Author Archives: janispattersonmysteries
A Mystery Writer’s Responsibility
by Janis Patterson We write mysteries. It is our duty to provide our readers with a good story that has an interesting plot, accurate research, believable characters, and a satisfying ending. It is also our responsibility to be sure that … Continue reading
Constructing Clues
by Janis Patterson I think we all agree that when creating a mystery we should play fair with our readers. Mixed in amongst our red herrings there should be some genuine clues that – with an astute reader and a … Continue reading
Fairy Tales, The Easter Bunny and a New Touchstone
by Janis Patterson Every year I look forward to the holiday season. I love Christmas – the decorations, the carols, the promise and reassurance of my faith, the bonhomie, the electric excitement in the air. New Year’s is the symbol … Continue reading
Tell Me Again – What Time Is It?
by Janis Patterson One of the most unsettling things about being a writer is what I call ‘time dislocation.’ There is the Now that we are all experiencing – the date printed on today’s calendar, the time shown on all … Continue reading
What is “Real”?
by Janis Patterson Writing is a time consuming occupation. Not only do we have to spend time plotting, thinking, and constructing our stories, we spend time putting them into a concrete form and then making them as polished a form … Continue reading
Mind Games and Murder
by Janis Patterson I wonder if all mystery writers are irretrievably warped? I spent last week at the Novelists’ Inc. (NINC) conference in St. Pete Beach, Florida. It was held at the luxurious TradeWinds resort, a place of which dreams … Continue reading
Privacy, Responsibility and General Robert E. Lee
by Janis Patterson On this and other blogs I have always ranted about the necessity of a writer for privacy, of how we shouldn’t have to open ourselves and our personal lives up just because our fans want us to … Continue reading