Terry Shames's Blog: 7 Criminal Minds, page 24

Farewell, Adiós, Kawsaypuni, 안녕히 가세요, by Josh Stallings

My first post with Criminal Minds was March 2021. That seems like a blink ago. When I I received the email from Catriona McPherson asking if I’d “consider joining the squad.” I went three steps beyond chuffed. I screamed “yes,” at my keyboard, not knowing how actually great working with this amazing group of writers would be. And it has been wonderful. Every one of these writers has taught me important lessons about the craft and business of writing. I’m sure many of our readers will agree Crimi...

It's not lying if you write it down, by Catriona

When you look back over your childhood and early life, can you see where being a writer, or indeed a crime writer, began for you? Were there definitive moments that sealed your fate?

I *am* going to look back today - briefly over the fate-sealing days of childhood - and then at the origins of the first book in the failed trilogy that is the Last Ditch Motel series. Failed because Book 7 is slipping off its chocks and into the open sea this week and that's not how trilogies are meant to go. 

Yes...

It's always been there by Eric Beetner

 When you look back over your childhood and early life, can you see where being a writer, or indeed a crime writer, began for you? Were there definitive moments that sealed your fate?

I never used to think I was one of those people who knew very early on I wanted to write. Certainly not crime novels. 

When I started writing anything, I started with screenplays because I loved movies and I knew I wanted to make it my career. I was an eclectic screenwriter, something I soon learned is not valued in ...

THE CROSSOVER: 1+2= 3 AND SOLVED, by BJ Magnani

 

Today,  I welcome author BJ Magnani , who is also internationally recognized for her expertise in clinical chemistry and toxicology.  Check out her blog on poisons. The floor is yours, BJ.

I remember how much fun it was whencharacters from one TV show crossed over into another. Think CSI: Trilogy,where the team from CSI: Miami worked with those from CSI: NY andCSI: Crime Scene Investigation to track down a lost girl found to be thevictim of a human trafficking ring. That fe...

Au revoir!

 Q: When you look back over your childhood and early life, can you see where being a writer, or indeed a crime writer, began for you? Were there definitive moments that sealed your fate? 

from Susan

 

It’s hard to pinpoint something other than that my stepfather was a writer (films) and he and my mother were voracious, educated, and adventurous readers. I had full, uncensored access to their great library from forever, as high as the library ladder could take me. I knew who Man Ray was when I was s...

Readers, Bookstores and Social Media - The Joys and Sorrows of Book Promotion, by Harini Nagendra

As writers, we are often told that promotion – publicity and marketing – is half  the game. Are you aware of other writers’ promo influencing you?

I was told this for a long time. And I do believe that publicity and marketing play a major role in the success of books. But now that I've been writing and publishing books, both fiction and non-fiction, since 2016 - I've come to realise that as an author, one has very little control over the kind of publicity that is needed to really push book sales. ...

A Pipe, Patches on My Blazer, and an Ascot from James W. Ziskin

As writers, we are often told that promotion – publicity and marketing – is half  the game. Are you aware of other writers’ promo influencing you?

I may have a defective memory, but I don’t recall many of the biggest-name authors facing the challenges we of the hoi polloi do to promote our books. Sure, they fly around the country and appear at pre-arranged, publisher-sponsored events, glad-handing and suffering through long interviews and ayto graph sessions. And they do spots on network morning s...

The other half of the game

As writers, we are often told that promotion – publicity and marketing – is half the game. Are you aware of other writers' promo influencing you?

by Dietrich

Writing fiction requires a creative spark, a curious and vivid imagination, a badger-like dedication for the countless hours of research, plotting, writing and rewriting that goes into shaping a novel. How many of us really put the same oompf into the marketing and promotion side? It’s a head-scratching thing, and I admit I’m often perplexe...

Promotion? You bet!

 

Terry here, with our question of the week:As writers, we are often told that promotion – publicity and marketing – is half the game. Are you aware of other writers’ promo influencing you? 
 That’s a resounding yes! I often get notifications through Facebook or newsletters or book sites of new books that come out, and those notifications can persuade me to buy the book. There are a number of factors that go into the decision: 
 The name of the author. If it’s an author I’ve read and enjoyed befo...

The Art of Promotion

As writers, we are often told that promotion – publicity and marketing – is half the game. Are you aware of other writers’ promo influencing you?

Brenda here.

Yes, the belief that writing and editing a book is the end of the writer's part in the publishing process has been many times debunked. After the book's release, publicity and marketing will also fall primarily on the writer's shoulders even if unwelcome. How many writers have thought as they're heading out the door to an event, all I want t...