by Susan Van Kirk | May 22, 2023 | Blog, mysteries, reading, suspense, writing novels
A big welcome to Albert Waitt, a fellow Level Best Book author, who hails from Maine. (And he went to school in my favorite city, Boston.) He’s my guest today, and he’s writing about desires and crime fiction. Take it away… You may be asking...
by Susan Van Kirk | May 15, 2023 | Blog, mystery, Sarah Bewley, suspense
Today, I’m welcoming Sarah Bewley, a mystery writer with her debut novel recently launched from Level Best Books. She’s written a harrowing story that’s part mystery, part police procedural, and she’s created a fascinating place: Eden County....
by Susan Van Kirk | May 1, 2023 | Blog, Kelly Oliver, mysteries, publishing, reading, suspense, writing
I’m so pleased to be visited at my blog this week by Kelly Oliver, a fellow author published by Level Best Books. Since I also read Elizabeth Peters’s books, I loved her take on this. Take it away, Kelly! Last weekend I was on a panel at Malice Domestic...
by Susan Van Kirk | Feb 11, 2022 | mysteries, mystery, reading, small towns, Susan Van Kirk, suspense
“In the heartless cruelty of my sixth-grade year, I sat behind Ned Fisher in English class, joining in the snickers of my friends. Ned had ears that stuck out from his head like Dumbo the elephant, and he probably wished he could fly away. Now, decades later, I...
by Susan Van Kirk | Jul 26, 2021 | Blog, mysteries, publishing, small towns, Susan Van Kirk, suspense
For people who read books but don’t write or publish them, it seems like a long stretch of time elapses between books in a series. Part of that is because of the work that must be done after a writer types, “The End.” Part of the time stretch has to do with the...
by Susan Van Kirk | Apr 4, 2021 | audiobook, interviews, mysteries, Susan Van Kirk, suspense
Last Tuesday, my first ever audiobook downloaded on my phone from Findaway Voices/Orange Sky Audio in collaboration with Encircle Publications, the original publisher of my book, A Death at Tippitt Pond. Forgive me if this sounds too gushy, but I’ve never had an...
by Susan Van Kirk | Feb 16, 2021 | Blog, mysteries, Susan Van Kirk, suspense, writing
Last year, Harlequin Worldwide Mystery republished my first Endurance mystery, Three May Keep a Secret, in July as a mass market paperback. These books are smaller than your usual paperback, and they easily slip into a purse or tote bag. I was so excited to see the...
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 | 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 | 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...
