Too Many Irons in the Fire
For a plethora of reasons, I’m taking a mental health week. I’m not crazy, but I have too many deadlines and commitments to cram into… Read More »Too Many Irons in the Fire
February 2016
Chick Lit: Delight in Glorious Girl Power
Chick lit comes in several flavors. One of the tried-and-true staples of this genre is the ensemble cast of Interesting People. They are Just Like… Read More »Chick Lit: Delight in Glorious Girl Power
Dystopia: Embrace the Endless Misery
In recent years, dystopia has experienced a surge in popularity. The readiness with which consumers gravitate towards stories of bleak futures, oppressive regimes, and outliers… Read More »Dystopia: Embrace the Endless Misery
Beware the Monster in the Shadows
Sheesh, MarySue. You have to earn your sparkles in urban fantasy. You can’t just show up with them. Lest anyone worry that I’m about to… Read More »Beware the Monster in the Shadows
Amateur Hour at the Local Crime Scene
Let’s hear it for the amateur sleuth solving the case! In all seriousness, amateur sleuths belong to a breed of character that both entertains and… Read More »Amateur Hour at the Local Crime Scene
Suspects, Assemble and Be Awed!
The classic mystery reveal involves gathering all murder suspects and interested parties into one room and unmasking the criminal in their midst. This plot device… Read More »Suspects, Assemble and Be Awed!
Pay No Attention to the Obvious Red Herring
The term “red herring” refers, in its literal sense, not to a living species of fish but to one that has been smoked, thereby rendering… Read More »Pay No Attention to the Obvious Red Herring
A Victim that Nobody Even Liked
The victim in a Whodunnit scenario will gravitate toward two extremes: Everyone hated them. Motives for murder abound and winnowing down the suspects will be… Read More »A Victim that Nobody Even Liked
When the Police Can’t Measure Up
I’ll admit it. I cringe every time a fictional sleuth goes snooping where they shouldn’t, ignoring advice from the police to conduct their own investigation.… Read More »When the Police Can’t Measure Up
Eccentric and Itching to Solve a Grand Mystery
There’s an unspoken rule that fictional detectives have to be eccentric. I suppose we can blame that one on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and his… Read More »Eccentric and Itching to Solve a Grand Mystery