by Susan Van Kirk | May 12, 2025 | Blog
Readers who know me—recent acquaintances, long-time friends from college—have been making comments to me that usually contain some variation of “but you seem so nice…how do you come up with these characters, these scenarios?” Where do bullies like Philippe,...
by Susan Van Kirk | May 5, 2025 | Blog, mysteries, writing
When it comes to writing my novels, I’m a pantser—someone who doesn’t plot out the whole story but writes by ‘the seat of their pants’ as they work out how things will evolve. However, there is one thing I’ve always done first, which is find my protagonist. And, for...
by Susan Van Kirk | Apr 28, 2025 | Blog, suspense, writing novels
Several years ago, I was at a writer/fan conference which focused mainly on cozy mysteries. I did indeed have a cozy out. I also had my first horror out. I was in the lobby talking about books to readers I’d just met. I’m fine with talking to a roomful or...
by Susan Van Kirk | Apr 21, 2025 | Blog
Whenever I’m asked about the inspiration for my middle-grade Zahra of the Uwharries series, my thoughts drift to childhood as I explain that hikes with my dad planted the first seeds. We lived smack dab in the middle of the “sticks”—as my New York cousins described...
by Susan Van Kirk | Apr 14, 2025 | Blog
Murder Over Broken Bonds: A Wall Street Mystery (1) by Rebecca Saltzer This is a perfect time to begin reading Rebecca Saltzer’s series of Wall Street mysteries because the theme of the first book is greed. Whatever you currently think about stocks and bonds, this...
by Susan Van Kirk | Mar 31, 2025 | Blog, book reviews, mysteries, suspense, writing
Authors are often told not to read reviews. I don’t fully subscribe to that philosophy because I believe that there is something to be gained from reviews and learning what impresses a given reviewer. A one-star review that says “I didn’t read the book because I...
by Susan Van Kirk | Mar 24, 2025 | Blog
OVER THERE will be released on May 27, 2025. This is perfect timing, as it occurs directly following Memorial Day, a time when Americans reflect on the sacrifices made by those who died serving our country. Building on the success of THREADBARE and IN THE HANDS OF...
by Susan Van Kirk | Mar 10, 2025 | Blog, mystery, suspense, writing
One of the joys of doing research for A Cotswold Crimes Mystery Series is that I find things that I didn’t know that I didn’t know. Even though I lived in England as a teen, I think I’m familiar with how Great Britain works. But whenever I go, I find something...
by Susan Van Kirk | Feb 24, 2025 | Blog, mysteries, reading, suspense
Working on Wall Street is not for the faint of heart, but for a writer, the cutthroat nature of the business provides the perfect setting for murder. The traders are extremely intense individuals, basically a breed unto themselves. They often resort to bullying if...
by Susan Van Kirk | Feb 10, 2025 | Blog, mysteries, suspense
First, thank you to my fellow readers and authors for embracing and promoting the value of literacy. Recent statistics about readership in the U.S. alarm me, and I appreciate your example. I am Richard F. McGonegal, author of four books in the Sheriff Francis Hood...
