Category Archives: Thrillers

“Murder Most Advanced” by William Dylan Powell

William Dylan Powell’s Department of First Stories debut, “Evening Gold” (EQMM November 2006),  won the Robert L. Fish Award for best short story by a new American author. The Texas writer is an ad man who managed to make time … Continue reading

Posted in Books, Guest, Story, Thrillers, Writers, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

LET’S LEAVE THESE THINGS TO THE FICTION WRITERS

Conspiracy theories seem tailor-made for fiction. They contain all the elements a great adventure story calls for: a David and Goliath-like contest (between members of the powerful cabal and the unempowered men or women who oppose them); life-or-death scenarios (as … Continue reading

Posted in Editing, Fiction, History, Politics, Story, Thrillers, Writers, Writing | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

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

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

“What’s in a Name?” (by Charles Ardai)

Charles Ardai has deep roots in nearly every area of the mystery field: He once worked in the subsidiary rights department for our fiction magazines (EQMM, AHMM, Analog, and Asimov’s), and in that capacity he edited and co-edited many short-story … Continue reading

Posted in Anthologies, Books, Fiction, Genre, Guest, Novels, Publishing, Thrillers, Writers | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

“For Love of Gothic: When Home is the Most Mysterious Place of All” (by Laura Benedict)

Laura Benedict’s first fiction publication was in EQMM in May of 2001. Since then, she has become a successful novelist with two dark suspense novels (Isabella Moon and Calling Mr. Lonely Hearts) to her credit, and, most recently, a modern … Continue reading

Posted in Books, Characters, Fiction, Gothic, Guest, Historicals, Setting, Supernatural, Thrillers | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

“Living with the Ghosts of Halloween” (by Toni L. P. Kelner)

Agatha Award winning author Toni L. P. Kelner has written several stories for EQMM, including two pirate tales. How appropriate, then, that she’s blogging for us on Halloween, when many of the costumed villains appearing at your doors will, no … Continue reading

Posted in Characters, Conventions, Guest, Noir, Supernatural, Thrillers, Writers | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“Engaging an Audience: Components of the Thriller Writer’s Art” (by Mike Cooper)

Joining us this week is Mike Cooper, one of our 2012 Barry Award nominees, for the short story “Whiz Bang” (EQMM Sept/Oct 2011). That stellar story is a locked-room mystery, but its author is better known as a thriller writer. Mike Cooper … Continue reading

Posted in Characters, Fiction, Guest, Thrillers | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment