Author: Terry Carroll

I’m reading a wonderful book, THE OUTLANDER by Gil Adamson. On the strength of the writing, it won the Hammett Award June 7, 2008, although it’s literary fiction with a crime at its core, not at all what you’d expect to win such an award. I don’t usually have a must-read list for writers, but […]

To be a good rewrite man, begin with the premise that the first draft is pretty bad, and you will seldom be disappointed.

I’m having a look at, and reading if possible, all the contenders for best novel in the Arthur Ellis Awards sponsored by the Crime Writers of Canada. Here’s what’s on the list: 1 cozy set in a Quebec village 1 suburban thriller 1 19th century book set in Toronto, involving slavery 1 19th century book […]

For writers, here’s one of the more memorable lines from the movie Capote, starring Phillip Seymour Hoffman: “Plus, I finished my novel yesterday.” The line is spoken by Capote’s friend, Jack. My question is, “How did he know he was finished?” Perhaps, back in the day, using a typewriter, a novelist would know. Now, on […]

Last night, I was a guest presenter at Patron Appreciation Night at the West Lorne, Ontario, Public Library. After my presentation, a high school student approached my table and asked if I would autograph a well-thumbed copy of Body Contact (a previous mystery novel published by Mercury Press). “Of course,” I said. “It’s my favourite […]

At the risk of criticizing widely known and respected practitioners of the craft … I’m of the view that many mystery novels are simply too long. Perhaps that’s the fault of fans, who love to enter a world created by writers they love, and don’t want to leave. I understand that. I’m a mystery reader […]

A mystery writer may spend years on a book, so a dedicated reader can absorb it in a day.

It’s hard to maintain confidence in your own work. Here’s what happened when I was on a mini-tour to promote an earlier novel called BODY CONTACT. As I approached the microphone, the following thought came from somewhere, “What if the book is all crap?” Having had that experience, I now do everything I can to […]

Publishing three mystery novels with The Mercury Press out of Toronto has given me a few insights into the world of small press publishing. It’s a wonderful experience to work on a book with an editor like Beverley Daurio at Mercury. Sometimes she seems to understand my manuscripts better than I do. On the business […]

The weekend just past, I was determined to exceed the 49,000-word level and push on past the 50,000-word barrier, maybe even 55,000. Instead, I had to admit that I was somewhat lost. With this realization comes loss of confidence and self-doubt, which some people call writer’s block. Instead of doing a lot of writing, I […]