Terry Shames's Blog: 7 Criminal Minds, page 103

Writers On Retreat

 Q: You’re organizing a writers retreat with some fellow authors. Friends, perhaps? Describe the plan, the setting, the food, the drinks, and the results. And, of course, who gets murdered…

 

- from Susan

 

Hey, this is a whole book in the making. I used to fantasize about a murder on a college campus. Anyone who’s worked in higher ed will immediately understand. I did one, the third Dani O’Rourke, MIXED UP WITH MURDER, and it was somewhat cathartic. But doing one so close to my metaphoric home requ...

I was the future once

 The buzz of your first novel has long worn off, you’re no longer the hot new thing — now what?

 

By Abir

 

 

I must say, I love this week’s question. A lot of the time it’s too easy just to keep looking forward, blinkers on, peering towards some distant point on the horizon, assuming that when you reach it, then and only then will you be a success. This week’s question, well it forces me to take stock.

 

My first novel, A Rising Man, was published in 2016. It’s 2021 now, and my fifth novel, The Shadow...

When the Bloom is off the Rose from James W. Ziskin

 The buzz of your first novel has long worn off, you’re no longer the hot new thing — now what?

With me, it wasn’t exactly like that. Sure, I was buzzing when Styx & Stone came out in October 2013, but no one else was. I’m not complaining. I was thrilled that I’d finally found a publisher to pay me to publish my book. God knows I’d been wanting that for so long—since my tender youth, what the French call ma première jeunesse. I’ve probably mentioned it here many times that, for too long, I was no...

A Guest Post by Eric Beetner

Eric Beetner is that writer you've heard about but never read. Then when you finally do, you wonder why you waited so long. There are over 25 books and more than 100 short stories so you'd better get started. Books like Rumrunners, All The Way Down, Two In The Head and The Devil Doesn’t Want Me. He also hosts the podcast Writer Types and the Noir at the Bar reading series in L.A. He’s been described as the 21st Century’s answer to Jim Thompson, and he’s been nominated for three Anthony’s, an ITW...

After the Buzz, Now What?

 

Terry Shames here, answer the ongoing questions: The buzz of your first novel has long worn off, you’re no longer the hot new thing — now what? 
 I was indeed a “hot new thing” in 2013 when my first novel came out. How did I know I was hot? At my first Malice Domestic, just before the novel came out, guest speaker Carolyn Hart mentioned A Killing at Cotton Hill as the best debut book she’d read that year. I was dumbstruck. 



 Her comment started buzz, and it continued for the next year, as the boo...

When the Spotlight Fades

The buzz of your first novel has long worn off, you’re no longer the hot new thing — now what?

Brenda Chapman

The only hot thing about me lately comes from the 40 degree temperatures. Tropical air mass hovers over Southern Ontario ... break out the pina coladas and beach towel, I say.

My first novel was a middle grade mystery, and while its release did create a buzz amongst my family members and friends, I'm not certain it or I ever achieved 'hot' status. The book got solid reviews and kids liked t...

10 Books I can't live with out By Josh Stallings

 

Q: Which book that you’ve read has had the most profound effect on you? And why?

A: I have a love hate relationship with the alphabet and the written word in general. Growing up an undiagnosed dyslexic, I struggled over Dick and Jane and their damn dog. I hated reading, but I loved being read to. My love of books came from my parents. They were voracious readers. One of my favorite memories is lying on the living room floor with my brother and sisters listening to my father read A.A. Milne’s “Wi...

Guest Post - Edith Maxwell / Maddie Day

Catriona writes: It's my absolute pleasure today to welcome Edith Maxwell (Maddie Day) back to Criminal Minds, to celebrate the publication of her 25th novel - three cheers (x five) - and ninth book in a culinary cozy series, NO GRATER CRIME. Ha! Also the author of the Quaker midwife historicals, and herself a Quaker although not a midwife, who writes the comic Book Group capers besides, Edith is one of those people - her garden bursts with produce, her kitchen bursts with the ensuing deliciousn...

Catriona writes: It's my absolute pleasure today to welco...

Catriona writes: It's my absolute pleasure today to welcome Edith Maxwell (Maddie Day) back to Criminal Minds, to celebrate the publication of her 25th novel - three cheers (x five) - and ninth book in a culinary cozy series, NO GRATER CRIME. Ha! Also the author of the Quaker midwife historicals, and herself a Quaker although not a midwife, who writes the comic Book Group capers besides, Edith is one of those people - her garden bursts with produce, her kitchen bursts with the ensuing deliciousn...

Guest post: Alis Hawkins, CWA Dagger shortlisted historical mystery author

Cathy Ace here: Please welcome today's guest blogger - Alis Hawkins. Alis is the author of the CWA Historical Dagger shortlisted Teifi Valley Coroner series of books. She's also one of the founding members of Crime Cymru, a collective of Welsh crime writers. https://crime.cymru/

I joined the group as soon as I heard about it, which was over dinner at CrimeFest in Bristol in 2018...or was it 2017? Wow, the pandemic gap in reality is making it even more difficult than usual for me to recall which y...