Split Screens – Linda StratmannMulti-tasking is an essential ability for a writer. Hands and mind can work simultaneously and independently, and there can be one issue engaging the forefront of the mind while another is still worki...
Recently I was asked to describe a typical working day as a writer. Years ago when I worked in an office I knew exactly what a typical day was – I went to the same place five days a week, and did the...
A Fistful of Seaweed – John Bayliss‘I groaned out loud. I was never going to get my wallet back, Ackerman wasn’t going to get his photograph back and, as a reward, he was going to boil my bones down to glue. My destiny was to hol...
I Love the Sound of Rainfall in the Morning – Linda StratmannOne question writers are often asked is whether they listen to music when they are writing, and if so what are their favourite tracks. Some say they just listen for pleasure, others find actual inspir...
Location, location, location, eh?Being a Canadian mystery writer is a lot like being a Who in Dr. Seuss’s Who-ville. We may live in the second largest country on the planet, but the small size of our population severely limits our ho...
The Times and The Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival 3-12 October 2014The Times and The Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival attracts hundreds of the world’s leading authors, journalists, comedians, politicians, actors, broadcasters and more. Big names appearing...
First of all, let me be clear about the subject matter. When I talk about independent publishing, I mean being traditionally published but by a smaller press that is not part of a larger conglo...
Watching TV these days, you’d think that something odd is happening to the form of the story. Instead of watching a series, we’ve now started to devour whole boxed sets of Broadchurch or The Bridge. I...
During the 2014 Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, authors had the opportunity to pitch their novel ideas to a panel of prominent publishers and agents – the “Dragons” in the title. The f...
Author Ann Cleeves is offering libraries free materials for staging a murder mystery event, ‘Murder in the Ravenswick Hotel’. Her story is set in a fictional Shetland hotel, and invites an audience to...
I was never an investigative journalist – not in any proper sense – but on several occasions I wrote about investigations into murders. They taught me a few stark lessons which have stayed...
Although most crime writers are well acquainted with American Writers’ Conferences such as Boucheron, Thrillerfest and Malice Domestic, I wonder if many have heard of the Sleuthfest Conference, this b...
Phil Viner – Using backstory to write novellasI began writing my first published book (in the attic are my two deformed novels that will remain chained in the dark forever) The Last Winter of Dani Lancing, in a blissful state of low expectation a...
The Crime Thriller ClubDo you know your Morse from your Marple? Your Lewis from your Luther? Or your Martina Cole from your Michael Connelly? Well Cactus TV need you!! For this year’s Crime Thriller Club on ITV3 they...
These days a lot of people look blank when you say the name Nicholas Freeling. Hum the first few bars of “Eye Level” by the Simon Park Orchestra, the theme tune to the Van der Valk TV series, and you...
A First Timer at ThrillerFest – Evonne WarehamThe chance to spend time with some of your favourite big name authors – and to meet new ones? What crime fan wouldn’t be tempted? I’ve visited New York before, but this was my first trip to Thrillerfe...
William Shaw is our Featured Author for August. When the flamboyant Channel 4 conspiracy series Utopia wove the 1979 murder of MP Airey into its plot last month there was some outrage. Neave’s son Pa...
P.D. Viner, Crime Writer: Year OneHow I researched my second novel: Summer of Ghosts. I am a little ashamed to say that I have never been arrested, questioned, or even cautioned by the police. These are rubbish credentials for a crime...
Case Files – No 11 out this weekendDon’t forget to sign up to receive your copy....
...
Joining the CRA is FREE. There are no lengthy forms to fill out and we need nothing but your email. You will receive a regular newsletter but no spam.
Case Files 52
The CRA Newsletter: September 2021
The CRA Newsletter: August 2021