The Maine Crime Writers
Category Archives: Allison’s Posts
How Research Changed My Story
I had the honor of lobstering this summer with a friend who hauls 120 traps a day, six days a week. I met him at the harbor at 3:30 in the morning, and we returned at 4:30 in the afternoon, … Continue reading
Posted in Allison's Posts
Tagged amateur sleuth, book research, books, lobster, lobster boat, lobster roll, lobstering, Maine, midcoast maine, mysteries, mystery writer, research
15 Comments
Author Interview with Dennis Pierce
Last September I participated in the launch of a new bookstore in Kittery with writers from Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. One of the authors I met was Dennis Pierce whose debut novel, Swinging for Power, captured my attention as … Continue reading
Posted in Allison's Posts, Author Interview
Tagged author interview, environment, journalist, murder mystery, mystery writer, New Hampshire, underdog, writer
1 Comment
No Excuses
In talking to fellow writers this summer, I’ve been hearing a pattern of reasons why people can’t write that sound similar to why people can’t do other things, like exercise. It’s summer. I have company. It’s too hot. I’m stuck. … Continue reading
Stop Making the Police the Villain: Writing Better Amateur Sleuth Mysteries
I’m back this month still talking about amateur sleuths. This time I want to hone in on one of the biggest challenges in writing an amateur sleuth mystery: Why isn’t the police department solving the crime? It may be tempting … Continue reading
Posted in Allison's Posts
Tagged Allison Keeton, amateur sleuth, cozy mystery, Maine, Maine mystery
1 Comment
The Challenges of Writing an Amateur Sleuth Mystery
There are multiple subgenres of mysteries, such as police procedurals, private investigator mysteries, and legal mysteries. I, however, write “amateur sleuth” on the “cozy adjacent” spectrum, emphasizing community and relationships over violence. The most famous amateur sleuth is Miss Marple, … Continue reading
Posted in Allison's Posts
Tagged Agatha Christie, amateur sleuth, Maine, Maine mystery, midcoast maine, Miss Marple, Nancy Drew, writing challenge
4 Comments
Adverbs Are for Never
Time for another Writing Tip Wednesday. I’m sure you all have missed a grammatical post. Today, we’re going to talk about adverbs. What is an adverb? To me, an adverb modifies the action. Technically, it can modify a verb, an … Continue reading
Good Enough
I often hear my father’s voice in my head: “Good Enough.” It was one of his well-known sayings. When I was younger, I thought of it as not caring about the end result or being too tired to try harder. … Continue reading
Posted in Allison's Posts, Uncategorized
Tagged cozy mystery, father knows best, good enough, midcoast maine, mystery writer, sage advice, wisdom
10 Comments
Where’d That Word Come From?
Writers love words, and the English language is a rich challenge. Like the United States, the English language is a melting pot. In my undergraduate years at UConn, despite being a Business major (to please my father by pursuing a … Continue reading
Posted in Allison's Posts, Uncategorized
Tagged english, etymology, keeton, midcoast maine, mystery writer, word origins
7 Comments
“Writing Tip Wednesday”
Welcome to Writing Tip Wednesday! I’m still on a grammar kick. I was beginning to think I was “old-fashioned” in being a stickler for where the period or the comma went when using quotation marks, especially in seeing modern pieces … Continue reading
Posted in Allison's Posts, Uncategorized
Tagged grammar, Maine writer, mystery writer, quotation marks
5 Comments
Using the Feelings of a Memory
Last month, when I saw photographer April Morrison’s beautiful photograph of milkweed pods in snow, I was instantly brought back to my childhood. One fall, my mother, along with my sisters and me, collected dozens of dried out pods. She … Continue reading
