What Have You Been Reading Lately?

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What are you reading and what’s up next for you? I’m reading Tara Lush’s A Bean to Die for, and I’m sad that this is the last in this series. I loved her new mystery, Gator Queen. Who knew alligator wrangling could be so much fun.

I also recently finished Diane Kelly’s Four-Alarm Homicide and Olivia Blacke’s Rhythm and Clues. Both cozy series are well worth the read.

There are so many books and so little time. I just love Ellen Byron/Maria DiRico and all of her series, Linda Reilly, Mindy Quigley, Tara Lush, Olivia Blacke, Diane Kelly, and Kallie E. Benjamin (V. M. Burns). You cannot go wrong with any of their books.

I really, really enjoyed Daphne Silver’s debut mystery, Crime and Parchment, and she recently won the Agatha Awar for Best First Novel at Malice Domestic. Congratulations! What a fun start to a new series set on the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland. Lots of quirky characters and a twisty plot.

Lee Goldberg’s traditional mysteries are always a hit. If you like police procedurals and twisty mysteries, you need to read Goldberg's Eve Ronin series. Hollywood, heists, reality TV, murder, and mayhem...

T. G. Herren/Greg Herren and Jennie Marts are new-to-me authors. I enjoyed both of these cozies, and I look forward to reading more of their books.

What have you been reading lately?

What Have You Been Reading This Fall?

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What have you been reading this fall? I’ve been in my editing cave a lot lately with the two books that are coming out early next year, so I haven’t been reading as much as I like to. And there are so many new books out there that look like a lot of fun. So far this fall, I’ve been reading Eve Calder, Catherine Bruns, Julie Anne Lindsey, Jenn McKinlay, Spencer Quinn, Vivien Chien, Lee Goldberg, Kristin Kisska, Libby Klein, Tina Kashian, Sarah Fox, and Paige Shelton. All are great reads. If you haven’t already, add them to your TBR list.

Recently I finished John Grisham’s THE EXCHANGE and Janet Evanovich’s DIRTY THIRTY. I recently found Eve Calder’s series on the Cookie House. What fun. I can’t wait to read more.

What has been your fall favorite?

What Have You Been Reading This Summer?

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What were your favorite summer reads? I love all kinds of books, but I always gravitate to mysteries and thrillers. Lee Goldberg is one of my new favorites.

This summer, I went back and read all of the Michael Connelly books I had missed. I am such a fan of Bosch and the Lincoln Lawyer. And I like how his Renee Ballard character is evolving. Now, I am all caught up and can’t wait for the next one.

I am such a fan girl of S. A. Cosby. I love his stories, and I get so excited every time a new one comes out. He is a must read if you like southern suspense.

Some of my favorite cozy mysteries this summer were by Maddie Day, Vicki Delany, Barbara Ross, Mindy Quigley, and Maria DiRico.

What’s your next read?

What's in your TBR Pile?

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What have you been reading lately? I have finally caught up to present day with Louise Penny and Robert Crais’s novels. I love them all.

I’m still working my way through Michael Connelly’s series, but I’m getting closer. I love Harry Bosch, Mickey Haller, and Renee Ballard. All of his novels are well worth the read (and the TV/movie interpretations are good, too.)

I also found a Patricia Cornwell novel that I hadn’t read, BLACK NOTICE. It was good. She was living in Richmond when we moved here, and I remember driving around town looking for the local spots in her books.

Recently, I read Mia Manansala’s ARSENIC AND ADOBO. What a great mystery, and I can’t wait to read more of her work. I also forgot how funny Laura Levine is. Her mysteries are engaging, fast reads.

And on the thriller side, I absolutely loved Steve Berry’s THE OMEGA FACTOR. This heist story with religious and historic implications has so many twists and turns. It’s fast-paced and packed full of adventure.

What have you been reading lately?

Read Your Genre - Tips for Authors

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I am always surprised at new writers who don’t read other works in their genre. You need to know the techniques and the business of what you want to write. Things are often changing, and it’s a good idea to keep up with the trends. Here are some areas to think about as you read and do your research.

  • You need to know what’s popular and selling in your genre. Most of the new books from traditional publishers were purchased 1-2 years ago. Look at the topics and trends.

  • Look at the book’s style. Is it written in first person or third?

  • Review the language and the dialog the authors use. Are there more descriptive paragraphs? More dialog? A mix of both?

  • How long is the book? Your manuscript needs to fit the page expectations and not vary too much. A one-hundred-thousand-word manuscript is too much for a romance novel or a cozy mystery.

  • Make note of the conventions in the story. Readers of specific genres expect standard elements. If yours varies too much, it might not be a good fit for that genre.

