That Novel Won’t Write Itself – Writing to Finish

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finish lineIt took me 10 years to finish writing the first of my many crime novels. I like to say that I was a ten-year overnight success. I started writing Motion to Kill while still practicing law. Read about the serendipitous bit of conversation with one of my partners that got me to thinking about writing a novel in my post, So You Want to Write Crime Novels and Thrillers. But it takes more than just formulating the story in your mind and having the confidence that it’s good enough that people will want to read it. Continue reading [That Novel Won’t Write Itself – Writing to Finish] ->>

Writing Your First Novel – Just Do It

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novel writer by the waterDo you see yourself as a writer – a novel writer destined to become the next John Grisham or Stephanie Meyer? Maybe Lee Child or the up and coming Veronica Roth are more your style. Regardless of the writers you admire, you’ve got a novel in you that just has to get out. You keep starting and stopping. Perhaps you’re so close to finishing that first personal masterpiece, you can feel it in your bones, but something – some mental block – holds you back. I’m here to tell you that you can do it as well as offer some advice about how to finally get that your novel on the page – in its entirety. Continue reading [Writing Your First Novel – Just Do It] ->>

Everyday Is a Knife Fight

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An Interview with Public Defender Alex Stone

public defender and justice

Until justice rolls down like water…

As a former trial lawyer and best selling author of crime novels, I’ve decided to interview Public Defender Alex Stone. She can shed some light on both the true crime scene and that set up in crime books like the ones I write. But first I’ve got to pin her down. I got to know Stone when I wrote my short story, Knife Fight, and we became even more familiar with each other during my time writing the novel Stone Cold. Ms. Stone agreed to meet me outside of the Jackson County courthouse in Kansas City for an interview and I want to share her answers to my questions with you.
Continue reading [Everyday Is a Knife Fight] ->>

Indie Publishing – The Goldman Case Files

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kindle ebooks indie publishing

Indie publishing stands trial for the crime of staggering e-book sales and shameless market share grabbing.

So you’ve submitted your crime novel to every publishing house imaginable and sent individual chapters to various mystery magazines. The response to your work has been lackluster at best. Countless authors share this same frustrating experience, regardless of their preferred genre.
Continue reading [Indie Publishing – The Goldman Case Files] ->>

Real Life Crime Inspires Great Fiction Thrillers

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Jodi Arias and Travis Alexander

Jodi Arias withTravis Alexander

Any self-respecting fan of Law & Order knows that the popular cop show franchise often draws its inspiration from crime stories that are “ripped from the headlines.” And no matter how many disclaimers emphasize that if the characters or plot bear any resemblance to a real-life individual or event it is completely coincidental, we instinctively recognize the original source. As consumers of popular culture, as participants in everyday modern life, we encounter dark and mysterious circumstances on a daily basis.
Continue reading [Real Life Crime Inspires Great Fiction Thrillers] ->>

So You Want To Write Crime Novels and Thrillers

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disturbia thriller movieSo you want to write crime novels and thrillers and make a living doing it. My first bit of advice is to put pen to paper while still working your day job. As I’ve mentioned before, I started writing while still practicing law. It all started when one of my partners complained bitterly to me about the behavior of one of our colleagues. My response was, “Let’s write a book and kill the son-of-a-bitch off in the first chapter, then spend the rest of the book figuring out who did it.” Of course, I was just being a smart ass, but that flippant remark turned into a self-fulfilling prophecy when I wrote Motion to Kill. Continue reading [So You Want To Write Crime Novels and Thrillers] ->>

From Love Story to Crime Thriller – A Matter of Perspective

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crime fiction stalkers

As an author of crime thriller books, I see my relationship with my audience as critical. So occasionally, I like to share some of my personal anecdotes—from what I hear, readers actually enjoy reading this sort of thing. On this last Valentine’s Day, I felt uncharacteristically sentimental, so I wrote a short tribute in my blog to the night that I met my wife at a “Singles” function in the late seventies.

I happened to know my future wife’s brother, also a “Single” and in attendance, and relayed how I had “pumped him” for information about his cute sister with the irresistible chestnut tendrils. Next, how shall I say this, I exploited the backstory supplied by her brother, shamelessly writing how “I filled her in on her life story.” Fortunately for me, she was charmed…and the rest is history. Continue reading [From Love Story to Crime Thriller – A Matter of Perspective] ->>

Suspense, Spouses & Ghosts

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darkmanA while back in this blog I wrote that there aren’t any new stories just new ways of telling old stories. A new TV series and a new crime thriller are the latest examples proving that I was right.

The FX series, The Americans and Roger Haber’s debut novel, The Ghostman are new versions of old stories but, boy, are they ever terrific takes.

Here’s a barely edited description of The Americans from FX’s website for the show: Continue reading [Suspense, Spouses & Ghosts] ->>