Behind the Scenes of
3. Face Up
by Denise Felt 2011
I hope it’s fairly obvious what the titles in this series mean. I haven’t commented on them in other reviews, mostly because I consider them pretty straightforward in their meaning. This title should alert the reader that all the secrets from the other two stories will come to light in this one, including why the aliens targeted Scotland.
Chapter 1 – Everybody loves a wedding! To me, the most important part of any wedding is the dress. (Can’t help it! I love fashion!) So for me, when I write a wedding in my stories, you can always expect to learn what the bride wore. I try to make the dress unique to the personality of each bride, because even though I have Straker fall in love in all of my stories, his reasons for doing so differ from tale to tale. Each of my heroines have certain basic traits in common, but superficially they are very different from each other. I enjoy doing this for two reasons. One: I get bored with the same old scenario time after time and need a change. And two: I really like pitting Straker against different types of women just to see how he reacts. He’s so damned stoic! I just have to mess with his self-control! *grin*
Later at the reception, we find out who a few of the guests are. Antoine, of course, and two of the commander’s friends: Alec and Nina. Alec was a given; it’s doubtful that Straker would ever marry without his best friend there. But I included Nina, since I really believe that Straker considered her a good friend. The series tends to bear this out, as long as you forget the hideous scene in the hospital at the end of SubSmash. What were the writers thinking to have him pursue a relationship with her after that incident? Were they all losers or what??? Only a fool would try such a thing, and I’ve never believed that Straker was a fool. I get embarrassed every time that scene comes on and have to fast forward! So I mostly ignore that scene altogether and focus on the others, which taken together make for a strong background between them as friends. I just had to have Antoine ask if Alec was available! (Notice I don’t tell you how Alec answered that question!)
The honeymoon lasted a lot longer in my imagination than it did once I had it down on paper. I don’t know how that happened! Anyway, I hope I said enough to give you a clue that they had a great time.
When Straker returns to work, Alec has to give him a ribbing for looking so relaxed. That’s friends for you! And we see that beneath his happiness, Straker is still kicking himself for not having provided for the possibility of a child during his unplanned liaison with Cait all those years ago. He loves his daughter, but it chafes at him that he’ll never be able to claim her as his.
And we find out that Alec didn’t call him while he was honeymooning, but Virginia did. *snicker* And the aliens have stopped targeting Scotland. That’s good news, right?
Chapter 2 – Paul gets a piece of the action when a UFO alert comes during his night shift at HQ. Meanwhile, Cait has an interesting nightmare. Straker gets the call to go into HQ and worries about leaving her. But his new wife shoos him on his way, assuring him that artists don’t bother about timetables. However, the alert takes on a new dimension when Straker arrives only to find out where the remaining UFO is heading: to his house!
I had the story cut back and forth between the Control room and Straker’s house for the remainder of the scene, keeping the suspense tight. But of course, SHADO prevails! And Cait is safe without ever knowing she’d been in danger. But her husband knows. And when he gets home – well. I guess there are some things that break through that rigid self-control of his! Not that his wife is complaining.
Chapter 3 – The next day he and Alec discuss it, while Shannon and her mom discuss the sleep-in. Then Jackson enters the picture. He’s been noticeably absent (except for a few phone calls) since the end of the first story. Now he’s back and suggesting that perhaps Cait has something to do with the UFO attacks. Well, you know that’s not going to go over well with the commander. However, they do find out that there are not only moles amongst them, but how they were caught by the aliens in the first place. Jackson deals with the situation, but the commander is left uneasily aware that his family is now in danger.
Chapter 4 – And life settles back into a normal routine for a while. We see Shannon going to school and working at the studio, and her mother wandering the lots taking pictures of whatever interests her. And Straker in HQ, trying not to think about his wife so nearby. But when he does join her topside, her sharp eye has noticed certain interesting details about the studio. Such as the military orderliness about the place. Hmmm. Wonder why that is?
