by Susan Van Kirk | Nov 18, 2020 | Blog, mysteries, publishing, Recent News, Susan Van Kirk, suspense, writing, writing novels
No wonder Thanksgiving is a prelude to long winter nights. A holiday focusing on blessings gives us the opportunity to slow down, reflect, and be thankful for what we’ve received. We hope that our gratitude and happier memories can get us through the cold nights when...
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 | Jun 13, 2020 | Blog, mysteries, small towns, Susan Van Kirk, suspense, writing
Back in 2012, I sold my first mystery, Three May Keep a Secret, to a small publisher called Five Star Publishing. It was followed by two more books and a novella, all concerning a retired teacher named Grace Kimball in her small town of Endurance. I called the series...
by Susan Van Kirk | Mar 13, 2020 | Blog, mysteries, Sisters in Crime, Susan Van Kirk, writing
I made a difficult decision this past week. Months and months ago, I sent in my entry fee and planned to go to a writing conference called Left Coast Crime held in San Diego from March 11-15. I was looking forward to it because I’d been to Malice Domestic a couple of...
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 | Apr 6, 2019 | Blog, mysteries, small towns, Susan Van Kirk, suspense
In a recent post, I discussed the move from my Endurance Mysteries to my little town called Sweet Iron, Illinois, in my upcoming book, A Death at Tippitt Pond. This is the first of three posts about recreating the past and present in the lives of characters in a small...
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 | 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 | 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...
