To Write a Series or Not To Write a Series –by Maggie Thom

Suspense/Thriller Writer Maggie Thom’s CASPIAN WINE Series — “A Tangled Web of Secrets, Lies and Deceit.”

MotiveMeansOpportunity

Okay, well first off I have to be honest, I had never planned on writing a series. In fact, I had sworn to myself that I would never write a sequel. Now that I’m in the process of publishing book 3, Split Seconds, of the Caspian Wine Series, I guess I have to say that was an empty promise.

I love reading series and I have read many of them but one of the first things that came to me was they were a lot of work. Not only did you have to keep track of all the characters, action, situations and setting in one novel but now you have to do it across several.

So how did my series come about?

I actually wrote Captured Lies, book one, in the series many years ago and I had originally written it as a romance. For some reason, I…

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Article on Self-Publishing to Appear in InD’Tale Magazine, by Max Everhart

An article I wrote called “Self-Publish or Perish” will appear in the September issue of InD’Tale Magazine. The article chronicles my journey from small press author to whatever it is I am now. I discuss writing “epiphanies” I had along the way, critique my goals as a writer, and recalibrate my expectations going forward.

If you’re looking to promote a book, or if you have something to say about the craft of writing, consider sending InD’Tale Magazine an article. I’ve copied and pasted the magazine’s submission guidelines below, if you’re interested, or you can click here to go ahead and submit a piece.

InD’Tale Magazine Submissions

Articles:

InD’tale welcomes all article submissions and happily compensates all contributors with a short bio and picture plus a free full page advertisement (a $90.00 value) upon publication.  If you are interested in having your article published in a monthly issue of InD’tale, please read the following guidelines and information:

• All articles must be between 850 – 1500 words (concrete on the low end, flexible on the high end.)
• Articles must be written in an informative and/or entertaining way that includes all readers (rather than a “diary” type that concentrates only on the author.) Personal experiences are accepted and often encouraged but must tie in directly to a larger message that is clearly explained.
• We do not accept articles that are submitted for advertisement purposes only.
• Articles must take into consideration our readership ranges from Adolescent to Old!  All content must be PG-13 rated or lower and contain content appropriate for mainstream audiences only.
• Subject matter diversity is encouraged as long as it is educational and/or entertaining.
• Original work ONLY!  We do not accept articles that have been posted or published in other magazine, websites or blogs.  Basic content is allowed but the article must have fresh information, new content, ideas, etc.

 

Max Everhart’s latest book is a collection of short stories called All the Different Ways Love Can Feel.  It is available on his Createspace store and Amazon. His novel Unlove Me is available for free on Wattpad.  Find him on Facebook and twitter.

A Tour de Force of the Complexities of Relationships

MotiveMeansOpportunity

My 5-Star review of Max Everhart’s, ALL THE DIFFERENT WAYS LOVE CAN FEEL.

By Michael Helms

ALL THE DIFFERENT WAYS LOVE CAN FEEL is a smorgasbord of emotion. Love, hate, anger, indifference, angst, happiness, joy, disappointment–all these and many more bleed their way throughout these eleven stories. I found Max Everhart’s writing contagious; a first sentence, or paragraph–never more than a page–and I was drawn into every tale.

Most, if not all, of this collection is autobiographical to some extent. How do I know? I FEEL it! Father and son relationship is a common theme in several stories. The care for and bonding of an older brother with his younger brother; or a brother’s closeness and deep love for a troubled sister, are other paths threading through the pages of Everhart’s seminal work. A few times this former “badass” Marine found himself on the verge of tears.

The characters are…

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Goodreads Giveaway: ALL THE DIFFERENT WAYS LOVE CAN FEEL

e. michael helms

Source: Goodreads Giveaway: ALL THE DIFFERENT WAYS LOVE CAN FEEL

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Goodreads Giveaway: ALL THE DIFFERENT WAYS LOVE CAN FEEL

Source: Goodreads Giveaway: ALL THE DIFFERENT WAYS LOVE CAN FEEL

It’s the Latest, It’s the Greatest*

From mystery writer/blogger, Margot Kinberg—-

Confessions of a Mystery Novelist...

Not long ago, crime writer and fellow blogger Christine Poulson did a very interesting post about clothing fads and other fads, too, that make us wince now, but were all the rage. You know what I mean: bug-eyed glasses, bowl haircuts, and cable-knit vests, among others.

Of course, it’s not just a matter of clothing. Fads can come in any form, and not all them are as cringe-worthy as jumpsuits for men. But they all leave their mark, including mentions in crime fiction.

For example, during the Jazz Age, Mah Jong became all the rage.  People played it at parties, at home, and sometimes in clubs. Agatha Christie makes mention of that fad in The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. In that novel, the small village of Kings Abbot is rocked by the stabbing death of retired magnate Roger Ackroyd. The most likely suspect is the victim’s stepson, Captain Ralph…

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Roll Up For the Mystery Tour*

Confessions of a Mystery Novelist...

You’re probably very much aware that culture (including art, music, and the like) have a powerful effect on crime fiction. That makes sense, too. Authors are members of cultures, and those cultures impact how authors think, what they value, and so on.

Interestingly, crime fiction also impacts culture. Culture, of course, has a lot of dimensions, many more than space permits. But even if you look at one of them, music, you see that impact. There are actually mentions of famous crime-fictional characters and authors in a lot of songs.

Here are just a few examples from different sub-genres of music. They may not all be to your taste, but they all show that impact.

Red Krayola – Sherlock Holmes

It’s hard to discuss crime fiction without mentioning Sherlock Holmes. This song puts a sort of experimental, psychedelic-rock twist on the topic…

The Lucksmiths – English Murder Mystery

This Australian…

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FAMOUS DARLINGTON COUNTY RESIDENTS: Buddy Johnson, jazz musician

Darlington County Historical Commission

Woodrow Wilson “Buddy” Johnson, a renown jazz and New York blues musician, was born in Darlington, SC, on January 10, 1915.  A pianist and bandleader, Buddy performed songs with his sister Ella Johnson.  Among his songs that went into the R&B and pop charts were “Let’s Beat Out Some Love,” “Baby Don’t You Cry,” and, his biggest hit which went all the way to #1 in 1944, “When My Man Comes Home.”  In 1948, Johnson performed at Carnegie Hall, where he played an original blues concerto. Buddy Johnson died on February 9, 1977, of a brain tumor. He is a member of the South Carolina Hall of Fame.

We here at DCHC are dedicated to promoting the rich and varied history of Darlington County. So if you enjoy our posts, please Like us on Facebook by clicking here. And, by all means, follow our blog as well.

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