#( my characters ) / * agatha gerritsen .

[shcynetopps]

dropping some ships & characters part II 

[husbandhannie]

do you have any book recs? i’m trying to find ways to fill my free time that isn’t scrolling around on my phone 😭

i'm not sure if i'm the best person to ask for book recs, anon. my tastes are not wide by any means and i'm not really a critical reader, but i tried to list some books i enjoyed here (there are many more but i went with the ones i can remember at the top of my head):

FICTION

(organized by author)

Agatha Christie: If you're looking for comfort murder mysteries, there is no better author. My favorite is the Miss Marple series, where a gossip-loving and extremely sharp old woman solves murder mysteries.

Richard Castle: Yes, these are the Nikki Heat books from the show Castle. They're quite well written, and even more fun to read if you're familiar with the characters of the show.

Tess Gerritsen: These are more intense murder mysteries than the ones listed above, and slightly more forensic. My favorite series is the Rizzoli and Isles series, which is the inspiration for the TV show of the same name.

Nora Roberts: Still some of the best romance I've read, honestly. After reading about 50 of her books, I can confidently say that her characters fall in fixed molds and the storylines are very predictable. It's still very good. It's comforting. You can read a bunch of them in a day to destress. Some series I like are: Inn Boonsboro, The Calhouns.

NON-FICTION

(organised by theme)

Threats to Democracy: How Democracies Die by Steven Levitsky, Fascism by Madeline Albright, Twilight of Democracy by Anne Applebaum

Autobiographies: James Herriot (I cannot recommend this enough), Trevor Noah

Historical: The Great Influenza by John M. Barry, To Start a War by Robert Draper (this made me angrier than I thought was possible by a book)

Government Institutions: The Premonition by Michael Lewis, The Fifth Risk by Michael Lewis

Feminism: Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall, We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Government Intelligence Agencies: Mossad by Michael Bar-Zohar and Nissim Mishal

[piratefalls]

Nosebleed Club Interview

Introduce yourself to your fellow writers / artists in the community (everyone can do this)! This can be a good way to discover other writers / artists as well. Please reblog with your responses

1. Name / Pronouns? 2. How would you describe your approach to writing / creating art? 3. Literature / art / films you’d recommend? 4. What are some themes / imageries you like to explore in your work? 5. What type of art did you make during your childhood? 6. What are you currently working on? 7. Where do you like to write / create art? 8. Which writers / artists (dead or alive) would you like to get coffee / brunch / dinner with?

Tagged by the awesome @sussexualtension FOREVER AGO I am so sorry.

1. Name / Pronouns? Kelly, she/her

2. How would you describe your approach to writing / creating art?

I don’t think I really have an “approach” so to speak? I just let whatever’s in my head come out when it feels like it. Any time I try to take a more deliberate approach, or make an idea happen, it all just dries up. So I guess if I had an approach it would be “it’s gonna marinate in your head until it’s ready, and then you will spend weeks writing it by hand, sorry about that”.

3. Literature / art / films you’d recommend?

I’m not really someone who appreciates art, and I’m so bad at recommending things when I’m not given parameters lmao. But I did just read The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun and it was delightful. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie is one of my favorite mysteries of all time. Big fan of I’m Judging You by Luvvie Ajayi Jones. Her writing is so accessible, it’s like having a conversation with her. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller is one I slept on for years and I shouldn’t have. Chef’s kiss.

As for films, I am very bad at watching movies. I either do full tilt movie marathons (I watched probably 20 when I was on vacation for Christmas), or I do not watch them at all. My most favorite of all time is Clue. 

4. What are some themes / imageries you like to explore in your work?

I love internal conflict of all flavors and the way those conflicts influence us as people, how they dictate our decisions. Basically character studies is where I think my sweet spot is. I haven’t had a chance yet, really, but I would love to find the right time to explore morally gray areas. I love living between the black and white of situations.

5. What type of art did you make during your childhood?

Not a lot, to be honest. All I did was read books or hang out with my friends. I think I did the occasional drawing, and it was enough to know that I am no artist lol.

6. What are you currently working on?

No writing projects, but I’m working my way through “Listen to Me” by Tess Gerritsen, the most recent in the Rizzoli & Isles series. After that I’ll probably go back to my queer romances, but I needed to break it up a little.

7. Where do you like to write / create art?

Wherever, honestly, but it almost always winds up happening in my down time at work. I also have a lot of snippets of things in my Notes app on my phone from when inspiration hits when I’m taking a hot bath lol.

8. Which writers / artists (dead or alive) would you like to get coffee / brunch / dinner with?

Oooh, um. Maybe Adam Silvera, because I need to know why he thinks it’s okay to make me cry all the time.

[bookmania2020]

Sub-Genres of Crime Fiction – Nick Anthony Zamucen

My Family Business, Nick Anthony Zamucen’s debut novel, is a crime fiction, which focuses on a man that learns of his family’s true business once he comes of age. The protagonist suffers from a moral dilemma for most of the story. In a turn of events, he has to make a decision and do what he has been dreading since he learned of his family’s business. Zamucen’s story contains all the characteristics to acknowledge it as crime fiction. There are lies, betrayals, blood spilled, and uncertainty. His writing promises to keep the readers on edge of their seats. This is one reason why readers all over the world enjoy good crime fiction. The genre is engaging and pushing while keeping the readers entertained for the whole run.

         Crime fiction has its own set of sub-genres, as the genre has grown increasingly popular among readers of all ages and backgrounds. Everyone enjoys a good crime and thriller novel. Let’s look into what these subgenres offer readers with examples by Writers Write:

·        In the cosy mystery genre, the detective is usually an amateur, the violence is never described in detail, and the setting is often a small town. The detective uses their powers of observation and deduction, as well as an excellent general knowledge to solve the crime. Example: Agatha Christie’s Miss Marples.

·        In the hard-boiled private investigator genre, the detective works in a large city, and the violence is explicit. The detective follows clues in the dark underbelly of the city. Example: Mickey Spillane’s Mike Hammer.

·        The legal thriller requires research into the rules and procedures of a legal world. Readers want to know what happens after a crime is committed and an arrest is made. You can use crises of legal conscience to make your characters more rounded. Examples: John Grisham and Richard North Patterson write in this genre.

·        Modern PIs are often former policemen and mostly wisecracking loners who usually carry a weapon. (They can also be bounty hunters.) They are usually hired by private individuals to solve mysteries or crimes and to find people. Examples: Lawrence Block’s Matt Scudder, Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum, and Sue Grafton’s Kinsey Milhone.

·        The police procedural is realistic and should be as accurate as the author can make it. The reader is taken to squad rooms, morgues, courts, and crime scenes. This genre is complicated and the detective is often under a lot of pressure. For example, he could be dealing with many cases, he generally has personal problems with relationships, and his superiors want the case solved. There are secondary characters, including suspects, police officers, lawyers, and criminals. Examples: Ian Rankin’s John Rebus, Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch, and James Patterson’s Alex Cross.

·        The medical thriller is a suspense novel that takes place in a hospital. The protagonists are usually doctors or nurses. The plot is based on situations unique to medicine and medical research. Examples: Robin Cooke, Michael Crichton, and Tess Gerritsen write in this genre.

·        The forensic thriller is a fairly new genre. The lead character is usually a woman who is a scientist or pathologist. Research is needed. Accuracy is essential. Most of the action takes place in crime scenes and morgues, and the lead character’s home. Examples: Jeffery Deaver’s Lincoln Rhyme, Patricia Cornwell’s Kay Scarpetta, and Kathy Reichs’s Temperance Brennan.

·        The general suspense thriller features a protagonist who is generally thrown into the action in the aftermath of a crime. This hero is often an ordinary person who is called on to solve a problem. Sometimes, this person must prove his or her innocence, often to the police and other characters in the novel. Examples: Lee Child’s Jack Reacher; Gillian Flynn and Dennis Lehane also write in this genre.

·        The military thriller has a protagonist who is often a member of the military, MI5 or MI6, the CIA, or the FBI, or a consultant to a military agency. Readers of this genre love the details and a lot of research is necessary. Often the criminals are crooked politicians or terrorists. The action often spans continents. Example: Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan.