What Do I Love in a Good Mystery?

When I decided to enter Heartless into the contest for this anthology, I didn't have a clue about how to write a mystery/thriller. However, I'd read a lot of them: Agatha Christie, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Stephen King, and lots of the ever-so-dark Mr. Poe--so I said, well, how hard can it be?

I can be naive even at my advanced age.

I started by asking myself, "What do I love in a good mystery?" Here's what I came up with.

I love it when I feel as if I'm right there. I can hear the scream. I can see the blood. I can taste the acrid burning of cyanide on my tongue. The spider webs netted across the path stick to my skin, and I can smell the electrical short that's about to erupt into flames and destroy those helplessly trapped in the basement. 

I want to hear the scream.

I love it, when on page one, my eyes fly open and my brain goes on alert--even if I'm lying in bed and thinking about sleep. I want page one so irresistible that I have to turn to page two and see what happens.

I love it when the guy or gal whose in charge of bringing justice into this unjust world is someone I can relate to. They're human but they have a few quirks and definitely a few flaws, but above all they're determined to do the job no matter the cost to themselves.

I love it when I'm half way through a page and exhausted, but still I can't put down the book to sleep. 

I love it when after the chase through the cemetery, the moor, the deep and dangerous cavern, I get something to smile or laugh at. And it must have the sharpness of wit about it. Don't give me prat falls.

I need a laugh after the spooky parts.

I love it when there's a labyrinth of clues that intrigue and confuse me, but keep me making my way through to the end.

I love it when a bigger--even more dangerous event--looms in the background. I want a race against the clock for the guilty, but also the innocent.

I love it when there's an end that wraps up all of the threads to my satisfaction and brings a sense of "ahhh."

All of this makes for what's called a TALL ORDER, so, of course, I tried. I didn't write a book, but I took some baby steps and wrote Heartless. 

Are You Considering Submitting A Short Story To A Themed Anthology?

I hope you're considering submitting a short story to a themed anthology  because there are a lot of reasons why it's a good idea. When I jumped into Tick Tock: A Stitch in Crime, I wanted to try out a different writing style and switch from my usual category. This was the perfect time. 

In my story titled Heartless, I had a chance to play with a period piece and use the syntax, style, and slang of 1871. Of course, while I wanted the dialogue to sound as if it belonged in that era, I still wanted the story to appeal to the modern reader. In trying to do that, I learned a lot about how historical fiction writers manage. 

The mansion I pictured for Heartless

I read a few pieces from that period to get the flavor and to contrast it with modern language. I also read some secondary pieces by writers I like. Then I relied a lot on my ear, trying to work the syntax into an approximation of 1871, but keep it readable in 2018. 

Here's part of a scene with an explanation of what I did with the language. 

“When did this report come in?” Scofield demanded.

“Last night, sir.”

The detective halted and faced the sergeant. “And nobody notified me.” [Incomplete sentences help break up any dialogue, but I think it's essential when writing period dialogue.]

“You were not,” the sergeant cleared his throat, “on duty, sir.” [I deliberately didn't contract "were not." Then I broke up this sentence with an action.]

“Blast it, Hawkins. ["Blast it" is actually from the 1600s, but it carried through several centuries with some slight modifications. I thought it worked here.] I made it clear to fetch [I felt this verb was better than get, or call.] me immediately when a new missing person report came in. Young girl. Kenwood area. What didn’t I make clear?”

When the sergeant didn’t answer, Scofield waved off the next angry words ready to spring ["Spring" was a little stilted, but I didn't think it didn't stood out much. And I followed with fragments.] from his lips. “Never mind. Too late. What do you have so far?”

The sergeant handed the papers over and stepped back, silent. 

This will be my fourth themed anthology. With each one, I've learned something new about writing, so I'm kind of a cheerleader.  I think readers will find this one has some excellent stories.

AMAZON

We Have Lift Off!

Brainchild of Alex J. Cavanaugh. Join us HERE!

We post the first Wednesday of the month.

The co-hosts for the May 2 posting of the IWSG are E.M.A. Timar, J. Q. Rose, 

Raimey Gallant!, and ME!

Each month there's an optional question. Here's the one for May: It's spring! does this season inspire you to write more than others, or not?

My answer is "or not". Spring is when I must be outside. That's why, when I'm really into writing a story, I pray for rain and wind. That helps me stay indoors at my desk. Now with all this @!#%% beautiful sunny, balmy weather I have to use super glue to keep my tush in the chair.  Even that won't work for long. As soon as I look out my window and see that sky, I'm twitching to head out the door.

However, with this month being particularly busy in the Insecure Before Launch Department, I'm trying my darnedest to stay at my computer.

