I think one of the things that holds new writers back is the idea that a first draft is supposed to be perfect. It’s easy to fall into the trap of self-editing or giving up partway through a manuscript, but first drafts aren’t supposed to be perfect or pretty. They’re supposed to be messy.
I really enjoyed the creative aspect of crafting the magical elements. They often came to me unbidden, whether it was the village backstory of the Jin ancestors or the supernatural talent of Whiskers, the magical bunny (with a nod to Chinese mythology) in the Jin family.
It’s obvious from the first page that MURDERESS INK was written by someone who savored a murder a day, in the privacy of heR reading chair.
When you receive a book as a gift, it’s unlike any other present.
Holiday Gift Guide For Mystery Addicts - 11 mysteries set in bookstores and libraries.
10 must-read Canadian mysteries with chilling settings.
Interview with Essie Lang - a literary travel guide to her books, her most memorable day as a bookseller, and her advice for aspiring writers.
Thank you to the Westwood Library for hosting the event!
Bowen’s wonderful descriptions of the setting made it feel like I was on an African safari right alongside Georgie and Darcy.
Before they were legendary writers, Charlotte, Emily and Anne Brontë were detectors.
Write every single day. Try for one page. In less than a year, you’ll have finished a book.
