by Susan Van Kirk | Jun 16, 2024 | fiction, mysteries, suspense, writing
Judy Penz Sheluk, whom I met at a Malice Domestic Conference, is a Canadian author who writes mysteries. Judy’s been a great writing friend to me, and she’s helped me considerably at various times in my own writing career. She collects, edits, and...
by Susan Van Kirk | Jun 12, 2024 | book reviews, fiction, mysteries
Recently, I’ve been trying to make some progress with my TBR pile. So far, so good. Below are reviews of a couple of books I’ve read and enjoyed. I’m hoping you might like them too! Camino Ghosts by John Grisham I’ve read most of John...
by Susan Van Kirk | Jun 3, 2024 | Blog, fiction, mysteries, suspense
I grew up in a newsroom. By that, I mean that by the time I was in high school, my safe place became the newspaper office. The room dedicated to putting out the weekly paper, the school’s annual, and the hangout for what today would probably be called the uncool...
by Susan Van Kirk | May 24, 2024 | Blog, mysteries, publishing, writing
Just prior to the pandemic, I decided to write a series of stories about an art center in a small town. It’s not surprising since I’d recently toured the art center in our small town of Monmouth, Illinois. It had lots of nooks and crannies, and a basement that had...
by Susan Van Kirk | Apr 22, 2024 | Blog, mysteries, writing, writing novels
I first met Jim Jackson several years ago through the Guppy Chapter of Sisters in Crime, and he talked me into being the president of the online SinC chapter. (He’s very good at that!) It’s been a great experience for me, so I’m glad he was so...
by Susan Van Kirk | Apr 3, 2024 | Blog, mysteries
Sometimes the most interesting mysteries are the ones that exist in the real world. And those mysteries entice adventurers who want to see them solved. Seventy-seven years ago, in 1937, navigation pioneer Amelia Earhart set off to become the first woman to fly solo...
by Susan Van Kirk | Mar 25, 2024 | Blog, fiction, mysteries, small towns, suspense, writing
Today, I’m featuring another Level Best Book author, Lynn-Steven Johanson, who lives only forty minutes away from me in the heart of the country–downstate Illinois. It’s all yours, Lynn…. People often ask writers where their inspiration comes...
by Susan Van Kirk | Mar 18, 2024 | Blog, mystery, suspense, writing
Today, I’m hosting fellow Level Best Book author, Daphne Silver, on my website blog. Take it away, Daphne… There are so many things I love about cozy mysteries: quirky characters, charming locales, and taking a virtual escape. However, the thing I love...
by Susan Van Kirk | Mar 11, 2024 | Blog, mysteries, suspense, writing novels
It doesn’t matter where I’m speaking, about what, or to which group, eventually someone wants to know where the stories come from. I really want to say that’s a tough question, but I find inspiration in the darndest places. Mostly because I can’t keep my nose out of...
by Susan Van Kirk | Feb 26, 2024 | Blog, mystery, suspense, writing novels
Today I’ve invited Linda Norlander to my website to talk about her mystery writing. All writing careers are not alike, and Linda’s is pretty funny! Take it away, Linda… Back when I was in my mid-thirties, I created a character I named Elizabeth...
