Category Archives: Sally Carpenter
Let’s talk about the weather
By Sally Carpenter Many writers swear by Elmore Leonard’s list of “10 rules for good writing” as definitive guidelines that must be followed at all times. Rule one is “Never open a book with weather.” Ooops, I broke that … Continue reading
Finding the right formula
By Sally Carpenter Some people have accused cozy mysteries, and other genre fiction, of “formulaic.” What’s wrong with that? Humans are creatures of habits. We have our rituals and traditions that help us enjoy life and make sense of it. And … Continue reading
Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus, Indiana
by Sally Carpenter In finding a setting for my new series, I wanted to use a small town, as is typical in most cozies. But I didn’t want a generic town or the same city as every other cozy. What … Continue reading
A new year, a new look
By Sally Carpenter Happy New Year and welcome to 2018! I hope this will be a happy and fulfilling year for everyone. May readers find many new authors to enjoy. May writers publish a bounty of good stories. Many use … Continue reading
Meeting Peter Graves
by Sally Carpenter Over the years I’ve met celebrities at book signings, concerts and appearances. Some stars have been quite charming; others apparently wanted me to go away. One particular appearance comes in mind regarding my WIP set in 1967. … Continue reading
Retro-dressing my characters
By Sally Carpenter One of the challenges of writers of historical mysteries is clothing their characters. As fashions change continually, authors must carefully research their time period for accuracy. My new cozy is set in 1967, a period that should … Continue reading