Author, Compulsively Readable Thrillers
Libby Fischer Hellmann 
For the first time in 10 years, Chicago video producer Ellie Foreman is back in Jump Cut, which will be published March 1. In this, the 5th mystery-thriller of the series, Ellie is producing a video for a giant Chicago aviation company. But she is soon entangled in a web of espionage, drones, hackers, and … Read more
Happy New Year, everyone! Hope you’re looking forward to this year. I tend to do better in even years than odd… do you have a pattern like that? If so, which years are better for you? I’m especially excited about this year, because, JUMP CUT, the 1st Ellie Foreman mystery/thriller in 10 years is coming out March … Read more
So the holidays are now in full swing. For some it’s your favorite time of year. For others, it’s a few weeks to be endured. In 2013 I ran a list of Binge-Watchable shows that are deliberately NOT about the holidays. I did that for those of you who want a respite from the holiday hustle … Read more
When you pick up a book for the first time, and the first line grabs you by the—er– throat, you know you’re in for a great ride. As a reader there’s nothing quite as exciting as a line that makes the hairs on your neck rise, or makes you laugh unexpectedly, or intrigues you so … Read more
When you buy books online, do you read reviews? Of course you do. I look at the general star ranking, read a couple of 5-stars, then 1-stars, then 3- stars, for an overall assessment. Unfortunately, people have tried to game the system over the years, and controversies have flared about authors paying for reviews, deliberately … Read more
Happy Thanksgiving, all. Hope it was a good one. The last Writing Lite Video tip is a little longer than the others; then again, I’m explaining a terrific system you can use to structure your chapters. It was developed by Author Nancy Pickard, whose thriller THE VIRGIN OF SMALL PLAINS is one of my … Read more
We’re almost at the end of the Writing Lite tips for Nanowrimo. But I couldn’t ignore a topic that I not only enjoy but think is really important. And that’s the rhythm of language. Listen in.
Okay. What does “less is more” mean? With some novels weighing in at 800 pages or more, how can that be true? Listen up.
In Writing Lite #9, I talk about the power of language and recommend a book that will help you write more consciously.
You’ve heard it ever since you started writing. Show, Don’t Tell. You know what it means. You really do. But do you? Learn more.