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The Characters I Create
Off Kilter follows a well-known artist who is experiencing a strange number of minor accidents as he discovers the reason why things are happening to him. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Off Kilter picks-up right where the first story, Brushed Off, ended with the main character (James) recovering from gun shot wounds and a horrendous fist fight so I felt he would be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder which has altered and dulled his responses to others and his everyday life experiences. This premise provided me with many opportunities to explore within the plot.
Was there anything from your own life that you put into the characters in your novel?
I lived most of my life in the contemporary art community of Los Angeles and the many individuals I’ve delt with are definitely reflected in the characters I create. Readers of Brushed Off have repeatedly told me they especially enjoyed reading about such realistic individuals.
What was the hardest part about writing a mystery story; where you constantly have to give just enough to keep the mystery alive until the big reveal?
Making the transitions both believable and intriguing is always challenging, but it is also one of the things I enjoy creating the most, especially the nuances that can be manipulated and fiddled with.
Will there be a third mystery in this series, if so, what can you tell readers about it?
Yes, I decided from the very beginning that this would be at least a trilogy and one of the best things about centering a story within the contemporary art community is that I can always rely on it being in a constant state of flux. Which provides me with an endless variety of characters and sub-plots to select from. That said, I’m jousting around with how to bring computer technology and an artist sense-ability together using only words on paper, rather than actual visual images.
Off Kilter
In the thriving and evolving art scene of Los Angeles, a mystery envelopes the community, and James Terra, a well-known artist, seems to be at the center of it all. With one minor accident after another, James begins to realize that everything that is happening to him and his loved ones may all be connected, but the reason for such intentions always leaves him blank. As he begins to connect the dots, he slowly realizes that someone powerful has other plans for the art community, and his role in the scheme of things is far larger than he expected.
Off Kilter, by M. Lee Musgrave, is a compelling novel that packs the right amount of art, romance, and mystery that keeps its readers intrigued with every chapter it throws. From the start of the book, the author’s writing style will have readers drawn further into the storyline and drama. The author has a fantastic method that mixes creative and descriptive writing, beautifully enhancing the imagination of readers for each setting and what takes place in it. Furthermore, the way each clue was gradually given was well thought out, unlike some mystery novels that offer a “savior” in the novel that immediately solves the mystery. Instead, this allows the audience to piece together the mystery in their own time, identify the culprit, and bask in theories based on what they have read.
For somebody unfamiliar with fine arts, I could comprehend the parts of the novel that heavily feature it and dig up clues that the author wanted me to get from the conversations and descriptions. Moreover, I would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys mystery novels. The setting of the story is one of the most famous places in the world, the City of Angels. It takes place in current times, during the rise of COVID-19, so it will be easy for readers to imagine the world the novel built.
Off Kilter is the exciting sequel to M. Lee Musgrave’s first mystery novel, Brushed Off. This romantic thriller keeps readers engaged and on edge as the mystery slowly unfolds. Readers will love following along as James discovers who is behind all the trouble that plagues him in this fascinating new mystery thriller.
LITERARY TITAN 