👥 Creating Characters, Clashing Personalities and a New Dynamic in Book 3
By D.C. Salmon ⏱️ Reading Time: 5 minutes
When I first sat down to write An Irish Mystery back in 2020, I had a very simple premise: a wealthy, adventurous hero going after a lost treasure.
What I didn't fully realise at the time was how much my characters would evolve over the course of three books—or how much a subtle, quiet tension between two key characters would come to define the series.
Because I’m a "Pantser" writer, I don’t sit down with massive character dossiers or detailed emotional outlines before I start chapter one. I drop my characters into a dangerous situation, start typing, and watch who they turn out to be.
That is exactly how the dynamic between Cedric Newman and Daniela Fischer was born.
🎭 Politeness, Preconceptions, and Quiet Tension
Daniela didn't originally enter the picture as part of the core team. She came into the fold simply because she was Hans Fischer’s sister.
After Hans ended up in prison, Daniela placed the blame squarely on Cedric's shoulders. In her mind, this wealthy, impulsive adventurer was the reason her brother ended up behind bars, and she made no secret to Hans about how little she thought of Cedric.
When Cedric met Daniela for the first time in Book 1, he was completely struck by her—he had honestly forgotten just how beautiful she was. But Daniela kept her distance emotionally. She was always polite, civil, and completely professional whenever she was around him, keeping her true feelings guarded behind flawless manners and her sharp, analytical mind.
What makes writing a character like Daniela so rewarding is that slow shift in perception. As she spent more time working alongside Cedric, she gradually realised that he wasn't at all the reckless, careless man she had constructed in her head. Underneath the high-stakes lifestyle was someone deeply loyal, protective, and capable.
🚗 Taking the Reins in Book 3 (An Atlantic Shadow)
By the time we open the manuscript for Book 3, An Atlantic Shadow, the group dynamic undergoes a massive shift.
While Hans drove much of the heavy lifting in Books 1 and 2, Book 3 sees Hans taking a well-deserved back seat for part of the journey, leaving Cedric and Daniela to take the reins as the lead duo.
Putting the two of them front and centre to track a missing $100 million Bugatti completely changed the energy of the book. Daniela is no longer an reluctant observer keeping her guard up; she is an essential partner. To navigate European enforcers and underground collectors, they have to balance Cedric’s high-octane instincts with Daniela’s brilliant, calculating financial mind.
Watching her move from quiet skepticism to genuine trust—and seeing them step up together as a unit, has been one of the most satisfying parts of writing this series.
✍️ The Joy of "Discovering" Your Own Characters
People often ask me if it’s hard to build character growth when you don't outline your books in advance.
For me, the secret is simply letting the characters react authentically in the moment. As a Pantser, you can't force character development. If you try to make someone drop their guard on page ten, it feels unearned. But when you let a character slowly dismantle their own preconceived notions about someone over hundreds of pages of shared peril, the progression feels entirely real.
By the time you reach Book 3, you aren't manufacturing trust, you are just documenting how two people with completely different backgrounds have become an unstoppable team.
🎨 Brand New Look: Building the D.C. Salmon Brand
Before I let you go this week, I wanted to share a exciting little project I’ve been working on behind the scenes!
I have been working on some fresh new branding for my authorship. My goal is to build a clean, recognisable look that people will instantly associate with me, D.C. Salmon, whenever they come across my work online.
To kick things off, I have designed three brand-new logos:
- D.C. Salmon Books: My main author logo, which you’ll now see sitting proudly at the top of my main website.
- Swimming Upstream: A dedicated logo for this very blog, giving our weekly catch-ups their own visual identity.
- Against the Current: A brand-new logo for my author newsletter, which has officially undergone a name change!
Moving forward, if you see any of these badges pop up across social media, on graphics, or landing directly in your inbox, you’ll know straight away that it’s me! Let me know what you think of the new look.
📧 The Reality of Newsletter Stats...
Speaking of the newsletter, last week I sent out a fresh broadcast to all my subscribers under the new Against the Current banner. Along with announcing the name change, I decided to include an exclusive free gift: a downloadable sample of the very first chapter of my upcoming Weimar Republic WIP, titled Before The Swastika Flew.
I thought offering a sneek peek at brand-new, unreleased fiction would be a brilliant way to get people engaged and excited. Oh, how wrong I was!
To date, that email has sitting at a 35.71% open rate, along with 4 unsubscribes and a grand total of just 2 downloads for the chapter sample. To say I am disappointed is a bit of an understatement. I mean, if you signed up for an author's newsletter, why wouldn't you want to take a look at a free first chapter?
It’s a stark reminder of just how tough email marketing can be in the indie author world, but I’ll keep plugging away!
If you'd like to check out the new logos or jump on the list to grab that free chapter of Before The Swastika Flew, you can join up via the home page. Newsletter sign up in left tab by clicking the three lines in the top left corner.
💬 Over to You!
For those who have followed the series through An Irish Mystery and An American Treasure: Who is your favourite character in the team so far, and what kind of team dynamics do you enjoy most in adventure thrillers? Let me know in the comments below!
📚 What I’m Reading...
Celtic Empire by Clive Cussler (with Dirk Cussler)
With the school holidays now in full swing and a welcome break from coaching roller hockey, I’ve finally had a bit more time to sit down and get some proper reading done.
I’m about 100 pages into Clive Cussler’s Celtic Empire now, though at the moment, I must admit I cannot for the life of me see why the book is actually called Celtic Empire! So far, the story has bounced from ancient Egypt to El Salvador, over to Detroit, and then down to Washington D.C.
I am sure, however, that the connection to the title will become glaringly apparent at some point as the mystery unfolds. I’ll keep you updated on where Dirk Pitt's adventure leads in my next blog post!
💌 Want More?
If you enjoy these behind-the-scenes posts, don’t miss out on my newsletters, join Against The Current where I share research rabbit holes, sneak peeks at upcoming books, and exclusive extras.
Enjoyed the ride? 📖
I balance my writing life with a full-time day job, which means covers, research, and advertising all come out of my own pocket. If you’d like to see these books reach more readers—and help me stay caffeinated while I write them—you can support my work here. Your help keeps the "Stream" flowing and the books coming.
📚 The Newman Adventures
An Irish Mystery A fast-paced historical adventure about stolen treasures, hidden histories, and the cost of obsession. The story that started it all.
An American Treasure The journey continues! Cedric Newman returns in a high-stakes hunt for the lost riches of Mosby's Rangers. Action, mystery, and a new enemy await.
Available in Ebook, Kindle Unlimited, Paperback & Hardcover
📱 Let’s Connect
You can also find me on Instagram, Bluesky, X, and Facebook, where I share writing updates, research snippets, and behind-the-scenes moments from the school building and the writing desk.
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