Jennifer Berg's Blog
October 16, 2020
July 18, 2020
Bouchercon Anthology 2020
July 31, 2019
March 2, 2018
A Hole In One: A Glass Dolphin Mystery (#2)
[image error]by: Judy Penz Sheluk
Barking Rain Press
Hoping to promote the Glass Dolphin antiques shop, co-owners Arabella Carpenter and Emily Garland agree to sponsor a hole on contest at a charity golf tournament. The publicity turns out to be anything but positive, however, when Arabella’s errant tee shot lands in the woods next to a corpse.
They soon learn that the victim is closely related to Arabella’s ex-husband, who had been acting as Course Marshal. With means, opportunity, and more than enough motive, he soon becomes the police department’s prime suspect, leaving Arabella and Emily determined to clear his name–even if they’re not entirely convinced of his innocence.
Sub-Genre: Amateur Sleuth, Cozy
Other Characteristics: Antiques shop, Golf, Canada, Small Town, Present Day
February 19, 2018
Cold Crash
[image error]by Jennifer Young
Cinnamon Press
For archaeologist Maxine ‘Max’ Falkland, life in early-50s London is difficult enough as she tries to move on from the death of her brother, an RAF pilot shot down over Korea. But, when she meets John Knox things get more complicated — before they get outright dangerous.
Mystery Sub-Genres: Historical, Suspense & Thriller
Other Characteristics: Female Protagonist, London, Mull, Scotland, 1950s
February 12, 2018
Look The Other Way
[image error]by Kristina Stanley
Imajin Books
A year after her Uncle Bobby mysteriously disappears in the turquoise waters surrounding the Bahamas, Shannon Payne joins her grieving aunt to trace Bobby’s last voyage. Shannon hopes the serenity of the sea might help her recover from a devastating breakup with her fiancé.
Mystery Sub-Genres: Adventure & Explorer, Romance
Other Characteristics: Contemporary, Female Protagonist, Sailing, Bahamas
February 8, 2018
The Hatbox Murders
by Jennifer Berg[image error]
Barking Rain Press
Inspector Riggs reluctantly agrees to re-examine a supposed suicide case, but when his investigation leads to murder, he will have to convince a clever librarian to go undercover to catch the murderer.
Mystery Sub-Genres: Detective, Historical, Traditional, Amateur Sleuth, Soft-Boiled
Other Characteristics: Seattle, 1950’s, female sleuth
(This is the format I’m considering for my Mystery Beacon series.)
February 4, 2018
The Mystery Beacon
And now for something different and new. This year, I’ve decided to start highlighting mysteries across the board, new and old, specifically focusing on the genres and sub-genres of those mysteries. This is a vast and objective subject to say the least! I haven’t done anything quite like this before and I hope to get the input of other mystery writers and fans with this project. More, coming soon…
October 19, 2017
The Charlatan Murders: Galley Proofs
For the second time this year, I’m editing galley proofs. My next book, The Charlatan Murders, will be released at the end of March. In the coming weeks, I’ll get to see cover sketches and blurbs, and I’ll watch the magic (from a distance) as Barking Rain Press pulls together all the logistics that goes into a final printed book. It’s an amazing process and I’m loving every minute of it. In fact, I might even be more excited than I was the first time around, because when I went through this process with The Hatbox Murders, a (fairly large) part of me still didn’t really believe it was actually happening, whereas this time I know it’s real!!!
September 20, 2017
Some thoughts on Creativity
Everyone is creative. Creativity isn’t an elusive muse, or a super power bestowed on a select few, it’s hard work, failures, and persistence. Just like we are all capable of logical thinking, we are all capable of creative thinking. And if we choose to cultivate those skills, it’s only a matter of practice. The more we play with ideas and allow our creativity (and failures) the easier it all becomes.
