What do you do when you overhear a murderer talking about the murder she committed? Not a question most of us have ever had to consider, but that’s exactly the situation I found myself in several years ago while vacationing in England.

 

Setting the Scene

I’d lucked into a great bed & breakfast rate at an old Hall—think small castle—turned hotel on the northern end of England’s Lake District. I’d been at the hotel for four days, researching the area and the hotel for my book. During that time, I’d gotten to know many of the staff. They’d patiently (and happily, I think) answered my questions, given me a tour of the facility, and even suggested local places I should visit. But I had one last thing to experience before I left—dinner at their renowned Lake View Restaurant.

 

Eavesdropping

Writers, especially fiction writers, are nosy. Not the sell-your-secrets-to-a-gossip-magazine nosy, just a simple interested-in-what’s-happening-because-you-never-know-what-will-spark-a-story-idea nosy. So, as I enjoyed my delicious meal, I eavesdropped on the conversations going on at nearby tables. That’s when it happened. I overheard a murderer.

 

The Conversation

Man: Did you take care of Peter?

Woman: I did. I expect to find a body waiting for me when I get home. Poison works every time.

Me: (Silently) WHAT? She’d poisoned someone? She looks so normal.

But isn’t that what everyone says when their neighbor is revealed to be a cold-blooded murderer? My mind whirled. Earlier overheard pieces of their conversation had revealed their reason for being at the hotel—a weekend wedding. Hmm, what better alibi than being in a crowd miles away from the scene of the crime?

Man: What will you do with the body?

Woman: Bury him in the back garden with the others.

Me: (Still silent, but just barely.) OTHERS???

 

The Rest of the Story

Before I could signal the waiter and excuse myself to call the police . . .

Woman: I hated to do it, but I’m tired of those pesky rabbits dining on my garden.

Me: (Silently) Rabbits? Not a human, thank goodness, but a rabbit! Peter Rabbit.

Weak with relief, it took a moment for my brain to put the pieces together. Earlier she’d rambled on about her garden, but I’d tuned her out to eavesdrop on the couple to my left. Obviously, I missed her complaining about those pesky rabbits. Still…

 

Writers

Fiction authors are often asked: Where do you get your ideas? The answer is simple: Everywhere. Anything can flip on the idea light bulb. We can take a normal situation and turn it on its ear. Why? Because we have great imaginations and love to ask the question: What if?

Can you see how my eavesdropping could spark a story idea? What if my heroine happened to unexpectedly overhear a real murderer? What if she were alone on vacation in a foreign country when it happened? What if the murderer realized she’d overheard him? What if? What if? What if?

DYK a fiction author requires four things? A great imagination, curiosity—especially the compulsion to ask: “What if?”—the ability to write, hopefully, and the tenacity to keep trying.

Authors don’t know what will spark an idea. We also don’t know when or how we’ll use it. We just make note of it and file it away until it’s needed. I have hundreds of ideas in both my Story and DYK idea files. Most are forgotten soon after going in, but some, like the night I eavesdropped on a murderer, will never be forgotten.

 

Extra

If you’re interested in learning more about the hotel in this DYK, click on any of the following links: Main Hotel Page, Current Owners & Property, Hotel History, Hotel Brochure, & View of Lake from Hotel’s Webcam.