The Author’s Bucket List on Plot Structure

By Jordan Dane I’ve never been a plotter. I’m too impatient. Once I get the general idea of a story with a compelling conflict and a notion ...

Morality in Mysteries

I’m speaking on several panels at two upcoming conferences. One of the topics concerns morality in mysteries, and how fractured relationship...

BRAND MARKETING: Can You Live With Yourself?

By: Kathleen Pickering Here I am, a mere mortal and I’m morphing. I am undergoing a change in identity without super powers, scientific ex...

JK Rowling's New Book Deal

by Clare Langley-Hawthorne Apologies for the delay - for some reason this didn't post as scheduled! The Guardian book blog's specul...

My Aha! Moment

James Scott Bell Twitter.com/jamesscottbell The other day I got a lovely email that began: I want to send you a big, sincere 'thank yo...

Here Goes Miller and His Zombies Again.

John Ramsey Miller Recently, as I’ve discussed here before, I binge-read a load of Zombie Apocalypse books just hoping to read something for...

What is it About Spy Novels?

By John Gilstrap Next week at SleuthFest in Orlando, Florida (where all the cool kids will be), I’ll be moderating a panel with Jeffery Deav...

'Splain It to me, Lucy!

By Jordan Dane I’m teaching an online writing class from Feb 20 – Mar 2, hosted by YARWA , the online chapter for Young Adult Romance Writer...

The five most disturbing homicides in fiction

One day when I was ten years old, I plucked one of my mother's books from a shelf. It was a shiny paperback with a knife dripping blood ...

Who are your characters?

by Clare Langley-Hawthorne Most writers at one time or other get asked "is your protagonist you?" - in the belief, maybe, that all...

Going Deeper With a Series Character

James Scott Bell Twitter.com/jamesscottbell Today's post is brought to you by my new boxing story, " King Crush ," now availab...

Teach Your Children

I’m actually encouraged about the publishing business. I don’t know how the publishing industry , as it now exists, is going to do; my guess...

The Pain of Rejection

By John Gilstrap Ten years ago this month, my career hit rock bottom.  The wounds of 9-11 were still raw, the lingering malaise still thick....

Oh, Sweet Irony

by Michelle Gagnon I suppose it was inevitable once Amazon started their own publishing wing. A company that was founded on the premise that...

Pinterest

Here’s another promotional tool that will drive you crazy. I just learned about Pinterest , where you pin up pictures online that relate to ...

A Valentine for My Muse: Danger Ahead!

By: Kathleen Pickering  http://www.kathleenpickering.com My muse returns to the spotlight for Valentine’s Day, not because I love writing ...