The Story Behind Vanished: A Novella
Have you ever experienced a burst of creativity so intense it feels as though the universe has conspired to hand you an idea fully formed? That’s how Vanished: A Novella came into being. It wasn’t planned, and I wasn’t even sure I was going to write that day. But sometimes, the best stories find you when you least expect them. Vanished began several years ago, on a flight back from a book event in Dallas. There’s something about being in the enforced stillness of a plane—no distractions, no escape, just you and your thoughts. I wasn’t particularly interested in the book I’d brought along, and rather than dwell on the fact that I was sitting in a tin can hurtling through the sky, I started to write. What unfolded was something I can only describe as writing in a white heat. The words poured out as if they had been waiting for just this moment of clarity. True Crime Meets Fiction I've always been captivated by true crime cases that seem to defy explanation. Like so many of us, I’ve been mesmerized by the way journalists like Keith Morrison and Andrea Canning weave the threads of a story, keeping us riveted as the mystery unfolds. Their mastery of pacing and suspense inspired me to try my hand at something similar—but with one key difference. I tried to build on a story that captured the immediacy of true crime while giving readers a satisfying but imaginary resolution. Many of the stories we see on Dateline or similar shows can only be reported once someone has been charged and found guilty. In Vanished, I wanted to sidestep those constraints and offer my own take on how a case might unfold. You could call it fan writing, or maybe wishful thinking—a writer's response to the unanswered questions in real-life mysteries. What makes Vanished different, I think, is its blend of realism and imagination. It’s a story that invites you to follow the clues, experience the tension, and—hopefully—be completely caught off guard by the ending. More than one person has told me they never saw the ending coming, and that’s a reaction I treasure as a writer. Vanished is available on Amazon. If you’re a Kindle Unlimited subscriber, you can download it (as of now) for "free"; otherwise, it’s a few dollars. Either way, I’d be thrilled if you gave it a read. And if you enjoy it, I’d love it if you left a review. Hearing from readers is one of the best parts of this whole journey. So, if you’re a fan of true crime, suspense, or just an intriguing story, I invite you to check out Vanished: A Novella. Who knows? It might just make your next plane ride a little more exciting. Comments are closed.
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G.M. Malliet
.Agatha Award-winning author of the DCI St. Just mysteries, Max Tudor mysteries, standalone suspense novel WEYCOMBE, Augusta Hawke mysteries, and dozens of short stories. Books offered in all formats, including large print, e-Book, and audio. Archives
January 2025
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