DDA:  Diary of a Debut Mystery Author

There are some weird things about being a mystery writer. I called yesterday to reserve a hotel for the Murder in the Magic City conference. When I told the hotel reservations clerk what conference I'd be going to she said, "What?" I had to repeat myself and I felt kind of silly. I mean, what is a nice girl like me doing going to events with names like malice and murder? I heard Carolyn Hart speak about mysteries once and she stated that murder mysteries are modern day morality plays--good triumphs, evil is punished. I agree with her. We want to see justice done and order restored. But sometimes in our crazy world the only way that happens is through fiction. But still, that's a long explanation to go into when I get the "Why do you want to write about that?" question.

Also, on the debut author front:  I've found out I'm hot, as in I'm on the Overbooked Crime Fiction Hot List for 2006. Very exciting! I found out this tidbit by googling myself. As  Karen MacInerney said, "That sounds a bit naughty, doesn't it?" But it's a way to keep up with info about me on the internet and that in itself is another strange part of being a debut author. Links are popping up with my name--and that's kind of bizarre, considering I'm a quiet and reserved person.   

Culinary Clues

Fellow Kensington author Joanne Fluke talks about the genesis of her Hannah Swensen mystery series and how she comes up with the ideas for murder and muffins.

For more food fixes check out this website with culinary mysteries.

Favorite Firsts

On the DorothyL mystery discussion list the topic of great first sentences has come up (again) but it's always entertaining to compare favorites. I've got to admit some of the ones that have been posted don't do a thing for me. I won't go there, but I'll post two of my favorites:

"There wasn't much to begin with in Mirabeau, so I was awful surprised when someone started blowing up parts of town."

--Jeff Abbot, The Only Good Yankee

"It was the egret, flying out of the lemon grove, that started it."

--Mary Stewart, The Moon-Spinners

If you've got to have more first lines go to the Hook, Line, or Stinker blog for a variety of fiction and nonfiction first lines.