Later, Straker discusses his worries with his best friend, but Alec is more philosophical. After all, Cait defended herself against the aliens before, didn’t she?
Then Cait has another nightmare. And Straker catches the similarities when his phone rings. Since he’s not an idiot, he refuses to go in, but lets Paul handle it so that he can stay where he’s needed. And from her remarks about her dream, he realizes that perhaps Jackson may have been right after all. Somehow Cait has a connection with the aliens. And he has to find out how.
Chapter 5 – When they go to the workroom to look at her paintings, she shows him the ‘toy’ she found when cleaning. I’m not an immaculate housekeeper. I’m a writer, a clothing designer, and a quilter. Somehow housework tends to get put way down on my to-do list. So it was fun to make Cait just as preoccupied as I am. And I thoroughly enjoyed having her new husband not give a damn about her cleaning skills! (Is it any wonder why I love that man?)
Later, he gets out his own trinket box. She doesn’t know why and perhaps neither does the reader. At first. But he has a reason, and it becomes evident as she picks up impressions from everything she finds in the box. Finally, he tells her that her gift is called psychometry. This is one of the coolest psychic talents in my book! When I first learned of it, I sooo wanted to have a gift like that! Well, the fun thing about being a writer is that I can – vicariously through my characters. Thanks, Cait!
She realizes that he’s been testing her and is understandably upset. But she does get why he didn’t tell her up front, so she’s not very angry. We find Straker telling her that who the toy belonged to is ‘another story.’ And hopefully we realize that the time for facing the truth has come.
Chapter 6 – I really liked the way Cait saw her husband when he brought her down to HQ. In all the years of writing about him, I think her summation comes closer to his true character than any other I’ve done. She thought that ‘it seemed as if this was the mask, hiding the wonderful man she knew behind a barrier of what looked like grim determination.’
In his HQ office, she sees her mural on the wall and is pleased. And we find out what Straker has figured out about the ‘toy.’ It’s a homing device for the aliens, and Cait activated it every time she touched it. But on the way to Jackson’s office to test out his theory, she asks him how it got into her house? And Straker sidesteps once more, saying merely that it’s ‘another story.’
Several readers commented on Cait’s scene with Jackson. The overall consensus was that they loved it! It was a lot of fun to write, so I’m glad that so many enjoyed it too. I especially enjoyed having the good doctor find out that one of his own staff had been suborned by the aliens! It’s not really necessary to say any more about that, is there? He’s Jackson. We can trust him to deal with the matter – swiftly and efficiently. He tries to give her the heads-up before she returns to her husband’s office, but Cait doesn’t understand what he’s referring to. I can see him doing this, even though he knows that it’s probably fruitless. I’ve always believed that Jackson had the greatest respect for the commander. He wouldn’t want to watch him crash and burn.
Chapter 7 – And if the reader was ever in any doubt, we do get to see Straker crash and burn in this scene. Well, it was inevitable really. There was no way to get him off without any difficulties at all. That wouldn’t have been realistic in the least. Originally, when I wrote this scene, I took the easy way out and downplayed the emotional roller coaster ride in an effort to keep it from getting too heavy. But after I’d slept on it (and badgered my beta tester to tell me what she really thought!), I went back to it and gave it its full due. After all, we’d been building toward this moment for three stories. I couldn’t cheat the readers out of the full-blown scene! (Even though I hate to write scenes like this!) But I was much happier once I did what was necessary. And the story ended as it should, with them reconciled and going home to make up.
I hope it was obvious to the reader why she changed her mind about being mad at him. He doesn’t realize it, but then, he doesn’t see himself as anything beyond the ordinary. But she knows. She’s dealt with a husband who couldn’t be bothered to concern himself with their daughter for years, so it had to really affect her when Straker still wanted contact with Shannon. All it took was that reminder what a wonderful man she had married to make her decide that it was worth dealing with his few flaws. Her final question about where her original mural went brings the reader back full circle to the first story. It was the perfect place to end the tale.
For now.
I hope it’s fairly obvious what the titles in this series mean. I haven’t commented on them in other reviews, mostly because I consider them pretty straightforward in their meaning. This title should alert the reader that all the secrets from the other two stories will come to light in this one, including why the aliens targeted Scotland.
Chapter 1 – Everybody loves a wedding! To me, the most important part of any wedding is the dress. (Can’t help it! I love fashion!) So for me, when I write a wedding in my stories, you can always expect to learn what the bride wore. I try to make the dress unique to the personality of each bride, because even though I have Straker fall in love in all of my stories, his reasons for doing so differ from tale to tale. Each of my heroines have certain basic traits in common, but superficially they are very different from each other. I enjoy doing this for two reasons. One: I get bored with the same old scenario time after time and need a change. And two: I really like pitting Straker against different types of women just to see how he reacts. He’s so damned stoic! I just have to mess with his self-control! *grin*
Later at the reception, we find out who a few of the guests are. Antoine, of course, and two of the commander’s friends: Alec and Nina. Alec was a given; it’s doubtful that Straker would ever marry without his best friend there. But I included Nina, since I really believe that Straker considered her a good friend. The series tends to bear this out, as long as you forget the hideous scene in the hospital at the end of SubSmash. What were the writers thinking to have him pursue a relationship with her after that incident? Were they all losers or what??? Only a fool would try such a thing, and I’ve never believed that Straker was a fool. I get embarrassed every time that scene comes on and have to fast forward! So I mostly ignore that scene altogether and focus on the others, which taken together make for a strong background between them as friends. I just had to have Antoine ask if Alec was available! (Notice I don’t tell you how Alec answered that question!)
The honeymoon lasted a lot longer in my imagination than it did once I had it down on paper. I don’t know how that happened! Anyway, I hope I said enough to give you a clue that they had a great time.
When Straker returns to work, Alec has to give him a ribbing for looking so relaxed. That’s friends for you! And we see that beneath his happiness, Straker is still kicking himself for not having provided for the possibility of a child during his unplanned liaison with Cait all those years ago. He loves his daughter, but it chafes at him that he’ll never be able to claim her as his.
And we find out that Alec didn’t call him while he was honeymooning, but Virginia did. *snicker* And the aliens have stopped targeting Scotland. That’s good news, right?
Chapter 2 – Paul gets a piece of the action when a UFO alert comes during his night shift at HQ. Meanwhile, Cait has an interesting nightmare. Straker gets the call to go into HQ and worries about leaving her. But his new wife shoos him on his way, assuring him that artists don’t bother about timetables. However, the alert takes on a new dimension when Straker arrives only to find out where the remaining UFO is heading: to his house!
I had the story cut back and forth between the Control room and Straker’s house for the remainder of the scene, keeping the suspense tight. But of course, SHADO prevails! And Cait is safe without ever knowing she’d been in danger. But her husband knows. And when he gets home – well. I guess there are some things that break through that rigid self-control of his! Not that his wife is complaining.
Chapter 3 – The next day he and Alec discuss it, while Shannon and her mom discuss the sleep-in. Then Jackson enters the picture. He’s been noticeably absent (except for a few phone calls) since the end of the first story. Now he’s back and suggesting that perhaps Cait has something to do with the UFO attacks. Well, you know that’s not going to go over well with the commander. However, they do find out that there are not only moles amongst them, but how they were caught by the aliens in the first place. Jackson deals with the situation, but the commander is left uneasily aware that his family is now in danger.
Chapter 4 – And life settles back into a normal routine for a while. We see Shannon going to school and working at the studio, and her mother wandering the lots taking pictures of whatever interests her. And Straker in HQ, trying not to think about his wife so nearby. But when he does join her topside, her sharp eye has noticed certain interesting details about the studio. Such as the military orderliness about the place. Hmmm. Wonder why that is?
Later, Straker discusses his worries with his best friend, but Alec is more philosophical. After all, Cait defended herself against the aliens before, didn’t she?
Then Cait has another nightmare. And Straker catches the similarities when his phone rings. Since he’s not an idiot, he refuses to go in, but lets Paul handle it so that he can stay where he’s needed. And from her remarks about her dream, he realizes that perhaps Jackson may have been right after all. Somehow Cait has a connection with the aliens. And he has to find out how.
Chapter 5 – When they go to the workroom to look at her paintings, she shows him the ‘toy’ she found when cleaning. I’m not an immaculate housekeeper. I’m a writer, a clothing designer, and a quilter. Somehow housework tends to get put way down on my to-do list. So it was fun to make Cait just as preoccupied as I am. And I thoroughly enjoyed having her new husband not give a damn about her cleaning skills! (Is it any wonder why I love that man?)
Later, he gets out his own trinket box. She doesn’t know why and perhaps neither does the reader. At first. But he has a reason, and it becomes evident as she picks up impressions from everything she finds in the box. Finally, he tells her that her gift is called psychometry. This is one of the coolest psychic talents in my book! When I first learned of it, I sooo wanted to have a gift like that! Well, the fun thing about being a writer is that I can – vicariously through my characters. Thanks, Cait!
She realizes that he’s been testing her and is understandably upset. But she does get why he didn’t tell her up front, so she’s not very angry. We find Straker telling her that who the toy belonged to is ‘another story.’ And hopefully we realize that the time for facing the truth has come.
Chapter 6 – I really liked the way Cait saw her husband when he brought her down to HQ. In all the years of writing about him, I think her summation comes closer to his true character than any other I’ve done. She thought that ‘it seemed as if this was the mask, hiding the wonderful man she knew behind a barrier of what looked like grim determination.’
In his HQ office, she sees her mural on the wall and is pleased. And we find out what Straker has figured out about the ‘toy.’ It’s a homing device for the aliens, and Cait activated it every time she touched it. But on the way to Jackson’s office to test out his theory, she asks him how it got into her house? And Straker sidesteps once more, saying merely that it’s ‘another story.’
Several readers commented on Cait’s scene with Jackson. The overall consensus was that they loved it! It was a lot of fun to write, so I’m glad that so many enjoyed it too. I especially enjoyed having the good doctor find out that one of his own staff had been suborned by the aliens! It’s not really necessary to say any more about that, is there? He’s Jackson. We can trust him to deal with the matter – swiftly and efficiently. He tries to give her the heads-up before she returns to her husband’s office, but Cait doesn’t understand what he’s referring to. I can see him doing this, even though he knows that it’s probably fruitless. I’ve always believed that Jackson had the greatest respect for the commander. He wouldn’t want to watch him crash and burn.
Chapter 7 – And if the reader was ever in any doubt, we do get to see Straker crash and burn in this scene. Well, it was inevitable really. There was no way to get him off without any difficulties at all. That wouldn’t have been realistic in the least. Originally, when I wrote this scene, I took the easy way out and downplayed the emotional roller coaster ride in an effort to keep it from getting too heavy. But after I’d slept on it (and badgered my beta tester to tell me what she really thought!), I went back to it and gave it its full due. After all, we’d been building toward this moment for three stories. I couldn’t cheat the readers out of the full-blown scene! (Even though I hate to write scenes like this!) But I was much happier once I did what was necessary. And the story ended as it should, with them reconciled and going home to make up.
I hope it was obvious to the reader why she changed her mind about being mad at him. He doesn’t realize it, but then, he doesn’t see himself as anything beyond the ordinary. But she knows. She’s dealt with a husband who couldn’t be bothered to concern himself with their daughter for years, so it had to really affect her when Straker still wanted contact with Shannon. All it took was that reminder what a wonderful man she had married to make her decide that it was worth dealing with his few flaws. Her final question about where her original mural went brings the reader back full circle to the first story. It was the perfect place to end the tale.
For now.