Guest Blog on Archetypes and Stereotypes

Murder By Four hosts my guest blog today, “Characterizations: Archetypes and Stereotypes.” I discuss how cardboard characters might sneak into the plots of novels and movies and what savvy writers do to prevent archetypal characters from descending into stereotypes. Drop … Continue reading

Food, More Food, and an Interview

 Last Thursday night, I attended a booksigning at Quail Ridge Books for author Krista Davis. Her first book, The Diva Runs Out of Thyme, has recently been released. She talked about writing her “food” cozies. Then she read a couple … Continue reading

Carolina Crimes 2008, and Another Guest Blog

In place of the annual Cape Fear Crime Festival last Saturday afternoon, Dorothy Hodder and Phyllis Smith at the New Hanover County Library in Wilmington, NC arranged two panels of authors. All authors had books released in 2008 that dealt … Continue reading

Skill Building for Writers

The Southeast chapter of Mystery Writers of America (SEMWA), the Triad chapter of Sisters in Crime (Murder We Write), and the Writers’ Group of the Triad united efforts to sponsor a free, one-day writers’ workshop Saturday 18 October at the … Continue reading

Meeting a Master: Mary Buckham

Come on, you know Mary, right? She’s the author of several novels, and she teaches outstanding workshops, online and in person. I was Grasshopper for her online workshop January 2007, “Plotting with the Mythic Structure,” aka the Hero’s Journey, and … Continue reading

Moonlight & Magnolias 2008, Day 2

For most writers on the get-published track, a huge hurdle is pitching a book concept and obtaining buy-in from an agent or editor. The art of pitching is so in-demand as a topic that writers conferences often provide attendees the … Continue reading

Moonlight & Magnolias 2008, Day 3

Saturday dawned early. Too early. What was amazing was how wide-awake and sensational Anna DeStefano looked while welcoming the crowd of hundreds during the continental breakfast. I’m a morning person, but I don’t look sensational in the morning, you know? … Continue reading

Autumn 2008 Tour into Western North Carolina, Day 1

I rolled out of Raleigh about 6:15 Thursday morning 11 September, expecting a 3.5 hour drive to Boone. Drizzle made an inauspicious traveling companion. More unwelcome was the thick fog that lowered over Highway 421 just west of Winston-Salem. In … Continue reading

Autumn 2008 Tour into Western North Carolina, Day 2

Friday 12 September didn’t dawn bright and clear in Boone. That nasty fog still socked us in. Around 8:00 a.m., when I was ready to leave, Marcia got in her car and drove out ahead of me, like a pilot … Continue reading

Autumn 2008 Tour into Western North Carolina, Day 3

Lucy Doll and I had decided to cook a breakfast for each other. Saturday morning the 14th, I cooked steel-cut oats with dried cherries and blueberries, allspice, flax seeds, and walnuts. Usually I add some pure maple syrup. We tried … Continue reading