The Maine Crime Writers
Author Archives: susanvaughan
Is the Government Watching Me?
Susan Vaughan here. A recent post by Maggie Robinson about how easy it is to be sucked into detailed research for a book prompted me to consider how research by writers who create fictional murders, terrorist threats and attacks, and … Continue reading
Posted in Susan's posts
10 Comments
Adventure or Misadventure?
Susan Vaughan here. I’ve written about this misadventure before, but readers and other writers have encouraged me to share it again. I think they need a chuckle or two. Several years ago when the Romance Writers of America conference was … Continue reading
Posted in Susan's posts
Tagged crime writing, Maine Crime Writers, museum, mystery writing, research, Ring of Truth, Susan Vaughan
5 Comments
Location, Location, Location
No, I’m not writing about real estate, or maybe I am, but I’m not trying to sell you any property, I promise. This is about fiction settings—region, country, state, city, bodies of water, even food and drink. Realistic or real … Continue reading
Dying for Strawberry Pie
Susan Vaughan here, not dying yet. Maybe I wouldn’t literally die for strawberry pie, but eating the delicious fruit whether au naturel or in a pie is “to die for.” Those of you in some states south of Maine already … Continue reading
Posted in Susan's posts
Tagged baking, dessert, Maine, Maine Crime Writers, strawberries, Susan Vaughan
3 Comments
English Can Be Weird
Being sequestered during this coronavirus crisis is difficult for us all, and will become more so as the weather warms and spring growth explodes. Although I’m working on a new book (set in summer, so maybe this is getting to … Continue reading
Posted in Susan's posts
Tagged English language, language changes, Maine Crime Writers, mystery writing, Susan Vaughan, writing
7 Comments
My Maine Thing
Susan Vaughan here. Because it’s Saint Patrick’s Day, you probably expect a post about the semi-holiday. Some of this will feature “green” things, but not shamrocks. I’m writing in honor of Maine’s 200th birthday. Maine Public radio is featuring oral … Continue reading
Presidents’ Day Trivia
Susan Vaughan here. I grew up learning the salient facts—and some myths—about presidents of the United States. Rather than rehash that, I delved into little-known or strange facts about some of our presidents. But first, a brief background about this … Continue reading
I LOVE RESEARCH
Winter has me thinking about getting away to somewhere warm. Since I can’t do that right away, I thought I’d revisit a previous trip that yielded both warmth and a research bonanza. I wrote a bit about this in an … Continue reading
Posted in Susan's posts
Tagged book research, Coba, crime writing, hands-on research, Maine Crime Writers, Mayan, Mexico, Susan Vaughan, writing, Yucatan
2 Comments
Christmas Custom–a Shoe In
Susan Vaughan here. I admit it, the title’s a bad pun, but you’ll see shortly why I couldn’t resist. Christmas customs around the world differ in strange and bizarre ways. In the U.S., Canada, and Great Britain, we’re familiar with … Continue reading
Posted in Susan's posts, Uncategorized
Tagged Christmas customs, customs, Happy Holidays, holidays, Maine Crime Writers, mystery writing, Susan Vaughan
3 Comments
Charlene D’Avanzo 
Lea Wait/Cornelia Kidd