Terry Shames's Blog: 7 Criminal Minds, page 54

The 3 Building Blocks of Every Novel, by Josh Stallings

Q: Plot, character, setting - how do they fit together in your work? Which do you find the most tricky (if any) and which do you have the most fun with?

A: I’m drinking a mug of coffee watching the sun creep into our shadowed valley and thinking about this question. When writers talk about “setting” it never feels like the right word. I come from theater and film where a set is only a physical space, it didn’t seem inclusive enough. I prefer milieu: “applies especially to the physical and social ...

Mary Sue, in the Drizzle, with a Twist, by Catriona

Plot,character, setting - how do they fit together in your work? Which do you findthe most tricky (if any) and which do you have the most fun with? 

Fun? What is this "fun"? Okay, that's Current Catriona, 68K words into a first draft, with six more clear writing days needed and only two more clear writing days guaranteed before jet-lag, Bouchercon, and - poor me - summer holiday. Three if I write on the plane. Four if I give up exercise (I won't). Five if I don't write this blog.

Bouchercon has ...

Let me tell you a story... by Cathy Ace

Plot,character, setting - how do they fit together in your work? Which do you findthe most tricky (if any) and which do you have the most fun with?

Oh heck – complex question,complex answer!

Formy Cait Morgan Mysteries: I tend to start with a title. Yes, I knowthat’s odd, but that’s how it goes for me. I am almost ready to reveal thedetails of the 13th book in the series, but not quite yet…so forgiveme for talking about book 12, which came out in 2022. The title of this bookwas THE COR...

Ready, Set, and Action by Gabriel Valjan

 

Plot, character,setting - how do they fit together in your work? Which do you find is mosttricky (if any) and which do you have the most fun with?

 

My mind flashes back to school days (read daze) when I wassubjected to Aristotle.

 

For those who think Aristotle isn’t relevant to crimefiction, think again. He was rumored (though unlikely) to have had a hand inpoisoning his star pupil, Alexander the Great.

 

Aristotle defined Character as a virtue guided by Reason...

In Defense of the Leisurely Mystery

Q: Plot, character, setting - how do they fit together in your work? Which do you find the most tricky (if any) and which do you have the most fun with?

-from Susan

 

This question gets to the heart of my books. It also gets to the core of some not-so-great reader reviews. I think in mystery books a lot of readers have the same expectations: dead bodies right away, clever clues, and then, voila, puzzle solved. As a reader, that’s not my favorite form, although I have to admit, I re-read Rex Stout's...

Send in the Ghosts

There seems to be a deluge of celebrity authors entering the world of crime fiction, some of whom are writing their own books, and some of whom might not be. What are your thoughts on the celebrity author phenomenon, including those utilizing ghosts?

 

By Abir

 

I tell you what, that Richard Osman has a lot to answer for. For those of you who may not have heard of him, he’s a British TV personality, actually he’s more than that – he’s become a beloved national institution. We love him. He’s like the...

DON’T YOU KNOW WHO I AM? Celebrity Writers from James W. Ziskin

There seems to be a deluge of celebrity authors entering the world of crime fiction, some of whom are writing their own books, and some of whom might not be. What are your thoughts on the celebrity author phenomenon, including those utilizing ghosts?

GHOSTS

I have no issues with celebrities wanting to write a book with one proviso. They should actually write the book that bears their name on the cover. No ghost writers.

“WRITE YOUR OWN DAMN BOOK.”

That’s what our inimitable Terry Shames grumbled und...

Celebrity authors

There seems to be a deluge of celebrity authors entering the world of crime fiction, some of whom are writing their own books, and some of whom might not be. What are your thoughts on the celebrity author phenomenon, including those utilizing ghosts?

by Dietrich

When I think of celebrity authors, Dick Francis comes to mind. He started out as a champion steeplechase jockey before he penned his first novel Dead Cert back in ’62. The Atlantic Monthly called him “the best thriller writer going.” An...

Celebrity Authors

 

Terry answering our weekly question: What are your thoughts on the celebrity author phenomenon(i.e, celebrities writing mystery novels), including those utilizing ghosts? 
 My reaction to this question is mostly curiosity. Why would someone who is famous in another field suddenly feel the need to become a genre fiction writer? But then, why do I write crime fiction? Because it fascinates me, entertains me, gives me an outlet for talking about justice, corruption, human frailty, greed, fear, an...

The Celebrity Factor

There seems to be a deluge of celebrity authors entering the world of crime fiction, some of whom are writing their own books, and some of whom might not be. What are your thoughts on the celebrity author phenomenon, including those utilizing ghosts?

Brenda starting off the week.

I've wondered on occasion about celebrities who switch from working in their chosen profession to authoring a crime fiction novel. Writing a novel isn't easy, and most people spend years gaining the skills to write a good...