A Bend In The River: Video #1

A Bend in the River

For the next few weeks, I invite you to take a look at several very short videos on different aspects of A Bend In The River. Pam Stack of Authors On the Air interviewed me — this one focused on my trip to Vietnam and some of the highlights.   One more thing: Goodreads Book … Read more

Thank You For Your Support

Hi, all.  I wanted to report back to you on the sale of the Georgia Davis Boxed Set of Four and the winner of our raffle. First, me. I  wanted to make the USA Today Bestseller List but didn’t quite get there. Still, with your help we sold well over 4,000 copies, which is the … Read more

What I’m Writing

Hi, all. I know it’s been forever since I’ve blogged– I guess I didn’t have much to say. But I’d like to fill you in on my current WIP (Work in Progress), otherwise known as the “blankety-blank manuscript.” When I started writing over twenty years ago, I challenged myself to actually finish a novel. I … Read more

An Interview about High Crimes, Writing, Publishing, and more

Happy New Year, everyone! Let’s hope 2019 brings us less darkness, more light, and trust in our institutions again. And some fun! We need some, don’t we? I was delighted to be interviewed by Rich Ehisen on his Open Mic Blog. It was a wide-ranging conversation, so it’s long, but I think it worked out … Read more

Stumped, Crazy and Blue – Battling Writer’s Block

Thanks to Scott Biram for the title… As the poet, novelist and short story writer Charles Bukowski said, “Writing about a writer’s block is better than not writing at all”. I know what he means. For the first time in years I am uncertain what to write. I’m stumped, stuck in the mud, and blue. … Read more

Can You Revive A Series A Decade Later?

I try to answer that on the Kobo Writing Life blog today. Let me know what you think…   Posted on March 7, 2016 by Kobo Writing Life One comment By Libby Fischer Hellmann My latest thriller, Jump Cut, is the fifth Ellie Foreman mystery, and it’s been ten years since the fourth one came … Read more

The All-Important All-Mighty First Sentence

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

The Reluctant Writer

Hi, all. The following blogpost first appeared on Jungle Reds about a month ago. Unfortunately, not much has changed except that I had to put my dog down. He had cancer. I miss him. I came across an article not long ago titled “My Friend Thinks I Don’t Work Because I’m a Writer…” In defense, … Read more

Writing Lite Tip 32: Write new material for 45 uninterrupted minutes a day

Writing Lite Tip 32 - Libby Hellmann

If you, like me, are a “reluctant” writer (one who can find a million things to do instead of writing), I have a suggestion. Set a timer for 45 minutes, and during that time, write new material. Don’t edit, don’t revise, don’t even go back over your material. And don’t answer emails, check your book … Read more

Why I Started Writing: The Devil Made Me Do It!

​With my 11th novel now released (I have no idea how it got to this point either), I thought it might be interesting for people who don’t know me well to hear why I started writing crime fiction in the first place. Btw, this blogpost originally ran in my Backstories column for Women’s Voices Magazine. … Read more