Allen Renfro talks about his brand new novel Bridge Water

Inspiration…

Bridge Water was inspired by a street sign I pass every day. As I waited for the traffic light to change to green I would think about the name of the street and what I could do with that name. From those basic thoughts came the novel Bridge Water. Inspiration I believe can come from something most of us ignore, like the name of a street. It can come from anything. It's probably the reason none of us can clearly explain where ideas come from. I just hope they keep coming.

Stereotypes…

What is a stereotype really? It's a classification that someone has created. I think that in the most generic sense of the word all of us are a stereotype of some persuasion. Even being popular could be considered a stereotype. It can't be denied that many people want to be "popular" as defined by society whether that is by being a pro athlete, a celebrity, or simply beautiful, beautiful being defined by pop culture.

I don't think I purposely set out to break or redefine a stereotype, even though I know that I have done so. I write as if stereotypes, as we believe to them to be, don't exist. A character can be a "stereotype" and be the most fascinating character I've ever written.

Characters…

I'm head over heels in love with all the characters of Bridge Water. I think these are the most genuine characters I've ever written. They are annoying; they are funny; they are eccentric; they are passionate; they are human.

Favorite Character…

I think the character Laylay brings a fresh, humorous perspective to Bridge Water but it's the interaction between characters that make me love them or hate them. Derek is someone I think everyone will empathize with.

Plot…

I've always been drawn to murder mysteries and quirky characters and I'm a sap for love stories too. I wanted to show how even detectives investigating a murder still have a life, that life goes on whether they like it or not. In many ways I wanted to show how they treat solving a brutal murder as simply their job no matter how passionate they are about it.

In the closet...

Coming out is an ongoing process and can be something that happens on a daily basis. Simply by living your life as a GLBT person you could be coming out every day to someone new. The character of Derek is no different. Just because his fellow cops may not know he's gay doesn't mean that his family and friends don't know. It's that line he's walking and the outcome I think makes for a riveting story.

The future…

Several more books are in the works including the third in The Morrelini Chronicles. And yes some of the characters of Bridge Water will be reappearing in future novels though Bridge Water is not a series. It is a stand-alone novel with an ending that I love. I'm so excited about Bridge Water and looking forward to many more novels in the future!