Characters are crucial for Barrington author

Elizabeth B. Splaine will sign copies of her book 'Blind Order' on Saturday

Posted 10/18/18

Elizabeth Splaine was brushing her teeth when inspiration struck.

Actually, she was searching for the cap to the toothpaste when it struck. 

"My eyes were closed and the toothpaste cap …

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Characters are crucial for Barrington author

Elizabeth B. Splaine will sign copies of her book 'Blind Order' on Saturday

Posted

Elizabeth Splaine was brushing her teeth when inspiration struck.

Actually, she was searching for the cap to the toothpaste when it struck. 

"My eyes were closed and the toothpaste cap fell on the floor," said Ms. Splaine. "I don't know why but I thought 'I'm going to try to find it with my eyes closed.' So I kept my eyes closed and I couldn't find it."

Her fruitless search for the cap did, however, yield something more important: a name. 

"I opened my eyes and the name Julian Stryker came into my head," said Ms. Splaine. "Literally, this is how it happened."

The name soon became a character in Ms. Splaine's first novel, which, despite never being published, spurred a sequel. "Blind Order" has drawn rave reviews, and Barrington Books will host a book signing/meet and greet with Ms. Splaine on Saturday, Oct. 20 at 1 p.m.

Ms. Splaine said she never anticipated her recent success in writing. Beside doing a little writing for parenting blog, "I had never really written anything," she said.

After coming up with the initial character's name and his background — he is a psychologist who was blinded by one of his patients — Ms. Splaine sat down and began working on a storyline. 

"It was just pouring out of me," she said. "He (Julian Stryker) wouldn't go away. He wouldn't get out of my head."

"Blind Order" is a thriller which follows Julian Stryker, his girlfriend and an FBI agent as they work to track down a serial murderer. Ms. Splaine said she works hard to develop strong characters and also conducts exhaustive research in order to ensure that the story is believable. 

"It's a labor of love to write a book," said Ms. Splaine, "and I love every chapter in that book."

Ms. Splaine said she becomes very attached to the characters — at times, writing a painful chapter will lead her to tears: "The death scene … I was just balling," she said. 

Ms. Splaine has enlisted the help of family and friends to read and offer early reviews for her work. She said she sends her mother each chapter when it is finished. 

The final product has been warmly received by critics, including this review by Createspace.com "…Issues relating to family, relationships, profession, and mental health are brought to the fore in this fascinating story, whose unexpected and surprising twists and turns weave an enthralling tapestry that not only keeps readers engrossed but prompts a reexamination of established views."

Ms. Splaine said she already completed the first draft for her third novel, a sequel to "Blind Order" which she has titled "Blind Knowledge."

New to town

Ms. Splaine and her family moved to Barrington last spring from Michigan.

"I love Barrington," she said. "I love being near the water. I didn't realize how connected to the ocean I was."

Ms. Splaine said she has carefully positioned her desk, where she does most of her writing, to look out upon the water. 

"I will write looking at the water," she said. "Yes, I'm looking at the screen, but also at the water."

Ms. Splaine said she usually sets aside time to write, and has a plan if she ever encounters a block. 

"I'll either exercise or walk the dogs," she said. "I love to be outside."

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