by Susan Van Kirk | Apr 8, 2022 | Blog, mysteries, reading, writing, writing novels
This summer on June 7, Level Best Books will be launching two books on the same day. One is The Navigator’s Daughter by Nancy Cole Silverman, and the other is my first Art Center Mystery, Death in a Pale Hue. At first glance, Nancy and I are so different. She...
by Susan Van Kirk | Nov 3, 2021 | Blog, mysteries, reading, writing novels
A huge welcome to my friend, Heather Weidner, who writes a wonderful series about one of the most beautiful settings in the world–the Blue Ridge Mountains. Anyone for glamping? Guest Post by Heather Weidner, Author of the Jules Keene Glamping Mysteries and 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 | Feb 12, 2020 | Blog, mysteries, small towns, writing novels
I don’t know when I first heard the axiom, “the devil is in the details,” but it is certainly true when it comes to writing mysteries. Mathematically, the ages of characters and dates of events must be worked out in advance. Many a time I have written a paragraph...
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 | Nov 12, 2015 | Blog, writing, writing novels
A First Journal November 12, 2015 Note: I have decided to do a brief post every four to six weeks—we will see if it happens–that reflects my thoughts about the direction of my writing or mentions my current research. These posts will also become a record...
by Susan Van Kirk | Sep 19, 2014 | Blog, writing, writing novels
What’s to do when my first novel hasn’t yet come out and the second one is done? Catch up on all the piles of stuff that have accumulated over the course of all that writing? Check. Call my children and grandchildren? Check. Read some books which have also piled up...
by Susan Van Kirk | Sep 20, 2012 | Blog, Susan Van Kirk, writing novels
One of the questions I’m often asked is, “How do you come up with the names of places in your writing?” So I thought I’d tackle that question today. Let’s examine some of the place...
