Helena Halme Author

Nordic Fiction with a hint of Noir and Romance

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Google+
  • Books
  • Blog
  • Join My Launch Crew
  • New Novel Sneak Peek
  • Contact me

Caffeine and Snow Ploughs

January 2, 2010 by Helena Halme 3 Comments

For the past three days, here on a New Year’s skiing holiday in Åre, totally unintentionally, I’ve been drinking decaffeinated coffee. Yesterday morning when I found out the reason for my continual tiredness I dosed myself up with caffeine during the day. I even asked for a double espresso when offered coffee to go with a rather splendid chocolate tart and Ice Wine by my excellent hostess last evening. My body duly responded, ‘You want less tiredness, I give you wakefulness.’

I had no sleep last night.
But before I spent the night awake, first too hot, then too cold, then just plain angry at my stupidity, we had an interesting discussion over the chocolate pudding. As we watched the snow plough working the dark piste outside our window, the talk turned to our childhood memories. One of the group told us how she’d been truly terrified of the wintry road clearing equipment when a child growing up in Finland. On her way home, on narrow roads, she ran for her life, convinced the snow plough was set to get her. With high banks of snow on either side of the road she’d have no-where to run. We’d been joined earlier by a couple of movie buffs, so the talk turned to Stephen Spielberg’s first film, ‘Duel’ where a truck with an unseen driver terrorises a businessman on his way to a meeting.
In my latest manuscript, a spy thriller called The Red King of Helsinki, Pia, the 17-year-old school girl, lies awake terrified of the KGB agent keeping watch over her flat. She hears the snow plough working on the street outside, and watches the reflections of its orange flashing lights on the ceiling in her darkened room. My wonderful editor felt I could have made more of the snow plough in the plot, and thinking about our discussion while trying to sleep last night, I wondered if I should have taken her advice.
But after several edits, and a complete rewrite, I may just leave the manuscript as it is. At least until I’ve had a good night’s sleep.

You may also like:

No Snow in Lapland Advice for New Writers: Five Stages of Writing a Novel Default ThumbnailMy Nordic Adventure – Part Two: Snow and more snow Advice for New Writers Part 4: How to Increase the Speed of Writing

Comments

  1. Looking Fab in your forties says

    January 2, 2010 at 4:37 pm

    Shit, I am petrified already, KGB agents. I wanted to be a Spy when I grew up, so used to think about things like this when I was a child!
    I hated that film Duel, horrible wasn't it?

    Reply
  2. Chic Mama says

    January 3, 2010 at 2:14 pm

    oooh, sounds exciting. I love watching the snow ploughs smoothing down the pistes for the next day. Very envious.
    Happy New Year in your winter wonderland. XXX

    Reply
  3. Wildernesschic says

    January 3, 2010 at 2:14 pm

    I hated that film "Duel " too !!
    I think you should go with your gut instinct you know when something is right .. Cant wait to read it x

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy

Free Story for my Readers Group only!

Read an Exclusive First Chapter

NEW

Find out more

new

View Book

Alliance of Independent Authors /

Free Exclusive Bonus Chapter

looking for the self publishing coach?

Follow me on Instagram

First time on the Elizabeth Line. #elizabethline First time on the Elizabeth Line. 
#elizabethline #londonlife #tube #farringdon
I’m into orange at the moment, I wonder why? 😄🧡📙
Five weeks to publication of AN ISLAND HEATWAVE today. 💃
https://mybook.to/AIH #linkinbio
What a lovely surprise! AN ISLAND HEATWAVE has hi What a lovely surprise! 
AN ISLAND HEATWAVE has hit #No1 on Amazon.💃
The novel is now on pre-order offer. 
https://mybook.to/AIH
Link also in bio. 😉🧡📙
It’s a frosty, sunny morning in North London. Fe It’s a frosty, sunny morning in North London. Feels a bit like home. 🥶🇫🇮🇬🇧
Load More Follow on Instagram

Follow Me On Facebook

Facebook Pagelike Widget
Alliance of Independent Authors /

writing and publishing tips

Read Exclusive First Chapter

free exclusive bonus chapters

Copyright © 2023 · Author Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in