In Honor Of

 

In honor of Thanksgiving share something you're grateful for. Specifically, something that helps you do your work as a writer more effectively, efficiently, or joyfully. So many things I’m grateful for:

 • I’m grateful for the magic. The magic that seems to happen in every book, when I’m writing along, unsure of where the story is going, and suddenly the “magic” removes the clouds and exposes the plan.

It’s always a thrill. I’m working on a book now that has too many plotlines. I haven’t been able to figure out how all those disparate elements will come together. But rather than stop and force the issue, I just keep writing, trusting that the magic will happen. 

 Yesterday, I was walking to my car and I stopped cold. The thin thread I had been weaving seemed to expand right in front of me. I knew exactly what was going on. It explained so much. I have no idea why those things don’t pop up right away. Maybe it’s my brain—or wherever that magic lives—wanting to entertain me. But I know I have to trust that it will be there. 

 • I’m grateful for my hands. I’m a fast typist and have been ever since I taught myself touch-typing as a kid of ten, from a typing book my mother had lying around. Typing made money for me when I was working my way through college. I typed papers for upperclassmen my freshman year, in addition to typing my own papers. I even worked for a law professor one year…typing. For several months in 2016 my right hand was out of commission. My fifth book was typed—with my left hand only. I’m grateful to my hands. 

 • I’m grateful to my writers groups. I’ve been in a number of them, and in each one I learned art and craft that has made me into a better writer. A special shout-out to the group that author Susan Shea started years ago, with the idea that every member of the group would be fiercely focused on getting published. It worked for several of us. 

 And another nod to both the groups I’m currently part of. One, I’ve been in for thirty years. I’m the only crime writer in the group, but they are all great readers and I’ve learned so much from them. The other, I’m relatively new to, and already I have gotten invaluable feedback. For example, I was struggling with a character that I couldn’t quite inhabit, and one of the members of the group asked, “What do you admire about her?” It was the right question. 

 • I’m grateful to my agents—all three of them have taught me, supported me, helped with development, given me good advice. And they’ve been fun along the way. 

 • I’m grateful to the writing community in Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and International Thriller Writers, and the fellow-writers who love to sit down at a conference or a bookstore event or a party, or on-line and “dish.” The ones who want to trade stories about their publisher or their agent, or their beta readers. Who like to get deep into discussions about their struggles with the book they are working on, or their disappointments, or successes. AND who help promote each other's books.

 • I’m ridiculously grateful to my editors, from my first, Dan Mayer at Seventh Street Books, to my latest, Sara Porter, at Severn House. A good editor is golden. They are the ones who say, “Remember back on page 12 you mentioned the guy was a working for John Jones? Why on page 76 is he meeting John for the first time?” They tell you when something doesn’t make sense, and gently get you back on track when you drive into the weeds. 

 • In addition to the “main” editors, I’m extra grateful to so many behind-the scenes people in publishing: The copyeditors. Those are the ones who read my manuscript with eagle eyes, and say, “Hmm, this was in 1982 and you refer to a Motel 6. Was Motel 6 in Texas in 1982?” (Turns out the answer to that one was no, not until a few years later). They want to know if you really meant “that word,” or another one. And the cover designers (I love my covers!) And the publicists. 

 • And finally, I’m grateful to readers, who  tell me how much they love my books, who email me or text me or message me their warm delight. I’m grateful for those who take the time to write a review, and to those who tell their friends. 

 Happy Thanksgiving! 

 And don’t forget, December 2, one week from today, Samuel Craddock # 12 comes out. Lucky #12: