Trevor Douglas’s journey to creating Bridgette Cash, the rookie detective at the center of his Bridgette Cash Mystery Thriller series, reflects his desire to switch things up after two novels featuring male leads. Bridgette’s character came to life during a 14-hour flight from Sydney to Los Angeles, where Douglas sketched out his backstory. His first novel, Cold Comfort, serves as both his introduction and a glimpse into his past. Douglas’s decision to focus on a rookie detective enhanced his story’s depth, allowing readers to follow him as he tackles his first murder case.

For Douglas, plotting his novels is a meticulous process. He relies on the 3 Act Structure, a technique that helps him map out 12 to 13 key plot points, including the inciting incident and major twists. Before he begins writing, he spends up to three months refining the story. Only then does he dive into the actual writing, adjusting the scenes and keeping readers engaged with a carefully structured narrative. His next series, set in England, is in the planning stages, and Douglas anticipates it will take six months to prepare before writing begins.

Despite his success, Douglas didn’t always feel confident about his writing. He grew up loving crime fiction, particularly Agatha Christie, but it wasn’t until later in life that he decided to try writing himself. Douglas credits Stephen King’s On Writing as the book that gave him the confidence to start, offering both practical advice and encouragement. Even now, he revisits it regularly, finding inspiration in King’s words.

Although Douglas starts with a detailed outline, he enjoys allowing his stories to evolve as he writes. Like King, he believes in “listening” to the story and following where it wants to go. His writing process involves aiming for 750 to 1,000 words per day, typically in the morning when he feels freshest. Douglas’s disciplined approach allows him to complete a novel in about six months, balancing structure with the freedom to make changes.

Douglas loves writing Bridgette Cash, the series’ protagonist. He particularly enjoys her honesty and vulnerability. Bridgette is confident in who she is, unfazed by others’ opinions. However, Douglas found it challenging to convey her intellect subtly. Rather than explicitly stating it, he shows her intelligence through the reactions of other characters—whether through praise or jealousy from colleagues.

Maintaining tension throughout his novels is another challenge Douglas takes seriously. He is careful not to reveal too much too soon, giving his plots time to develop. The months he spends planning his stories allow him to keep readers guessing without sacrificing the pacing. With ten books now under his belt, Douglas feels he’s become much better over time, although he acknowledges it’s up to readers to judge.

While Douglas is working on a new detective series, he plans to return to Bridgette Cash in 2026 with a new novel, A Cold Day in Hell. In this installment, Bridgette will help her boss, Felix Delray, who has been framed for murder. Fans can expect the same tension and excitement that have characterized her earlier adventures.

For aspiring writers, Douglas offers several pieces of advice. First, he recommends reading On Writing by Stephen King, which helped him immensely. He also encourages new authors to consider self-publishing and suggests starting with a novella. Writing in a series is another strategy he advocates for building a readership. Lastly, he stresses the importance of beta readers, whose feedback, though sometimes harsh, has helped him improve his work.

Douglas is also enthusiastic about using AI in the writing process, particularly for tasks like research and cleaning up rough drafts. While he doesn’t use AI for creative writing, he finds it invaluable for efficiency. As an Australian writing about a Canadian detective, AI has been particularly helpful in researching details like geography and local slang. However, for Douglas, writing remains a personal and enjoyable process, one he isn’t ready to hand over to machines.

As Douglas continues to develop his craft, readers can look forward to more thrilling mysteries featuring Bridgette Cash and other characters. His well-planned, carefully executed plots will keep them engaged from start to finish.

Learn more about Trevor Douglas’ latest books.

Published By: Aize Perez