There's nothing like a deadline to get the extraneous stuff out of the way. As I near the crunch of completing a manuscript by the contractual deadline, all the unnecessary activities; like laundry, dishes, being online for 'fun', shopping, and creating pictures to go with my blog splats, fall away.
It's an interesting experiment in time: seeing how long it takes to complete a task, compared to how long I think it will take. I've heard about a concept called 'bending time' and I hope to become more than well acquainted with it over the next two months. Now it's here, now it's not, now it's not, now it is.
Step into the minds of this group of talented, twisted, slightly psychotic crime novelists with a penchant for mystery, mayhem and murder. We write crime fiction or true crime that gets the heart pumping and the blood boiling.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Deadly Aftermath
There is no better time than surrounding yourself with mystery authors in a warm, friendly setting. The Deadly Ink conference last weekend in New Jersey offered all of that in a hotel that could have been mistake for a medieval castle as I drove up to it.
It was also a chance for me to learn from my fellow crime writers. The most important things I learned in those three days were:
1. Even if you don't think your protagonist is autobiographical, if you look closely enough you see yourself in him or her.
2. A panel of six writers and a room full of mystery fans can toss ideas around for 45 minutes and brainstorm their way into a story that we all either want to read or are dying to write.
3. Jane K. Cleland is not an antiques expert, like the heroine of her Josie Prescott mystery series, but she is a fine lady who deserved "Guest of Honor" status not just for her great writing but also for her natural way of encouraging and supporting other authors. And you should be reading Jane Cleland’s work.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Another severed foot found on BC beach
Is this a case of one foot in the grave; the other washed up on a beach? Another severed foot was found along Vancouver Island's shore. This makes 6, or some would think. But this recent find isn't quite what it appears to be.
"A forensic pathologist and anthropologist examined the running shoe found on Wednesday and determined a “skeletonised animal paw” had been placed inside the shoe and packed with dried seaweed," states the Globe and Mail.
Some might call it an innocent prank; I call it a cruel slap in the face. What appeared to be the remains of a human foot have led to one conclusion--someone has a twisted mind. Someone actually had the nerve to stuff animal bones into the sneaker and pack it with seaweed? And leave it on the beach to be discovered by an innocent passerby? There's just one word for that--SICK!
Five actual severed feet have been discovered in the past year in the same area, an area that was once famed pig farmer/serial killer Robert Pickton's hunting ground.
Not to mention that a plane went down in the Gulf Island area. To date, none of the feet provided a DNA match to the victims of the plane crash.
My opinion: this is either a disgusting prank or there is a serial killer, as some suspect, who is taunting investigators. If it's a prankster, I vote he gets a hard kick in the ass. If it's the latter, I vote off with both his feet!
Read the article in Globe and Mail.
~Cheryl Kaye Tardif,
http://www.cherylktardif.com/
"A forensic pathologist and anthropologist examined the running shoe found on Wednesday and determined a “skeletonised animal paw” had been placed inside the shoe and packed with dried seaweed," states the Globe and Mail.
Some might call it an innocent prank; I call it a cruel slap in the face. What appeared to be the remains of a human foot have led to one conclusion--someone has a twisted mind. Someone actually had the nerve to stuff animal bones into the sneaker and pack it with seaweed? And leave it on the beach to be discovered by an innocent passerby? There's just one word for that--SICK!
Five actual severed feet have been discovered in the past year in the same area, an area that was once famed pig farmer/serial killer Robert Pickton's hunting ground.
Not to mention that a plane went down in the Gulf Island area. To date, none of the feet provided a DNA match to the victims of the plane crash.
My opinion: this is either a disgusting prank or there is a serial killer, as some suspect, who is taunting investigators. If it's a prankster, I vote he gets a hard kick in the ass. If it's the latter, I vote off with both his feet!
Read the article in Globe and Mail.
~Cheryl Kaye Tardif,
http://www.cherylktardif.com/
Attention mystery or suspense book clubs! Looking for your next month's pick?
On Friday, June 20th, I'll be guest blogging over at Books on the Brain. Since it's the first time I've been a guest there, I decided to introduce myself, my books and cover the topic of book clubs, as they relate to what I have to offer.
I hope you'll check out my post, especially if you're in a book club that is looking for their next picks.
~Cheryl Kaye Tardif,
suspense author
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Garrison Keillor addresses writing when life isn't funny
Enjoy!
Karen Harrington
Author, Janeology
"What did Jane do and why?"
Find out at www.karenharringtonbooks.com
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