Can the smartest readers detect misdirection? What is it really? I’d call it a writer’s sleight of hand: the moment a character gives an answer that is a little too … Continue reading Could You Spot the Lie? What is Misdirection and 7 Tricks That Fool Even the Smartest Readers
The meaning of mystery stretches from classic whodunits to inverted plots, and a mystery novel’s defining traits extend beyond a final confession. Together, we’ll explore what truly defines this genre. … Continue reading What Meets the Eye? The Mystery Genre Isn’t What You Think
A mystery novel is never just a crime waiting to be solved. The best ones carry something heavier — clever plotting wrapped around emotional depth, secrets layered beneath secrets, and … Continue reading Writing a Mystery Novel: What Meets the Eye Is Never the Whole Story
Someone asked me yesterday about the importance of storytelling. I thought it was a great question. Especially now that we’re getting longer nights in Colorado. Darker evenings do something quiet … Continue reading The Importance of Storytelling: How Darker Evenings Bring Families Closer Through Stories
Are your favorite characters actually real characters authors find hard to forget in their everyday lives? Ebenezer Scrooge, Alice in Wonderland, Dracula — beloved, iconic, utterly fictional, and each one … Continue reading The Real Characters We Never Forget: How Authors Transform Experiences with People Into Unforgettable Stories
How to keep writing when busy? Last weekend, Kendall got sick. My dog, the knightly, ever-loyal companion of Nyx, Banshee Kitten Prince, needed immediate vet attention, my IT work wasn’t … Continue reading The Busy Writer’s Guide: How to Keep Writing When Busy and Maintain Momentum When Life Gets Crazy
September 11th, 2001 shattered the foundation of spy thriller books completely, and the pieces never quite fit back together the same way. Espionage novels before that morning carried a certain … Continue reading How 9/11 Changed the Way I Write Spy Thriller Books Forever
The realization crept up on me slowly. Right in the middle of drafting a sequel set in a different time of year and location. What I expected to be a … Continue reading Seasonal Changes and Writing: How Nature Became My Co-Author
Most people assume writing books for preschoolers is simpler than crafting spy thrillers, but I’m here to tell you that assumption deserves a second look. I’ve written both: my upcoming … Continue reading Writing Books for Preschoolers vs Spy Thrillers: Which is Actually Harder? Here’s the Truth [2026]
The question of screenwriting vs novel writing hit me hard after I finished my novel What Meets the Eye and screenplay It Just Gets Better. A screenplay is structured in … Continue reading Screenwriting vs Novel Writing: What I Learned After Doing Both for Years