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

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

Humorous Mystery Series for Your Reading List

I am always on the lookout for funny mysteries. Here are ten (in no particular order) that you need to add to your reading list.

• Misty Simon - The Tallie Graver Mysteries

• Larissa Reinhart - Maizie Albright Star Detective Mysteries

• Spencer Quinn - The Chet and Bernie Mysteries

• Janet Evanovich - The Stephanie Plum Novels and the Fox and O’Hare Novels

• Libby Klein - The Poppy McAllister Mysteries

• Elle Cosimano - The Finlay Donovan Mysteries

• V. M. Burns - The Mystery Bookshop Mysteries

• Kellye Garrett - Detective by Day Mysteries

• Becky Clark - The Mystery Writer’s Mysteries

• Diane Kelly - House-flipper Mysteries

• Ellen Bryon - The Cajun Country Mysteries

Who else would you add to my list?

What I Learned from My Favorite Characters

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.

Discussion Questions for Your Books

Book clubs, whether in-person or virtual, are great ways for authors to reach readers. It’s a good idea to provide discussion questions on your website. Many authors and publishers also include them at the back of the book. Here are some ideas that can help as you think about your book from a reader’s perspective.

• It’s good to provide readers with 6-10 discussion questions about your book and its characters.

• Try to avoid spoilers as you craft your discussion points.

• These are to spur discussion and thought, so avoid ones that can be answered with a yes, no, or quick fact.

• Look for themes in your book that you can highlight for readers.

• Make a list of pop culture and other references in your book. These can be incorporated into discussion items.

• Google '“book club questions.” There are lots of sites with generic questions that you can sprinkle in your list.

• If you have different books in the series, make sure that your questions vary and aren’t the same for each book.

• Create a page on your website for book clubs with the discussion questions.

• Think like an English teacher as you compose your questions. Look for items to compare, contrast, or explain.

Secrets from VINTAGE TRAILERS AND BLACKMAILERS

I had so much fun researching and writing VINTAGE TRAILERS AND BLACKMAILERS, and here’s where some of my ideas came from for this book…

Vintage Trailers and Tiny Houses

My husband does a lot of home renovation projects. He also restores classic cars, campers, and boats from time to time, so we watch a lot of videos and shows on YouTube and Discovery+. A while back, I ran across shows on restoring vintage trailers, and I decided that would be a perfect job for Jules. She uses her interior design experience to restore and decorate the trailers they saved from scrap heap. Jules themes each of the campers with special décor like the 1947 Robin Hood Trailer that is decked out in honor of its namesake, the 1959 Sunliner Caravan that sported a posh pink Barbie fashion design in honor of the year that the camper and the doll debuted, and the 1953 Redman New Moon, decorated in honor of Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball’s movie from the same year, The Long, Long Trailer. The tiny houses all have a book or author themes and fun amenities like a revolving bookcase or a reading nook for the guests to enjoy.

I am fascinated with the tiny house craze. People are so creative, and they maximize space and storage in buildings that range from 400 to about 1,400 sq. ft. If the houses are built to be transported, then they need to fit within a car lane on a standard road. I would love to have one of these for a writing retreat.

Campgrounds

My aunt and uncle owned a traditional campground in Nelson County, Virginia near Crabtree Falls in the 1970s. We had so much fun visiting there in the summer, even if the mountain stream was freezing in June. She had a game room, and that’s how I learned to play pinball. Jules’s resort is based on some fond memories of Crabtree Falls.

My Love of All Things 80s

Jules is named for Demi Moore’s character in ST. ELMO’S FIRE. Her last name is a tribute to all the women who wrote the Nancy Drew mysteries under the pseudonym of Carolyn Keene.

Jake is named for Jake Ryan from SIXTEEN CANDLES.

Bijou the Dog

Bijou, the energetic Jack Russell Terrier, is based on the sister-half of the dynamic duo that live at our house. Disney, even though she just turned eleven, is still spunky and keeps her brother Riley on his toes. They love snuggles on the couch in front of the fireplace, any kind of snack, and chasing the squirrels and chipmunks in the woods near our house.

Book Links

Apple Books: ‎Vintage Trailers and Blackmailers on Apple Books

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09GGBFWT5

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Vintage-Trailers-Blackmailers-Heather-Weidner/dp/1685120369

Barnes and Noble: Vintage Trailers and Blackmailers by Heather Weidner, Paperback | Barnes & Noble® (barnesandnoble.com)

BookBub: Vintage Trailers and Blackmailers: A Jules Keene Glamping Mystery by Heather Weidner - BookBub

BookShop: Vintage Trailers and Blackmailers a book by Heather Weidner (bookshop.org)

Booktopia: Vintage Trailers and Blackmailers eBook by Heather Weidner | 9781685120375 | Booktopia

FNAC: Vintage Trailers and Blackmailers - Dernier livre de Heather Weidner - Précommande & date de sortie | fnac

Goodreads: Vintage Trailers and Blackmailers by Heather Weidner | Goodreads

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/vintage-trailers-and-blackmailers

Target: Vintage Trailers And Blackmailers - By Heather Weidner (paperback) : Target

Thalia: Vintage Trailers and Blackmailers von Heather Weidner - eBook | Thalia

The second book in the series, FILM CREWS AND RENDEZVOUS will be out in October 2022.

How to Make a Writer Happy - Tips for Readers

There are so many things readers can do to help writers spread the word about their books., and most of them are free. If you like a book or a series, help create a buzz on social media and other places for an author. It’s the the easiest way to make a writer’s day.

