Christa Bakker's Blog: Writer's blog, page 4

Goeie Mie

How do you feel about murder? As long as they stay fictional, they’re okay with me! As a crime writer, though, I do look at true crime; sometimes for inspiration, but mostly to find out what not to do. In the Netherlands, the amount of violent deaths is on a steady decrease. While that makes me happy, real people are still losing their lives. So instead of going over gruesome details that are fresh in people’s minds, I thought I’d focus some attention on historical Dutch murder cases. This one i...

The Flying Dutchman

The Flying Dutchman by Charles Temple Dix via Wikimedia Commons

Good Friday, 1676. The good people of Terneuzen brave the nasty weather to go to church. One burly man in particular is not happy with the situation. Willem van der Decken slumps on the bench next to his wife, who’s been nagging him all day.

“You can’t. It isn’t done.”
“If I don’t do it, someone else will.”
Hissing from various sides saves him from further drilling for another hour or so.

That Sunday morning his wife comes to church...

Free books for reviews!

My entry, obviously.

This month, 33 authors are working together to find reviewers for our fantasy books. All the books submitted are clean adult or YA fantasy books, so if that tickles your fancy, and you’d like some free books in exchange for an honest review on the platform of your choice, please, click this link!

Check out the free books!

6 Proven Ways to Start a Successful Blog

Used with permission from coxandforkum.com

Have you ever thought about starting a blog?

I’ve met many people who’ve thought about it. Fewer who actually did it, but none who really succeeded to make it work. So here’s little old disheartened me, also starting a blog. But mine won’t be the diary type, or the one with all the recipes you’ll never make but just gawk at for the mouth-watering pictures. I have done… drumroll please… RESEARCH. So there you go. Now I can be sure people will actually re...

On to the next adventure!

Balcombe viaduct

Started and finished in Britain. It’s taken me six years, two international moves and an extra child to get from concept to published work, but my very first novel is off. It’s wonderful, and I’m proud of it. It’s finished, and I’m done with it. I will love it again when I read it later. Much later.

I’m being dramatic, of course. I wrote a book! What’s not to love?

Except… I’ve been thinking about the next one for quite a while now. And it’s totally different. It’s also...