Heather Critchlow: The Cal Lovett Files
“What parts of yourself do you have to sacrifice to earn a killer’s trust?” That’s the question Cal Lovett, the[…]
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Month: October 2023
After the Idea
If you’ve read Alan Orloff, you’ll know that he has a unique, and sometimes, quirky approach to storytelling. I wanted to know, so I asked: Alan, where do you get your ideas?
This is what he said:
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Writing Prompts From the Universe (Your Subconscious)
I always thought that the best kind of writing prompts are those that come from outside of my own mind and that are extremely minimal. Sometimes a single word given to me by a writing partner is all I need to get going.
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Looking for Something to Read
Need a mystery to curl up with on a rainy weekend? Let me help you. Though the Miss Demeanors share[…]
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7 Mystery Publishers That Don’t Require Agents
Yes, it’s great to have a literary agent. But if you don’t have one, or don’t want one, there are[…]
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Adventures in Audiobooks
So I’d been toying with the idea of turning my books into audiobooks. After all, audiobooks are the fastest growing[…]
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Five Things I Can Never Do Again
A question I’m frequently asked is, “When did you become a writer?” I usually answer with one of my favorite quotes (no idea who said it): “You aren’t a writer because you write; you write because you’re a writer.” In other words, writing isn’t something you do but something you are. Writers must write. And once you start writing, you’re never the same, and you can never go back. There are certain things you can never do again.
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Words, Words, Words Part 2: The Natives
Last time we looked at unusual words and their origins. This time, I’m taking a look at words that our[…]
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Naming Characters
Recently while working on a first draft, I realized that I had named several characters “TK” (To Come) which was getting confusing. So, when I ran into the fabulous Sybil Johnson, the author of Brush Up for Murder at Bouchercon, I asked her to guest write a blog post on the topic. And here is what she said:
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“This couldn’t be set anywhere else.”
Have you said that about a mystery series or a TV show? Is that right? Sure, some series have ties[…]
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