Post a Review - Reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, Bookbub, and other book sites help expand a writer’s reach. You don’t have to do a book report. A one-line “I liked it statement” is enough. All of the online sites have algorithms, and the number of reviews do matter to the amount of exposure a book gets.

Buy the Book/Share the Book - Buy a copy of the book for yourself or a friend. And if people ask you want for your birthday, books are always great gifts.

Recommend it to Your Library- Most libraries have a process where residents can request books for the library to purchase. If you like a series, make sure your librarian knows.

Share it on Social Media - Take a picture of the book when it arrives or one of you reading it. These make great social media posts. And don’t forget to tag the author. Instagram has some great hashtags (e.g. #bookstacks, #bookstagram, #prettybookplaces). I love seeing folks reading my books in different places. I also like it when readers spot my book “in the wild” at a library or store and send me a picture.

Recommend it to Your Book Club - Recommend reads to your book club or group. Many authors love to attend in-person or virtually to chat. You may want to reach out to see if the author could attend to talk about his/her book.

Add it to Your Shelf on Goodreads - If you use Goodreads to track your books or yearly challenge, add a book to your “want to read” shelf.

Follow the Author- Follow the author on book and social media sites. This will help you stay current with new publications and updates.

Subscribe to the Author’s Newsletter - This is a good way to ensure that they author has you on his/her fan list. It’s also a great way to get regular updates and information on special events and giveaways.

Attend Book Events - Support your local book stores, libraries, and authors when there are readings, book launches, and signings.

Authors love their readers. And a quick review or shout out will definitely make them smile.

Instagram for Book Lovers - Tips for Authors

Instagram is a haven for book lovers. Whether you’re a reader, collector, interior designer, or writer, you need to check out these amazing pictures. I love seeing all the creative ways people arrange their books. These are hashtags that you can type into the search bar to see a book lovers’ paradise.

#Bookstagram - This is a popular hashtag on the social media site. You’ll see thousands of books in beautiful settings. I am amazed at all the creative vignettes, colors, and designs. Many #Bookstagrammers are also book reviewers. Check out and follow ones you like. You can also follow the hashtag to see what’s being posted.

There are also variants of the hashtag by country, region, or preference. Type in #Bookstagram in search and scroll through the list for more options.

#Bookstack - This hashtag features stacks in any place you can imagine. Some are arranged by color, others by theme. I love looking at the photos to see if I can spot friends’ books.

#Bookshelf - This has so many great ideas for arranging shelves. Again, I am always looking to see if I can see friends’ books in the photos. My books (throughout the house) are grouped on shelves by genre. I have started theming some of the shelves (e.g. mystery, Wizard of Oz, etc.).

#Shelfie - This started out as photos with books and bookshelves, but you’ll see all kinds of designs that are tagged with this hashtag.

Other hashtags to check out on Instagram:

• AmReading

• Author

• AuthorsOfInstagram

• BookAholic

• BookCommunity

• BookFollow

• Bookish

• BookishAesthetic

• BookishFeatures

• BookLover

• BookNerd

• BookRecsByMe

• Books

• BooksAndWine

• BooksOfInstagram

• BookShivers

• BookstaPeeps

• Bookworm

• CozyReading

• CurrentRead

• IGReads

• ReaderProblems

• ReadersOfInstagram

• ThrillerStack

• TimeToRead

View, like, and comment. I think it’s important for authors to be active on Instagram. It’s a great way to meet readers, reviewers, fans, librarians, book store staff, and other writers.

I’d like to thank Sonica Soares (The Reading Beauty) for the great presentation she gave to our Sisters in Crime chapter about #Bookstagram. Many thanks for all the great advice and ideas!

Required Reading - Tips for Authors

I was the kid who got her first library card at four, and a trip to the library or bookstore was always magical. I was also over the moon every time the teacher said read quietly at your desk.

Good writers need to be good readers. Read everything you can get your hands on and make sure to read books in your genre.

I use the annual GoodReads reading challenge as a way to track what I’ve read throughout the year.

Here are some ideas of things to look for as you read:

The Industry

• Read author acknowledgment pages. See who the agents and editors are. Keep a list of those who specialize in what you write. You will be at the querying stage, and this will help you target who represents your genre.

• See what groups authors belong to.

• Look at the publishers and editors for the type of books you write.

• Recently at SleuthFest, author Richie Naraez reminded the audience to not only read contemporary books in your genre, but also read the classics. If you’re a mystery writer, you need to understand the history of the mystery (e.g. cozies, hard-boiled, pulp fiction, etc.).

The Craft of Writing

• Pay attention to the dialogue and techniques.

• Watch how authors transition from one scene to another.

• Look at the ways the writer moves the story along. He or she doesn’t give you every mundane detail.

• Look for “rules” or conventions in your genre. Does the murder happen in the first few chapters? Is the sleuth a professional?

• When you like a book, think about what caught and held your attention.

• Watch how the ending is revealed.

The Details

• Look at the character names. In many cases, the name has some meaning or reveals something.

• For series, see how the author sprinkles in details from the past in each book.

• Where is the book set and how does that affect the story?

• Look at the minor characters and how they support the protagonist.

• Pay attention to how the writer uses conflict to move the story along.

Make sure that you have time to read. It’s research. And be kind and leave a review for the books you like. It doesn’t have to be a book report, but reviews do matter to writers.