My take on the virus

[John Dean]

There has been a lot of debate among writing circles about how authors handle Covid-19. It’s a really interesting question and I, like other writers, have given it a lot of thought. In the end, although my books are set in modern day, I have opted not to weave the virus into my plots.

There are three reasons, one of which is that, for all I like to make people think about the world in which they live, I believe that there’s more than enough said and written about the virus without me adding to it. And one of the big appeals of crime fiction, all fiction indeed, is escapism.

Also, and this is my optimistic nature coming out, we will be through this horrible situation one day and reference to a raging pandemic could date the novel.

My third reason is that the situation is changing so rapidly that anything I write will be out of date before the figurative ink dries.

Keep safe, everyone.