I had the basic plot mapped out of DEADLY DESIGNS, the second novel in the Veronica “Ronnie” Ingels/Dawson Hughes series. Soccer featured prominently. One of the villains (perhaps the kidnapper and murderer…you’ll have to read the book when it comes out to find out) was a soccer fanatic. He also had links to possible Islamic terrorism.
So there I was, in my own world, writing along, strengthening the plot, deepening the characters, piling on conflict when I learned soccer could be seen as a huge crime to certain Islamists. A little research shook my sensibilities. I discovered in 2012 Iranian cartoonist Mahmoud Shokraiyeh was sentenced to 25 lashings for drawing a parliament member in a soccer jersey. More recently, 13 Iraqi fellows were executed by ISIS for watching a soccer game. This floored me and gave DEADLY DESIGNS relevance I had not anticipated.
The final draft of DEADLY DESIGNS is close at hand. I don’t have a cover yet, and find my mind has been boggled by the insanity of real life. I do expect to have the novel released this spring.
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Your mind and mine, too. Can’t wait for the book!
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P.T. You can’t make this stuff up.
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Wow. That’s incredible Nike.
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Holly, I had a basic plot line figured out and why fanaticism with soccer would play into the villain’s psyche (along with a myriad of other indulgences) to propel him toward evil. I just never thought of what I’m reading in the headlines and I’m now working it itno the story.
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Intriguing.
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Carol, These headlines gave me permission to take it a tad further than I would’ve gone on my own.
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Almost unbelievable!
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Debbie, Yes, this is further than my imagination would’ve taken me with this subtheme…but I’m weaving it into the story, not as a major plot line, but it’s there just under the surface.
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The news story of those soccer fans has haunted me because I have spent a good part of my life enjoying the games. In my opinion, evil exists and cannot be hidden by hoods. I am looking forward to your novel.
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Georgia, As I originally conceived the plot, the villain, a total soccer fanatic to the extreme, gets involved in evil involving possible terrorist ties. When my research uncovered this, of course these atrocities by Islamist, of course I had to weave it in. By no means does it take over the story, but it does add dimension I would never have thought of.
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It’s interesting when real life events informs art. Your book sounds intriguing. I’d love to understand the rationale behind this hatred of soccer.
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Janalyn, From what I can gather, outside the US soccer catches the imagination of many young men. ISIS considers it western and wants to stamp it out. They don’t like that so many of the Arabic young men are attracted to it. Sick, really sick.
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