Category Archives: Mysteries

Mystery readers are very enthusiastic recommenders of products. Find out how to craft the perfect mystery and present it in such a way that people will flock to buy it.

Nancy Barr – Writing Regional Mysteries

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On January 4th, 2012 Tyler R. Tichelaar and Victor R. Volkman spoke with regional mystery maven Nancy Barr.  Nancy served as news editor at the Daily Mining Gazette in Houghton for three years and now works at Michigan Technological University, where she recently earned a master’s degree in Rhetoric and Technical Communication.  Her novels include Page One: Hit and Run(July 2006), “Page One: Vanished” (May 2007), and “Page One: Whiteout” (November 2009), all from Arbutus Press. She spoke with us on all the particulars of regional mystery writing including:

  • Challenges of writing about real locations in rural areas
  • Character development — deciding who deserves a repeat appearance and who is a one-book wonder
  • Plotting versus characterization.  Each book has been different for me.
  • Other mysteries worth reading that feature the rural upper Midwest.
  • The pros and cons of small, regional publishing houses.
  • Marketing

Nancy Barr

Nancy Barr
A transplant to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula at the age of 9, Nancy Barr grew up in the tiny town of Rapid River nestled at the top of Little Bay de Noc. She earned an associate’s degree with honors from Bay de Noc Community College in Escanaba, Mich., and graduated cum laude from Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., with a bachelor’s degree. Her love of reading and writing led her to a career in newspaper journalism where she spent several years covering police, courts, schools and local governments for the Daily Press in Escanaba.  An animal aficionado, she lives on the Keweenaw Peninsula with two demanding, but lovable, cats. When not writing, Nancy enjoys hiking and photographing the natural beauty that abounds in the Upper Peninsula.

Page One: Hit and Run

Page One: Hit and Run
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Andrea Campbell – Writing Realistic Forensics and Crime Stories

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On Thursday, November 1st, 2007 Irene Watson and Victor R. Volkman spoke with author, criminologist, and consultant Andrea Campbell from her home in Hot Springs, Arkansas. in Hot Springs Arkansas. Her latest title is the Legal Ease: A Guide to Criminal Law, Evidence and Procedure (2nd Ed.), a reader-friendly book that is now a college law textbook published by Charles C. Thomas Publishers. Andrea shared with us how to find authoritatives sources for crime-scene forensics, evidence handling, police procedure, and court proceedings. She also shared many insider’s tips including how to find and use forensics experts and a realistic look at what it takes to write for the True Crime genre.
She is the author of ten nonfiction books on a variety of topics, but specializes in forensic science, criminal law, and entertaining with interactive parties. Andrea is also Editor for the Arkansas Identification News, a quarterly that goes out to forensic scientists and law enforcement, whom all belong to the International Association for Identification. A trained forensic artist, Andrea is capable of building a bust out of clay from a skull and can do cadaver drawings and fugitive updates. A Diplomate and Fellow with the American College of Forensic Examiners International, Andrea frequently attends forensic science training conferences and blogs on several topics. Currently, she is working on a book about the world’s first detective for Overlook Press.

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P.M. Terrell – From Author To Promoter

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On May 31st, 2007 at 8:00PM EDT Irene Watson and Victor Volkman spoke with Patricia Terrell, the author of 8 books, including the how-to book “Take the Mystery out of Promoting Your Book” . She shared with us the innovative ways she has developed to market her books at virtually no cost including school and library lectures, civic involvement, fan newsletters, mystery-lovers reading groups, and many other strategies. Patricia also helps us grapple with the big shift from being an author to proactive promoter of your work. Additionally, P.M. Terrell is the author of three internationally acclaimed suspense/thrillers: Ricochet, Kickback and The China Conspiracy, and four computer textbooks. More information can be obta
ined through the author’s web site at www.pmterrell.com or www.mysterypromotion.com Look for her latest suspense this fall- “Songbirds are Free” which is inspired by a true story!
Patricia does more than just write about crime. She is a strong supporter of The Virginia Crime Stoppers Association and its affiliated Crime Solvers, Crime Stoppers, and Crime Lines. On April 1, she was with Virginia Governor Mark Warner when he signed into legislation additional protection for citizens calling Crime Solvers and Crime Stoppers with tips. It ensures that citizens will remain anonymous and can not be called to testify in court. In August 2004, Patricia co-founded The Book ‘Em Foundation, a not for profit organization, with Officer Mark Kearney of the Waynesboro Police Department. The organization’s mission is to increase public awareness of the connection between high illiteracy rates and high crime rates, increase literacy rates, and decrease crime rates. The First Annual Book ‘Em Event was held on October 23, 2004 in Waynesboro, Virginia and attra
cted 52 authors.Listen to the PodCast!   Click here for RSS feed!