A Complex Woman Who Believed in Writing Real Characters By Z.J. Czupor This prolific author created artful and literary puzzles with convincing victims, strange forms of murder, and ample clues to give her readers a chance to solve the mystery. She also wove into her stories pointed views on...
The Mysterious Demise of Edgar Allan Poe By Z. J. Czupor Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) was a genius in poetry and prose and only lived to the age of forty. While living and in death, he has had a profound impact on literature as an editor, poet, short story writer, lecturer, and critic. ...
The Gift of O. Henry By Z.J. Czupor While American author Washington Irving (1783-1859) is credited with reviving the Christmas holiday in America, and English author Charles Dickens (1812-1870) is recognized for reinventing Christmas through his masterpiece, A Christmas Carol (1843), it is...
Give them what they want—which is a story. by Z.J. Czupor Charlotte (Geraldine) Jay. Photo credit: State Library, South Australia Charlotte Jay was a trailblazing author who only published nine mystery novels all set in exotic locations. She also won the first Edgar for “Best Mystery Novel,” and...
It All Started on a Honeymoon by Z.J. Czupor Helen MacInnes’s first novel, Above Suspicion (1941), is based loosely on her own honeymoon in Bavaria when she encountered German Nazi atrocities. She took extensive notes and swore that one day she would write against the oppression of the Nazi...
Fame, Fortune, and Misfortune for Partners by Z.J. Czupor This award-winning writing couple met in high school, later married, and proceeded to excel individually as mystery novelists. They are the only husband and wife to each serve as president of the Mystery Writers of America, and each to...
The Queens Of Crime by Z.J. Czupor In the span of sixty years from 1920-1980, five women published 143 mystery novels and dominated the genre in what is known as the “Golden Age” of British mystery fiction. Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, Margery Allingham, Josephine Tey, and Ngaio Marsh were...
The Movie that Inspired Another Movie Based on Two Novels, one of which Inspired Another Novel that Inspired the Movie that Redefined the Thriller Genre by Z.J. Czupor Before we follow this curvilinear thread of which movie or novel begat which other series of films and other novels, and the...
Before There was Stephen King… There was… by Z.J. Czupor You may not know this author's name, but you'll certainly recognize his works. He only wrote seven novels, and they were all adapted into films. He wrote tense, taut plots in multiple genres including mystery, Gothic horror, and science...
She Moved Our Collective Consciousness by Z.J. Czupor This best-selling author lived a lifetime of contradiction and experimentation. She was born with a man's name. She wrote and experimented across numerous genres. She grew out of poverty to became rich and famous, and her writing explored the...
