Hip hip HOORAY, my new book is now available! It's the fourth full-length Lexy Cooper mystery. You can pick up the eBook right now at Amazon, or you can wait for the paperback this summer. Any questions? What if I don't have a Kindle? You're in luck, cowboy. You don't need the dedicated eReader to... Continue Reading →
All About That Pace
Let's talk about pacing, i.e. the action in your novel. Does it start slow and build to an action-packed climax? Do you hit on your main themes in a regular pattern? Do you sprinkle humor here and there? I wasn't sure how I did it. I've had readers comment that they like the pacing in... Continue Reading →
Series Fiction: What I wish I’d known at the start
I'm in the final stretch of writing the fourth book in my Lexy Cooper mystery series. Now, I'm certainly nowhere near as prolific as many writers, but by the time you get to Book 4, you've built up a pretty substantial cast of characters, a history, and a world. Here are some of the things... Continue Reading →
Bringing out your dead: When to drop the first body.
Conventional wisdom dictates that mystery/crime novels offer up a body early on. Think about every episode of every incarnation of Law & Order. There's the discovery of the victim, then the iconic "DONK DONK" (also called the "clang") followed by the theme song/opening credits. Then the detectives are on scene and the process of discovering... Continue Reading →
Writing Tools – In Praise of the Humble Index Card
I always have a stack of index cards close to hand. They are useful for writing down phone numbers, grocery lists, character names, brilliant ideas, quick notes, or possible book titles. You can even use them to get something out of your teeth or provide a nasty paper cut. With a blank wall, a stack... Continue Reading →
