How to write a twist that will pleasantly surprise your readers

Posted on 01/17/2021 at 12:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

We can all agree that we’d prefer to leave earth-shattering developments to fiction rather than reality. And fortunately, that at...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Mystery, Plot / narrative, Writing advice

Don't neglect one part of your mystery in favor of another

Posted on 12/27/2020 at 12:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

The detective and the crime, in a mystery novel, are like peanut butter and jelly. Each is intriguing on its...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Mystery, Zara Altair

Ian Rankin to complete a novel drafted by the “godfather of tartan noir”

Posted on 12/11/2020 at 11:57 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Novelist Ian Rankin eulogized fellow Scottish crime writer William McIlvanney as his hero, upon the latter’s death in 2015. This...

Categories: Today in Books

Tagged As: Mystery, The Guardian

Author Q&A: Kassandra Lamb

Posted on 12/11/2020 at 08:00 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

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Today we're interviewing author Kassandra Lamb, who writes mysteries and thrillers (and romantic suspense under the pen name of Jessica...

Categories: Author Interview

Tagged As: Author interview, Mystery, Romance

Author Q&A: Lynda Filler

Posted on 12/03/2020 at 08:00 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

View post titled Author Q&A: Lynda Filler

Today we're interviewing Lynda Filler, who writes mystery/suspense and contemporary romance novels as well as memoirs. Filler spent 2019 traveling....

Categories: Author Interview

Tagged As: Author interview, Memoir, Mystery, Romance

Zara Altair: Challenge your detective's morals to deepen your story

Posted on 10/29/2020 at 03:16 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Solving the crime shouldn’t be the only challenge your mystery novel’s protagonist faces. Zara Altair suggests giving your detective a...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Characters, Mystery, Zara Altair

Which Agatha Christie novel should you read?

Posted on 10/28/2020 at 04:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

We’d venture to guess that most of our readers have read at least one Agatha Christie novel in their lifetime....

Categories: Today in Books

Tagged As: Classic literature, Mystery, The New York Times

Author Q&A: Christa Nardi

Posted on 10/28/2020 at 08:00 AM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

View post titled Author Q&A: Christa Nardi

Today we're interviewing Christa Nardi, who writes in the cozy mystery, teen and young adult mystery genres. Nardi is an...

Categories: Author Interview

Tagged As: Author interview, Mystery, Young adult literature

The differences between mysteries, thrillers, and suspense novels

Posted on 10/25/2020 at 12:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

So your novel has unanswered questions and heightened tensions. Does that make it a mystery, thriller, or suspense novel? Zara...

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Mystery, Thriller, Zara Altair

How to keep your mystery's momentum going

Posted on 09/18/2020 at 03:00 PM by Sadye Scott-Hainchek

Does your mystery feel saggy in the middle? Zara Altair says that’s common — and can be fixed or avoided....

Categories: Behind the scenes

Tagged As: Mystery, Plot / narrative, Zara Altair