Wednesday, June 5, 2019

June #IWSG: THE GAME IS AFOOT!





OPTIONAL IWSG Day Question: Of all the genres you read and write, which is your favorite to write in and why?

The awesome co-hosts for the June 5 posting of the IWSG areDiane Burton, Kim Lajevardi,Sylvia Ney, Sarah Foster,Jennifer Hawes, and Madeline Mora-Summonte!
Co-Hosts:


I'm excited to be co-hosting today! Of all the genres in the whole writing realm, mysteries are my absolute favorite. I know I sound like a broken record. The thrill of the chase, the clues, the secrets, the riddles, the red herrings, and the ability to solve the crime before the detective does are just a few of the reasons why I LOVE mysteries. Adult, YA, MG. 

I love the overall vibe and atmosphere presented with each new mystery! 

Yes, our town is partially underwater. But thankfully our flood gates and levees are holding back the Mississippi River from the downtown area!! They even added a five foot extension on all the gates. Here is a pic of Tom Sawyer, literally, fishing in the Big River.

Now, get back to writing. THE GAME IS AFOOT! 





This is located about a mile from downtown where the highway is under water. 

Lover's Leap- Eerily quiet on the river with the no boats or barges restriction!







58 comments:

  1. Ooh, mysteries are a great choice! I find that I include some sort of mystery in all my stories. Doesn't change their genre, but the elements are there. The unknown and needing to discover it is always fun. Thank you for co-hosting!

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    1. Agree! Every book must have an element of mystery or we won't finish reading it:)

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  2. I love to read mysteries but write MG and YA fantasy. Like Sheri, I like to add some mysteries into my stories. I may branch out to mysteries some day.
    Thanks for co-hosting.

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    1. I still think about the MG fantasy I wrote a few years back based in Chicago that has tons of mystery throughout!

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  3. Sorry your town is flooded. I hope the floodgates hold.
    Thanks for co-hosting today!

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    1. People are taking it in stride. Saw a couple playing kayak basketball at the flooded outdoor sports complex!

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  4. Wow, lots of water.

    I enjoy watching mysteries, though admittedly, I haven't read many. Perhaps I should!

    Thanks for co-hosting!

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    1. I LOVE READING THEM. I might start a therapy group. If you struggle with how to construct a novel, mysteries have it down!

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  5. Thinking of you as you watch the flood waters rise. Hoping it will soon crest and go down. I was in Grand Forks the year of the big flood. Not fun.
    Mysteries are the best. Keep writing them!
    Mary at Play off the Page

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    1. Thank you! We were supposed to crest last Friday, then this past Tuesday. But with tons more storms and rain, who knows! Those gates aren't coming down anytime soon.

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  6. Hi Jennifer, though I love to read mysteries I'm yet to write one. But I want to write a mystery soon.

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    1. Awesome! Let me know how it goes! IF you read a ton of mysteries, it shouldn't be too hard to construct one of your own.

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  7. I hope the flood waters recede soon!

    I tried my hand at a few mysteries with my Atlantic City characters as a preteen, but I never got far into any. From what I remember, they were pretty embarrassing, and i was probably motivated by the spin-off mystery series from then-popular series like The Babysitters' Club, not my own desire to write mysteries.

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    1. The Babysitters Club! Now, that brings back memories... Still have a bunch in my school's library.

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  8. What a picture. Oh my I am sending positive thoughts your way.

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    1. Thanks! We're still going strong here. Although, out of town there are many houses under water. So sad!

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  9. Have you seen the 'whodunnit formula?'
    https://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/aug/02/academics-unlock-formula-agatha-christies-mysteries

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    1. Awesome! I will check it out:) I've read tons of articles on writing mysteries. Plus I read TONS of mysteries a year. I mean tons. :)

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  10. I'm so sorry about the flooding. I hope they're able to keep the water back. I love mysteries too - one of my favorite genres to read. They're a nice distraction from the real world.

    Cheers - Ellen

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    1. SO far so good! At least, for part of the town.

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  11. Mysteries are a lot of fun.

    I am so sorry about the floods. I hope the water recedes soon.

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  12. Hope those levees keep doing their thing! Stressful times.

    I enjoy mysteries as well. Does writing mysteries help you figure out the villain in other stories more easily? Thanks for co-hosting!

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    1. Muhahaha! Yes, it does. It's always so fun to be tricked by a mystery writer. I love figuring out the villain. It takes a lot to make me surprised!

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  13. My sister is dealing with the same issues on flooding, but their levee didn't hold. Fortunately, she's on the hill, but downtown is a mess. Hang in there.

    I love mysteries of all kinds and I have a couple of "in the back of the drawer" partial manuscripts. My current work is horror, but there are some elements of mystery in it.

    Thanks for co-hosting today!

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  14. Ay ay ay! I hope you stay dry. Thanks for co-hosting.

