Wednesday, February 7, 2018

February #IWSG: Murder, Anyone?






OPTIONAL IWSG Day Question: What do you love about the genre you write in most often?
Co-Hosts: Stephen Tremp, Pat Garcia,Angela Wooldridge, Victoria Marie Lees, and Madeline Mora-Summonte!



I write mostly upper middle-grade/young adult mysteries and fantasy with 12-14 year old protagonists. 

I have always loved mysteries: murder mysteries, art heists, stolen artifacts. It doesn't matter whether the mysteries are geared for kids or adults or anyone in between. I LOVE all forms of mysteries: books, movies, TV series. 

Any good story/TV show will incorporate a heavy dose of mystery and intrigue. In reading/writing mysteries, I love the set-up, the devious deed, the red-herrings, the suspect list, the plot twists, the motives, the means, the opportunity, and the big reveal. 

My favorite mystery writer for kids is Robin Stevens. Her Muder Most Unladylike series feature kid detectives Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong who solve murders in the English countryside at a boarding school known as Deepdean. They also solved one aboard the Orient Express, and in her most recent novel, they solved a double murder at Cambridge University. 

My favorite fantasy series staring paranormal investigators would be none other than the Lockwood & Co. books by Jonathan Stroud.

What keeps me turning the pages of a good mystery is my personal hunt for the murderer or the art thief or the villain, trying to solve the case before the main character does.




What is your favorite genre and why? 


37 comments:

  1. I love reading fantasy and mysteries, but only write fantasy. I loved one of Jonathan Strouds's earlier series, so I'll have to check out the mystery one you like. Thanks for the recommendation.

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    1. I need to read his earlier books! I've read his Lockwood & Co. series twice. So good.

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  2. I like so many genres, with the exception of horror and erotic. Or anything too violent. lol

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  3. I so enjoy a good mystery and especially when it is for young adults. Their mysteries seem to be more difficult to solve than the ones written for adults.
    Wishing you all the best.
    Shalom aleichem,
    Pat G @ EverythingMustChange

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    1. I agree with you! Some of them are excellent mysteries to solve.

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  4. I think young adult mysteries are so intriguing. I'm not great at writing them, but I love to read them. I am a fan of the Young Adult urban fantasy. I love real mixed with magical and young people need hope and so many good themes and goals to think about :)

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    1. I love urban fantasy! I also enjoy writing magic grounded in this world.

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  5. Hi Jennifer, I too love mysteries. I've heard of Robin Stevens'books. I'll add them to my TBR list.

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    1. I've read them twice. She is the master at MG/YA mysteries. Her protags are 14, but I feel they are for both audiences. Glad to help!

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  6. I admire those who write mystery because I'm just not that kind of clever for clues and such.

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    1. Growing up reading Nancy Drew, I really longed for more mysteries geared at my age group. I think that's why I write MG/YA.

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  7. My daughter loves Robin Stevens' books (we met her at the Hay Festival a couple of years ago, she was lovely), and I am currently reading Lockwood & Co with her (my daughter - not Robin Stevens). I too loved mysteries as a kid - I think there's something about it at that age - the putting together of clues etc.

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    1. Awesome!! I'm jealous. And I just realized both of my favorite mystery/fantasy authors are British.

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  8. Any story that doesn't encompass some mystery is lacking. I've read a few, but it kills me. I don't want to know everything is going to turn out okay from page one. Honestly, that's what pushed Harry Potter over the edge--the who-done-it aspect.

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  9. I need to check out the Murder Most Unladylike series. Those books sound like a lot of fun. I love stories to have a bit of mystery. Just like I like most books to have a bit of romance. :)

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  10. I am so bad at guessing the endings, so I'm probably the perfect mystery reader because it's always a surprise for me. I veer towards literary fiction, but I'll pretty much read anything.

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    1. I think you get better at it the more you read mysteries!

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  11. I haven't read that many mysteries. Perhaps The Girl On the Train was the most recent. I love reading anything with incredible characters.

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  12. I love watching Whodunnits on TV, but I can't write a mystery to save my life. I'm not smart enough to pull it off. :)

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  13. I love mysteries/thrillers as well! I also love jigsaws, so there you have it: any form of puzzle will do. :) I'm not sure if I've mentioned this before to you...are you aware that Wordpress folks can't click into your website from the comments and that I can't find "Jennifer" or "Hawes" anywhere on the IWSG page? If you have time, you may want to add your website to your Gravatar account so that us Wordpress people can find you and return your lovely comments. :) I had to search you on Twitter and first I tried the website in your bio, but that didn't get me to your blog. I'm happy I found it in your pinned tweet. :)

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    1. Sorry! I thought I fixed it! I think I'm listed by my blog's name THE WRITING GAME on the IWSG website, but I'll check.

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  14. A good mystery that keeps you hooked and wanting to know more is a win in our book

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  15. It's good to write what you love.

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  16. I love mysteries/suspense/thrillers! I also love a good twist. :)

    I'm going to check out those Robin Stevens books for my niece. She's 9 - is that a good age for them? I'm not concerned re skill level, more subject matter, like if it's too scary, etc.

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  17. I love adventure and mystery, although I read all genres except horror and erotica. Thanks for sharing this with your followers, Jennifer.

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  18. I'm a big fan of murder mysteries, but I also like reading lots of other genres, except horror.

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  19. My favorite genre is fantasy, but I love a good mystery too. That paranormal mystery series sounds really interesting and I am going to bookmark that now for later. Can never have too many good books on the to-read list!

    Anne from annehiga.com

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  20. I appreciate a good mystery, but am usually terrible at figuring out "whodunnit" etc, so I've shied away from writing them. Takes a very clever touch to do well!

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  21. Hi Jennifer, I do like a good art thief villain and story. I'm thinking the remake of The Thomas Crown Affair with Pierce Bronson and Rene Russo what a great remake that was.

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  22. I love reading fantasy and mystery, but only write short stories.


    www.ficklemillennial.com

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  23. Came looking for March, but February will do! I love mysteries too, but read/watch mostly adult ones. One of my fav's on TV, because the books series is different, is Hamish Macbeth. What I love about this show is that there are no murders, and yet the mysteries are still engrossing. In the book series, all of the titles start with, "Death of..." so there are murders there. So rare to find a mystery series that doesn't involve murder. Thanks for co-hosting in March!

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February #IWSG: Just Do It

                  Come join Alex J. Cavanaugh and the Insecure Writer's Support Group. We discuss our fears, insecurities, ups and downs...