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Don Weston

Goodreads Author

Born

The United States

Website

http://bit.ly/donwestonmysteries

Genre

Mystery, Thriller, Humor and Comedy

Member Since

March 2012

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/mysteriesatyourcommand

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I recently moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico after living in Portland, Oregon most of my life. After retirement, my wife persuaded me it was time for an adventure and she packed me up with all of our belongings and spirited me away to New Mexico.

If I make it sound like I had no choice, although a bit reluctant at first, I love New Mexico. My characters and books will begin making the transition as well. There are many exotic and interesting locales here to stimulate my plot ideas.

My Billie Bly P.I. series has been centered in Portland, most likely known as of late as the location for TV shows Stumptown, Portlandia, Grimm, and Leverage. My new home in Albuquerque is known tor talented authors such as mystery icon, Tony Hillerman, and the fan- ...more

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Popular Answered Questions

How do you deal with writer’s block?

Don Weston I don't really believe in writer's block. The only block is when you don't sit down and start writing. If I can make myself do this. ideas usually com…moreI don't really believe in writer's block. The only block is when you don't sit down and start writing. If I can make myself do this. ideas usually come to me. If not, then I have to spend some time developing the plot. I do a very simple outline because I tend to change things on the fly. But if I get stuck, I go back to the outline and see where I wanted to go or what I need to develop.

But sometimes a book wasn't meant to be. I have about three or four false starts--books I have gotten two thirds of the way through and discarded. They might have been able to be salvaged, but I doubt it.

I also recommend doing a page for each major character, what they look like, what motivates them, their feelings, personality, and role in the book. I do the same for minor characters if I feel they need it but limit it to half a page or less. This helps me know them and transfer their personality into the book.(less)

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What’s your advice for aspiring writers?

Don Weston Take any class or workshop you can get free or otherwise. Writing organizations are best for putting on low cost or free workshops. Conferences often …moreTake any class or workshop you can get free or otherwise. Writing organizations are best for putting on low cost or free workshops. Conferences often offer multiple workshops which make it hard to choose the ones you need in a short time period.

Join a critique group to get feedback on your work and don’t be afraid to receive criticism. Most good groups accentuate the positive to encourage you and the things you don’t want to hear, sometimes must be heard.

I would also suggest you find writer’s groups in your area. Meetups are a last resort, in my opinion, because they are not well attended and people drift in and out, but if you find a good one... I belong to Oregon Writer’s Colony and Willamette Writers. They have regular well attended meetings, often with speakers who can help you hone your skills.
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Don Weston’s books

Average rating: 4.12 · 460 ratings · 99 reviews · 16 distinct works • Similar authors

	Death From Above: A Hard Boiled Thriller Crime Series (Billie Bly Series Book 7) 4.38 avg rating — 84 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Facebook Killer: A Hard Boiled Mystery Suspense Novel (Private Detective Series) (Billie Bly Series 2) 4.22 avg rating — 77 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The P.I. Who Found Christmas: A Christmas Mystery (Billie Bly Series Book 4) 4.01 avg rating — 78 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Death Fits Like A Glove: A Hard Boiled Crime Series (Billie Bly Series Book 3) 3.94 avg rating — 48 ratings — published 2012 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Murder On The Fourth of July: A Billie Bly Mystery (Billie Bly Series Book 6) 3.88 avg rating — 34 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Homeless Pirate: A Hard-Boiled Crime series (Billie Bly Series Book 5) really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 31 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Bleeding Blue 3.96 avg rating — 27 ratings — published 2012 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Murder of Crows 4.59 avg rating — 22 ratings — published 2019 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The P.I. Who Went To Christmas Town: A Christmas Mystery (Billie Bly Series Book 10) 3.74 avg rating — 27 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The P.I. Who Met A Ghost (Billie Bly Mystery Series, #9) 4.27 avg rating — 11 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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The New Moon Killer

by P.S. Winn (Goodreads Author)

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Jul 09, 2020 02:25PM

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Atomic Lobster (Serge Storms, #10)

by Tim Dorsey

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Jan 04, 2020 06:23AM

Quotes by Don Weston (?)

“The heat of the flames washed over my fingers and I was sure that any second, I would be burned. Better me than my house.”
― Don Weston, Murder On The Fourth of July: A Billie Bly Mystery

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“I and stuck a camera”
― Don Weston, Murder On The Fourth of July: A Billie Bly Mystery

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Topics Mentioning This Author

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Cozy Mysteries : Mystery ABC's, Round 2	12168	1133	Mar 21, 2016 12:30PM
Cozy Mysteries : Mystery ABC's, Round 3	13220	635	Apr 24, 2017 10:00AM
Cozy Mysteries : Mystery ABC's, Round 4	14302	802	Jan 05, 2019 05:39AM

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