Chapter 198

Juliet raised a finger to silence her. “No excuses. I know you and I know that the author who has written ten books in the last five years doesn’t miss deadlines. We are willing to let you drop that book for now and come back to it later if you want to, but the boys upstairs want something new and fresh.” Lisa thought about all the research she had been doing. Dragging garbage bags full of dismembered limbs downstairs and bodies rolled up in Persian carpets… was it all for nothing? Juliet reached across the table and laid her hand over Lisa’s. “Don’t get me wrong. I know that every A.A. Abernathy novel you send me is brilliant, but maybe you do need to try something different. The powers that be are even agreeable to you using a new pen name.” Lisa shook her head. “No. Abernathy has a solid fan base, it would be like starting all over again.” She sighed and sipped her flat white thoughtfully. “I have had this one idea that has been playing about in my mind,” she said. Juliet leaned for