Target AP Behind-The-Scenes Concept

The Target finale wasn’t always something I was sure I would write.

Initially, my intention was to leave ‘Takedown’ ambiguous, but as things often do in the creative process, plans changed. I felt there was still something to say with the story; I just wasn’t sure what, and it took a while for me to get there.

A ‘while’ being roughly two years, on and off. I had a concept in 2019 and wrote roughly 60,000 words on it, before deciding I didn’t like it. I went back to working on the other Target books, and ending Takedown in a way that set up the sequel.

During lockdown, I started thinking about the final book, with the intention being to release it in November 2020. I wrote out an outline and wrote roughly 120,000 words of the first draft. When I settled in to proof the draft, I realised I didn’t like what I had written. It just didn’t seem to work. It was passable, but not acceptable, and decided to start again from scratch as the 2020 deadline passed.

I took time over the Christmas period to delve into the theme, and understand what I was trying to say with the story, as without it, I’d never be satisfied with what I wrote. I read ‘Save the Cat’ for the first time and made notes whilst doing so, finally beginning to understand what I wanted. With that behind me, I wrote a stronger outline and in late January, I began writing the final draft.

I was worried at this point. The book was firmly fixed for a March 9th release date, and there was no way back from that. I got to it, though, and began writing a story which flowed far better than the older drafts. Marc helped me, always there when I needed a second opinion, or I hit the wall, but by the end of February I had finished, and even managed to get the book edited in time for the release.

When I finished, there was a strange sense of emptiness. I was pleased with the end result. It’s easily the best thing I’ve published, but for so long, this series was a part of me. It put me on the map, so to speak, and the idea of it being over left me strangely hollow for a few days.

Now, I’m ready to put out more work and the excitement has resurged. With the last two Target books, both came with a level of insecurity I’ve never experienced before, and I wondered so many times if I could write them. I put tremendous pressure on myself to make them better than what came before, and I’m happy to say I achieved that.

Now, it’s onwards to the next projects!

Target Part III: Absolute Power is available now! Click here to buy