Author, Compulsively Readable Thrillers
Libby Fischer Hellmann 
With Cuba in the news today, I’m struck by how little Americans really know about the island. Pretty much all the information over the past 60 years has been filtered through the lens of the Cuban-American exile community, who, although they’re dying out, are still bitter and don’t have a kind word to say about … Read more
You may already know adverbs are an indication of lazy writing – the right verb can do just as much as an adverb. But think, too, about the adjectives you use. Two are plenty to modify a noun, if they’re the right ones. More than two makes the writing seem shaky, as if you’re not … Read more
If you love crime thrillers, I have great news– If that sounds like something you’d like, just click anywhere on the image. (Ha). There are rumors that An Image of Death is my favorite of the Ellie Foreman mysteries. But if asked, I’ll deny it. I mean, all four are my … Read more
If you have read Havana Lost you’ll have noticed the way I’ve woven the Santería religion through the plot. A potent mix of European Catholicism and African Voodoo, it is a constant backdrop to the Cuban psyche. My character Carla Garcia believes in it more than any of the other characters in the book, not … Read more
While worst-case scenarios are one type of obstacle your protagonist must overcome, there are others. Hobson’s Choice dilemmas are a great tool – Your character must decide which one of two people will live and which will die. Or your alcoholic character has years of sobriety behind him, but needs to drink to prove he’s … Read more
As Cuba is more and more in the news these days I’m struck by how little Americans really know about Cuba. So I thought I’d re-post a few of my blogs about Cuba. I’m certainly not an expert, but I have read a lot about the island’s history and culture, and I spent ten days … Read more
Sorry this is out of order… my bad. Even though you’ll be editing and polishing for weeks afterwards, celebrate the fact that you’ve written an entire book. It’s an amazing feat. Congratulations! You can see all my Writing Lite tips thus far here on Pinterest.
A fundamental task in creating suspense is to confront your protagonist with obstacles and hurdles he or she must overcome. Then, just as he/she thinks they have a handle on the situation, it becomes even worse. One of the best examples I’ve read is in William Kent Krueger’s Purgatory Ridge. Two mothers and their children … Read more
I was so busy talking about Bletchley Park last week that I totally forgot to post pics from London and Surrey. It’s never too late to enjoy the Holidays. Even when they’re over. I missed Carnaby Street and Hyde Park…must go back and catch them next year. And yes that’s … Read more
Over the past few years, I’ve written a couple of blogs about short stories and how valuable they are for a writer. One of them, in particular, has been circulated quite a bit. If you haven’t already read it, maybe now’s a good time. Then come back because what I’m going to say will be more … Read more