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I Don’t Think So- JB Fletcher
Jessica Fletcher calls out criminals using four simple words- I Don’t Think So. Check out how I use Murder She Wrote Episodes to get my students prepared to write their own mystery novels. First, Murder She Wrote is the iconic cozy mystery television series that rocked the eighties and nineties. If you weren’t alive to watch the episodes as they aired, odds are you caught a few reruns with your parents or grandparents. Second, Jessica Fletcher is a fun character to follow. Plus, she’s static. She doesn’t grow very much throughout the series. This means we can focus on the mystery instead of following the character arc, making the journey…
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It’s Agatha Christie Time
Funny thing about mystery writers. Their real lives are often mysteries of their own. Agatha Christie is no exception. Multiple movies have hypothesized and dramatized her missing days. There’s even a Dr. Who episode about them. It’s time to meet the grand madam of mystery, Agatha Christie, and her big-time murders in small-town settings. *** As authors come closer to the present time, their biographies may become more graphic. Please use care. Don't rely on my standards. Please- Vet the videos to fit your family's needs. *** Agatha Christie Biographies Short Ones Longer Ones Mystery of Agatha’s Missing Days Here are some theories about Agatha’s missing days. What do you…
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Meet Father Brown
Onto another master of mystery, and his iconic character, known as Father Brown. One can often find GK Chesterton gracing the book lists of Classical Education families and teachers. Even more often, someone unfamiliar with Mr. Chesterton’s essays and arguments can stumble upon his most famous fictional character. Meet GK Chesterton’s witty and wily Father Brown. Read this article about GK- https://www.chesterton.org/who-is-this-guy/ to learn more about the man. Or watch this video about his Catholic faith and ideals. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=id3GL9KwGcM But now let’s discuss the Priest with a Passion for crime solving- Father Brown. Father Brown mysteries combine faith and fiction, common sense and character qualities, producing another amazing sleuth. https://www.fatherbrowngame.com/about-father-brown.htm…
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Hello, Sherlock!
When you think of a detective, odds are, a familiar image comes to mind. Namely, a spindly tall man smoking a pipe and playing the violin. Say hello to Sherlock Holmes. Below you’ll find what I’ve used to introduce my kiddos and students to this investigator that is almost as shady as the villains he stalks and the man who created the legend. I use one of my favorite short stories to invite my students to enter Sherlock’s world. Then, if they want to dig deeper, I pull out the big dogs with The Hound of the Baskervilles. Get to know the Detective on his official site —> https://sherlockholmes.com/ Meet…
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Say Hello to Edgar Allan Poe
This Building A Mystery Post is all about the author of the very first detective story. Say Hello to Edgar Allan Poe, the sith lord of the macabre and melancholy himself. I believe diving into Poe’s famous detective story is a fabulous place to start when learning how to write a cozy mystery. (Something this writer mom loves to do with her high school students. I’m thrilled to share it with you.) Let’s start with Mr. EAP and his wild biography. Like other famous mystery writers, Mr. Poe leaves us with a tremendous gap in his timeline. It’s a mystery no one has unraveled with certainty. Edgar Allan’s death pulls…
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Five Bookish YouTubers for Writers
We all need a little help sometimes. When you’re just getting started with writing, you may need more than a little. If you’re like me, you need a GRIP LOAD of advice, tutorials, and more. Here are five YouTubers that I turn to for guidance. I bet they can help you as well. Self-Publishing with Dale From uploading your manuscript to finetuning your keywords, Dale cuts through the haze of how to’s and helps writers become authors. Snarky and understanding, Dale has no qualms about bringing in experts and getting his hands dirty assisting his viewers. Check out his channel and subscribe if a jump start into publishing is what…
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Because I gotta Have Faith- My Testimony
*** Warning: this post may have triggers for some – please be kind to yourself. I’ve tried to gloss over some of the most hurtful triggers (not for my embarrassment but your wellbeing). PLUS, this post is less edited than others on purpose. I didn’t want to lose any of the emotion behind it. *** Grab yourself a warm cup of coffee and snuggle in. This is just you and me chatting. I was raised in a Christian home. Isn’t that how all these vanilla testimonies begin? Does that mean I’m a cliche? Well, so be it. I was raised in a Christian home by imperfect but loving parents. They held…
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To Plan or Not to Plan: 2022
I have a confession to make. I have purchased and filled in hundreds of planners in my adult life. I’ve also paid for and attended numerous webinars, classes, and boot camps to teach me how to plan properly. And yet- somehow- I’m never able to rock my goals. So this year- I give up! Sort of! Maybe you can relate? Of course, I still have goals and dreams and hopes. And sure, I’m still going to prayerfully pursue them- I’m just ditching the color coding and 90-day charting of said goals. Here’s why: GUILT Yup! Guilt. Every missed goal- every slipped my mind deadline heaps another shovel full of stinky,…
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Christmas Movies: 2021
This is the season for Hallmark and holiday classics. At my house, the movies are nearly as important as the decorations. Here’s a list of the Hualde family’s Christmas movies of 2021, clustered into our homemade categories. Some are old favs, and others are new fads. XXX Be Advised not all movies are suitable for all ages. Use discretion and good judgment. XXX Staples/Old Favorites White Christmas: This one typically makes an early appearance during the season. Usually, even before the chilly weather sets in. It only makes sense. Auntie Mame: Though not truly a Christmas movie, the Christmas scene during the Depression makes me smile every time and gets…
