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

Lynne Raimondo from James W. Ziskin

Shine a light on another writer. Who's a writer you believe deserves more attention?

What a bittersweet question. Or rather my answer to it is bittersweet. But more on that in a moment.

Lynne Raimondo

Let me tell you about Lynne Raimondo, a brilliant writer who richly deserves more attention. She’s the author of three wonderfully complex, smart crime novels featuring blind psychologist Mark Angelotti.

Before she became a writer, Lynne Raimondo was a trial lawyer at a major Chicago law firm, the gene...

Guest post by Lisa de Nikolits

Shine a light on another writer. Who's a writer you believe deserves more attention?

In order to answer this week's question, I've invited Lisa de Nikolits to write a guest post. She's the award-winning author of twelve novels, as well as numerous short stories and poetry, garnering five-star reviews and a strong international fanbase. She lives and writes in The Beaches of Toronto, and she's definitely an author that deserves more attention.

Crushing on Gangsters — by Lisa

Writing a gangster novel...

Shining a Light

 

Terry here with our question of the week: 
 Who's a writer you believe deserves more attention? What makes their work meaningful to you, and how has it influenced your own? 
 Alas, this week’s question stymied me. A writer I think deserves more attention? You mean ONE? No, that’s impossible. There are many little-known writers who grab my attention as much or more than well-known authors. Occasionally I’ll be blown away by a famous author and I return to their books again and again. But just ofte...

Raising a Glass to Lev A.C. Rosen - by Matthew Greene

Shine a light on another writer. Who's a writer—past or present—you believe deserves more attention? What makes their work meaningful to you, and how has it influenced your own?

When I first heard about The Lavender House by Lev A.C. Rosen, it sounded like it had been grown in a lab specifically for me. Mid-century noir and fabulous matriarchs and queer history and a San Francisco setting? I was sold. 

But I didn’t expect how hard the story would hit me from word one. From the moment I met the tor...

The Surprising Power of a Good Title by Poppy Gee

The Mysterious Book Shop in New York... floor to ceiling crime novels with different, captivating titles.
BUSINESS: Let’s talk titles.

Do you start with one, or does it emerge organically from your writing process?How important is a title in shaping your project—or even selling it?

On Friday at the Currumbin Crime Writers Festival we heardfrom a leading publisher and a top literary agent – both estimated that 80% of manuscriptshave their titles get changed when they are published. 

Given this,...

The Railway Adults, by Catriona McPherson

Do you start with a title, or does it emerge organically from your writing process? How important is a title in shaping your project—or even selling it? 

I always start with a title. But sometimes that title is New Book. 

Right now, I'm writing the first draft of a new book called The Railway Adults. But isn't a bit strange to use your book title up on a blogpost, you ask? Thing is, this is my one and only chance to put something out actually called The Railway Adults. Because I will eat my dra...

[insert title here]. by Eric Beetner

 Do you start with one, or does it emerge organically from your writing process? How important is a title in shaping your project—or even selling it?

A good title is crucial. A good title is the first come-on. You might hear it before you see a cover, before you know the name of the author, even. I love coming up with titles, and I think long and hard about it. Once I land on a title I like, it’s almost like a green flag to get started writing the actual book. It’s rare I’ll start a book without ...

Lets Talk Titles

 

Let’s Talk Titles

Do you start with one, or does it emerge organically fromyour writing process? How important is a title in shaping your project—or evenselling it?

I’ve had titles arrive fully formed, like a gift from themuse, and others fight me all the way to final edits. And even then, I’m stillsecond-guessing.

But let’s back up.

Take my story “Satan’s Spit,” nominated this year for anAgatha, Anthony, and Macavity. Sounds dramatic, maybe even dangerous, right?

T...

A Rose by Any Other Name, By Angela Crook

 

Title: A Rose by AnyOther Name…

 By Angela Crook

Do you start withone, or does it emerge organically from your writing process? How important isa title in shaping your project—or even selling it?

 

The title is thesecond most important thing in my writing process. The first us the theemergence of the main character—protagonist or antagonist, doesn’t matter. I findthat I can’t write a word until that main character walks onto the stage thatis my brain and introduces themselves and t...

Title: A Rose by AnyOther Name… By Angela CrookDo you st...

 

Title: A Rose by AnyOther Name…

 By Angela Crook

Do you start withone, or does it emerge organically from your writing process? How important isa title in shaping your project—or even selling it?

 

The title is thesecond most important thing in my writing process. The first us the theemergence of the main character—protagonist or antagonist, doesn’t matter. I findthat I can’t write a word until that main character walks onto the stage thatis my brain and introduces themselves and t...