I have just had a weekend of Plank-ing (not non-stop, but several hours on each day), and I can report an exciting development: I now know who is going to be the baddie in “Plank 3”. And no, I’m not telling you – or not yet, at least.
I was enjoying one of those free-form research sessions – you know, where you just click and follow any lead that takes your fancy – and there he was. (Yes, I can reveal that it is a man…) I don’t think he’ll be the only baddie, though, as by his nature he works with others. (Yes, I can reveal that he is a working man rather than an aristocrat.) But he is a definite lynch-pin for my plot, and I am very pleased to meet him. Now that I know what he does, I can start to think about his name and his appearance and his character. I feel a visit to the National Portrait Gallery coming on, as I have always found their exhibits to be of great use – particularly the crowd scenes. Several of the characters in “Fatal Forgery” and “The Man in the Canary Waistcoat” bear a strong resemblance to others on the walls in the NPG… One day, when Sam is world-famous, I shall run a competition to see who can spot them!
Susan Grossey 
Dear Susan
Great to hear about the developing plot line and baddies (boo, hiss !!).
I had to do a double take at first, as the oracle known as Wikipedia describes planking as ….. “an activity consisting of lying face down—sometimes in an unusual or incongruous location”. This did not sound entirely conducive to your creative processes !!
However, to us Plank fans, the noble art of Plank-ing is clearly something very different, even if it hasn’t made it onto Wikipedia yet.
Best Wishes
Graham
Dear Graham
That’s the danger of immersing myself in the 1820s – I fail to spot these modernisms! I doubt Sam would have much truck with such a crazy stunt, and as for Martha, well, she would tut mightily.
Best wishes
Susan