by donalee Moulton On June 18th the anthology Midnight Schemers & Daydream Believers: 22 Stories of Mystery & Suspense became available on store shelves, virtual and otherwise. Nestled in those 301 pages, you’ll meet private detective E.M. Montgomery. (You have to guess what the E.M. stands for.) Em, as she’s known to friends and family, […]
by donalee Moulton We’re leaving winter behind and welcoming spring. This spring is particularly celebratory. I’m welcoming a new book. Bind is the first in my series, the Lotus Detective Agency. I thought this month I’d share an excerpt with you – and would love your feedback. First here’s a little background. Everything that […]
by donalee Moulton We’ve been talking about the editing process. We started at 30,000 feet looking at the big picture. Now we’re on terra firma. In my book The Thong Principle: Saying What You Mean and Meaning What You Say, I discuss the various types of editing – and why they are all essential. […]
by donalee Moulton We’ve been talking about editing, an essential element in the writing process that writers relish. When you’re creating characters, polishing plot, and tossing red herrings around to mystify readers, it can be easy to lose sight of the book as a whole, to remember what happened in chapter four when you’re […]
by donalee Moulton Great writers don’t need an editor. They demand one. What first-rate writers understand is that another pair of eyes or a fresh pair of eyes are essential to successful communication. This second looks brings a new perspective, the distance that only time (even a little time) can offer, and renewed energy […]
by donalee Moulton When I completed my first mystery novel, Hung Out to Die, I quickly discovered that the novel would not stand alone. A synopsis was required. As a freelance journalist and communications specialist, I’ve put together a lifetime of pitches and proposals. Still, I spent some time reading up on what makes […]
by donalee Moulton As the year draws to a close, I thought I would share with you a bit about my self-care journey. This article, originally published in The Globe and Mail, explores how I ended up on a yoga mat, twisted, inverted, and smiling. There were several occasions in the last three decades […]
by donalee Moulton Heroes and villains lurk in mysterious places. I realized this more fully than ever before when I was asked about my own leading lights and their nemeses. Here’s some of what I learned about my characters and breathing life (and sometimes death) into them. Heroes, Heroines, Villains. Which are your favorite to […]
by donalee Moulton Where your characters live, work, and solve mysteries can be central to the story. Or not. I’ve discovered that location is not a requirement or an irrelevancy. It is a spectrum. At one end of the spectrum, location is essential. As a result, you spend time bringing that location to life, making […]
by donalee Moulton I’ve been doing a lot of book readings recently from Hung Out to Die, my first mystery book. I thought I’d share the scene where the main character, Riel Brava, finds a dead body — and finds himself a suspect. I’m reaching for the hallway switch when I notice a light […]