Monday, April 13, 2020

Top Ten Literary Detectives




My Top Ten Literary Detectives

When I was younger, I read daily. My mother hated to find me with my nose in a book. She’d stand right over me and yell, and I wouldn’t hear a thing. I was lost in the story -- a new world. Reading was my escape.

I credit my fourth-grade teacher with my love for books because she introduced me to the library and the gift of a library card. Before that, though, I’d read newspapers and magazines: anything and everything I came across. My older brother had a collection of science fiction paperbacks, and Ray Bradbury was a favorite. In other words, I read everything in sight. Even now, I consume words at an amazing speed.

Today, my ability to escape to other worlds, other times, and other lives is still a gift of peace.

My top ten literary detectives are listed below in no particular order: Seriously, how do you choose a favorite? 

Please note - I did choose some by their TV/Movie persona. It matched perfectly to the character I saw. Even though the book came first.



1.       Nancy Drew --- Created by Carolyn Keene










2.       Judy Bolton --- Created by Margaret Sutton









3.       Mike Hammer --- Created by Mickey Spillane









4.       Hercule Poirot --- Created by Agatha Christie








5.       Nick & Nora Charles --- Created by Dashiell Hammett






6.       Miss Marple --- Created by Agatha Christie








7.       Sherlock Holmes & Watson --- Created by -Sir Arthur Conan Doyle







8.       C. Auguste Dupin --- Created by Edgar Allan Poe








9.       Eve Dallas --- Created by J D Robb












10.     V. I. Warshawski --- Created by Sarah Paretsky











Do you have a favorite?


The Murder, Just Because Tour continues:

Today I'll be: 

April 13        Christine Rains – Writer – Review & Excerpt
                     Alex J. Cavanaugh Guest Post -Top Ten Murder Movie List

And then:

April 15          Elizabeth Seckman, Author Guest Post - Heaven on Earth
April 17          Writer’s Gambit Q & A & Excerpt

April 20          Tara Tyler Talks – Interview
                      H.R. Sinclair – Guest Post - How to Write a Thriller 

April 24          Write with Fey – Guest Post - Evil Exists
April 27          Just Jemi – Q & A 
April 29          Thoughts in Progress – Review
May 1             Celticlady’s Reviews – Feature

Monday, April 6, 2020

Creating a Serial Killer


Creating a Serial Killer

Who is Stowy Jenkins?

If you didn't know his killing background, you'd meet a handsome, charismatic man. Born in West Virginia, he's a transplant to Alaska, but he hates cold weather. Stowy owns his own computer design company and is an avid hunter and taxidermist. He lives with his mother but has a private cabin in the woods. He loves his toys, vehicles, hunting paraphernalia, and, especially, his killing tools.

In The Snowman, Stowy is convinced his killing is art, but once caught, the world imprisons him instead of appreciating him or his art. In Murder, Just Because, it’s ten years later, and Stowy Jenkins has escaped prison. His resentment has built, and his brutality has escalated. Revenge is his goal.

But why does he kill? Where did this man and his motives come from?

Obviously, from my imagination, but he's not wholly unique. His body count may be astronomical, and it is, but here in America, we had Henry Lee Lucas, the most prolific serial killer of all time with at least 350 deaths attributed to him and the possibility that the number could be as high as 600.

Stowy's charismatic persona helped him lure most of his victims to their death. Just as the handsome killer Ted Bundy did before his death by electric chair. However, Stowy took after Gary Ridgway in that he preferred a willing sexual partner, the prostitute, a person ready to climb into his truck.

Stowy's admiration and desire for blood were influenced by The Vampire of Sacramento, Richard Trenton Chase. Richard used to drink the blood of his victims and blend their body parts with soft drinks to make his favorite “milkshake” and was a known necrophiliac.

However, I set Stowy's underlying motivation for his desire to kill, at the feet of his abusive mother. A lifetime of sexual abuse by his own loving mother warped his sense of self and love.

If you're looking to create a notorious serial killer, do your research and know your antagonist from birth. I've found that whatever you can imagine, someone else already has, and the worst part of that statement--they exist and are ten times worse than anything you envisioned.

***
Photo by Reza Hasannia on Unsplash


Murder, Just Because - Tour Schedule

April 1            Denise CoveyGuest Post - Writing Your Real Life Experiences Into Your Novel
                        Mythical BooksQ & A with the Author & Excerpt
                              Rockin’ Book Reviews Feature
April 2            ConstantineFeature
April 6            Mystery Writing is MurderGuest Post How I Wrote My Mystery
                               Spunk on A Stick Feature
April 7            Lisa Haselton’s Reviews and InterviewsQ & A
April 8            The Warrior MuseFeature
                        Random Thoughts –  Feature
April 10          I Think Therefore I Yam - Susan Flett Swiderski - Interview With A Monster
                        Ellen Jacobson AuthorQ & A 
April 13          Christine Rains – Writer Review & Excerpt
                              Alex J. Cavanaugh Guest Post -Top Ten Murder Movie List
April 15          Elizabeth Seckman, Author Guest Post - Heaven on Earth
April 17          Writer’s Gambit Q & A & Excerpt

April 20          Tara Tyler TalksInterview
                        H.R. SinclairGuest Post - How to Write a Thriller 

April 24          Write with FeyGuest Post - Evil Exists
April 27          Just JemiQ & A 
April 29          Thoughts in Progress Review
May 1             Celticlady’s ReviewsFeature







Wednesday, April 1, 2020

The Tour Starts Today!



Murder, Just Because


Tour Schedule



April 1            Denise CoveyGuest Post - Writing Your Real-Life Experience Into                                                                                 Your Novel
                        Mythical Books Q & A with the Author & Excerpt
                        Rockin’ Book ReviewsFeature

April 2            ConstantineFeature
                                       

April 6            Mystery Writing is MurderGuest Post How I Wrote My Mystery


                        Spunk on A Stick Feature


April 7            Lisa Haselton’s Reviews and InterviewsQ & A


April 8            The Warrior MuseFeature


                        Random Thoughts –  Feature


April 10          I Think Therefore I Yam - Susan Flett Swiderski - Interview With A Monster

                       Ellen Jacobson AuthorQ & A


April 13          Christine Rains – Writer Review & Excerpt


                        Alex J. CavanaughGuest Post -Top Ten Murder Movie List


April 15          Elizabeth Seckman, Author Guest Post - Heaven on Earth


April 17          Writer’s GambitQ & A & Excerpt


April 20          Tara Tyler TalksInterview


                        H.R. SinclairGuest Post - How to Write a Thriller 


                      
April 24          Write with FeyGuest Post - Evil Exists


April 27          Just JemiQ & A


April 29          Thoughts in ProgressReview


May 1             Celticlady’s Reviews Feature







AND
There's a new challenge!





Please stop by and say hello!