Cars
do more than just
transport the bad guys and toodle the protagonist to her
next round of sleuthing. They reflect the characters'
personalities. My sleuth, Bridget, has a maverick
streak, and it shows up in her choice of vehicle.
She drives a 1964 T-bird--"painted teal blue
to match my eyes," she says. The car is a very visible
sign that Bridg is on her way to "seeking her bliss,"
though too often she finds the route littered with
bodies!
Jot down the
characters that appear in each chapter as you go write your
novel. Think of cars and pets as characters, too.
Your "list" will be a big help when you are at
page 210, and trying to remember where and when you
wrote about the gray Saab--or was it a silver Saab?