiction

I’m delighted today to welcome Ann Girdharry to Short Book and Scribes. She’s the author of Good Girl Bad Girl and London Noir, both of which feature Kal Medi, and Ann is going to talk today about creating her as the main character.

London Noir is published today so I’d like to wish Ann a very happy publication day. Here’s what the book is about:

Memory loss, nightmares, the urge to kill – Sophie has it all. Is it really post-traumatic stress disorder? Or something more sinister? Kal is about to find out…

After a near-fatal road accident, Kal helps Sophie, a young girl in trouble. The girl’s friends are being murdered one by one. Why? And who by? Kal must kick start herself out of her downward spiral to save the young stranger. But Kal is in the grip of the London Cartel and is someone stalking the girl, or is the girl stalking someone?

If you like the sound of London Noir then it’s available in ebook and paperback.

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Hello Nicola and thanks so much for inviting me to do a slot on your blog.

Today, I’m going to talk about creating the main character in GOOD GIRL BAD GIRL and in LONDON NOIR – she’s called Kal Medi.

A kick-ass woman

I created Kal to be a woman who does things with passion. When she’s investigating a murder, she’s going to commit all the way – put herself in danger, take risks and go way over the line to protect the innocent.

Why is she like this? Kal is like this because she was trained to a high level in subterfuge and psychology by her (deceased) father. So, she has the skills to go undercover. She has the ability to pass under the radar. But it’s not only her abilities that push her – it’s also her personal drive to get to the truth.

Also, she doesn’t play by the rules. She’s a loner. And that’s why she needs friends.

Friends

Her best girl friend is Marty. They’ve know each other since they were at primary school together.

In creating the crimes and the story lines, Marty was as important to me as Kal.

Though she likely would not admit it, Kal cannot function without Marty. Marty is Kal’s counter-balance. Marty and Kal trained together in martial arts. Unlike Kal, Marty isn’t impulsive and she doesn’t pick fights. Marty is level-headed and she’s as strong minded as Kal and prepared to stand up to her. That’s important because Kal needs someone to kick her into line now and again.

Weaknesses

I really enjoyed writing the exchanges between Kal and Marty and, particularly in LONDON NOIR, Marty plays an important part in balancing out Kal’s weaknesses. Because, of course, Kal isn’t perfect. She’s haunted by her father’s acts. And by the secrets she will uncover about him. Sorry! I can’t give too much away about that…

Skilled in Psychology

I made psychology and mind games Kal’s specialism. Psychology is also an important theme in all my books.

I guess this is because I studied psychotherapy myself and so it was natural I made psychology Kal’s strength.

This is why, in LONDON NOIR, the young girl, Sophie, has post-traumatic stress disorder. It’s also why Kal can analyse the behaviour of a sociopath and unmask the deviant behaviour of her targets. She analyses her enemies and the dynamics around her. She decides her strategy based on this information.

Different

I hope that Kal’s intriguing. I hope that she’s different and the way that she acts is different. I hope that readers like the way she investigates murders and disappearances and tracks down killers. I hope they enjoy Kal and Marty’s adventures, as much as I like writing them!

Thanks so much, Ann. Kal sounds like a fascinating character.

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Ann Girdharry is a British crime suspense thriller author.

A trained psychotherapist, she worked for many years as a manager in the not-for-profit sector, for agencies working with carers, vulnerable older people, survivors of abuse, and victims of racial attacks.

She currently lives in Montpellier, France with her husband and two children.

Her debut novel, GOOD GIRL BAD GIRL, is an ERIC HOFFER BOOK AWARD Finalist 2017.

Her second crime suspense thriller, LONDON NOIR, will be published October 2017.

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