Clicking Our Heels – Our Personal Favorites – Police, Investigator, or Researchers
Crime fiction writers often depend upon others to make sure our stories are accurate. Today, we talk about police, investigators, or researchers we have encountered who are our favorites – whether real or fictional.
Barbara J. Eikmeier – A conversation with a forensic anthropologist. She knows a lot about markers in bones!
Mary Lee Ashford (1/2 Sparkle Abbey) – The investigator/researcher that I find fascinating is the forensic anthropologist who uses their scientific knowledge to reveal the human side of a victim. It’s fascinating to me that the sum of hard data about a victim can be translated to a more complete picture. And how that can result in perhaps identifying the person.
Judy Penz Sheluk – I love Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch, but I grew up reading Ed McBain’s 87th Precinct series. In my opinion, he set the gold standard.
Gay Yellen – Hmm… Sara Paretsky’s V.I. Warshawski comes to mind, because she was an early kickass female private investigator that caught on with a legion of fans.
Donalee Moulton – Right now, and in keeping with the times, it would be AI and how AI can be used to provide information about a crime scene. I understand this is the tip of a very big iceberg.
Paula G. Benson – An assistant coroner came to speak to our local SinC chapter. While giving his talk, He received a call about a human skeleton that had been located and needed to be identified. He showed us the photos he was receiving by text and allowed us to determine gender and other factors with him.
Bethany Maines – I don’t write a lot of procedurals, but I’m fascinated by genealogy and I love Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates Jr. I’d love to work a genealogist crime solver into one of my stories.
Debra H. Goldstein – Because I am a Perry Mason fan, it would be Paul Drake.
Donnell Ann Bell – Oh, gosh what a tough question. Steven Kerry Brown, John J. Robinson, Steve Pease, writing as Michael Chandos, Wally Lind, Wesley Harris, Lee Lofland, Kathy Bennett, Robin, Burcell, Brooke Terpening, Katherine Ramsland, Dr. Fred Collins, Chris Herndon, Pete Klismet …I could go on and on…
Saralyn Richard – I write police procedurals, and my investigator is Detective Oliver Parrott. After four novels in the series, Parrott continues to fascinate me. When I first met him, he reminded me of Connolly’s Harry Bosch and Patterson’s Alex Cross. I named him Parrott as a nod to Christie’s Hercule Poirot.
T.K. Thorne – D.P.Lyle is a cardiologist who writes forensic books (as well as his own fiction) to guide writers. He is full of the most interesting information!
Lois Winston – I belong to CrimeSceneWriter. There are experts in every field who answer authors’ questions whether medical, forensic, legal, or technical. I’ve learned quite a bit from these experts, and they’ve kept me from making huge mistakes in my books. It would be impossible to pick just one of them because they’re all such fabulous sources.
Anita Clark (1/2 of Sparkle Abbey) – Well, about 20 years ago we moved into our new house and found a pipe bomb in our backyard. After the bomb squad detonated it, I chatted up the sergeant and invited him to speak at my local writing group. He was a great resource for years until he moved on.
Spring Into Meeting Readers
/in Author Life, author promotion, Book events, Cozy Mysteries, Uncategorized/by Mary Lee Ashfordby Sparkle Abbey
As we dig out from winter here in the Midwest, our thoughts turn to spring. And for us spring brings not only spring flowers and much nicer weather (we hope) but also great opportunities to get out to book events.
It kicks off the season for mystery conferences, such as Left Coast Crime, Malice Domestic, Sleuthfest, and more. And starts out the year’s book festivals like, DSM Book Festival, Suffolk Mystery Authors Festival, Tucson Festival of Books, the LA Times Festival of Books. As well as many wonderful smaller festivals and events around the country as well as other parts of the world. And those are just the spring get-togethers!
There are so many wonderful book events with chances for us. as authors. to connect with each other. And to meet in person the most important book people. The people who keep us in the business of telling stories – readers.
