One Story. Many Writers. Endless Twists.

Before I dive into the writing experience, let me give you a little introduction to what Dark Reflections Book One,: Blue Plate Special coming November 1 from visionary Rook Creek Press, actually is. At its heart, Dark Reflections is a collaborative fiction series where dark secrets, strange happenings, and unexpected twists come together in an eerie, at-time funny, atmospheric world based on Jeff Lee Johnson’s stunning artwork. In Blue Plate Special, the story revolves around a mysterious diner where nothing is quite as it seems. Strange visitors, cryptic conversations, and unsettling events unfold in post Great War 1920s. It's a place where every character carries their own secrets, and every perspective adds a new layer to the puzzle.

This story is as fun, twisted, and delightful as it sounds. You probably know by now that one of my absolute favourite things as a writer is getting to collaborate with other writers, whether it’s through events (like organizing Can*Con), or playing in a shared world. Recently, I got to do the latter with Dark Reflections Book One: Blue Plate Special, and it was different than any other shared world writing project I’ve undertaken. (To contextualize, I started shared world writing in 2015 with The Ed Greenwood Group, and they published a few of my stories, including Hellmaw: Eye of Glass. Not only that, but I was Deputy Publisher for a while, too, meaning I got to work with all creatives and Ed to solidify blossoming worlds. Since then, I’ve had the chance to write for multiple other worlds, like Julie Czerneda’s Plexis series, Mercedes Lackey’s Valdemar, and Catalyst Game Labs’ Shadowrun. …this makes me want to write more fun stories for these and other worlds!! …but I digress. Back to the main point.)

So, usually, in shared world anthologies and projects, each author creates their own standalone story, using the same setting. We might share certain locations, rules, or backstory elements, but the characters and plots tend to stay separate, with maybe a fun mention or nod. I once heard that shared world stories were like a bunch of different postcards from the same vacation destination. But Blue Plate Special did something fresh that really excited me as both a writer and a reader: instead of writing separate stories, each author took on a different point-of-view character within a single, overarching narrative.

Neat, right? (It’s as cool as it sounds.)

Writing this way meant we weren’t just building a world together—we were building a story together, scene by scene. My character didn’t exist in a bubble—she was part of the living, breathing drama unfolding through multiple perspectives. I had to not only think about my character’s motivations and reactions but also how she interacted with everyone else’s characters. Every choice I made could impact another writer’s next chapter, and vice versa.

It was a bit like improv theatre mixed with a complex jigsaw puzzle. Communication became the heart of the process. We brainstormed, we plotted, we compared notes. We laughed a lot, too. Ate lots of cheese. And, because this was the first time any of us undertook such a project, we went back and tweaked things to make sure every word, imagery, and plot element flowed seamlessly. The end result? A single, unified story where the reader gets to experience the events from several distinct, fully realized perspectives.

What I especially loved was how this approach let the characters feel so rich and real. Each author brought their own voice, style, and emotional depth to their POV character. As a reader, you get to see how each character views the unfolding events—their biases, fears, and hopes—and sometimes their take on a situation is wildly different from another character's.

For me as a writer, it was an absolute blast to inhabit my character and watch how she danced with the others on the page. There were surprises, twists, and some deliciously tense moments that I never could have planned alone. That’s the magic of collaboration.

So if you’re curious about a shared world project that takes a slightly different spin, I hope you’ll check out Dark Reflections Book One: Blue Plate Special. It’s a unique storytelling experience that we loved creating, and I think you’ll enjoy experiencing the world through all of our characters' eyes. The full lineup of authors is to die for: Christine Taylor-Butler, Donna J.W. Munro, Marie Bilodeau, Mercedes M. Yardley, Sandra Rosner, and Z.D. Gladstone. It’s a dream team of voices and vision.

You won’t want to miss this! Preorder your copy here: Purchase Dark Reflections Book One: Blue Plate Special!

Happy reading!

Marie