Personally Significant Links

     I wanted to acknowledge other authors, or authors-in-training like myself, or friends excited about my writing, who have had an influence on my writing or who have encouraged me in my writing.

     The first author who really inspired me to write is Stephen R. Donaldson, particularly his Thomas Covenant series. I have never met Mr. Donaldson, but I become easily immersed in his vivid portrayal of the Land and the authentic struggles within and between his characters. When I sat down to begin writing my mystery series, I strove to create characters with whom readers could relate and who were flawed but could learn to accept their weaknesses, as Thomas Covenant or Linden Avery have.

     The most influential mystery writer has been the Queen herself, Agatha Christie. I have read all of her mysteries and enjoy each unique twist she adds to her stories. It was even her writing that spurred me on to read many of Shakespeare's works, partly so I could understand her many references in her stories. She was able to “break” the “rules” of mystery writing and get away with it. For now, I hope to simply work well within the “rules.”

     More personally, I have enjoyed three mystery writers' conferences in the past year: Killer Nashville; Sleuthfest; and Murder in the Grove. At each conference, I made new encouraging friends, some of whose links are to the left. I just attended Murder in the Grove in Boise, Idaho in early June and was honored to listen to JA Jance, whose JP Beaumont novels I have read and enjoyed. I look forward to attending Killer Nashville again in August and bringing a friend along who has become more interested in publishing novels on which he has been working.

     I also wanted to thank Mark L. Berry who encouraged me to get a website started now. I hope that we can continue to encourage each other as we train.

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