Have you ever read a book where you were rooting for the main character? Maybe you cried and laughed along with them? In other words, have you read a book where the characters felt real? Becoming invested in the characters is always something that guarantees I will love the book. In fact, I have a…
Plot
The butler did it
The butler did it is one of the most overused mystery cliches – to the point it is rarely ever used these days. After all, as soon as a reader (or viewer if it’s a tv show or movie) see a butler, they immediately joke “the butler did it”. Below are some of the mystery…
What is a red herring?
Nearly every crime book will make use of red herrings, particularly mystery books. But did you know that red herrings can be used in any genre? And when used well, they create the set-up for a delightful surprise twist at the end. By definition, a red herring is a deliberate misdirection designed to mislead the…
Story inspiration
I often get asked where I get my ideas for stories, and how hard it must be to think of things. My problem isn’t coming up with ideas it’s finding the time to write them. I find ideas for stories everywhere: a snippet of conversation, an image or scene, news article or straight imagination. I…
Too stupid to live
“Only two things are infinite-the universe and human stupidity, and I’m not sure about the universe.”… Albert Einstein I’ve been reading a lot of cozy mysteries lately. One I was reading was really enjoyable – until the main character did the unthinkable, an action whereby I decided she was *too stupid to live* (TSTL). Of…