Career Switch: Writing Historical Crime Fiction
The inspiration for writing is often drawn from one’s own passions and experiences. When I started writing THE DEATH MASK MURDERS, I was working as a volunteer guide at the Old Melbourne Gaol. I’ve always been fascinated by history, architecture and, I have to admit, crime and punishment. Being a teacher can do that to you!
Author Priscilla Paton on Effective Research
Author Priscilla Paton, author of the Twin City Mysteries, is known for her suspenseful and well-researched novels. We asked Paton about the best resources for discovering hard-to-find information and those specific details that make a novel feel factually and emotionally authentic. Here’s what we learned.
Writing Realistic Dialogue
Jacquelin Thomas’s broad range of writing work has garnered plenty of well-deserved attention. She’s the winner of several awards, including two EMMA awards. Here, she shares her tips for writing captivating dialogue.
Stuck? Try Handwriting to Spur On Your Creativity
Three Tips for Writing a Series Character
Stop Asking for Reviews!
The word “review” creates immediate mental roadblocks for most readers—and for authors, it can lead to frustration, or even heartbreak. Author Joseph LeValley has a simple suggestion to make this process easier on everyone.
My Path to Publication: A Cinderella Story
Nicole Baart is a critically-acclaimed novelist whose work has been featured as a Midwest Connections book pick, nominated for a Christy Award, and earned a starred and featured review from Publishers Weekly. In 2011 she co-authored a book that debuted at #4 on the New York Times bestseller list. Here, Baart shares her path to publication tale—a true Cinderella story.
Rejections And Bad Reviews: Hurl, Hurt, And Howl
You’re excited about the release of your thriller. Your publisher is pleased, the ARCs look terrific, and you have positive feedback from your agent, editor, and writing group. You’re waiting for your first glowing critique. Then, from out of nowhere, a critic gut-punches you with an eviscerating review. If you’re like most thriller writers, you want good reviews, but you also know it’s unrealistic to expect thumbs up every time.