Sandra Nikolai's Blog, page 2
June 13, 2018
Dark Deeds: Motives for Murder
Jealousy, anger, and revenge rank among the top motives for murder, as does greed for money and power. In Dark Deeds, Book #4 in the Megan Scott/Michael Elliott Mystery series, several motives provide the catalysts that drive the plot.
In the story, Megan and Michael’s plans to spend a quiet vacation at their friends’ lakeside resort are thwarted when they learn about a resident’s untimely death. As the body count mounts, rumors fly. Is a serial killer on the loose?
When Michael makes a connec...
April 23, 2018
Broken Trust: Backdrop
My research into illegal drug trafficking in Canada’s capital city was essential to creating the backdrop in Broken Trust, the fifth novel in the Megan Scott/Michael Elliott Mystery series. I discovered that the presence of a synthetic ingredient called fentanyl in illegal drugs sold on Ottawa streets was—and still is—contributing to a growing number of fatalities.
And it’s not only happening in Ottawa. Law enforcement officers across Canada and the USA increasingly find that illegal street d...
January 15, 2018
No Way Out
A narrow road meanders through icy, snowy woods behind the fictitious Verdell College School, the setting in my mystery novel, Icy Silence. The road leads to a river where the bodies of two young students are found submerged in a car. Even while the police investigate the mysterious deaths, gossip about a potential Romeo-and-Juliet-style incident spreads through the corridors of this exclusive boarding school.
When ghostwriter Megan Scott and investigative reporter Michael Elliott visit the s...
October 31, 2017
Dark Deeds: Setting the Mood
The opening scene of Dark Deeds finds ghostwriter Megan Scott and investigative reporter Michael Elliott driving along an isolated country road at night. They put their busy work schedules on hold and are looking forward to a relaxing weekend with friends at a lakeside resort. But that’s not going to happen.
In setting the ambiance for my mystery novel, Dark Deeds, I established an ominous mood in the first few pages to give readers a feel for the rest of the story. Imagery as seen through Me...
April 3, 2017
Film Noir and the Femme Fatale
Film noir was a style of black and white American mystery and crime drama films that evolved in the 40s and 50s. The mood or tone of the film often reflected fear, despair, ambiguity, entrapment, and paranoia—emotions produced by the insecurities of the Cold War period. You would hardly find happily-ever-after endings in a film noir. Some notable films of that era include Rebecca (1940), The Maltese Falcon (1941), Laura (1944), and The Blue Dahlia (1946). More modern releases, also known as...
February 20, 2017
Main Character: Michael Elliott
Michael Elliott is a crime reporter and the second main character in my Megan Scott/Michael Elliott Mystery series. His criminal investigations thrust him into unpredictable situations where danger often lurks—a sharp contrast to the organized, behind-the-scenes lifestyle of my other main character, ghostwriter Megan Scott.
I had the opportunity to interview Michael several years ago (in my pretend world, of course). For readers who might not yet be acquainted with him, here’s an excerpt from...
January 15, 2017
Main Character: Megan Scott
For the benefit of readers who haven’t been formerly introduced to her, Megan Scott is the main character in my Megan Scott/Michael Elliott Mystery series. She works as a ghostwriter and loves the anonymity of her job within the safe, organized, and predictable environment of her home office.
To stir things up, I intertwined the orderly lifestyle of this thirty-something young woman with the risky and spontaneous adventures of handsome Michael Elliott, an investigative reporter. Then I sat ba...
July 26, 2016
Fatal Whispers: Settings
A flower shop in Portland, Maine is only one of the settings in Fatal Whispers, my second book in the Michael Elliott/Megan Scott Mystery series. From a millionaire’s mansion to an austere abode in a church to abandoned alleys behind trendy shops, the backdrops in Fatal Whispers offer interest and intrigue.
In the story, a visit to this coastal town prompts Megan and Michael to investigate the deaths of a homeless woman, a millionaire’s young wife, and a parish priest—unexplained deaths that...
March 14, 2016
A Triple Whodunit
Upscale clothing, jewelry, and crafts boutiques blend into historic 19th century brick buildings that are characteristic of the Old Port district of Portland, Maine. In my mystery novel, Fatal Whispers, ghostwriter Megan Scott and crime reporter Michael Elliott briefly visit the trendy shops along Exchange Street before diverting their attention to the investigation of three mysterious deaths in this New England town.
If you haven’t read Fatal Whispers yet, you’re in for a triple whodunit challe...
February 15, 2016
SplashesIntoBooks interviews me
I was recently interviewed on Splashesintobooks, a versatile website that shares information about authors and their books. It was an honour to be among the numerous guests that Elaine has interviewed on her blog, and I thank her for the opportunity.
In addition to being a gracious host, Elaine is also a book reviewer and enjoys a variety of genres. She has kindly reviewed Icy Silence, my third mystery novel in the Megan Scott/Michael Elliott Mystery series. Please visit Splashesintobookswher...
