Entries by Paula Benson

Elaine Viets and the Art of the Short Story

 by Paula Gail Benson Photo: Elaine Viets from Type M For Murder Blogger Murder on the Beach Mystery Bookstore, located in Delray Beach, Florida, has been offering an excellent series of online Zoom workshops called the FL Authors Academy. Over the past few months, the store has featured such terrific writers and teachers as John […]

A Writer’s Weekend

 by Paula Gail Benson Sometimes you have to dedicate time to your writing craft. In pre-Covid-19 days, that was accomplished at writers’ conferences. You spend some time listening to master classes and panels, then you learn what’s going on in the business by talking with fellow writers in the hall and bar. Now that travel […]

Short Story Update

by Paula Gail Benson The Palmetto Chapter of Sisters in Crime and the Southeast Chapter of Mystery Writers of America were delighted with the response to Mystery in the Midlands. We started off with a terrific panel on short stories featuring John Floyd, Tara Laskowski, and Art Taylor. Among them, those talented writers have been […]

An Interview with Jessica Riley Miller

by Paula Gail Benson Jessica Riley Miller with husband Chuck Miller at her first signing. (Her short story is in The Big Bad II anthology.) Jessica and I initially met as members of the Inkplots Writing Critique Group. I’ve always loved Jessica’s wonderfully inventive imagination and intriguing descriptions. We’ve gotten closer as roommates at two […]

Discovering Maizie Albright Star Detective

by Paula Gail Benson I met Larissa Reinhart, author of the Maizie Albright Star Detective series, a few years ago at Murder in the Magic City, in Homewood, Alabama. She impressed me immediately as someone with spunk, determination, and drive, very much like her protagonist Maizie, although maybe without the mishaps. Just reading about Larissa’s […]

A Two Day Pre-Malice Agatha Party

by Paula Gail Benson This year, we won’t be able to gather in Bethesda, Maryland, to celebrate the best of the traditional mystery. We’ll miss the homecoming, family reunion, and all round party blast. But, that doesn’t mean that we can’t celebrate the magnificent authors whose brilliant works have been nominated for the Agatha Award. […]