This is the current progress for the murder map. For the fonts, I'm thinking fairy-tale-ish but still readable. Some details will change and there'll be a border of some kind. That title might be an arc. We'll see. The front cover is still evolving as well. Matt wanted to move in closer. I agreed. The… Continue reading Back Cover Sketch (early stages still)
When you've read enough mysteries, the possible patterns of deception become increasingly obvious with each new novel. A good plotter will keep this under consideration. Sure, there will be readers who are venturing into the unknown for the first time. (the sort of newbie for whom a twin sister with a voice box, contact lenses,… Continue reading Heading the Reader off at the Pass: The Nine Wrong Answers
The vampire and I would like to wish each of you a lovely Sunday. Take good care.
Let's get a few things out of the way. From what I know about my readership, none of you would like this book. It contains nothing in the way of detection (although surprise and suspense abound). The tone could best be described as luridly trashy, but even that wouldn't give you a sense of the… Continue reading Are Snakes Necessary by Brian DePalma and Susan Lehman
In the opening chapter of John Dickson Carr's The Emperor's Snuff Box, we meet the two main characters in the middle of divorce proceedings. Eve Neill is the aggrieved spouse. She's an intelligent woman who nevertheless allows herself to get mixed up with jerks. Men tell her what to think, what to feel, and (on… Continue reading The Emperor’s Snuff Box
My apologies for not posting lately, but I've been busy with work and writing. Small update: I had my first cover meeting. We talked about color and light for a bit. The best model for a vampire is clearly F.W. Murnau's Nosferatu. Thankfully, Werner Herzog made a faithful color recreation in 1979. Matt informed me… Continue reading March (my god, it’s March already!) Update
I know this blog has been nothing but crappy drawings lately, but it's crappy-drawing time in my process. My blog will reflect this. In the coming months, there will be gorgeous pictures, I promise. I have capable people who have agreed to make me look good. In the meantime, this is the back cover. While… Continue reading Preliminary sketch for the back cover.
