by Susan Van Kirk | Jan 4, 2021 | Blog, mystery, reading, writing
(The True Story of New York City’s Greatest Female Detective and the 1917 Missing Girl Case that Captivated a Nation) by Brad Ricca [St. Martin’s Griffin Books 2016] I loved the history in Brad Ricca’s book about Grace Humiston, a lawyer and advocate for the voiceless...
by Susan Van Kirk | Nov 12, 2020 | Blog, mysteries, mystery, reading, Susan Van Kirk, writing
Arabella Carpenter and business partner Emily Garland find themselves in a world of legal entanglements in this newest addition to the Glass Dolphin series, Where There’s a Will. Arabella is hired to do an appraisal of a vintage photograph for the executrix of an...
by Susan Van Kirk | Jul 9, 2019 | Blog, mystery, reading, suspense, writing novels
This spring I discovered a new Midwest mystery writer by reading her second book first, and then doubling back to her debut. Connie Berry lives in Ohio, a state qualifying her to be in my Midwest neighborhood. I highly recommend her series to all mystery readers, but...
by Susan Van Kirk | Jun 15, 2019 | Blog, mystery, reading, suspense, writing
Proud to announce the birthday of my fifth mystery. Dru Ann Love interviewed my main character, Beth Russell, https://drusbookmusing.com/ today. Available at Amazon, BarnesandNoble.com, and from my publisher, Encircle Publications. Available in both ebook and...
by Susan Van Kirk | Apr 22, 2019 | Blog, mystery, Susan Van Kirk, suspense
A Death at Tippitt Pond (A Sweet Iron mystery) will be launched this June, beginning a new chapter in my writing life and a new series involving mystery, history, and genealogy. The main character, Beth Russell, is a historical researcher and genealogist. For reasons...
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 | 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 | 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 | Jan 27, 2018 | Blog, mystery, Susan Van Kirk, suspense, writing
I’ve never met Micki Browning in person, but I did see her step off an elevator at the Malice Domestic Book Conference in Maryland. Does that count? Even at a distance, she is as lovely as her author photograph. We are as different as people could be since she lives...