Crimesheet

Listen to Chapter 1 of "Murder @ Work"

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Yvonne Eve Walus on Sunday, September 21st 2008 @ 01:22 PM GMT [link]

No sex please, Mark Billingham prefers serial killers

Mark Billingham, a self-confessed CWA member, is doing New Zealand this month. (While that sounds a bit like “Debbie Does Dallas”, his author talk in the Takapuna Library this evening managed to paint a very low-key image of Mark in that particular arena.)

It’s always a pleasure to listen to this stand-up comedian turn crime novelist, so I’ll do a show-don’t-tell for you.

Mark Billingham on his readers’ comments: “9 out of 10 complain about the swearing. Violence is fine. Child abuse - no problem. But don’t give them swearing!”

Mark Billingham on the folly of paying a fortune for wedding dresses (don’t ask): “My wife wore it once. Once! Even I wore it more often than that.”

Mark Billingham on crime fiction: “Crime fiction is better than sex.”

Mark Billingham on sex: “Crime fiction is better than sex.”
.... No, ok:
Mark Billingham on sex: “When I have sex with my wife, I don’t fantasise that she’s somebody else. I fantasise that I am. That makes two of us.”

Mark claims he doesn’t write about sex because his motto is ‘write what you know’. Makes one wonder why he writes about serial killers, then. Oh, he has a cover story for that. It’s called research.

Mark Billingham on talking to the police: “I talk to the police regularly for my research, and I’ve learnt a lot. Here is a tip: when a cop stops you for speeding, act a little gay. When he asks, Where is the fire?, say: In your eyes, officer. Nothing gets rid of them faster.”

Mark Billingham on researching serial killers: “When you’re driving long-distance, pick up a hitchhiker. Don’t talk to him for forty-five minutes. Then:
Mark: What’s your name?
Hitchhiker: Martin.
Mark: Can I call you Number Seven?”

Yvonne Eve Walus on Thursday, September 4th 2008 @ 11:42 AM GMT [link]

Stronger prose

Ever wondered if there is more to editing your first draft than making sure your protagonist's eyes stay the same colour?

If you'd like to add power to your writing, have a look at my guest blog on http://rosemariewolf.blogspot.com/2008/07/guest-blogger-yvonne-eve-walus.html.

I've used the tricks to edit my very first ever manuscript, "Murder @ Play", and I'm pleased to aanounce that it will be released by Echelon Press later this year.

Yvonne Eve Walus on Friday, July 25th 2008 @ 12:56 AM GMT [link]

How did you begin your first murder mystery?

How did you begin your first murder mystery? And what did some of the famous names do?

- Reneseb stood looking over the Nile.
- This time there would be no witnesses.
- I don't know if that story was picked up in the West.

(Identify the quotes and give yourself a pat on the back.)

Anyway, here is what I did in my first novel. Check it out:
http://startatbeginning.blogspot.com/2008/05/murder-work-by-yvonne-eve-walus.html

Yvonne Eve Walus on Friday, May 23rd 2008 @ 02:58 AM GMT [link]