If you haven't heard, there's a new anthology out as of May 1! Tick Tock A Stitch in Crime is officially launched and to excellent reviews. If you haven't picked up your copy, it's not too late. Here are the buy links, and if you enjoy the collection, we hope you'll take the time to leave a review.

Amazon -B&N -Kobo  -Smashwords - Goodreads 

Let me introduce you to Heartless, my contribution to the collection. The story's set in 1873.

This is the question:

This is the scene: 

Ahead, an eerie glow brightened the night sky and black smoke billowed upward. The air was suddenly filled with ash and the heat of unbridled fire. From behind them came, the loud clatter of hooves and the clang of bells. Hawkins drove the carriage to the side as two steam engines, belching smoke and scattering hot embers, roared past. 

“Good, God!” Detective Scofield shouted. “Chicago’s burning.”

I hope you enjoy all of the stories in Tick Tock A Stitch in Crime. 

Also be sure to visit the other hosts today! They have some interesting posts to share. 

And whatever you do, keep that Insecurity at bay by JOINING us!

The First Wednesday's Here!

Thanks Alex J. Cavanaugh

Optional Question: What do you love about the genre you in most often?

The awesome co-hosts for the February 7 posting of the IWSG are Stephen Tremp, Pat Garcia,Angela Wooldridge, Victoria Marie Lees, and Madeline Mora-Summonte!

Please stop by and say to them.

And come by TickTock's Facebook Page. We'd love to see you there.

http://cleemckenziebooks.com

The question today is perfect for this post on the new Tick Tock blog. I usually write contemporary/realistic fiction or when I'm writing for younger readers, I love fantasy/adventure. I'm comfortable in each of those categories. 

Writing about modern day youth--their problems, their triumphs--takes me both backward and forward in time. What I've discovered is that a lot has changed in the teen world since I dwelled there, but the underlying universal issues are the same: Love. Loss. Insecurity (this seems to lurk everywhere). One mistake after another. Emotional highs and lows at every turn. Buckets of angst. And sometimes death before a teen is prepared to cope with it. There are no end of themes, so I love writing these stories, and I aim them at the young adult/crossover level, so a lot of my readers said goodbye to their teens a while ago.

When I need a break from reality, I love to write for middle grade readers who want to jump into fantasy and adventure. It's fun for me to imagine impossible events that a twelve-year-old might be a part of: time travel, ghostly encounters, or a journey though the backside of a computer game. 

Amazon . B&N .Goodreads

Well, now that I've told you about my usual writing, let me introduce you to my short story in Tick Tock, A Stitch in Crime. It's called Heartless, and it's obviously not either a young adult or a middle grade piece of fiction. I found that I enjoyed creating a story with detectives, crimes, and murders for a bit. 

I set Heartless in Chicago in 1871 because that's when The Great Fire destroyed 300 lives,18,000 buildings and left 100,000 residents homeless. I also wanted to explore the Victorian period with its strict social codes. I loved how macabre it was to have someone murdering young girls in a time when an unmarried couple couldn’t travel in a closed carriage together and the word “leg” was not permissible in polite conversation--"limb" seems to have passed the moral litmus test though. 

The challenge I had in writing Heartless, was keeping the tone of the period without making it too stiff for a modern reader. Remember, I'm deep into the teen and middle years language. I had none of that to rely on. I guess reviewers will tell me if I succeeded. 

Here's how Heartless begins:  

October 6,1871 

Journal Entry

A swath of pale pink paint across her cheekbones and her face glowed with vitality. Her eyes glistened in the light of my workroom. Even now, as I write this, I roll my head to ease the strain across my shoulders. Months of intense labor and still the final touches remain undone.

I can’t believe I began a new project tonight as well. I didn’t plan to, but I couldn’t resist. She was unexpectedly accessible and a perfect match for my needs. So, in spite of being exhausted, I had to clean the knife before returning it to the tool chest, then wash every surface until all of the dark fluids drained into the hole at the center of the sloped floor. I hadn’t needed the metal pot tonight, so at least I didn’t have that to manage. 

My last chore was to check the ice storage to be sure all was in order there. I’m smiling just recalling that moment.

Tonight, I spent hours longer than I planned, and I’d have been late to the dinner if I hadn’t pulled myself away immediately. So very hard to do. When I’m not quite finished, I hate to leave.

With great reluctance, I drew a soft blanket around her shoulders. Before dousing the light and pulling the door behind me, I glanced back. I’m eager to dress her in the gown, and I must restore her hair straight away. It looks so alluring curled around the nape of her neck. 

I’ve named her Alexandra.

***

The End...No, just kidding. I hope you'll get your copy of Tick Tock, A Stitch In Crime. You can pre-order and copies will be available May 1. Add it to your TBR list on Goodreads! Join us on Facebook. 

Amazon . B&N .Goodreads