Product Description

The core of the book is Emerson’s personal take on writing and selling historical mysteries, but it also includes contributions from over forty other historical mystery writers —practical advice, anecdotes, and suggestions for research—and input from assorted editors, booksellers, and reviewers. For both historical mystery writers and readers.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #89270 in Books
• Published on: 2008-04-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9781880284926
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

From Booklist
Emerson, author of the Lady Appleton and Diana Spaulding mystery series, turns her hand to how it’s done in this useful guide to writing historical crime fiction. Drawing on her own works and those of her fellow historical-mystery writers (Kerry Greenwood, Alan Gordon, Carola Dunn, and others), she lays out, in commonsense sequence, the stages of planning and writing a historical mystery. Chapters on choosing setting and character, research, crafting a plot, and selling your book offer much of the same information as similar chapters in other how-to books for mystery writers, but the information is nicely tailored for this particular genre. Published writers probably won’t find much here that they don’t already know, but budding historical novelists will discover a wealth of helpful tips and may want to keep a notebook handy to jot them down. The book finds its niche and fills it well. --David Pitt

Review
“...a comprehensive guide, full of seasoned advice and rich examples.” -- Hallie Ephron, author of Writing and Selling Your Mystery Novel

“I can’t imagine a question about historical mysteries that isn’t answered here. Do not start writing your historical mystery without this book!” -- Carolyn Wheat, author of How To Write Killer Fiction

About the Author
Kathy Lynn Emerson is the author of fourteen historical mysteries; three novels of historical romantic suspense, three contemporary mysteries, assorted nonfiction, romance, and children’s fiction.

Customer Reviews

The Butler did it...no! Wait -- it was a Hun, a Friar, and a Samurai!
Cathy Lynn Emerson's "How to Write Killer Historical Mysteries: The Art and Adventure of Sleuthing Through the Past" is THE BOOK for anyone wanting to write historical mysteries. If you have some experience at writing fiction, Emerson lays out most of the information needed to start in this field.

She covers research, online groups such as Sisters in Crime and Crime Thru Time, some characterization (especially as affected by history), anachronisms, and much more.

I admit that I read the library's copy, but, as soon as the check shows up, I'm ordering my own copy.

Everything needed to write a professional, polished historical mystery.
Any library catering to either writers or mystery readers needs How to Write Killer Historical Mysteries, a survey telling how to write a historical mystery story. From different historical eras and their research and murder mystery trends to the art of writing a solid historical intrigue piece, chapters cover plots, settings, the experiences of seasoned writers, and more: everything needed to write a professional, polished historical mystery.

Don't pass this up!
This is a practical, yet inspiring, explanation of ways to organize, research and prepare for the creative and inspired process of actually writing. Though there are as many ways to proceed as there are authors, this includes the important things one needs to take care to make a cohesive, credible story and characters. Historical mysteries have their own character that needs to be carefully constructed. Highly recommended.