Ghost Rules
Some years ago, an editor rejected a story of mine because it contained a ghost. He had a policy of[…]
Read moreA Blog for Readers and Writers of Mystery, Crime, and Suspense Fiction
Some years ago, an editor rejected a story of mine because it contained a ghost. He had a policy of[…]
Read moreTalking about what your readers expect your story to be and how this can be used to create tension, add surprise, and entertain.
Read moreCozy mystery author S.A. Kazlo is a retired teacher living in upstate New York with her husband and two very[…]
Read moreI’ve done a lot of research in my writing career. That has meant finding reliable sources in the UK. Now for the first time, I’m engaging a sensitivity reader. Should you?
Read moreStructure, Plot, and Beats: what are they, what is the difference, and are they necessary? Asking for a friend.
Read moreI’m on a mission to find a set of common denominators that make characters generally beloved.
Read morePlease welcome our guest, J. Ivanel Johnson, who will share her wonderful story of a mystery that took 75 years[…]
Read moreIn exactly two weeks I’ll be back in England. After landing at Heathrow and picking up our rental car, my husband and I will be heading to Devon and our self-catering cottage, Moorland View, in Dartmoor National Park.
My purpose in going (other than the pure joy of spending time in England) will be targeted research for Book 5 in the Kate Hamilton Mystery series, now tentatively entitled A Collection of Lies.
Read moreWhat are we going to do when machines become better at all things creative than we are? When they dream for us?
Read moreSometimes writing what you know too well can leave readers scratching their heads. How to strike a balance between too deep of a dive and a fascinating peek?
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