Although short stories, novels, and plays all integrate character, setting, plot, and conflict, I’ve experienced that the skills needed to succeed in these three forms of literature are uniquely different.
Continue reading →I’ve been a busy little rabbit, preparing for the publishing of my mystery novel, The Belvedere Club . So sandwiched between last week’s guest bloggers, Bette & J.J. Lamb and next week’s guest blogger Patricia Morin, I’m going to offer up one of my favorite tomato sauce recipes, learned while eating my way across Tuscany in 2009.
Continue reading →Myths. One of the great myths is that anyone can write, draw, paint, sculpt, sing, dance, or act. Mechanically, technically, probably yes. Creatively, no.
There was a time when we believed that anyone could do anything in the creative arts, given the appropriate training and inspiration to nurture obvious talent, and to bring latent talent to the surface.
Continue reading →Thinking of self-publishing on a digital format? What writers aren’t these days? I’ve been listening to other writers tell their self-publishing stories for a couple of months and the number one thing I take away from these lectures is “Formatting.”
Continue reading →What’s worse than a table full of mystery writers at a Mystery Theatre Dinner? Answer: Six tables of mystery writers.
While at the Left Coast Crime Convention last weekend, I attended the Mystery Theatre Dinner that took place on a 1920’s riverboat, The Delta King. I’ve always wanted to participate in one of these events—what mystery writer doesn’t want to test their skills. I’ve even been tempted to buy one of the games and host one at my house.
Continue reading →The river Styx is said to wind around Hell nine times before merging with the other four rivers. In Greek mythology the Styx separates the world of the living from the underworld. Its name comes from the Greek word for hate and therefore, the Styx is called the river of hate.
From the racial killings in France last week to the shooting of Trayvon in Florida last month, from the endless suicides of bullied children in our schools to the sexist remarks by Rush Limbaugh and others, it feels like the whole world is bathing in the murky waters of the river Styx.
Continue reading →