  • Review the acknowledgments page to see who the author’s agent and editor are. This is a good way for you to build a list for your future queries.

  • Look at the collection of books by different publishers. Make sure yours is a good fit (and not something they already have). You may want to subscribe to the publisher’s newsletter to see regular updates of their new offerings.

  • When you query agents, see who they represent. You want to make sure that you’re a good fit and that your work is what the agent is seeking.

What I've Been Reading Recently

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My TBR piles grow every week. Every time I think I’ve made a dent, there are so many new things to add. Here’s what I’ve been reading so far this summer. It’s an eclectic mix of mysteries, suspense, thrillers, police procedurals, and classics.

I have finally caught up with all of Louise Penny’s novels. I love all of my visits to Three Pines. The stories are well done, and the characters are old friends by now.

After watching the new Lincoln Lawyer and the Bosch reboot, I realized that I haven’t read all of the Michael Connelly books. I love the Lincoln Lawyer and Harry Bosch. Renee Ballard is growing on me. Connelly is a master with characters and action, and I’m working my way through his collection.

Elle Cosimono’s Finlay Donovan is a very funny character. Her adventures are fun reads. Nancy Cole Silveman’s The Navigator’s Daughter, is a page-turning historical mystery.

My favorite cozies this spring/summer are from Ellen Byron’s new Vintage Cookbook Mysteries, Julie Anne Lindsey/Bree Baker, Sherry Harris’s Chloe Jackson Mysteries, Libby Klein’s Poppy McAllister Mysteries, anything by Diane Kelly, and Jackie Layton.

I track my recent reads on Goodreads and BookBub. Hop over for the reviews and favs. Follow me there. I’d love to keep up with what you’re reading.

Goodreads

BookBub

What are your recent recommendations?

In Honor of World Book Day - 50 Authors to Add to Your Book Shopping List

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World Book Day is the week! Here is my list of 50 Mystery and Thriller Authors to add to your book shopping list. They are in no particular order.

  • Libby Klein

  • Mary Lee Woods

  • Raquel Reyes

  • Sherry Harris

  • Diane Kelly

  • Kellye Garrett

  • Gabriel Valjan

  • Hank Phillippi Ryan

  • Ellen Bryon/Maria DiRico

  • Edith Maxwell/Maddie Day

  • Marilyn Levinson/Allison Brook

  • Annette Dashofy

  • K. L. Murphy

  • J. D. Griffo

  • Debra Sennefelder

  • Tina Kashian

  • Misty Simon

  • Debra H. Goldstein

  • Sparkle Abbey

  • J. C. Kenney

  • Lane Stone

  • Bree Baker

  • Bethany Blake

  • Kate Young

  • Maya Corrigan

  • Liz Milliron

  • Kelly Oliver

  • Lena Gregory

  • Ruth Hartman

  • Jackie Layton

  • Dane McCaslin

  • Sarah Burr

  • Grace Topping

  • Susan Van Kirk

  • Lida Sideris

  • Lori Duffy Foster

  • Nancy Cole Silverman

  • Mary Burton/Mary Ellen Taylor

  • Mary Miley

  • James L’Etoile

  • Jeanne Adams

  • Frankie Bailey

  • Lynn Cahoon

  • Judy Penz Sheluk

  • Katherine Bruns

  • Rosalie Spielman

  • Deborah Coonts

  • Jennifer Chow

  • Grace Topping

  • Vicki Batman

What I Learned from My Favorite Characters

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We celebrated National Read Across America Day and Dr. Seuss’s birthday this week. Here’s what I’ve learned from some of my favorite characters through the years.

Charlotte and Wilbur - Everyone needs friends. Treasure the special relationships. Writing is a solitary venture. Make sure you have a crew to share celebrations and road bumps with.

Charlie Brown and Snoopy - Everyone needs a sidekick. Our pets are our family, and they are our special protectors, comforters, and friends.

Nancy Drew - The girl sleuth had a car, good friends, and the curiosity to solve problems that adults couldn’t. Always be curious and ask questions.

Hermione Granger - Study hard and learn your craft. Do your homework. Hard work pays off.

Stephanie Plum - Perseverance is necessary. You may not succeed at something during the first (or the fifth) attempt but keep at it. This is especially true if you’re on a writing journey.

Grover (from the Monster at the End of the Book) - It’s okay to be a little scared sometimes, but often you’ll find that the thing you’re scared of isn’t as bad as you imagine it.

Sam-I-Am - It’s always a good idea to try new things. Be open minded and give new and “strange” a chance. You may find out that you just might like it.