Category Archives: Setting

“What Happens Next Is F-Sharp” (by Stephen Ross)

Posted on January 8, 2014 by somethingisgoingtohappen

Stephen Ross made his fiction debut in EQMM’s Department of First Stories in June 2006. Since then, he’s gone on to write many fine stories in the mystery and science fiction genres, including one for AHMM in 2010 (“Monsieur Alice … Continue reading →

Posted in Characters, Editing, Fiction, Guest, Setting, Story, Writers | Tagged , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

HISTORY AND MYSTERY

Posted on December 4, 2013 by somethingisgoingtohappen

Historical fiction has always had a powerful appeal for me, and it’s probably partly because of my love of mysteries. Didn’t Voltaire say that history is “little else than a picture of human crimes and misfortunes”? Think of the poison … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Editing, Fiction, Genre, Historicals, History, Setting | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

“Just Send Me Back” (by Mary Jane Maffini)

Posted on November 13, 2013 by somethingisgoingtohappen

There’s always at least a touch of humor in Mary Jane Maffini’s fiction—a spice that suits the traditional mystery. The Canadian author has won two major awards for stories in EQMM, and she’s also the author of three series of … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure, Books, Characters, Editing, Fiction, Genre, Guest, Historicals, History, Police Procedurals, Setting, Writers | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

PULL UP A CHAIR

Posted on November 6, 2013 by somethingisgoingtohappen

Starting in mid-October this year, most big retailers where I live had their halls decked with Christmas trees right beside the Halloween goblins. The effect was bizarre, but it did get me thinking early about holiday plans, especially holiday dinners—anticipating … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure, Characters, Editing, Genre, Setting, Writers | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

“A Familiar Face” (by Tim L. Williams)

Posted on October 30, 2013 by somethingisgoingtohappen

Tim L. Williams is one of the best short-story writers to enter the mystery field over the past decade. His EQMM story “Half-Lives” won the International Thriller Award for best short story of 2011; he’s received two nominations for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Characters, Fiction, Genre, Guest, Noir, Novels, Setting, Thrillers, Writers | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

“When the Place Itself Is a Mystery: Ten Tips for Someone Writing in an Exotic Location” (by Nathan Beyerlein)

Posted on September 11, 2013 by somethingisgoingtohappen

Nathan Beyerlein is a blogger, a teacher of English as a second language, and a world traveler. His first fiction, “The Tricky Business in Mai Chau,” appeared in EQMM’s Department of First Stories in June of this year. It was … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure, Characters, Editing, Fiction, Guest, International, Setting, Writers | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

“Illustrator, Author, Fan” (by Mark Evan Walker)

Posted on August 21, 2013 by somethingisgoingtohappen

Mark Evan Walker had been an EQMM illustrator for years before, in 2011, we received a copy of his first novel, The Case of the Blood Red Stars. What a surprise that was—though perhaps it shouldn’t have been, for a … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Characters, Genre, Guest, History, Illustration, Magazine, Noir, Setting | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

“Barbaric Kings and Plodding Imbeciles: Conan Doyle’s Sly Subversion of English Society,” Part 1

 (by Dr. Kenneth Wishnia)

Posted on July 31, 2013 by somethingisgoingtohappen

I was editing EQMM’s February 2014 issue when this interesting two-part post by Dr. Kenneth Wishnia arrived in my in-box. Each year, EQMM’s February issue contains special Sherlock Holmes features, so the great detective and his creator, Sir Arthur Conan … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Characters, Fiction, Guest, History, Novels, Politics, Setting, Writers | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

“Writing Novels Versus Stories: It’s Not About the Word Count (well, just a little)” (by Twist Phelan)

Posted on June 26, 2013 by somethingisgoingtohappen

Twist Phelan is a former plaintiff’s attorney whose novels, but not her short stories, often make use of her legal background. Perhaps that’s because, as you’ll see in this post, her approach to short stories is very different from her … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure, Books, Editing, Fiction, Guest, Novels, Setting, Writers | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Free Advice from James Lincoln Warren

Posted on June 12, 2013 by somethingisgoingtohappen

On this site posts seldom involve explicit advice to writers, but James Lincoln Warren wrote an engaging piece for Criminal Brief, a blog site he founded, several years ago that we thought readers as well as writers would enjoy. He … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Editing, Fiction, Genre, Guest, Setting, Writers | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments