Q&A With Author Paul D. Parsons on Baden–Powell's Beads: London

Q—Your first book, Baden–Powell's Beads, is Memphis–based. Why did you set the second book in London?

Parsons—The historical background for the Beads series begins in London in 1919 with Baden–Powell awarding the beads to the first 19 Scoutmasters he trained in Gilwell Park, north of London. Thus the setting for the second book in London was a natural.

Q—Early in this book you blend in some details from the first book, as well as a brief history of Baden–Powell's Beads, for those who didn't read it. How does a writer make that work?

Parsons—The easy way would be to provide a summary of Book I at the beginning of the novel before the next story begins. I chose not to do that. More pleasing to the reader is to incorporate enough back–story in the text to inform those new to the tale and also serve to refresh the memories of those who may have read the first book some time ago. Harder to do and not be repetitive and boring.

Q—The relationship of your lead characters David and Pam grows and they are definitely together in this thriller. But there is underlying interest between Pam and Patrick from an earlier time that will play a vital role in Pam's life. Without giving away the story, was this developed before you knew the outcome of the book or as you were developing the outcome?

Parsons—I let this develop. The personalities of Patrick and Pam are a good fit to each other, but Pam already has a romance going with David, Patrick's best friend. Sexual tension in a story is a good thing.

Q—You have one bad villainess in Cheri Hassen. Was she fun to create? And again, without giving away the story, would you talk about her character...or lack of character?

Parsons—She's one of my favorites and my female readers despise her, which means I made her real enough. Ruthless, manipulative and sexy, she's out for herself and woe be unto those who try to thwart her. She becomes an integral part of the whole tale.

Q—Was this book more of a challenge or easier to write than your first Baden Powell's Beads thriller and why?

Parsons—I'd have to say a little easier. Most of the characters were in place and the history of the beads, both real and imagined, was set in my mind, so I wasn't starting with a blank slate. This episode is one of character and relationship development for our principles, connecting the beads to the history of man, and introducing some, but not all, of the villains that are behind the underlying plot, setting the stage for Books III and IV.