Category Archives: Jim’s Posts

Crime Writers Beware: You Can’t Make This Stuff Up

Posted on August 30, 2013 by mainecrimewriters

James Hayman: In my last post I wrote about unusual ways of knocking off victims in crime novels. This post I’ll be writing about one of the weirdest reasons to kill anyone I’ve ever come across. Karaoke. And guess what? … Continue reading →

Posted in Jim's Posts | Tagged Asian murders, crime stories, crime writing, Darkness First, James Hayman, KKaraoke killings, maine mysteries, motives for murder, mysteries, mystery writers, mystery writing, The Chill of Night, The Cutting | 11 Comments

How Do I Kill Thee? Let Me Count the Ways.

Posted on August 14, 2013 by mainecrimewriters

James Hayman: It’s pretty much a given that in mysteries and suspense thrillers that there’s got to be a victim. Somebody or, in some books, a whole bunch of somebodies have got to be done in. One of the interesting … Continue reading →

Posted in Jim's Posts | Tagged crime stories, crime writing, Darkness First, Edgar Allan Poe, Hannibal Lechter, How to write a thriller, James Hayman, Julia Spencer-Fleming, maine mysteries, means of murder, Michael Kimball, mysteries, mystery writers, mystery writing, The Chill of Night, The Cutting, Undone, writing | 4 Comments

Darkness First

Posted on July 24, 2013 by mainecrimewriters

James Hayman: My next McCabe thriller, Darkness First, is coming out October 1st as the lead title in Harper Collins’ brand new Witness imprint that plans on featuring mysteries and thrillers initially in Ebook format and, in most cases, later … Continue reading →

Posted in Jim's Posts | Tagged crime stories, crime writing, Darkness First, downeast, E-book, e-book sales, Eastport, Harper Collins, iPad, James Hayman, Kindle, Machias, Machiasport, Maine Crime Writers, mystery writing, Nook, Penguin UK, The Chill of Night, The Cutting, Washington County, Witness | 4 Comments

Yet Another Hidden Gem

Posted on June 20, 2013 by mainecrimewriters

James Hayman: I’d never call myself a gourmet. In fact, I dislike the term gourmet altogether. To me it sounds pompous and self-satisfied. It also brings to mind (my mind at least) an unhealthy interest in self-pleasuring (No, not that … Continue reading →

Posted in Jim's Posts | Tagged crime writing, Darkness First, foodie, gourmet, James Hayman, maine mysteries, mystery writers, Outliers, Portland, Restaurants, The Chill of Night, The Cutting | 2 Comments

Writing, Painting, Traveling, Moving and Other Stuff.

Posted on June 10, 2013 by mainecrimewriters

This has been an unusually hectic and exciting Spring for my wife Jeanne and I. And trust me we’ve had some pretty hectic ones in the past. In mid-May we traveled down to Washington, DC where she had a solo … Continue reading →

Posted in Jim's Posts | Tagged art show, crime writing, Donne Moi Ton Coeur, James Hayman, Liss MacCrimmon Scottish-American Heritage Mysteries, The Chill of Night, The Crossing, The Cutting | 4 Comments

Gestural Writing

Posted on May 30, 2013 by mainecrimewriters

James Hayman: As the husband of an accomplished practicing artist who often works with the figure, I know my wife often begins what often ends up as a finished drawing, print, encaustic or oil painting with a quick gestural sketch … Continue reading →

Posted in Jim's Posts | Tagged crime stories, crime writing, gesture, James Hayman, Liss MacCrimmon Scottish-American Heritage Mysteries, The Chill of Night, The Cutting, writing, writing craft | 4 Comments

Unlicensed to Kill

Posted on May 9, 2013 by mainecrimewriters

James Hayman: This blog is another of my rants about gun control. I know I’m probably preaching to the choir but since 90% of America seems to be part of the choir that’s probably inevitable. It’s the other 10% I’d … Continue reading →

Posted in Jim's Posts | Tagged background checks, crime stories, crime writing, Darkness First, gun control, gun laws, James Hayman, Maine Crime Writers, mystery writers, mystery writing, The Chill of Night, The Cutting | 8 Comments

Getting Inside Their Heads

Posted on April 12, 2013 by mainecrimewriters

James Hayman: As crime writers we commit murder all the time. Sometimes we do it in almost unimaginably brutal ways. For example, in my first book, The Cutting, I killed three of my victims by having their beating hearts cut … Continue reading →

Posted in Jim's Posts | Tagged Adam Lanza, crime stories, crime writing, Darkness First, Jack McMorrow Mysteries, James Hayman, Maine Crime Writers, maine mysteries, murder, mystery writers, mystery writing, Newtown, Sandy Hook, school shootings, The Chill of Night, The Cutting | 4 Comments

An Interesting Piece by Margaret Atwood

Posted on April 4, 2013 by mainecrimewriters

James Hayman: Yesterday Josh Bodwell, Director of the Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance passed along an interesting piece on writing posted on Facebook’s Suspense and Thriller Writers page.by someone named (or perhaps using the moniker) Ocean Oo. The piece was linked … Continue reading →

Posted in Jim's Posts | Tagged crime stories, crime writing, Darkness First, Jack McMorrow Mysteries, James Hayman, Maine Crime Writers, maine mysteries, Margaret Atwood, mysteries, mystery writers, mystery writing, sites for writers, The Chill of Night, The Cutting, Wattpad, writing | 1 Comment

The Purpose and Future of Fiction

Posted on March 31, 2013 by mainecrimewriters

James Hayman: There have been many dire predictions over the past few years that what we do and enjoy as writers and readers is doomed both as entertainment and art. The arguments are simple. Today, as never before, the competition … Continue reading →