Sadly, we can’t attend them all and so we have to choose. A choice that can be so difficult. Each one has its own flavor and unique opportunities to connect. Sometimes scheduling makes the decision for us. Other times deadlines or book release dates may be a factor. And at times, the location may impact which ones we can attend.
As we line up our 2025 spring events as well as plan out the rest of 2025, we’d love to hear from you. How do you choose which in-person book events to attend? And what things factor into those decisions?
Sparkle Abbey is actually two people, Mary Lee Ashford and Anita Carter, who write the national best-selling Pampered Pets cozy mystery series. They are friends as well as neighbors so they often get together and plot ways to commit murder. (But don’t tell the other neighbors.)
They love to hear from readers and can be found on Facebook and Pinterest, their favorite social media sites. Also, if you want to make sure you get updates, sign up for their newsletter via the SparkleAbbey.com website
Clicking Our Heels – Our Personal Favorites – Police, Investigators, or Researchers
/in Uncategorized/by DebraCrime fiction writers often depend upon others to make sure our stories are accurate. Today, we talk about police, investigators, or researchers we have encountered who are our favorites – whether real or fictional.
Barbara J. Eikmeier – A conversation with a forensic anthropologist. She knows a lot about markers in bones!
Mary Lee Ashford (1/2 Sparkle Abbey) – The investigator/researcher that I find fascinating is the forensic anthropologist who uses their scientific knowledge to reveal the human side of a victim. It’s fascinating to me that the sum of hard data about a victim can be translated to a more complete picture. And how that can result in perhaps identifying the person.
Judy Penz Sheluk – I love Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch, but I grew up reading Ed McBain’s 87th Precinct series. In my opinion, he set the gold standard.
Gay Yellen – Hmm… Sara Paretsky’s V.I. Warshawski comes to mind, because she was an early kickass female private investigator that caught on with a legion of fans.
Donalee Moulton – Right now, and in keeping with the times, it would be AI and how AI can be used to provide information about a crime scene. I understand this is the tip of a very big iceberg.
Paula G. Benson – An assistant coroner came to speak to our local SinC chapter. While giving his talk, He received a call about a human skeleton that had been located and needed to be identified. He showed us the photos he was receiving by text and allowed us to determine gender and other factors with him.
Bethany Maines – I don’t write a lot of procedurals, but I’m fascinated by genealogy and I love Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates Jr. I’d love to work a genealogist crime solver into one of my stories.
Debra H. Goldstein – Because I am a Perry Mason fan, it would be Paul Drake.
Donnell Ann Bell – Oh, gosh what a tough question. Steven Kerry Brown, John J. Robinson, Steve Pease, writing as Michael Chandos, Wally Lind, Wesley Harris, Lee Lofland, Kathy Bennett, Robin, Burcell, Brooke Terpening, Katherine Ramsland, Dr. Fred Collins, Chris Herndon, Pete Klismet …I could go on and on…
Saralyn Richard – I write police procedurals, and my investigator is Detective Oliver Parrott. After four novels in the series, Parrott continues to fascinate me. When I first met him, he reminded me of Connolly’s Harry Bosch and Patterson’s Alex Cross. I named him Parrott as a nod to Christie’s Hercule Poirot.
T.K. Thorne – D.P.Lyle is a cardiologist who writes forensic books (as well as his own fiction) to guide writers. He is full of the most interesting information!
Lois Winston – I belong to CrimeSceneWriter. There are experts in every field who answer authors’ questions whether medical, forensic, legal, or technical. I’ve learned quite a bit from these experts, and they’ve kept me from making huge mistakes in my books. It would be impossible to pick just one of them because they’re all such fabulous sources.
Anita Clark (1/2 of Sparkle Abbey) – Well, about 20 years ago we moved into our new house and found a pipe bomb in our backyard. After the bomb squad detonated it, I chatted up the sergeant and invited him to speak at my local writing group. He was a great resource for years until he moved on.
Larceny & Last Chances: Behind the Scenes
/in Anthologies, Judy Penz Sheluk, Mysteries, Publishing/by Judy Penz ShelukLarceny News!
