Sheila Deeth's Blog, page 12

How many different types of mystery can you think of?

I'm writing (and researching) John's Joy at the moment, a book of children's stories based on Revelation. I know it sounds odd, but I've always loved Revelation, and the more I learn about it the more I love it. So why not try to convey that excitement (and mystery) for kids.

Meanwhile I'm also rewriting my old Hemlock stories, in hopes of getting them published (maybe Ink-Filled Stories will take them, but that's a mystery). I'm compiling my cat tales into Claws for Concern. And I'm editing,...

Distracted by covers?

I've been seriously distracted. Remember that big republishing thing, with all my books retaining their old covers, all to be rereleased with a different publisher. Then came the news, via Facebook (a wonderful source of news) that book covers on Amazon might not be printing correctly. The posting was soon ammended to say that only covers that weren't formatted correctly would fail. And then I learned... yeah, half of mine weren't formatted correctly. Now we're down to only three that need re...

What's more important than genre?

Today I'm delighted to welcome author Joab Steiglitz to my blog. He's touring the internet with his novel, The Old Man's Request, a historical suspense set in pre-Depression New York, and centering around a Russian immigrant. It's an intriguing time and place (becoming more so the more I read about the novel... reader, read on!), and Joab has generously offered to share what he's learned about setting. He's also sharing a chapter. So, over to you Joab, and thank you for visiting here.

Why Defi...

What's more important that genre?

Today I'm delighted to welcome author Joab Steiglitz to my blog. He's touring the internet with his novel, The Old Man's Request, a historical suspense set in pre-Depression New York, and centering around a Russian immigrant. It's an intriguing time and place (becoming more so the more I read about the novel... reader, read on!), and Joab has generously offered to share what he's learned about setting. He's also sharing a chapter. So, over to you Joab, and thank you for visiting here.

Why Defi...

Mrs. Rossi's Dream by Khan Ha

Today I'm delighted to feature Khan Ha's novel, Mrs. Rossi's Dream, a thoroughly absorbing story of guilt, forgiveness, sense and sensitivity... echoes of war and inhabitants of peace. It's nothing to do with Lent, but it seems a perfect choice to add to the reading list.

Richly sensory, gorgeously descriptive, harrowingly disturbing, and beautifully told, Khan Ha’s Mrs. Rossi’s Dream brings to life a different side of Vietnam—not just the war (though this should surely be a must-read for anyo...

Have you tried reading for Lent?

I used to give things up for letter - candies, but not at weekends 'cause that's when my granddad gave me chocolate; watching a favorite TV show, but not if it was one my brothers would be watching (it wasn't just the temptation to join them; it was not wanting them to know I'd given anything up, because they'd tease me); spending sixpence on treats (hot chocolate) at school, but only if my friends weren't spending their sixpences (same problem)... Then I started doing extra things for Lent -...

More than pancakes and Easter eggs. An amazing walk to Easter!

Today's the day for pancakes back home - Pancake Tuesday, or Shrove Tuesday; the day before Lent begins. I loved pancakes as a child; Lent not so much, since giving up chocolate always seemed like more than I could do. I saved myself from too serious a commitment though, reminding myself that it would be "unkind" to refuse gifts of comfort food from my non-Catholic relatives. And now, here I am, a mongrel Christian indeed... and here's pancake Tuesday with me wondering if I can make gluten-fr...

Are you afraid of catsup?

Today I'm delighted to welcome Daniel Dark to my blog. He's the author of Knife's Tell and Victorian Catsup (yes, catsup!), and he's here with a blogpost about... Fear. So... Are you afraid yet? Afraid to read his books? Afraid to read this blogpost? Well, good. Please read on...

Fearby Daniel Dark
There is something about the word fear that causes people to react different. I want to talk about my complete and unreasonable fear when it comes to writing. Some of you may have experienced some of...

Who will you write?

Today I'm delighted to welcome author Dan Jolley back to my blogm as he tours the internet with another suspense thriller with murder, mystery and more... But what about that whole "Write what you know" thing. Does he know murder and mystery...? Does he know murderers...? Over to you Dan!

“Writing Who You Know”
Dan Jolley
One of the things about writing that it took me longer to learn than it should have is the importance of characters.
You might be thinking, “Well duh. What are you, Jolley, stup...

Do authors know their place?

I'm delighted to welcome author Michael Williams to my blog today. He writes about ghosts and myths and mystery and I'm really looking forward to reading his new release about a boy who grows up with otherworldly mentors--Dominic's Ghosts. But first, Michael is going to tell us about Place, Place in Fiction, and how to Know Your Place. Which is excellent timing, because one of our writing group's upcoming prompts is "description." How will we describe our places?

So... over to you Michael, and...