Great writers don’t need an editor. They demand one. What first-rate writers understand is that another pair of eyes or a fresh pair of eyes are essential to successful communication. This second looks brings a new perspective, the distance that only time (even a little time) can offer, and renewed energy to improve content. Let’s […]
When I completed my first mystery novel, Hung Out to Die, I quickly discovered that the novel would not stand alone. A synopsis was required. As a freelance journalist and communications specialist, I’ve put together a lifetime of pitches and proposals. Still, I spent some time reading up on what makes a successful synopsis. Then […]
As the year draws to a close, I thought I would share with you a bit about my self-care journey. This article, originally published in The Globe and Mail, explores how I ended up on a yoga mat, twisted, inverted, and smiling. There were several occasions in the last three decades when I took a […]
Heroes and villains lurk in mysterious places. I realized this more fully than ever before when I was asked about my own leading lights and their nemeses. Here’s some of what I learned about my characters and breathing life (and sometimes death) into them. Heroes, Heroines, Villains. Which are your favorite to write? I like […]
Where your characters live, work, and solve mysteries can be central to the story. Or not. I’ve discovered that location is not a requirement or an irrelevancy. It is a spectrum. At one end of the spectrum, location is essential. As a result, you spend time bringing that location to life, making it real, and […]
I’ve been doing a lot of book readings recently from Hung Out to Die, my first mystery book. I thought I’d share the scene where the main character, Riel Brava, finds a dead body — and finds himself a suspect. I’m reaching for the hallway switch when I notice a light three doors down. That’s […]
Food seems to weave its way into my writing uninvited. In my latest book, Conflagration!, food is the foundation for a friendship that springs up in 1734 between the main character Philippe Archambeau, a court clerk, and the jailer he befriends. Lunch becomes a means to extract information, then it becomes much more. In my […]
Last month we talked about giving your story a title. Unlike article titles, book titles are usually the domain of the writer. This may be because the writer has a closer connection to the topic, the editor wants the writer to do the work, the writer and editor see it as the author’s prerogative. But […]
Let’s talk titles – not king, queen and my personal favourite, goddess – but the titles that alert readers to what is about to unfold before their eyes. I’d like to start by telling you a bit about myself – and my experience with titles. I am a freelance journalist and have written hundreds, actually […]
My latest mystery book took me back in time and out of my comfort zone. Conflagration! is a historical mystery set in Montreal in 1734. It raises issues about slavery in Canada – and introduces us to a justice system that is distinctly different from 2024. I posed 10 questions to the book’s main character […]