Ruth Gordon accepting her Oscar in 1969
I’ll admit winning the Award will be a very long shot, but as they say at the Oscars, “it’s an honor just to be nominated.”
Behind the Scenes
For my post today I thought I’d share a behind-the-scenes look at my process when it comes to putting together an anthology:
November 15, 2023: Call for submissions. I set a deadline of February 15 or 80 submissions, whichever came first. There’s good reason for the cap. Authors invariably will tinkle with putting one comma in and taking one comma out until the last minute. Having a cap ensures that they are mindful that they may have a story with nowhere to submit it if the cap is met before the deadline.
February 10, 2024: Submissions close (80 reached).
February 15 to March 13, 2024: Read/reread all stories (I tend to read as they come in and slot as “maybe” or “no.” If it’s a no, I let the author know so they can submit the story elsewhere. I also have a second (and sometimes third) reader for stories which make my long list (maybes).
March 17, 2024: Final selections, authors notified, contracts sent out.
March 20, 2024: Author list announced. Potential reviewers contacted.
March 20 to April 15, 2024: Editing using track changes in Word. This is a collaborative process between author and editor (me) to make the story the best it can be.
April 20, 2024: ARCs (Advance Review Copies in PDF or EPUB format) sent to confirmed reviewers.
June 2024: A flurry of promotion: blogs, radio spots, podcasts. Authors are paid.
June 18, 2024: Release day (e-book and paperback)
And here’s a bit about the book:
Sometimes it’s about doing the right thing. Sometimes it’s about getting even. Sometimes it’s about taking what you think you deserve. And sometimes, it’s your last, best, chance. Edited by Judy Penz Sheluk and featuring stories by Christina Boufis, John Bukowski, Brenda Chapman, Susan Daly, Wil A. Emerson, Tracy Falenwolfe, Kate Fellowes, Molly Wills Fraser, Gina X. Grant, Karen Grose, Wendy Harrison, Julie Hastrup, Larry M. Keeton, Charlie Kondek, Edward Lodi, Bethany Maines, Gregory Meece, Cate Moyle, Judy Penz Sheluk, KM Rockwood, Kevin R. Tipple, and Robert Weibezahl.
PS: It’s on sale from $5.99 USD / $6.99 CAD to .99 on Amazon, Apple, Kobo, and B&N in U.S., Canada, UK, Australia and New Zealand. Find it at www.books2read.com/larceny
“The 72” by T.K. Thorne
/in T.K. Thorne/by TK ThorneHow Concerned White Citizens Marched in Selma Before Bloody Sunday
A small thing made all of human civilization possible. It is often overlooked and undervalued, but it is so much a part of our lives that we don’t pay much attention to it. We did it even before we developed language, and we still do it. It is a deep part of who we are as a species, and it is so powerful that it can change everything.
What is it? What made human civilization possible?
READ MORE
Author Lois Winston on Cozy Mystery Books vs. the Mind-boggling World of Minecraft
/in cozy mystery books, amateur sleuth mysteries, audiobooks, Author Life, author promotion, Cozy Mysteries, crafting cozies, Families, humor, indie publishing, Lois Winston, Minecraft, Mysteries, Mystery Series, Uncategorized, women sleuths/by Lois WinstonBy Lois Winston
Image by InoxyBuild from Pixabay
There was a time when I enjoyed fantasy, science fiction, and even some horror. The summer before ninth grade, I discovered The Lord of the Rings trilogy and read all three books within a few weeks. The books of Ira Levin, Arthur C. Clarke, and Tom Tryon filled my spare time throughout high school and into college, in-between assigned literary works like Moby Dick and The Bell Jar.
I also like to think that I have a decent knowledge of current events and trends, although I have no interest in following most of those trends. I can still kill it on Jeopardy most nights, though I’ll admit, the answers aren’t coming at the same rapid speed they once did. The brain is a muscle, and with the inevitability of growing old, all muscles, no matter how much you exercise them, start slowing down with age.
But then there’s Minecraft. My eight and ten-year-old grandsons are obsessed with it. They play it as much as they’re allowed, and when they’ve used up their screen time for the day, they either read Minecraft books or talk about Minecraft incessantly.
And I just don’t get it. Not their obsession. I get obsessions. I had plenty of my own throughout childhood and even into adulthood. My obsessions haven’t ceased. I recently became obsessed with West Wing, a show I had never watched back in the day, but I spent hours binge-watching the entire seven seasons in the autumn and early winter of 2024.
What I don’t get is Minecraft. I’ve tried. I’ve watched my grandsons play and listened to their explanation of the rules. I’ve read aloud chapters in their Minecraft books. But try as I might, I can’t wrap my brain around what strikes me as very random and odd rules concerning assorted worlds, cauldrons, emeralds, ores, ender dragons, wizards, witches, elder guardians, blocky animals, trees that don’t look like trees, and mining fatigue. And those are just a few of the oddities. It’s enough to make my head spin. It really bothers me that I seem completely incapable, even after hours of tutelage, of grasping the most rudimentary aspects of Minecraft. 😵💫
Perhaps Minecraft makes perfect sense to the pre-pubescent brain because they’re more open to wonderous possibilities. After all, they still believe in Santa Claus. It’s probably best that I stick to my own imaginary world of the Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mysteries. The murder and mayhem I throw at my reluctant amateur sleuth in my cozy mystery books makes far more sense to me than the pixelated world of Minecraft ever will.
What about you? Is there something about modern culture or trends that leaves you stymied and scratching your head? Post a comment for a chance to win a promo code for a free download of any of the currently available Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery audiobooks.
~*~
Then Lois’s writing segued unexpectedly into the world of humorous amateur sleuth mysteries, thanks to a conversation her agent had with an editor looking for craft-themed mysteries. In her day job, Lois was an award-winning craft and needlework designer, and although she’d never written a mystery—or had even thought about writing a mystery—her agent decided she was the perfect person to pen a series for this editor.
Thus, was born the Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mysteries, which Kirkus Reviews dubbed “North Jersey’s more mature answer to Stephanie Plum.” The series now includes fourteen novels and three novellas. Lois also writes the Empty Nest Mysteries and has written several standalone mystery novellas. Other publishing credits include romance, chick lit, and romantic suspense novels, a series of romance short stories, a children’s chapter book, and a nonfiction book on writing, inspired by her twelve years working as an associate at a literary agency. Her latest release is Seams Like the Perfect Crime, the fourteenth Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery.
Learn more about Lois and her books at www.loiswinston.com where you can find links for her other social media sites and sign up for her newsletter to receive a free download of an Anastasia Pollack Mini-Mystery.
Sisterhood of the Traveling Book: Assault with a Deadly Glue Gun
/in Traveling Book/by Lois WinstonBy Lois Winston
The Underground New York Public Library is a photo series by photographer Ourit Ben-Haim. It features riders who are reading while waiting for a train or traveling on one throughout the New York subway system. As you can see from the screen capture, photos are posted on the site along with information about the books and links for liking and sharing. This photo was originally taken on March 11, 2012, fourteen months after the debut of Assault with a Deadly Glue Gun, the first book in my Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery Series. Imagine the thrill I received when the photographer emailed me a copy of the photo. Of course, I framed the photo and have it displayed in my office.
~*~
USA Today and Amazon bestselling and award-winning author Lois Winston writes mystery, romance, romantic suspense, chick lit, women’s fiction, and children’s chapter books. Kirkus Reviews dubbed her critically acclaimed Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery series, “North Jersey’s more mature answer to Stephanie Plum.” In addition, Lois is a former literary agent and an award-winning craft and needlework designer who often draws much of her source material for both her characters and plots from her experiences in the crafts industry. Learn more about Lois and her books at her website www.loiswinston.com. Sign up for her newsletter to receive a free Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mini-Mystery.
Happy Dancing – With Our Bellies Full and the Fire Dying
/in Debra H. Goldstein, Anthologies, New Release/by DebraI’m happiest writing when I’m sitting in front of a toasty fire or positioned to stare at a body of water. Both are calming to me. The result is that the words tend to flow.
