Terry Shames's Blog: 7 Criminal Minds, page 134

What to Read? from James W. Ziskin

How do you decide what to read? Word of mouth? Reviews? Browsing in bookstores?

In November 2017, we had a similar question. At the time I answered that the very first thing I look for in a book is my name on the cover. If it’s not there, I can tell you I’m pretty disappointed. Just kidding. I look at the picture too.

Here are my thoughts.

When there’s time, I like to read all different types of books. Usually it depends on my mood, but I love mysteries, thrillers, historicals, so-called literary n...

Bring out your read

How do you decide what to read? Word of mouth? Reviews? Browsing in bookstores? Etc. And what’s the most important factor in your decision?
by Dietrich
All of those ways work for me: word of mouth, reviews and browsing the bookstores. When I find an author’s work that engages me, then I check for a backlist. And I keep them in mind for future works. I have a growing list of favorite authors, and I always look forward to what they’ve got coming next. Authors like Don Winslow, George Pelecanos, Jame...

What to Read

Reading: How do you decide what to read? Word of mouth? Reviews? Browsing in bookstores? Etc. And what’s the most important factor in your decision?
Terry answering the question:
A few years ago, I was an Edgar judge, which meant having to read a carload of books—some of which were books I would normally not have chosen. I was generally an eclectic reader, but I discovered that I could expand my reading horizons even more.
Never a fan of cozies, I discovered cozies that were smart and clever. I had...

Choosing My Next Read

How do you decide what to read? Word of mouth? Reviews? Browsing in bookstores? Etc. And what’s the most important factor in your decision?

It's Brenda Chapman kicking off this week's blog posts.

I employ several strategies for selecting a book to read. 

The first and perhaps most powerful filter is word of mouth. I belong to a bookclub and often receive recommendations from my friends' wide reading lists. Sometimes we exchange books and this might lead me to buy other books by the same author. Thi...

Who's Hiding Behind Your Characters?

Do you ever base characters on real people? Famous or people you know in your real life. And, if so, how do you deal with that?

by Paul D. Marks

This is sort of a two part question. First there’s the question of basing characters on people that you know. Then there’s the question of basing them on celebrities or historical figures. I do both.

A lot of my characters are based on people I know —including on myself. I think there’s a little piece of me in all of them. Or sometimes a bigger piece. But ...

The Gang's All Here - by Catriona

Life: Do you ever base characters on real people? (Famous, or people you know in your real life.) And, if so, how do you deal with that?

Do I? (Hint: I do) And in at least six ways I can think of, off the top of my head.
First there's Mo Heedles in SCOT AND SODA and Cindy Slagle in SCOT FREE. They made generous winning bids at auction to have their character names appear in the books. 

In both cases, I asked "Do you want to be a bland, blameless, bit-part or would you rather be a fully-rounded, pos...

It's alive! by Cathy Ace

Life: Do you ever base characters on real people? (Famous, or people you know in your real life.) And, if so, how do you deal with that?


The short answer to this is no, so…if I know you, or even if you’re wildly famous, you won’t find yourself in one of my books.

With my chum Annie - part of Annie ParkerThat said, I often use a mash-up of the physical, social, and psychological attributes of several people I know/have met to create a single character. So…if we’ve ever met, there might be a little...

Based On a Real Person?

Life: Do you ever base characters on real people? Famous or people you know in your real life. And, if so, how do you deal with that?

From Frank

Not often, but yes. Not as often as people think, but I do.

The biggest example applies to the character of Thomas Chisolm. Chisolm isn't the main character in River City (that position belongs to Katie MacLeod, who is first among equals), but he is a main character, for sure. When I wrote my first novel, Under a Raging Moon , I based the Chisolm character ...

Stealing Characters

Q: Do you ever base characters on real people? Famous or people you know in your real life. And, if so, how do you deal with that?
-from Susan
I think I’ve talked about this before. Yes, I have. In each of the Dani O’Rourke novels, there is at least one primary or secondary character who is drawn fairly from someone I know. In the first book, MURDER IN THE ABSTRACT, the villain was based on a real artist who tried to make my S.O.’s life difficult with his temper and baseless if trivial accusations...

Why I want to talk to white people about race

By Abir

I'm going to ask for your indulgence. I want to skip this week's topic and talk about race. 

The last few weeks have been tumultuous. Since the murder of George Floyd by policemen in Minnesota, much of the world seems to finally be waking up to the endemic, systemic, and enduring, a racism, both overt and covert, macro and micro, that black and ethnic minority people face on a day to day basis.

 

The first thing I have to say is that writing this makes me extremely nervous. I’m still learnin...