The Contradictory Miss Violet

Keen-eared listeners will notice that tonight's episode of SALMON & DUSK is the first to directly contradict the podcasted version of HOW TO DISAPPEAR COMPLETELY.

How can this be? I hear you ask.

Oh, really? No-one asked?

Well, let me explain anyway.

The current season of SALMON & DUSK is based on the final draft of HOW TO DISAPPEAR COMPLETELY, which I'll admit is a little unfair, since very few people (thus far) have read that draft. My thinking in this is, I don't want to have to rewrite a second bunch of stories when the new draft of the original finally launches (in whatever form that is.) Also, the latest draft is the clearest expression of what I really want to do with the series, so it makes sense for me to base any new stories on that version.

The drafting process has been a long and rather torturous adventure and there have been casualties along the way. Theo's surname, for one thing - although I have days when I still waver on that one. Another has been a whole subplot in which we meet Violet, who has a rather special (at least, she thinks so) connection with Kilbey.

Violet played a small but vital role in the original novel and, indeed, continued to do right up until, ooh, January this year, when she was finally excised. To be honest, I only held on to her as long as I did as I quite liked the character and Victor had done a couple of smashing illustrations of her. But, sadly, she's gone.

Or that was the plan.

When I put aside the intended Story 4 (for reasons too complex to go into here), she came back with a story in tow. And, I thought, it made sense to reintroduce her, given that I wanted this season to be a "fresh start" for anyone who hasn't listened to the first book. I did consider creating a similar character, but then I thought again of those illustrations and, frankly, I don't like to throw anything away.

Hope you can forgive this act of authorial vandalism. Of course, with history gone, there's no saying that a few vital things about our world have changed without anyone noticing. Don't be surprised if we hear more in that line when Season 2 comes around...

cheers!

Myke