Jennifer Chase's Blog, page 47

Quirkiness of Writers Woven into Novels

There is no doubt that the daily routine of a writer has its ups… and… downs. I keep my eye on the prize of completing another novel and really (and honestly), I try to enjoy the challenge of the journey. It really is all a part of the process.

Everyone is individual in so many ways. Just because people can share some similar traits, mannerisms, and interests doesn’t mean that any two people are exactly alike. I like to think of it as a unique recipe dished out generously to make life a little...

The Criminal Mind is Different

You probably have seen an episode of Law and Order: SVU or Criminal Minds during which the police psychologist explains a brain scan of an accused criminal to a packed courtroom. It makes for great television, but does this premise reflect real science? The answer appears to be yes. With that affirmation comes perhaps the more difficult question – what do we do with that information?

Research published over the last several years shows both physical and behavioral indicators of likely criminal...

Passing Motorist Finds Body in Abandoned Car

I have to say that this scenario gives life to many crime fiction writers’ vivid imaginations…

Let me pose a scenario to you and ask what your reaction might be.

It’s the middle of the night. You are driving on a road with your wife and infant child when you notice an idling car in a ditch.

Do you keep driving and give no further thought to that car? Do you call police to let them know there may be a stranded motorist on your road? Or, do you get out of your car and start opening doors to the ve...

Vigilante Detective Emily Stone Gives a Rare Interview about Dark Mind

(Received permission to repost from Character Interviews with Stacy Eaton)

Welcome to Author’s Spotlight on World Literary Cafe

Character Interviews

with Stacy Eaton

Today we have Emily Stone from Dark Mind written by Jennifer Chase.

Welcome Emily – Great to have you here! I’m looking forward to hearing about Dark Mind… Tell us more.

My name is Emily Stone and I realized I was different from other children before the age of twelve.

Really? How is that?

I wanted to make a difference in the world in s...

Thriller Thursday Guest — Author Stephen Woodfin

It’s that day again — Thriller Thursday! I’m pleased to introduce a very talented author Stephen Woodfin with his exciting thriller Last One Chosen. Let us now take a look inside a high-octane thriller and see how good versus evil pans out.

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Book Blurb:

Homeland Security agents raid a small East Texas town and arrest a humble blue-collar worker for domestic terrorism and espionage. When two country lawyers take on his defense and fight to prevent their client’s execution, they learn that he h...

Central Park Rape Suspect Photographed by His Victim

An elderly woman relaxes in Central Park on a late summer day to enjoy an afternoon of bird watching. This should be an enjoyable activity; one that perhaps gives this woman a brief respite from the noise and the crowds of New York City. Instead, she was raped. And it turns out that the predator who attacked her has a long and scary criminal history.

David Albert Mitchell was arrested last week and charged with predatory sexual assault, rape, a criminal sex act, and robbery assault. He attacke...

New Forensic Technologies Could Improve How Crime Scenes are Processed

With all of the technology and scientific breakthroughs implemented today, forensic science works industriously with new ways to help identify pieces of crime scene evidence, victims and suspects in order to solve cases.

I’ve highlighted three different scientific practices that could impact how crime scenes are processed and how perpetrators are identified. These techniques have been individually posted previously on my blog, but I thought it was worth reposting because of the significant imp...

Predicting Drew Peterson’s Social Life in Prison

Let’s begin with the premise that police officers are probably not the favorite people of most men who are locked up our prison system. A man with a badge likely helped those convicted criminals meet the justice that they are now experiencing. So, what happens when a cop ends up on the same side of the bars as those serving time? And, more specifically, how is that cop going to get along with others when he is an apparent narcissist with a loud mouth who has been found guilty of killing his w...

When It’s Time to Dream…

One of the most common questions I have received lately has to do with writing serial killer scenes. Is it difficult to write these types of scenes? Well the simple answer is yes, it can be very difficult. It can be difficult for a variety of reasons: balancing accuracy and creative input, how much detail, making sure it adds to the story, no unnecessary violence, etc.

In all honesty, because of my outlining process and book organization, I know when I have to write a stressful scene and I do...

Serial Killer on Death Row Leads Authorities to More Victims

When a convict is sitting on death row, isolated from all other humans for almost every minute of the day, and waiting for his moment to die, he might as well be helpful to the authorities that are holding him. That, at least, is the belief of California State Assembly member Cathleen Galgiani, who has advocated for one of the state’s confined serial killers to be allowed out of prison walls to assist detectives in finding more of his victims.

Wesley Shermantine and his buddy Loren Herzog were...