As my debut sits, waiting to be proofread, my creativity continues to flow. My next book is just in its infancy, but research and outlining are in full swing on the way to a completed first draft later this year. For a while, I know there will be a mountain of research as my detective character solves a variety of cases from murder to kidnapping and much more.
This upcoming project features characters who are under constant security surveillance due to who they are. I’m not high-profile or someone in danger in any way, so this is an area I need to look into further. One of the most interesting things I’ve found so far is that personal security doesn’t have to apply to only high-profile celebrities or executives. People who often travel to dangerous areas, have been victims of domestic abuse or other crimes, and more are ‘regular’ people who may want to consider personal protection.
What does a personal security detail do? Just as in fiction, they’re on call or otherwise available 24/7 for the protection of the individual. They do more than just surround the person at all times to keep them from bodily harm. They’re trained in advanced security and defense tactics, surveillance detection, conflict de-escalation, and even emergency response. Their level of situational awareness quickly assesses potential dangers in any space and allows them to adapt to the situation to ensure a person’s safety.
In my new work, a personal security team is an absolute necessity for this character. But it’s a pressure the character is fed up with and would rather avoid. What sort of peril will it bring?