Behind the Writing of Notice of Assignment

What happens when an author pulls back the curtain and breaks down a manuscript line by line? You find out exactly where the fiction stops, and where real life begins.

Today, we are taking you inside the engine room of the creative process. With the debut Cal Brink novella, Notice of Assignment, officially wrapped and marching toward an October release, this episode features an exclusive look at the first two-thirds of Chapter One. But we aren't just doing a table read.

In a special "How I Wrote This" breakdown, Chris dissects the underlying psychology of the opening scene. You’ll hear why he chose to introduce Cal’s moral compass and wife, Shawna, before the protagonist himself, how the financial ghosts of the Great Recession shaped their dynamic, and how real-life memories—from mowing lawns for vinyl records in the Kansas heat to capturing grainy surveillance photos of marital infidelity—directly bled into the ink of this crime thriller.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• The Marriage Compass: Why a strong protagonist needs an anchor, and how a 24-year marriage provides the blueprint for Cal and Shawna Brink.
• From Sweat to Vinyl: A nostalgic trip down to Bear’s Records at 95th and Antioch, and a young boy’s first raw lesson in capitalism.
• Photos That Accuse: Shifting from the emotional toll of photographing low-light insurance fraud and cheaters to the rewarding business of standard photography.
• Leverage vs. Exposure: Navigating the "same facts, different blood pressure" reality of a high-stakes real estate investment desk.

Key Quote: “I’ve got one lane for true legal. Another lane for fiction. But it all comes from the same place. Me. I'm just telling you how it really was and then letting my imagination run wild with Cal Brink.”

Join the Conversation: We want to know what landed for you in this opening chapter. Head over to CalBrinkFiles.com right now, read the text version, and leave a comment with your thoughts!

Become an Early Reader: Want to keep reading ahead? Visit CalBrink.com today to secure immediate, advance access to the first four chapters of Notice of Assignment before the official fall launch.

New episodes of the Behavioral Detective Podcast release every Wednesday and Sunday.