Writing 
For thoughts on writing and the creative process.
Introducing The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Who killed Edwin Drood? Was he killed? We’ll never really know the answers because Charles Dickens died before finishing this, his last novel. Perhaps the Victorian Age’s most iconic author, Charles Dickens died on 9 June 1870. Only a scant two months prior, Dickens’ newest tale, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, began appearing in monthly… Read More ›
Character vs. Plot
It is the quandary of mystery writing. Which is more important to readers–and writers–of mysteries? The Character-driven story or the Plot-driven one? This is not to say that character-driven stories don’t feature a strong puzzle plot or plot-driven stories can’t have good characterizations. Generally though, most mysteries fall to one side or the other. For example… Agatha… Read More ›
Murder Abroad
Aboard a night train to Trondheim, Norway, international travelers discover a murder in their midst. These strangers on a train have no connection to the victim or each other, or do they? This is the theme of my next murder mystery event, Murder Abroad, which I’m hosting at the library where I work. It ties… Read More ›
Desperate Housewives
Since its start seven years ago with the suicide of Mary Alice, I’ve been a fan of Desperate Housewives. Though at times the writing has not been stellar, the show has alway managed to entertain (and been fodder for water cooler chatter at work.) Tonight’s season finale was the show at its best, smoothy integrating… Read More ›
The Organization of Writing
Looking over old pieces of mine this weekend, I’m struck again by a curious thing. Grabbing readers from the very beginning of what you write can be of the utmost importance when crafting a story. Yet is the beginning of what story you’ve written necessarily told in the best possible way? Take the following as… Read More ›
A Writer’s Work
Writing is a passion! Writing is a job! I discovered a love of writing at a young age. Sometime around the fourth grade. I remember that we were asked to write a Halloween story for class. It didn’t have to be long. Just a page really. I loved Halloween (still do). Writing that one page… Read More ›
Murder in Masquerade
Don’t you just love that title? I’m sure it’s been used before…several times, but for my second murder mystery evening, it was perfect! In October of 2008, about 20 people were encouraged to come in costume to solve a murder. Guests came dressed in a tuxedo, in a red velvet cape, in clown outfits, and… Read More ›
Asa, As I Knew Him
The premise of this book is most intriguing. One that could inspire any writer to craft a dozen or more stories, novels, or characters. Published in 1987, this was once a book I reshelved time and again when I was a Page at the Library I work at. Something about the cover and the book… Read More ›
Innocent Bystander
The innocent bystander didn’t do it. Well, at least not yet. As I’ve mentioned previously, in creating murder mystery evenings, I’ve had to anticipate the number of attendees. There’s always the chance someone (or two) can’t make it. Thus, the Innocent Bystander. I’d say the average attendance at my murder mystery events is about 20. … Read More ›
Hosting a Murder Mystery II
Shortly after moving to our new location in 2008, I hosted my first ever murder mystery party at the library where I work. The event was held on Friday evening after the library was closed, and I designed an original murder mystery plot that participants could solve. For this first event, I had sixteen library patrons… Read More ›
The Poisoned Martini 