If you've been following along you probably have read at least one mystery book, and seen several on TV. Perhaps you're a hardcore aficionado who can tell the age of a body based on the life cycle of flies. Maybe you enjoy more of a cozy approach, but no matter, this last book will appeal to everyone who has ever said to themselves, " For Pete’s sake, even I could see that coming! Maybe I should write a book."

Without further ado, I give you…

Writing & Selling Your Mystery Novel: The complete guide to mystery, suspense, & crime.

I purchased this book after attending a workshop by the author, Hallie Ephron. Her approach includes worksheets that take us step-by-step through crafting a villain, hero and the series of events which all add up to create an excellent novel with great structure. This organized approach to crafting a story had me questioning things about the character I had never considered before. I also had the chance to sit down and challenge myself to find the motivation behind everyone's actions. By analyzing what drives everyone in the book, I wrote a more cohesive draft where everything worked together just like Dr. Watson's pocket watch.

What's that? You don't know the first thing about publishing? Ephron's got you covered there too. The last chapters of the book walk you through all the terminology for traditional publishing, including queries, agents, publishers and what to expect, as well as indie publishing down to what formats to use for ebooks and what are the various options for going it alone. There's even a chapter on what to watch for while editing, mainly tips and tricks that get lost in all of the noise on the internet. Ephron's New York Times Best-Selling Author status also gives weight to her recommendations and advice, which paired with her frank, to-the-point writing style helps create an accessible, easy-to-follow manual from someone who knows what they're talking about.

Perhaps you've dabbled with writing, or maybe you've never considered writing anything other than an email to your coworkers. Either way who doesn't dream of retiring and writing the next great American novel? I can tell you from personal experience, I love reading and I love writing. Reading can be passive. Writing is active. From a young age, going back to play kitchens, Barbie, and sitting on a swing for hours (literally) listening to a Walkman as a teen, I always loved to daydream and create stories. Sound familiar? Perhaps you should give it a try. There's nothing quite as stimulating as sitting down to daydream in a dark, quiet house at night when everyone else is asleep and create a world all your own. I highly recommend it.

Have you ever considered writing? Are you more intrigued now? Drop me a comment below! I'd love to hear from you.

Onward!

Kathryn