Professional Tips – Kurt Vonnegut, Jr by Leigh Lundin One of the great things about writing for Criminal Brief is that we seek out one another for help, critique, and assistance. Last week, trying to pin down a literary source, I called upon James, Rob, and Steve. When I need something critiqued, there’s Deborah and John. […]

Last week, Paul Guyot wrote to me suggesting that Criminal Brief do a week-long discussion on the subject of titles. With the assent of our fearless contributors, I agreed, provided that he contribute the opening salvo. (I’ve been trying to get him to contribute a column ever since Criminal Brief got off the ground.) So […]

A BIRTHDAY ESSAY by Leigh Lundin My friend Dale Andrews offered me inauguration tickets and lunch at the Jeffersonian Club with his agent if I would post an article for him on 11 January. Naturally, I declined, being unbribable with such paltry inducements. On the other hand, his wonderful wife, Pat, puts up with the […]

CHARACTER and PLOT by Leigh Lundin For the first Sunday column of the new year, we turn to our erudite friend, Louis Willis, who took time before the holidays to write for us. Louis is a scholar, writer, and critic with a master’s degree in English literature from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. You […]

Melodie, being occupied with family matters, has asked me to provide something at short notice, and here it is. Last year, our Yuletide treat was O. Henry’s best known piece, so this year, I proudly present that of his British counterpart, Saki, a.k.a. Hector Hugh Munro. —JLW THE OPEN WINDOW by Saki “My aunt will […]

Melodie had to contend with an emergency yesterday and didn’t have time to write her regular column. Although we all know that nobody can replace her, here’s some advice for aspiring authors written in 1963 from another pretty good California writer1 that reminds me a little bit of Melodie. —JLW LETTER TO WRITERS by John […]

Melodie’s taking yet ANOTHER week off, but this time it’s because we’ve got this wonderful piece by Dale Andrews, who won 2nd place in the Ellery Queen Readers’ Choice Awards this year. —JLW THE PASTICHE by Dale C. Andrews I attended my first Bouchercon this year, and had the pleasure (and privilege) of tagging along […]