Weigh in on the Girlfriend Controversy

I'm a huge football fan, and in my opinion there's nothing like a good quarterback controversy. Mark Sanchez versus Tim Tebow, for example.

The thing is–I never expected a personnel controversy to work its way into the Grove O'Rourke series. Wait a minute. There's no football in my writing. Perhaps the better analogy is Ginger or Mary Ann.

In Mr. President Grove's partner, Zola, steps up. Big time. Now as I meet with book clubs and hear from readers, questions are mounting about the future direction of Annie versus Zola.

Here's an excerpt from an email I recently received:

Through your writing I feel as if I know Grove, and I even consider him a friend.  It was a relief to see him on the outside of a conspiracy this time, because he does seem to have a habit of stepping knee deep into trouble.  Some of his closest friends have turned out to be deviants.  I’m so glad that you chose to keep him from becoming a modern day Boston Blackie in that he didn’t have to prove his own innocence by bringing down the true culprits.  It shouldn’t be long until he’s recruited by the FBI’s Financial Crimes division, since he is so capable of uncovering the truth.

I must say that I’m not very fond of Annie, because she strikes me as being rather cold and self-absorbed.  I understand that she is working on an advanced degree and that the course load would be of monstrous proportions, but Grove is the one who is supposed to be emotionally crippled.  I like that you’ve opened up the possibility of Zola and Grove entering into a relationship.  Zola is more appealing, and I think she could give Grove the ability to move on with his life.  I wouldn’t mind seeing Annie pack up and move to Paris in an effort to follow Hemmingway and Fitzgerald’s example of a European artistic guild.

What do you think–time to send Annie to Paris?