How unreliable narrators change suspense fiction
The unreliable narrator isn’t a cute trick. It’s a pressure switch. Flip it, and every scene gets tighter. Your brain keeps rereading the last line while your eyes move forward anyway. That’s suspense. Not just danger. A tickle of doubt. Unreliable narrators turn every clue into a question Here’s the thing – in a standard […]
Who Wrote the Screenplay for Die Hard?
Every December, a familiar debate makes the rounds: Is Die Hard a Christmas movie? For me, the answer is a resounding yes. With its holiday setting, twinkling lights, and the unmistakable strains of “Let It Snow” playing over the credits, it earns its place on the Christmas watchlist. But beyond the tinsel and the cheer, […]
Secrets, Signals, and Story Hooks: What NCIS Can Teach Us About Writing Suspense
For years, my writing mentor kept encouraging me to watch NCIS. He insisted it was some of the best writing in television. Ever. It’s not that I didn’t believe him. It’s just that I never found the time to make it happen. And then, I did. And got hooked. There is something eminently satisfying about […]
A daring thief. A challenging heist.
If you love heist stories, like Oceans Eleven, The Italian Job, or any of Donald Westlake’s Dortmunder tales, you’ll get a kick out of my addition to the latest issue of Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, “Delivering the Egg MacGuffin.” It’s one of those layered stories that brings a surprise with each unfolding angle and features […]
Mt. Rainier is primed for disaster…true story
My first two thrillers—Nocturne In Ashes and Steadman’s Blind—were inspired by a real life concern. Especially for those of us who live in the great Pacific Northwest. Mt. Rainier is primed for disaster. The volcano will blow. No one knows when, but all indications point to the western flank as the weak point and it’s […]
Weird & Wacky News Items Make Fodder for The Pen
I love writing. And I believe the stories I write are suspenseful, entertaining, and emotionally engaging. But let’s face it, sometimes it takes a bizarre premise or opening paragraph to grab us as readers and pull us into a story. Weird and wacky news items make good fodder for the pen. I am always on […]
My mysterious rendezvous with Murder Ink
Years ago, at a Friends of the Library sale, I came across a thick book entitled, Murder Ink: The Mystery Reader’s Companion, by Dilys Winn. Of course, it became mine in a matter of seconds and I’ve spent fun times and magical moments with the book ever since. Murder Ink is not really the kind […]
I’m excited to share Prague with you
Over Labor Day weekend, my husband and I visited one of our favorite cities, and I’m excited to share Prague with you now. It was one of those magical journeys when everything seems to go right. We lucked into a great deal at a hotel right on the Old Town side of the Charles Bridge. […]
How body language works in a story
As a reader, you pick up on all sorts of tiny cues that add to, or detract from, the story. When a book pulls you in, grabbing your attention, compelling you to turn the pages, many elements are orchestrating to achieve that effect. When a book fails to capture your interest, some of those elements […]
The Voice & The Power of Story
A couple of years ago, my husband attended a week-long business conference in the beautiful resort town of Garmisch, Germany. I was thrilled to be going along with him. It was early spring, great weather, and I had all kinds of plans to go hiking, exploring the quaint village, riding the cable car up the […]
- 1
- 2
Recent Comments