Category: Open Book

Jan 23, 2023

Do you include any inside jokes or Easter eggs in your work?

I have a weird sense of humor. What I find funny is not the same as most other people. So, although I’ve tried to incorporate humor into my books, I don’t know if it works. Hopefully, there will be places where readers chuckle, but that’s the most I can hope for.

‘Easter eggs’ are another story. You can blame it on my day job manager. (Back before I retired.) We were discussing the differences between the first book I released (Wolves’ Pawn) and the second (The Marquesa’s Necklace.) He laughingly suggested that Eli, my male main character, be revealed as a shifter. While that didn’t happen—although I considered it—it sparked an idea. Thanks, Danny!

I decided the two books were based in the same ‘world’ and I wrote in subtle references to the shifter series in my mystery books. For example, there’s this passage:

I was the only person out of place at the bar/restaurant. All the regulars knew each other’s names, but the occasional tourist like me was welcomed. The person who seemed most out of place was my waitress, Dot. Her hair was dyed with bright blue streaks.                                

That’s a reference to Dot McKenzie, my main character in Wolves’ Pawn.

I had so much fun with that, I made it a point to include references to my shifters, not always so hidden. In The Baron’s Cufflinks, I wrote: : 

As I glanced down, I noticed what appeared to be a leather-bound book half-buried under some old college textbooks. I set them aside, picked it up, and with my other hand, rubbed my forehead in puzzlement. As thick as the volume was, it should have weighed more.
I ran one finger across the gold-embossed title. Wolf’s Knight, Tasha’s Tale. Another unknown. I gingerly lifted the cover, half-afraid the book would fall apart.
The book was hollowed out to create a hiding place. Inside the empty space was a small, purple velvet covered box. I hesitated for the briefest of moments before taking the box out and setting it on top of the nearest stack of books.

By the way, I didn’t mean for it to happen, but that passage is what inspired the book, Wolves’ Knight. I came up with the title and then Tasha wouldn’t leave me alone—I stopped writing The Baron’s Cufflinks in order to tell Tasha’s story.

I got carried away in The Samurai’s Inro, and had Eli Hennessey from the Harmony series and Gavin Fairwood from the Free Wolves adventures involved together in a minor subplot. They both work with computer software, so it seemed natural they’d run into each other.

There were a couple of other Easter eggs I planted in The Harmony books. Each contained a reference to Harmony taking care of the African Violets she’s received from her mother. That was done as a tribute to my mother, who kept African Violets for many years. The other continuing reference are mentions of John Denver.

The Easter eggs were a one-way street. I didn’t include links to Harmony in the Free Wolves books. But I feel like I still have one more story to add to that series, so there’s still time!

Do other authors on this hop include Easter eggs or inside jokes? Find out by following the links below.

As always, until next time, please stay safe.

Jan 23, 2023

Do you include any inside jokes or Easter eggs in your work?

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