KJ Howe: James Swallow suggests we do judge a book by its cover, and I couldn’t agree more. We’re all influenced by color, design, and artistic bent. Studies have demonstrated that a dynamic cover can entice readers to pick up your novel and give it a try. James will delve into why covers are...
What we Rogues talked about, researched, and revealed in October... As the fall chill settled in to stay, Tosca Lee opened October with a thoughtful blog about writing through the changing seasons and all they bring. Then, per Gayle Lynds's invitation, each Rogue weighed in on what "haunts" them...
By Jenny Milchman With Halloween coming to a close, I can't help wanting to enjoy the scary season for just a little longer. If you're not ready to lean into the full-blown holiday season quite yet, here's the remedy: six scary books and films to keep your fall on the spooky side! The Monster The...
Chris Goff: In 2017, at ThrillerFest in NYC, I had the pleasure of meeting a fellow thriller writer William Burton McCormick, who lives in Ukraine. He was particularly interested in my novel RED SKY, set in eastern Ukraine. Fast forward three years, and imagine my surprise when I received a note...
by Lisa Black I love scary movies. I mean love. If you look at my streaming watchlist, it’s 90% horror movies and 10% British crime dramas. And I’m picky—if it doesn’t give me nightmares, it’s not scary enough (only 3 have ever given me nightmares)—and I’ve never found one scary...
KJ Howe: Does your protagonist have to be likeable? Author Lynne Reeves doesn’t think so. In fact, she feels it can be quite compelling to have a challenging character at the helm. Read on to discover why… Dark Emotions and Character Likability By Lynne Reeves No one’s ever accused me of writing...
By Karna Small Bodman We all love books – right? Why is that? When were you first introduced to a book that captured your interest and imagination? Or when did you read certain stories later in life that were so intriguing that you’ve never forgotten them? When it comes to All Time Favorite Books,...
By Tracy Clark What do writers do when they’re not writing? Beats me. The truth is, we kind of almost always are. If we’re breathing, we’re either writing-writing at a desk in a chair, or mind-writing out in the wild. You can spot us by that faraway look in our eyes as we absent-mindedly step off...
Ka-boom! Drum roll please! M. E. Browning! M.E. is the lucky winner of Allen Eskin’s latest book, STOLEN HOURS. Allen was a featured guest on the September 20, 2021 Rogue Reads and was kind enough to donate a copy of his latest release to one luck Zoom participant. STOLEN HOURS features Lila, a...
By Gayle Lynds It’s October, and a chill is in the air. Chipmunks and bears are going to ground, and pumpkins, ghosts, and goblins are showing up on porches and in windows. Ohhh, good! Halloween will soon be here! But as you and I are smiling about the fun of the holiday, there’s another...
