by Susan Van Kirk | Mar 24, 2019 | Blog, mysteries, suspense, writing
Janet Elizabeth Lynn and Will Zeilinger write a mystery series called the Skylar Drake Murder Mysteries. Janet is visiting today to talk about their latest book and the research that led them to this mystery. Welcome, Janet! My husband Will Zeilinger and I co-write...
by Susan Van Kirk | Mar 8, 2019 | Blog, mysteries, mystery, small towns, Susan Van Kirk, suspense, writing
When I was growing up, my parents rented a room to a lady who was working at a store in our town. It was shortly after the end of World War II. Her name was Margaret, and she came from a tiny rural town twenty miles away. I imagine our city had more opportunities to...
by Susan Van Kirk | Feb 18, 2019 | Blog
This is the first of a series of posts about my upcoming mystery, A Death at Tippitt Pond. It’s no secret that I’m crazy about history. Currently, I’m moving away from cozy mysteries and into a nebulous genre that resides somewhere between cozy and traditional....
by Susan Van Kirk | Jan 1, 2019 | Blog
I have been blessed with a miracle: two talented cover designers for my mysteries. One fell into my lap, and the other I hired based on her previous work. Both have such talent. According to Bowker’s annual report, over one million books were...
by Susan Van Kirk | Nov 15, 2018 | Blog, mysteries, publishing, Susan Van Kirk, suspense, writing
In recent months, friends and readers have asked me this question, and I appreciate their concern. Behind the scenes, I know the answer, and I figure if I share it, you’ll understand a bit about the nature of the publishing business. I have been like the groundhog...
by Susan Van Kirk | Oct 13, 2018 | Blog, mystery, writing
Nine years have passed since I first started asking people for information I could use in my books. At first, requesting information was a harrowing experience for me. How do I go about asking perfect strangers for some of their time and expertise? Should I call?...
by Susan Van Kirk | Aug 19, 2018 | Blog, Susan Van Kirk, writing
I love it when an extended metaphor successfully works from beginning to end. Unfortunately, this is where my novel and puzzle connection totally fall apart. Once I finish a puzzle, it’s done. I might glue it and hang it on a wall or wrap it up in a puzzle holder or...
by Susan Van Kirk | Jun 30, 2018 | Blog, mystery, Susan Van Kirk, suspense, writing
I’m still working on my jigsaw puzzle, “Quilts for Sale,” by artist Tom Wood. Writing a mystery is a lot like working a puzzle. I’ve written about the thinking process, research, characters, backstories, and timelines. I’ve also filled in an overall structure and...
by Susan Van Kirk | Jun 22, 2018 | Blog, mystery, writing
Last week, I wrote about the preliminary steps in writing a mystery: coming up with an idea, thinking about the characters, imagining their back stories, and doing necessary research. Except for research, those steps involve mostly thinking. Research is a hands-on...
by Susan Van Kirk | Jun 17, 2018 | Blog
I’ve always loved jigsaw puzzles, whether putting them together by myself, with my children, or with my grandchildren. Maybe that’s why I also write and read mysteries. Recently, I thought about how my efforts in solving a jigsaw puzzle were like writing a mystery....
