I’m fascinated with the writing craft and the world of writers. In addition to running this blog about writers, and penning books and articles on the topic, I analyze movies and TV series with writer characters, and the broader themes and lessons they provide for us writers. You can check out the blog posts here: Fictional Writers in Movies, TV, and Books
While my preferred medium is always written, don’t be surprised if I start creating “Writer reacts to writer characters” videos on YouTube. Maybe they won’t be as interesting as lawyers or doctors’ reaction stuff, but hey, we will see. 🙂
For this post, instead of TV or film, I’m picking a book with a writer protagonist: Camino Island by John Grisham, my favorite author.
Hope you like it!
Plot Summary for Camino Island
A group of pro thieves still F. Scott Fitzgerald’s original manuscripts from the Princeton Library archives, and the FBI is nowhere near solving the case.
The insurance company, however, is certain bookshop owner Bruce Cable has them and convinces struggling writer Mercer Mann to spy him. Her cover is simple and believable enough: She’s there to work on her next book (which is true) at her deceased grandmother’s house on the island (also true). All she has to do is get close to Bruce, which should be easy enough. Bruce loves all writers and is rumored to have flings with beautiful women ones.
Mercer unwillingly takes on the task and finds herself a great community of writers, as well as a handsome romantic interest.
Can she get close enough to Bruce to find out his secrets? And if she does, will she be able to sell him out?
Thoughts on Camino Island
This is a rare John Grisham novel. It’s crime fiction as opposed to a legal thriller. There are lawyers involved, but they have small parts. The leads are a bookstore owner and a writer, and as a seasoned writer himself, it is not surprising that Grisham captures the diversity of the writing world and the many issues writers face so well.
It’s definitely entertaining, and Bruce Cable will return in the sort-of-sequel in Camino Winds.
Writing World Related Issues Covered in The Book
- Writer’s block and inspiration
Mercer has been blocked for years. Neither her student loans nor her problematic relationship with her complicated family helps.
- Writing fictional stories about real people
In order to help Mercer out of her block, the writer community – especially steamy romance author Myra and Bruce, they steer Mercer toward an idea. Bruce also shares about the manuscript an ex-girlfriend was working on before she died: a fictional affair between Fitzgerald’s wife and Ernest Hemingway. While she entertains the idea for a bit, she eventually writes her own thing.
- Literary acclaim vs. financial success
Myra’s longtime girlfriend Leigh is a literary author with little financial success. As it turns out, Myra and Leigh have created many of the steamy romances together, finding quite the success. Unfortunately, a lawsuit interfered with their productivity.
Myra is often quick to point out how the mainstream novels enable them to live the comfortable life they lead on the island. Leigh tries to keep herself distant from the “thrashy” novels even though she enjoys the fruits.
- Networking and socializing
As much as I like my personal space and alone time, I also love people. I love meeting writers and talking shop with them. I suspect it is true for every profession. Non-doctors (other medical professionals excluded) will probably not get doctors as well as their colleagues do. Architects will need other architects and so on.
And writing is its own animal altogether. We spend so much time in our heads and in front of our screens, but at the same time, we try to lead exciting lives so that we write exciting stories. Talking to other writers makes me feel, well, normal and understood.
As much as normal is a relative concept, people in non-creative fields, especially if they are not freelancing, are not likely to understand writers as well as writers do.
As I read parts of Camino Island in my house during a pandemic, I envied the dinners these writers had. I’d love to live in a community full of supportive writers.
I’ve tons of online writer friends, but I prefer meeting them in real life. Fingers crossed for all of us to survive this so that we can look forward to writing conferences, networking events, and chance meetings.
- Substance abuse
One of the writers in the story is an alcoholic who eventually gets into rehab and stays sober. Another writer had a similar problem.
- Drawing inspiration from the writer’s own life
My second novel A Change Would Do You Good, which is being edited at the moment, was inspired immensely by the month I spent in Santa Barbara, California.
In Camino Island, Mercer eventually decides to write fiction inspired by the time she spent with her grandmother.
- Book signing
As a self-published author, I haven’t had a book signing yet. Frankly, I’d love to meet fans, talk about my work, and answer their questions. I hate my signature, but it’d be a small price to pay for the honor.
In the novel, Mercer cancels her remaining events for her first book after the disappointing turnout at the first couple of bookstores.
She was originally reserved a spot at Bruce’s bookstore which she canceled. Otherwise, they would have met before she gets hired about the stolen manuscripts. Maybe she wouldn’t even be approached to be a “spy” at all. This is an important plot point, as well as writer marketing in general.
- Teaching and beyond.
A lot of writers teach. I love teaching.
Even though I haven’t taught writing yet, I’ve published How to Write an Amazing Romance Novel where I take romance novel enthusiasts through the whole process. For my next non-fiction project, I’m thinking about a guide on writing your first novel.
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There you have it. Camino Island will please Grisham fans, crime fiction lovers and writers – especially those who love bookstores and other writers, fictional or not.
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Have you read a novel featuring a writer lately? Let me know in the comments.
