How Much to Tell the Reader

A book has an intriguing subplot. It's cool. It's satisfying. It's unique.
So how much do you tell the reader?
When I introduced my Dead Detective Series, I thought it was essential to keep the fact that the main character was dead a secret until the reader got to know her a little. Not so the reviewers, who started with that, thrilled with the idea of dead people investigating crimes in order to provide answers for victims. The book got EPIC's Best Novel of 2012, despite the fact I thought the reviews spoiled the surprise for readers.

I'm about to send my next project into the world, A LETHAL TIME AND PLACE (December). It, too, has surprises, though they have nothing to do with the Afterlife. The lead characters have secrets, and it's obvious from the first they're desperate to protect them. That becomes difficult when they witness a murder and take in a young orphan. Murder will out, as they say, and secrets are hard to keep with a teenager around.

I'm having a little difficulty writing the promo copy. How do I get across how enjoyable the process of finding out about these people is without giving away the very things the reader will want to read the book for? I guess it's a good problem to have--so much mystery in the mystery!

I'm looking for reviewers who'd like a free e-copy, so contact me if you're the reviewing sort and this book sounds like something you'd enjoy.
 www.pegherring.com or find me on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pegs-News/108697482481217?ref=hl#

Discovered Talent

A funny thing happened on the way to promote my cluetrail writing class Mystery Bones. I teamed up with a friend who is promoting it for my and I swear this women has a killer talent. She's found an archive of old photos and is able to rattle off scenarios as they run down her fingers and escape via the keyboard onto the screen. Here's a sample of her stuff below. And oh yeah - if you're in the Canmore AB area on November 2 and 3, sign up for my class.

The building was old and well used, and finally slated for demolition. Parts of the brick façade were crumbling away, and the memory of onions, garlic and spices mixed with the smells of dust and mildew in the hallways. Old mattresses and piles of trash said the building was now a refuge for the homeless and characters of ill repute.

This did not discourage the two men who entered the building that day. Climbing the stairs to one of the higher floors they found the elevator doors open, and the elevator itself above them. They leaned in, curious to view the inner workings that few get to see.

Suddenly something large and hard hit them both in the back, sweeping their feet from under them and sending them both to their deaths in the bottom of the concrete pit.

Why was the elevator door open? Why was the elevator above them? What or who hit them, causing them to lose their balance and fall?

Learn how to lay a clue trail and plot a murder at the Mystery Bones Workshop – Canmore – November 2 & 3. Visit http://mysteryfactory.com/mystery-bones
for more info.

And stay away from open elevator shafts.