Sometimes, though, a roaring fire may simply be a means to create heat or a makeshift dinner. That is the fire’s purpose on the cover of my recently released short story collection, With Our Bellies Full and the Fire Dying. The story that the title and cover photo are from is called “So Beautiful or So What.” It originally appeared in Paranoia Blue: Crime Fiction Inspired by the Songs of Paul Simon. My story involves a tent city, homeless people, and undercover policemen. It is one of the two grittier stories in the book.
Most of the stories featured in With Our Bellies Full and the Fire Dying are lighter fare. For example, “Thanksgiving in Moderation” tells what happens at a Thanksgiving dinner when a member of a family’s fifth groom-to-be keels over during the meal. Rather than showing the underbelly of humanity, this story highlights humor.
I was excited when White City Press, a division of Misti Media LLC, opted to publish this collection of eighteen of my older stories that, for the most part, either won writing competition prizes or were finalists for the Agatha, Anthony, or Derringer awards. Many people know me for the seven novels published during the past decade but aren’t aware that more than fifty of my short stories have appeared in periodicals, anthologies, or online.
That’s why it is a joy to share this collection with readers who are familiar with my work and those who are new to it. Whether you ask your library to obtain a copy of the book for you or purchase one yourself, I hope you will enjoy reading these crime fiction tales.
Buy Links:
White City Press (publisher giving a print discount and free shipping): https://whitecitypress.com/product/fire/MM/8
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Our-Bellies-Full-Fire-Dying/dp/1963479688
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/with-our-bellies-full-and-the-fire-dying-debra-h-goldstein/1146836374?ean=9781963479683
Editing Essentials: Revising, Reworking, Revitalizing
/in Uncategorized/by donalee MoultonLet’s try this exercise. You’ll need a piece of paper, 8.5” x 11” if possible.
1. Transform that flat piece of paper into the world’s most wonderful flying machine. The goal is to fly as far as possible.
2. Take a few minutes to play with different designs, then stand up and launch your creation. How far did it go?
3. Now let’s rethink, or edit, the exercise. What did your flying machine look like? Something similar to a paper airplane?
4. Now let’s review the instructions, the language. Nowhere did it say to build a paper airplane. It said a flying machine. The goal was distance.
What would be an easier way to build a flying machine? What would get us great distance? Crumpling the paper into a ball would.
That’s what editing does. As we write, whether for a reader or a listener, we dive in. Ideas flow. We create content. We think about our audience. We identify important points to make. We’re in the midst of our content, our characters, and our creativity.
When we edit, we take a step back. We come up for air. We have a different perspective – and a draft on which to overlay a fresh set of eyes. Even short pieces of writing should be edited. We need to think before we walk away. We need to give ourselves time to review and revise. To take one last read through (or think through). You’ll be surprised at what you missed or decide to revise.
Editing is essential to clear, concise, compelling writing. But editing isn’t just one thing. Just as pizza isn’t just one thing. There is deep dish pizza with red carnival spinach. Thin crust pepperoni and Bloomsdale spinach. New York-style pizza with Tyee spinach. Notice though that although the type of pizza is different there are common elements.
That’s also true when it comes to editing. There are three broad types: substantive editing, stylistic editing, and copyediting.
I thought we could spend a little time exploring these different types of editing in future blogs. Until then, I’d love to hear from you about your editing process, what drives you nuts, what makes your heart
soarsing.Learn More.
You can learn more about this in donalee’s book The Thong Principle: Saying What You Mean and Meaning What You Say.
Interiority by Saralyn Richard
/in characters, Detective Parrott Mystery Series, Mystery, Writing and the Arts/by Saralyn RichardInteriority by Saralyn Richard
I recently attended a virtual meeting at which the author, Mark Stevens, spoke. He claimed the main reason a reader likes a fiction book is interiority. Since all writers aim for readers who like our books, I paid attention.
