Synopses & Reviews
The Elements of Mystery Fiction: Writing the Modern Whonunit has guided and inspied mystery writersveterans as well as beginners-- for nearly a decade. Here William G. Tapply, with more than 20 popular mystery and suspense novels under his belt, isolates the crucial ""elements"" of the mystery novels that publishers want to publish and readers want to read--original plots, clever clues, sympathetic sleuths, memorable villains, multi-dimensional supporting characters, true-to-life settings, sharp narrative hooks, and, of course, smooth writing. In clear readable prose using examples from many of our best contemporary mystery novelists, Tapply shows how the writer can create the pieces and fit them together to make a story you can't put down.
This new expanded edition of Elements contains original chapters by some of our best contemporary writers and most prominent personalities in the publishing world discussing writing and business issues that are vital to mystery writers in the 21st century.
Review
Tapply is an author's author, a writer whose work is a beacon for critics in search of excellence and
authors in search of guidance.
--Globebooks.com
Synopsis
The new expanded edition this classic reference contains original chapters by some of the best contemporary writers and most prominent personalities in the publishing world, who discuss writing and business issues that are vital to mystery writers in the 21st century.
About the Author
William G. Tapply is the author of more than 30 books, among them twenty-one New England-based Brady Coyne mystery novels, including his latest, SHADOW OF DEATH (St. Martin's Press, 2003) and FIRST LIGHT (Scribner's, 2001) a collaboration with fellow mystery writer Philip R. Craig. SECOND SIGHT, their second collaboration, will appear in 2005. Tapply has written several books about fly fishing and the outdoors, including GONE FISHIN' (The Lyons Press, 2004). He's a Contributing Editor for FIELD & STREAM, a columnist for AMERICAN ANGLER, and has written hundreds of articles and essays on a variety of subjects for dozens of other publications. Tapply is a professor of English at Clark University in Worcester, where he teaches a variety of writing courses. He lives in Hancock, New Hampshire with his wife, novelist Vicki Stiefel, and Burt, his Brittany Spaniel.