Mysteries with a Southern Accent
Crazy for Words is mystery author, Heather Weidner's blog on writing, reading, and anything that catches her interest.
Events conspired against us this summer for getting out of town to the beach or the mountains. It looks like it will be a fall vacation. But, we decided to see some sites in Central Virginia. We went to the Metro Richmond Zoo today. The weather's great in RVA. We didn't do the zip line, but we had a nice tour with the animals.
I found thriller author, Steve Berry, through his short story in Faceoff.
I started near the end of Berry's series with The King's Deception, so now I have novels on either side of it to catch up on the story. But, I don't think you lose anything. Berry does a good job with building his characters and providing enough backstory, so you can read his works out of sequence.
The King's Deception is action-packed. It starts with retired state department investigator (and current bookstore owner), Cotton Malone doing a favor for a former boss. He's supposed to escort a youth back to London on a trip that he is taking with his son. The one good deed gets him involved with a 400-year-old hoax that could have major implications for the United States and Great Britain.
I love how Berry weaves history throughout his novel. His research is detailed. I had my iPad out while reading to look at the art and European locations that he described. I had to see the "rainbow" portrait.
And Berry has a knack for dropping bombshells throughout the work. All the roller coaster plot twists kept me turning pages. It was definitely hard to put down.
The King's Deception is a worthwhile read. And I'm hooked on Steve Berry. The Lincoln Myth is next.
Front: Maggie King and Vivian Lawry Back: Heather Weidner, Fiona Quinn, and Rosemary Shomaker
Rosie and a Friend
We had a really nice time at the Hanover Book Festival yesterday. Rosie Shomaker and Fiona Quinn led our workshop, "Anatomy of a Mystery," and we signed lots of copies of Virginia is for Mysteries. It is always nice to talk to so many mystery readers and writers!
Anatomy of a Mystery with Rosie and Fiona
It's going to rain tomorrow in Central Virginia. Come out and see the Virginia is for Mystery Authors at the Hanover Book Festival at Liberty Christian School (8094 Liberty Circle in Mechanicsville, VA) from 10 AM - 2 PM.
We are hosting a workshop on "The Anatomy of a Mystery," and we'll be there to sign books. Stop in and see Fionna Quinn, Vivian Lawry, Teresa Inge, Maggie King, Rosemary Shomaker, and me.
I work full-time, and I have several volunteer projects. Sometimes, it's hard to find time to write. Here are some ways that I've been able to squeeze in some time.
1. Make an Appointment - When you have time off, reserve some of it for writing. If you're serious about writing/editing, you need to make the time. I've had to jettison a few things too.
2. I use my lunch hour for writing time. That gives me an extra five hours a week.
3. Join a Critique Group - Your group will keep you motivated. You need to have new samples to submit, so it gives you a schedule and a deadline.
4. Keep Score - Keep a count of your writing progress. You will quickly be able to see the peaks and valleys. It is also another good motivator. I keep a work count in a spreadsheet. I started last June when I did an online challenge with my group. At the end of the month, I was amazed at the progress I had made. A little competition helps too.
5. Get up Early - Get up an hour or two earlier and devote the time to writing. If you wake up in the middle of the night and can't sleep, write.
Best wishes with your work in progress!
It's Paperback Book Day! Happy reading!
If you're looking for a fun, summer read, check out Virginia is for Mysteries.
I downloaded the International Thrill Writers' anthology, Faceoff, edited by David Baldacci. Most anthologies have some sort of theme. This one is interesting because it pairs multiple writers and their protagonists in each story. It also introduced me to several new-to-me authors, and I look forward to reading their novels.
My favorites included Dennis Lehane and Michael Connelly's "Red Eye," set in Boston. Both characters are looking for the same kidnapper. One is because of a recent abduction, and the other is chasing a lead from a cold case in California. Steve Martini and Linda Fairstein's characters meet at a lawyers' conference in "Surfing the Panther." I also liked the twist in Heather Graham and F. Paul Wilson's "Infernal Night," set in New Orleans. "Pit Stop" by Raymond Khoury and Linwood Barclay encapsulates an action-packed car-jacking in the limited space of a short story. I also liked "Good and Valuable Consideration" by Lee Child and Joseph Finder. Jack Reacher stories are always a great read.
And the beauty of a short story anthology is that if you don't like a particular story, you can always move on to the next one. There is something in Faceoff for all tastes.
A critique group can help you refine your writing and get your manuscript ready for publication. The support and ideas are invaluable. But it does take some courage to put your writing out there for comments and criticism. You also need to be in the mindset to take the criticism and improve your manuscript.
Find a group that fits your work style and genre. Some are virtual (online), and others are in person. Mine meets monthly at a local library. We have six to nine authors who attend regularly. It may help if you can ask to visit before you join or submit your work to get an understanding of the rules, conventions, and group dynamics.
Make sure you know the rules. In our group, there has to be at least two submissions in order to have the monthly meeting. We also don't require members to submit something each month.
We make notes about grammatical and formatting issues and give them to the owner. We don't spend the group's discussion time talking about commas. Also, if someone mentions an issue that others noted, they jump in when it is first discussed, so we don't have to repeat items that have already been mentioned.
I like that my group has a good mix of published and pre-published writers. There is also a good balance between readers and writers. Our group started out with all female members, but we're now more gender and age diverse. That's helpful because we get a variety of opinions and ideas.
Don't take the criticism personally. The goal is to offer help to improve your writing. You're there to listen and learn, not to defend your work against every comment. And in the end, they are all opinions. If you really don't agree with something, don't use it.
I am very fortunate that my group focuses on mysteries and crime stories. The critiques are more valuable when the group members know the conventions of the genre. They also offer connections and advice that help writers at all stages of their careers.
You need to make sure that you're contributing to the group. Make the time to do serious critiques/reviews of their submissions. It takes some effort, but the advice has been invaluable for me.
My group is supportive. We help each other with marketing, social media, book launches, and technology. And we celebrate each other's successes!
Originally from Virginia Beach, Heather Weidner has been a mystery fan since Scooby Doo and Nancy Drew. She currently lives in Central Virginia with her husband and a pair of Jack Russell terriers.
Heather writes the Delanie Fitzgerald mystery series for readers who like humorous mysteries with a strong, female sleuth.
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