Posts by Lynn Slaughter
Meet Cozy Mystery Author V.M. Burns
I first met V.M. (Valerie) Burns in a workshop at Seton Hill when we were working on our MFAs in Writing Popular Fiction. Valerie workshopped a story about a feisty amateur sleuth busily solving mysteries in her retirement community. I absolutely loved it and sensed that she was on her way to a successful writing…
Read MoreHatching an Idea for a Novel- And Then What?
Are there writers on the planet who haven’t been asked: “Where do you get your ideas?” If so, I’ve yet to meet them! The easiest and perhaps least helpful answer is: “Anywhere and everywhere.” As Lisa Cron points out in Story Genius, her craft book for writers, the wisp of an idea could come from…
Read MoreMeet “Sassy” Mystery Author Vicki Batman
What fun to interview live wire mystery author Vicki Batman, who just released a new book in her Hattie Cooks mystery series. As her bio notes, her stories are full of humor and romance. She has sold many award-winning and bestselling romantic comedy works to magazines and most recently three humorous romantic mysteries. Below are…
Read MoreWhat I Needed to Hear
Have you ever read or heard something and thought, “Wow, that’s just what I needed to hear”? That happened to me this week reading Elise Bryant’s delightful debut YA novel, Happily Ever Afters. Sixteen-year-old Tessa Johnson loves writing romance stories and sharing them with her best friend, Caroline. But when her family moves to a…
Read MoreMEET AUTHOR JEANETTE POPE
I’m so delighted to introduce you to Jeanette Pope, one of the newest members of Derby Rotten Scoundrels, the Ohio River Valley chapter of Sisters in Crime. Below is what she shared with me about her life and her work: I am the oldest of six children, born and raised in the West End of…
Read MoreVirginia Woolf Was Right
In 1929, Virginia Woolf published her famous essay, A Room of One’s Own, in which she argued that if a woman is to write, she must have money and a room of her own. I’ve certainly been aware of money as a factor in being able to focus on creative work. In the years when…
Read MoreMeet Susan Bell
Today, I’m delighted to introduce readers to a dynamo member of Derby Rotten Scoundrels, the Ohio River Valley chapter of Sisters in Crime. Below is her bio and her responses to my interview questions. Susan Bell was born in coastal California, then proceeded to travel the country in her role as daughter of a Naval officer.…
Read MoreThinking About My Forthcoming Novel: Why LEISHA’S SONG Matters to Me
I’m thrilled that my third YA novel, Leisha’s Song, comes out on June 15 from Fire and Ice, the YA imprint of Melange Books. To tell you a little about the book, here is a brief description: Leisha knows something’s wrong. Her beloved vocal coach at boarding school would never have resigned and disappeared like…
Read MoreFrom Bookseller to Comedic Mystery Author: Meet Elaine Munsch
From Bookseller to Comedic Mystery Author: Meet Elaine Munsch Elaine Munsch should be an inspiration to any aspiring author who wonders if it’s too late to embark on a writing career. Elaine’s love affair with books, especially mysteries, began in childhood. Armed with a master’s degree in English literature from Ohio State, she pursued a…
Read MoreTwo Crucial Needs: Encouragers in Our Personal lives and Critical Thinking Skills as Citizens
This past week, my publisher sent me the final pdf of my upcoming novel, Leisha’s Song. I was instructed to read it carefully, notate any needed corrections, and have someone else read it as well. We writers are notoriously bad at finding our own spelling and punctuation mistakes. It’s so much easier to find them…
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