Any lover of books has probably dreamed at some point of having a home library. Very common in the 19th century, home libraries are now a rarity in this day and age of digital books and eReaders. Still, have a home for your books – and a whole room devoted to reading – can… Continue Reading Creating your own home library »
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It’s November, and that means it’s officially is National Novel Writing Month! Whether you’re a published mystery novelist or you’re trying to break into crime fiction writing, this inspirational program is the perfect opportunity to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard!) and get writing. With plenty of organized activities and resources, this… Continue Reading National Novel Writing Month »
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Creating a believable crime fiction hero can be a unique challenge. In any mystery, the main character should be smart but not a know-it-all, successful but not invincible, vulnerable but not weak. Good crime writers often make that happen by challenging their heroes with real life problems and then turning those obstacles into opportunities. … Continue Reading Medical Conditions and Crime Fiction Heroes »
Read MoreAvid book readers, and even those who would rather not read, understand the power and importance of words. We communicate most of our thoughts, feelings, and knowledge with both written and spoken words. Obviously, as a best selling author of crime novels and an avid reader myself, words rank very high in my world –… Continue Reading Words Can Make the Difference In 2014 »
Read MoreThe other day I came across a video illustrating the findings of a recent study on gratitude and happiness. The study concluded that people who practice gratitude in their daily lives are happier, overall. The 6 minute, 25 second video is well worth watching. The creators illustrate the power of one little act of gratitude… Continue Reading Gratitude – It’s What Happiness Is Made Of »
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Recent research has shown that both reading and writing have a very positive impact on the brain and can even slow cognitive decline as we age. I like to think of it as a sort of Vulcan mind meld where instead of sharing the thoughts, experiences, memories, and knowledge of another physical person, we share… Continue Reading Hardwired for Reading and Writing – Literary Vulcan Mind Meld »
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It’s July 4th, Independence Day, and Americans all over the country are planning and preparing to celebrate the birth of this great nation. Reflecting on the Revolutionary War over 225 years ago, I think about the immense courage the revolutionaries had to muster to take on imperial Britain. The sheer audacity and defiance exhibited by… Continue Reading How Every Day Can Be Independence Day »
Read MorePraise where it’s due: Joel’s crime novels make an absolutely cracking read. So what makes them so good? I decided I’d blow his trumpet in an effort to pin down exactly why they’re so enjoyable!
Read MoreAre there any new stories? I really enjoyed reading Joel’s last post about the writer’s challenge, the fine art of giving age-old tales a new slant. I imagine all stories cover the same subject matter as far as the human condition goes. A potent mix of love, hate, fear, jealousy, courage, weakness, greed, violence, redemption… Continue Reading Climate change, technological innovation and the writer’s challenge »
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