Terry Shames's Blog: 7 Criminal Minds, page 117

“I’m Proud of You, Brother” by James W. Ziskin

With apologies to my 7 Criminal Minds colleagues, I’d like to go back to last week’s topic, which was pre-emptied by the Lefty Historical first lines post. So here it is.

Who is someone in your life who has been supportive of your writing? What was their impact? 

My brother Bill has always been a enthusiastic supporter of my writing—deserved or not—showing up at each local signing with his trusty camera, reading all my books and stories, recommending them to friends and colleagues, and offering de...

From my "lovely, ugly town"... by Cathy Ace

What’s your favorite first line of a book or story, and why? Then tell us your favorite first line from one of your books and stories, and why.

Unlike my protagonist Cait Morgan I do not have an eidetic memory, which would come in handy at the moment. Generally speaking, I don’t go around memorizing the opening lines of anything, books included. So, ignoring the obvious quotes about the best/worst of times, or the predilection to marriage of single women etc. etc., I’m going to share with you th...

A Fave

What’s your favorite first line of a book or story, and why? Then tell us your favorite first line from one of your books and stories, and why.

From Frank

I thought about this one for a little bit, knocked around a few contenders, but in the end, it wasn't even close.

The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed.

Thus begin's Stephen King's magnum opus, the seven-tome Dark Tower series (actually, eight, if you count the "side-quel"... and of course, there are tie-ins all thro...

A priest, a president, and a Boy Scout walk into a bar...Great First Lines

 Q: What’s your favorite first line of a book or story, and why? Then tell us your favorite first line from one of your books and stories, and why.

 

from Susan

 

This is a hard question to answer. There can never be one for all time. Reading as many books as I – and you – do every month, let alone every year, trying to remember which one struck you as the “best” is difficult enough. 

But then there’s the problem of what makes a “best.” After all an intriguing first line may lead you by false promise...

Written in the Stars

Who is someone in your life who has been supportive of your writing? What was their impact?

By Abir

It’s Friday again, and we have another fascinating question this week. There are so many people I could thank, whom I should thank, for supporting my writing, but the question is, where to start?

Do I mention my English teacher, Mr Simon who helped inculcate a love of language and literature within me? Or do I start with Alison Hennessey, the editor who helped me craft my first novel and who pretty m...

With Many Thanks ... A Guest Blog

Catriona writes: We've got guests today at Criminal Minds. Four authors from Level Best Books are launching novels and celebrating them this month: one debutante - Mally Becker; two sophomores (right? that means second-time round (still assimilating)) - Cynthia Tolbert and Kerry Peresta; and our old friend Liz Milliron who is two books deep in her second series. Welcome, everyone!

Liz, Kelly, Cynthia and Mally have gamely pitched in to answer a QotW. “How do you decide who to acknowledge and who ...

A shot in the arm

Is there a non-writer whose work inspires your writing? 

by Dietrich

There are people in different fields and walks of life who have been an inspiration along the way. Those who paved the way, those who left a positive mark, and the ones who questioned prevailing beliefs and conventional wisdom. 

Aside from writing, I’ve been drawn to creative expression since I was a kid, and I’ve taken paint to canvas, found notes on guitars, and snapped many photos. And to get into any of it, I’ve looked for ins...

My Muse

Feb 16 Terry here, answer our week's question: Is there a non-writer whose work inspires your writing? Tell us about it. 
 It’s no secret that my grandfather was my inspiration for Samuel Craddock. If he had gone beyond the third grade, maybe he would have been a writer, but he was out on his own at the age of twelve and spent the rest of his life as a hard-working man, married at sixteen and the father of eight children. 
 The reason I think he might have been a writer is that he was a great sto...

Giving Thanks

Who is someone in your life who has been supportive of your writing? What was their impact?

Good Monday morning! Brenda Chapman kicking off this week's question.
There have been many, many people who have supported my writing journey so it is difficult to pick just one. How much thanks do I owe my family ... my husband Ted Weagle and daughters Lisa and Julia ... and these are just my immediate family. If you'd like the full list, just look in the acknowledgements in any of my books!
And then there ...

The Question That Can Not Be Named

What interview question do you wish someone would ask you but never has? What’s the answer?

by Paul D. Marks

How does it feel to win an Edgar Award? No one’s ever asked because I’ve never won or been nominated for an Edgar, but I wish I was in that position to be asked that question.

But seriously I’ve done a lot of interviews both as the interviewer and the interviewee, I’ve moderated panels and had to come up with questions, so I’ve asked and answered a lot of questions. The truth is I wish someo...