Former Greater Sudbury Fire Services deputy fire chief David Wickenden has released his eighth book, Toy Soldiers – the third instalment in his vigilante series, using his expertise in fighting fires to create a female character hell-bent on getting justice for families when the law does not deliver. Vigilante’s journey across continents “In the first book, I had a female vigilante going across Canada killing child abusers, and at the same time being chased by the RCMP,” Wickenden said. “In the sequel, I had her in Paris, France, tracking down a human trafficking organization that was also into organ harvesting.” Wickenden said in the new book, Laura Lamour, the main character, is now in Nigeria. She is requested to locate and negotiate the release of a Canadian diplomat who Nigerian insurgents have taken hostage. Inspired by real-world atrocities “I have read books about child soldiers and an autobiography of a child soldier in Sierra Leone,” the author told CTV News. “It is atrocious what some of these countries are doing to these children.” His writing process Wickenden said after eight books it does not get any easier to write, but you come up with more ideas. “I am what you call a ‘pantser’ – like famed author Stephen King, I write by the seat of my pants. While other authors are planners – they plan out every single detail in their story, and do not write a single sentence until everything is planned out,” he said. Wickenden added he likes to be surprised as a reader, he likes his characters to find their way through the story. “It just works better for me that way. There is no right or wrong – it is just what works for the individual author,” he said, adding that readers should not have all the fun. Advice for aspiring writers When it comes to advice for young or up-and-coming authors, Wickenden, who is also the vice-chair of the Crime Writers of Canada, had one single piece of advice. “You must sit down and write. You cannot edit a blank page,” he said. Wickenden went on to add that writing is a marathon and it is a process.