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  15. I enjoy reading mysteries but not sure I have the plotting skills to write one. :)

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  16. I've never tried writing a mystery but reading them is always fun!

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  17. Mysteries are my favorite too. So many possibilities!

    Yikes, I hope the dam holds. Stay safe!

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  18. Your pictures! Oh, wow! I've been complaining about how wet our yard is. Nothing like what you're experiencing. Stay safe!!! I love mysteries. Hubs & I enjoy watching mystery series on Netflix and Acorn (British mysteries). Thanks for co-hosting this month.

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  19. Hope the flooding drifts away soon! I love a good mystery. :)

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  20. My goodness - that's a lot of water!!! I hope it's already peaked and is receding as we speak!!
    I remember discovering Agatha Christie as a kid and being consumed by her mysteries. So good! There's always a bit of mystery in my romances because mysteries are Fun!

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  22. I love mysteries, and ghosts! Gads, that's a lot of water. Great pic of Tom Sawyer fishing, though. May drier days be coming your way soon.
    Thanks for co-hosting!

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  23. Oh, wow that's a lot of water! Thanks so much for co-hosting this month.

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  24. You've had quite a time of it with water this year. Those pictures are quite impressive. Hope the water recedes soon and you can put things back to order. Mother Nature is having her way with all of us, isn't she?

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  25. Flooding has been bad in Ottawa here this year, too. Fortunately we live pretty far from the river, but the traffic downtown has been been atrocious, as one of the three major bridges has been closed for two months due to high water levels. Not to mention all the property damage for those who do live near the river...

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  26. Oh goodness! I'm glad you are okay. The Midwest and other areas have been hit so bad with flooding.

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  27. What a picture of Tom! Good grief. Be safe!

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  28. Whoa, glad you're safe with all that flooding! Thanks for being a co-host of all the IWSG fun this month.

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  29. Maybe it is an alien mystery why they are flooding you. See which humans can swim? The one that sinks is a witch. Hmmm lets hope the flooding goes away.

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  30. For some reason I could never write a mystery. I think mystery is one of the hardest genres. You have to think of all the different clues and red herrings and a way for the hero to discover the truth.
    Sorry about the flood in your area. It's scary when you see a highway under water, like in your picture.

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  31. Ouch to all that flooding. It's been so bad along the big river. I love reading mysteries but I have no confidence that I can write one.

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  32. Mystery is a popular genre. Sorry about the flood. Yikes.

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  33. I am so sorry about all the flooding. I'm in Missouri and have been pretty lucky this year. Maybe you can turn the floods into a great mystery. I love mystery too. Happy IWSG Day :)

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  34. The flooding is heartrending, Jennifer. I can't begin to imagine what so many people and communities are experiencing. I hope that your home escapes the deluge. I love a good mystery, for all the reasons you expressed. Sometimes after reading a good one, I like to reread it again just to see how the author made it work. I hope that you've had fun visiting around today as you co-hosted!

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  35. Yasss! I'm a mystery reader and writer myself. Good connecting. Thank you for co-hosting. Happy IWSG day!

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  36. Stay dry! We have record high water levels on Lake Ontario this year, but it's only affecting the homes on the shores. Those pictures of yours are scary.

    Thanks for co-hosting.

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  37. That's one of the things I like about mysteries whenever I get a chance to read them, is trying to solve the case before the detective does. It encourages the reader to think making the story a kind of puzzle. Again, thanks for co-hosting!

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  38. Now that's a LOT of water. Stay safe.

    Thank you for co-hosting the IWSG this month.

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  39. Honestly, mystery if a fabulous genre. It's my second favourite. Thanks for co hosting and for posting photos of the river.

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  40. Gosh! That's a lot of water. Try to keep dry.

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  41. I love mysteries too!! I love the puzzle of them. So sorry about the flooding and glad you are safe. Thanks for co-hosting this month!

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  42. Thanks for co-hosting this month.
    I have been getting into mysteries more. I think I'm getting into the chase.
    Stay safe.

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  43. I do like a little mystery every now and then. Thanks for co-hosting!

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  44. Wow, that's some crazy flooding. It's been raining heaps everywhere, it seems. The late snow melt is creating raging rivers in Colorado right now and as we next drove through Kansas, rivers were widened immensely and trees were under water, almost to their tops.

    Even in Nebraska - which we are crossing right now - we see fields under water and puddles everywhere. Last night, we even got stuck in the mud, because the dirt roads were too muddy. Weird times, for sure.

    Thanks for co-hosting this month and I hope you will remain safe!

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  45. I like reading mysteries, it’s my third favorite genre to read after romance and fantasy. Lately, I’ve been reading lots and lots and lots of romances. I’ve yet to have written a mystery but I do have at least two paranormal mystery story ideas filed away that I wonder if I’ll ever get to write.
    Thanks for co-hosting this month!

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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...