WHYS OF THE PRIZE by James Lincoln Warren I love the Olympics. As a scion of an American family dating back to the 17th century, I confess to be pleased when Americans win—not that my heritage makes me any more American than, say, the sublimely gorgeous Nastia Liukin or my beautiful and brilliant wife Margaret, […]

DANGEROUS IDEAS by Leigh Lundin Are you writing your first techno-thriller? Want to tell your audience how to steal money, identities, votes, or more? Want to explore how to kill a victim remotely inside a locked room? Does what you have to say embarrass government agencies or big corporations? Are you ready to face those […]

THE WRONG STUFF by John M. Floyd It’s often been said that if you want to write fiction you’d better also read fiction. And not just a book or two, now and then. You should read a lot of fiction. If you don’t—well, if you don’t, you might want to rethink the whole aspiring-writer thing. […]

MYSTERY PLACES by Steve Steinbock I’m sitting at Mio Posto, a corner café and pizzeria in the Mount Baker neighborhood of Seattle. Long time Criminal Brief readers may remember that I spent a lot of time here last summer when I was on the west coast visiting my sisters. There are three guys behind the […]

DREAMS, FEARS AND LIFE IN GENERAL by Deborah Elliott-Upton “Perhaps life is just that . . . a dream and a fear.”—Joseph Conrad, Under Western Skies On the road again to head up a seminar in Oklahoma City, I allowed my mind to wander as it usually does while I’m driving. I imagine the unaltered […]

DON’T ASK, DON’T ASK by Rob Lopresti Inquiring minds want to know. Here are 20 questions mystery authors get tired of. Do you know there’s a typo on page 5? Is your book any good? Why don’t you sell your books to the movies and make a lot of money? Do you write under your […]

We expected Melodie back this week in time for her column, but alas, it was not meant to be. Hopefully things will settle enough for her to rejoin us next week, but for now she’s had to extend her leave of absence. So in her place, here’s some poetry by Rob. At least I think […]