Janet Q. Glaser, the Wordwright
The Writer's Life of Frivolity and Philosophy

I have discovered a fantastic book to assist mystery writers when stumped on police procedure and investigation. I write mysteries–(Mystery/horror novella, Sunshine Boulevard, Muse It Up Publishing, release March 2011)–but I must admit I do not come from a police or investigative background. I make up the story and then check with those who know about police procedure to add the polishing touches to scenes and action.

This week I checked out Police Procedure and Investigation: A Guide for Writers by Lee Lofland. Lofland is a former police detective and he spills the beans on everything from equipment used by police and detectives to procedures for investigating a crime scene. Arrest and search procedures, homicide, murder, and manslaughter, fingerprinting, autopsy (yep, I about lost my cookies reading this chapter), drugs and drug trafficking,  prisons and jails are just some of the information packed chapters in the book.  Lofland’s actual experiences are narrated in the sections called In the Line of Duty.  In the chapter on Arrest and Search Procedures, Lofland finds himself facing a “Mountain Man” who is crazy wild in a bar. I can tell you that Lofland successfully tames this wild man and arrests him.

If you are a mystery writer or want to be, this book is a fantastic resource to get you started. It may even spark a few ideas for story lines.

Police Procedure and Investigation: A Guide for Writers by Lee Lofland–Writer’s Digest Books, 2007

It’s summer time and oh so hard to sit down and write at the keyboard. Do you have that problem too? If you have children at home now, your time for writing is stripped away. I know authors who write during the child’s nap time, late at night or early in the morning when it is still quiet, while waiting for the soccer practice to end, etc. They find bits and snatches of time to get a story/article all down on paper.

Add to the small space of time available for writing, the temptation of  gorgeous summer skies and gentle breezes and all of a sudden the weeks pass with nothing written. Even my blogs are begging for attention.

I hope you all are enjoying your summer and have more determination to keep writing in spite of perfect June weather, ball games, carting children around to activities, vacation time, and pure exhaustion. Do you have any tricks or tips to help us settle down to the business of writing?  Please share….. Thank you!

Good news! I signed a contract for my mystery/horror novella, Sunshine Boulevard, with Muse It Up Publishing! The ebook is tentatively set for release in March 2011. I am doing a happy dance.

As you may recall in a post on May 5 entitled Rejected Again, I complained about publishers leaving a writer hanging by not responding to the submission.  I emailed my full ms to Lea Schizas of Muse It Up Publishing. She told me she would notify me within two weeks of a decision. Well within that alotted time frame, she emailed me. She wrote, “The editorial department came back with an assessment. We loved your writer’s voice.” She went on to say the contract and other paperwork was attached….I stopped reading and started again from the top. I read it all again to believe that I actually had a contract for this crazy book! I can’t stop dancing!

Muse It Up Publishing is  a small and upcoming royalty paying independent e-publisher. The official opening is in December 2010. But don’t wait to look them up because they are on the web now with submission information, authors, and book titles. It is an exciting time for everyone at M I U Pub. I am sure readers are in for a feast for the eyes and mind and heart with the talented authors already contracted and diverse genres.

Check out the authors page. My pen name is J Q Rose. I’ll keep you updated on this new adventure. Okay I’ll stop dancing now..for awhile.