The Dutchman and Goya: A Moment of Serendipity

Curtis Hagen is one of White Collar's main villains. His sardonic wit has made him a fan favorite. In our series, he makes his first appearance in The Dreamer. Since our stories are set pre-canon, Peter doesn't know the identity of the master art thief and forger whom he's dubbed the Dutchman. It was up to me to figure out a way for Neal to uncover his identity.

The fear of starting something new

From elementary school through high school, I was a good student. Yet every fall as the new school year loomed, I worried this would be the grade that got the best of me. Maybe it would be too hard this time, or I would forget how I’d managed to succeed so far. Now as I face the start of a new job, I feel that same concern. Even though the interviews went well and my experience and skills are a great match to the job description, doubt lingers: What if this time I can’t do it?

The same holds true with writing. I set progressively more challenging goals as I worked through the stories of the Caffrey Conversation, and at the start of each new story I wondered if this time I would fail.

Raphael's Dragon: The Secrets Neal Keeps

In Choirboy Caffrey, Penna references "The Gift of the Magi," a short story by O. Henry, to compare Neal and Peter's differing attitudes toward problem-solving. Neal believes the tale is a beautiful example of how a couple showed their love for each other through the sacrifices they made. Peter hates the story. He thinks the couple should have worked together to arrive at a solution. Peter makes the case that partners need to consult with each other. Neal protests that life isn't always that clear-cut. Peter says it is if Neal doesn't overcomplicate issues. But then Neal's life is all about complications, isn't it?

James Bennett: Can Neal’s father be redeemed? Should he?

The response to Silbrith’s post about bloodlines was fascinating. So far we haven’t done anything with the character of James Bennett other than reference what Neal and Ellen would have known pre-series in canon. What would happen if our versions of Neal and Peter investigated – and perhaps even met – James?

Bloodlines

"Could she here deny the story that is printed in her blood?" Leonato spoke those words about Hero in Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, but he could have been speaking about the Winchester brothers or Neal Caffrey.

Caffrey Conversation meets Jane Austen

It is a truth universally acknowledged that I will struggle with character names. So when I started writing By the Book with its New Year’s Eve party scenes, I nearly despaired at the thought of naming a bunch of partygoers, much less remembering all of their names.

Dorky Dancing

Who doesn't like a little humor mixed in with the angst? The writers of both Supernatural and White Collar excel at using both. For this first story in the Crossed Lines series, I hoped to follow their example.