No spoilers, let’s talk about containers! It’s relevant to the chapter, but readers might wonder why I use shipping containers either as a setting or even as a plot device so often in my stories. The answer is, when you live in Greenland, shipping containers are a daily sight and simply an integral part of daily life. There are the larger 20′ and 40′ containers, and then there are the smaller ones which brought everything Jane and I owned to Uummannaq. These were 8′ containers. We had six of them. We decided to go all in. Meaning that we relocated to Greenland, choosing to make a permanent home in the north, rather than a suck it and see approach travelling with just a a few backpacks and suitcases. The smaller containers are also necessary in the settlements and small villages as there simply isn’t room or perhaps even a dock for the bigger ones.
During the period of waiting for the containers to arrive, however, one has plenty of time to wonder if you did the right thing. Especially as life in a new country is always challenging to begin with. Always exciting. And, to be honest, overwhelming. But the day we saw our containers on the docks in Uummannaq. Well, talk about Christmas! We were very excited indeed.
Now, I use containers in my stories and in Seven Graves, One Winter, as a means of hiding things, often hiding people, sometimes bodies, and even using the container as a trap, as I did in the aptly named novella Container. Yes, my imagination knows no bounds! 😉 But they are so ubiquitous that they can be overlooked, which makes them really suitable for crime stories of all kinds.
In chapter 15 of Seven Graves, One Winter, I also allude to events in Maratse’s past which give him a unique perspective on what they find inside the container. This has caused some problems with the traditional publishers who bought Seven Graves, but didn’t buy The Ice Star or In the Shadow of the Mountain. While you don’t need to read these books to enjoy Seven Graves, it would certainly help with Maratse’s background if you did. I love crossover in my books, and I hope it adds to the enjoyment.
Chapter 15 is now LIVE for all patrons, from the “Behind the Scenes” tier for 25 DKK and up, on my patreon page.
There’s a lot to read on my patreon page now, not just Seven Graves, One Winter. Please ask if you want to know more.
Alternatively, you can buy Seven Graves, One Winter (digital and physical formats) starting from $0.99 USD.
And, also on Patreon, later today, it’s a Long November, Chapter 12. Choose any tier, starting at app. $3 + VAT per month.
And currently FREE on Patreon: Part 11 of Drive Like U Stole It!
Great picture of Jane! Her happiness is palpable! 😀 Interestingly, shipping containers were in the news HERE in Southern California yesterday! The ubiquitous MAERSK shipping containers that we see on passing trains and sometimes 18-wheelers on the freeways, may soon be NOT so ubiquitous – you probably heard, as well, that MAERSK is laying off over 10,000 workers, which is almost hard to believe, when we see photos of hundreds of thousands of huge MAERSK containers stacked at the Port of Los Angeles! 😳 Here in L.A. there is actually an entire industry converting these containers into Tiny Homes for the homeless! Was that ever attempted in Greenland?
I had heard rumblings but nothing concrete. It’s interesting that such a small country like Denmark has a huge international reach through Danish companies. As far as I know, containers were never converted for use in Greenland. I think insulation would be the main problem. That and touching the sides in winter. 🙂 But, that’s not to say no one has tried. I just haven’t heard about it.
Oh, that’s very true! I hadn’t considered how the cold would affect those containers in Greenland! Maybe they have the OPPOSITE problem here in L.A., where you could easily be scalded just TOUCHING your MAERSK Tiny Home! 😱
And I hadn’t considered the heat. Funny how we think about the climates we’re in. I would melt in LA!
Don’t worry – I’ve got you covered – I sweat and melt enough out here every summer for THREE people! 😓
To paraphrase Aliens… “Yeah, but it’s a dry heat.” I’m guessing. It’s long time since I was last in California. 🙂 13 days in LA. Sounds like the name of a film. 😉
That’s true – humidity is very low – but it’s still not to my liking! (ALIENS! My favorite film for many years!)
It was a dry cold in Greenland. I have to say, it was definitely to my liking. Yes. I love Aliens. Watched it recently. It holds up well.