The summer fair: hot dogs, mini doughnuts, and crime. Free to read online at Mystery Tribune.
Tag: #mystery #crimefiction
New short story podcast
I’m very happy to have my short story, The Mercy Killer, up on Mysteryrat’s Maze podcast today. It’s my first experience writing for a podcast and I think the actor, Thomas Nance, did a great job. Thanks to Lorie Lewis Ham for accepting the story and setting it all up.
Creating Characters Who Matter
Today, I’m guest blogging on Susan Palmquist’s blog, This Writer’s Life, on creating characters that readers can relate to.
A slightly creepy short story
My short story, The Mercy Killer, will be going up on the Mysteryrats Maze podcast on October 16. Here’s my interview with editor Lorie Lewis Ham from Kings River Life magazine.
KRL: When did you first write “Mercy Killer” and where did you get the idea?
Merrilee: I got the idea for this story after spending a few days in Lyon (which is an amazing place to visit – great food, a historic district with Renaissance buildings, and a museum next to a Roman theatre still in use.) I saw a street musician dragging what looked like a heavy sound system around and thought it looked like a difficult life. Then I thought, what if my first impressions were completely wrong?
KRL: Has it been published?
Merrilee: This is a new story making its first public appearance.
KRL: Have you written and published many short stories?
Merrilee: Yes, I had a number of short stories published when I was in my 20s. Then for a long time I primarily wrote non-fiction. I started writing fiction again a few years ago and I’m very glad to be back at it. I have several short stories, all crime fiction, coming out over the next few months.
KRL: I understand you also write mystery novels, what is easier writing short stories or books?
Merrilee: I would never have said this when I was writing my first novel, but in many ways, writing short stories is more difficult. You have to develop characters and plot in a very few words. But that also makes short stories kind of exiting. You can explore an idea and tell a tale without the huge time commitment a novel requires. On the other hand, a novel gives you the opportunity to explore a more complex plot and involve more characters, which can be very satisfying. I like to think of a short story as like an amuse bouche at the start of the meal, something small and intriguing, whereas a novel is more like the main course, more filling.
Women of Mystery
What do a burned-out WWII spy seeking peace and quiet in the wilds of BC, a single parent desperate for affordable housing in Vancouver and a female hit person have in common? They are all women on the case and creations of Vancouver mystery authors. On Thursday, September 13, I’ll be joining Iona Whishaw and Linda L. Richards to talk about writing and read from our latest works at the 2nd Annual General Meeting of the Left Coast Crime Convention Association
Date: Thursday, September 13, 2018
Time: 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Location: Atrium, Richmond Library and Cultural Centre
7700 Minoru Gate, Richmond
For more information about Left Coast Crime 2019, go to the website: www.leftcoastcrime.org/2019/
Crime fiction from tears to laughter
This afternoon I moderated a session at the Firehall branch of the Vancouver Public Library which gave a sampling of the depth and range of crime fiction in this part of Canada. Carys Cragg read from Dead Reckoning, her heartbreaking and uplifting memoir about meeting the man who killed her father. AJ Devlin had us laughing out loud with his brand-new debut novel, Cobra Clutch. And Robert W, Mackay thrilled us with his story of wartime bravery, Soldier of the Horse. Thanks to the Vancouver Public Library for hosting this author reading event, part of a series of events celebrating Crime Writers of Canada’s 35th anniversary.
Merrilee Robson 