Author, Compulsively Readable Thrillers
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
As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, one of my long-time dreams is coming true. Ever since I was in high school, listening to Motown and then the Beatles, I’ve had a hankering to be a radio DJ. I worked at the college radio station at the University of Pennsylvania, and my first paid … Read more
Two of my Ellie Foreman mysteries are discounted to .99 cents and .99£ all week on Amazon, both US and UK. An Eye For Murder was nominated for an Anthony Award, and A Shot To Die For won Best traditional novel at the Love is Murder contest. They’ll stay at that price until December 14. … Read more
I’m very excited to report that Shelf Unbound Magazine (devoted to small and independent presses) named Havana Lost as one of their “Notable Page-Turners” in their 2014 Fiction Competition! An early holiday gift.
And… We’re Off! The holiday season is here. Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and the shopping days before and after. Deals. Steals. Discounts. And more. This year I’m doing my part. I know many avid readers read ebooks. I do, too – they’re convenient, lightweight, and I love the backlight that allows me to read in … Read more
In the last Writing Lite tip, I share a simple but profound structure for writing and editing a chapter that I think is fantastic. It was created by Crime writer Nancy Picard, who is one of the most talanted authors I know. It combines everything you need to know about plot and character, and I … Read more
Let’s explore language, with an emphasis on pacing. Sometimes you want longer sentences. Sometimes you want crisp short ones. One of my favorite passages that shows the variety of pacing is from Raymond Chandler. He’s talking about a bar opening for the evening. Listen in. And yes, you can have a glass of wine.
We’ve heard the cliche “Less is More,” but what does it mean? Is it just something Chandler and Hammett fans thought up? British crime writing is more florid, and it’s allowed to be. So what is it all about, anyway?
Let’s move onto language. Are you a language person? What does that mean? Even if you’re not, what do you need to know about the prose you write? The main point is that language has power. Listen on…
You’ve heard it over and over: “Show, Don’t Tell.” But do you always need to do it? And just how do you do it without making the book a lot longer than it should be? Watch this. I talk about both Lee Child and Michael Connelly’s work.