Master Plan

This is a post that I had on a blog tour for one of my books. I thought my readers and followers might enjoy it.

I’ve been drawn to mystery for a long time.  The cat and mouse game the writer plays with the readers, keeping them guessing is my favorite part. I love it when a writer fools me, and yet, when I think back over the story, it was there all along.  

 

That is what I try to do in my Shandra Higheagle Mysteries.  I start out with who was killed and how. Which means, I must know that person’s background and why someone might have wanted them dead. The how can change as I start lining up my suspects. The how may have been one way in the beginning but as I list the suspects, their motive and opportunity, sometimes the how must change to fit the opportunity.

I have what I call a suspect chart that I use when listing the suspects. The columns are: Victim – Death- Suspect-Motive- Red herring.  Suspect and motive are self-explanatory. The Red herring is what the character did or didn’t do that makes them look like a suspect. I usually have anywhere from 5 to 7 suspects. Using this chart helps me to keep the story moving forward. I use the red herrings and motives as the information in each scene that keeps the story going forward and the sleuths following clues. 

Victim	Death	Suspect	Motive	Red Herring
John Doe	Stabbed
		PeeWee	Gang member	Has a criminal record for stabbing people

While this all sounds like I have my book all planned out, I don’t. Of the 7 Shandra Higheagle mysteries I’ve only written 2 where the killer stayed the same from the suspect chart to the end. As I write the book other secondary characters enter the story. What they see and do changes what I thought happened in the beginning processes. 

One of the wonderful things about writing, and writing mystery, is how my mind can have me write a character doing something, and at the time I don’t know why, then later on it is connected to the story in such a way it makes a huge impact on the outcome. 

In my stories, I also have dreams that play a role in how the main character, Shanda Higheagle, helps to solve the murder. Sometimes the dreams are explicit enough she can help guide Detective Ryan to the clues and murderer. Other times, she is too close to the situation and can’t figure it out. However, if the reader really thinks about the dreams, they could figure out who the killer is.  There are times I need to add a dream to the story, but I’m not sure what I want to show. When that happens, I quit for the day and find other things to do, and usually, out of nowhere, the dream will come to me.  It is either a foreshadowing of what’s to come or a cryptic message about who the killer is. You can go here to discover more about Shandra, her deceased grandmother, and her dreams.

The latest Shandra Higheagle book, Fatal Fall, will release May 25th,

 

Book eight of the Shandra Higheagle Native American Mystery Series
Avarice…Family…Murder

When the doctor is a no-show for her appointment, Shandra Higheagle becomes wrapped up in another murder. The death of the doctor’s elderly aunt has everyone questioning what happened and who’s to blame. Shandra’s dreams soon tell her she’s on the right path, but also suggests her best friend could be grave danger. 

Detective Ryan Greer knows not even an illness will keep Shandra from sneaking around, and he appreciates that. Her insight is invaluable. When she becomes embroiled deeper in the investigation, he stakes out the crime scene and waits for the murder to make a tell-all mistake.

But will he be able to act fast enough to keep Shandra or her friend from being the next victim?

 

Death by.....

I've discovered since writing the Shandra Higheagle Mystery series that I try to find a way to kill someone with everything I see or come across. I'll read something and wonder, "Could a plant that is lethal to a chicken also be lethal to a human? If so, how would I go about using this information to kill someone?

My mind goes on all sorts of strange tangents when I get excited about a way that would be a different type of death. Most of my murder victims in my series have had not too unusual deaths, but I keep looking for one that would make a great story for my series.

I was watching Midsome Murders the other night and they had a victim who was struck in the head, knocking him out, and then put under a car lift and crushed. While it made me sick to my stomach thinking about it, I started wondering what other types of things could a murderer use to make it look like an accident? ?What other devices are in businesses or even homes and farms that could easily be an accident and not a murder?

I came up with several that I jotted down. No, I won't give them away here, because I want to use them in future books. ;)

Writing a mystery book takes more thought than writing a romance. Keeping the clues popping up without actually giving away the real killer is a problem. Then there's making sure there are red herrings to keep the reader occupied on someone else while you are showing the real killer.

This week I've contacted a police officer to get information on the correct wording for legal processes and I've contacted a Medical Examiner to make sure I have the right wording for the death and the correct marks on the victim for the "accident" that is really a murder.

While some consider writing a book hard work. I consider the first draft with the surprises at every scene and the characters actions fun. I enjoy the plotting, writing, and discovery.

Monday Mystery - Killer Ideas

Just like writing any type of story an idea is needed to spark the what if's that can be strung together and dissected to come up with a premise and plot for a mystery.

I've been working on a new mystery series set in the Bitterroot Mountains of Northern Idaho. Any time I hear of a real life crime that could be made to fit a book set in this area my ears perk up and I pay more attention. Or if an injustice has happened and it could be used to get a fictional character murdered and then work in the ski resort I've set up or the reservation community of the main character's family again, my interest is piqued. 

While walking with my dad during his daily strengthening walk after his bypass surgery, he was telling me about a prominent person who came into the county and bought up lots of land, then brought in his friends and business acquaintances to shoot elk on his land. Only because these people were out of state and didn't have licenses of tags, he used the tags of his employees for the "outsiders" to fill. They all got caught and not only did the landowner and his people get fined, but the employees who's tags they used were fined and couldn't hunt for five years.

As soon as the words were out of my dad's mouth, I began playing what if in my head and came up with a similar situation that would give me multiple suspects, a great way for my amateur sleuth to get involved, and a plausible reason for it all to happen. Once we returned home, I jotted it all down and you can wait to see which book ends up with this scenario. 

Have you read a mystery, thriller,or suspense book that had a plot similar to something factual? If you're a writer did you write a book based off something factual you learned?

What's on the Page?

Another process I use to get my characters and story set in my mind while "stewing and brewing" is Story Magic by Robin Perini and Laura Baker.

This method was taught to me several years ago and I've used pieces of it to help me complete my plot and fully realize my character's place in the story.

I use the conflict grid which is a three column table that has the hero and heroine's name across the top. In the case you have a villain, you could add their name as well. Down the side are listed: inciting incident, long range goal, short range goal, character flaw, relationship barrier, crisis/black moment, and realization. You fill out each of these for each character. If it's done right you see the conflict between the characters and you set up the plot of the story.

Inciting Incident: The moment or event that sparks the start of your character's journey in this story.
Long Range Goal: What the character believes is needed to fulfill his/her life.
Short Range Goal: What needs to be met to work toward the long term goal.
Character Flaw: The flaw that will get in their way as they go toward that goal.
Relationship Barrier: What keeps them apart.
Crisis/Black Moment: That moment when all is lost and they find that inner strength to do the right thing that will fulfill their short term goal.
Resolution: all is right and their long term goal is realized.

This is just another way of digging deeper into your plot and characters to make sure you have a solid story before you start writing.