Mark did an excellent job of explaining what interiority is—masterful, in fact, because interiority, like voice, is difficult to nail down. Basically, interiority is the multi-dimensional way in which an author provides the internal thoughts, feelings, and attitudes of a character, so that the character comes alive on the page.
Mary Kole gives another thorough explanation of interiority in fiction here.
When I’m writing, the chief vehicle for character interiority is point of view. Each time I write another book, I learn more about point of view and how critical it is for giving readers the best story.
Here are some of the things I’ve learned:
Mark Stevens said readers, especially mystery readers, care less about plot points and more about the people who are living within those plots. I’m sure he’s right, because when I think of all the Agatha Christie books I’ve read—with multi-varied plots and settings—what do I recall most? Hercule Poirot, Miss Jane Marple, Tommy and Tuppence Beresford. And Connelly’s Harry Bosch and Renee Ballard. And Patterson’s Alex Cross.
My own writing experience bears this out. When MURDER IN THE ONE PERCENT came out, the most consistent feedback I received was about Detective Parrott. Not the wealthy and powerful partygoers who had occupied my thoughts when plotting out motivation, weapon, and opportunity. Detective Parrott, the Everyman protagonist, captured readers’ attention and hearts way more.
When Quinn McFarland appeared in BAD BLOOD SISTERS, she was the only POV character. Everything in the book was filtered through her eyes and ears, and she shared a lot of her thoughts and feelings with readers. Throughout the writing process, I identified so closely with Quinn that certain chapters caused me physical discomfort. Readers have told me they felt the same thing.
I’ve read many books where a character’s interiority left an indelible imprint on me. One example is Kya Clark, the Marsh Girl in WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING.
What examples can you think of where POV characters have stayed with you long after you finished the book?
Saralyn Richard is the award-winning author of seven mystery novels, including the Detective Parrott mystery series, and the children’s book, Naughty Nana. Her newest book, Mrs. Oliver’s Twist, is the sequel to Bad Blood Sisters. Look for it soon.
The Five Languages of Love
/in Paula Gail Benson/by Paula Bensonby Paula Gail Benson
On Valentine’s Day, I learned something. I was reading Cynthia Ruchti’s message in the Guideposts devotional book Mornings with Jesus 2025. Ruchti wrote about caring for her husband when he was debilitated during an illness. She found that some of the more difficult tasks required all her strength. At times, she had to tell her husband she “could not speak to him in all 5 languages of love” that day.
According to Wikipedia, Gary D. Chapman is an author, radio host, and counselor on the staff of Calvary Baptist Church in Winston Salem, North Carolina (since 1971). Amazon lists him having 11 books on the subject, including ones focused on children, teenagers, men, singles, work relationships, apologies, and how God shows love to people.
Chapman identified the 5 languages as:
Touch—physical connection, caress, kiss, intimacy
Words of Affirmation—praise, kindness, recognition
Acts of Service—providing aid, taking on another’s obligation, relieving a burden
Receiving Gifts—presents, items the other person needs or wants, unexpected and delightful surprises
Quality Time—focus on someone through attention, eye contact, listening, and seeking to understand
Gary D. Chapman–Photo from Wikipedia
I began to wonder about stories that might spring from the ability or inability to communicate with these languages. I could imagine humorous situations that could arise from trying, but failing to offer the needed words, acts, gifts, or quality time. Just as an example, consider O. Henry’s “The Gift of the Magi.” But, I wondered, how could you miss on touch?
Then, it occurred to me. Medical conditions affect the ability to express and enjoy touch. What are conditions when we lose our sense of touch? Neuropathy? Loss of arms or legs, which would generally be used to embrace or caress? Perhaps a person would have to figure out how to touch another using a feather, cloth, or brush? The importance would be more to the person receiving the touch rather than the person giving it.
As I considered it, I realized the focus in all these languages is upon the pleasure they offer the recipient. Seeing the receiver’s satisfaction is what should lead to the giver’s happiness.
Which of the 5 languages did you give or receive on Valentine’s Day? How might you write about them in a story?