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Articles by Margot Kinberg
Make ‘Em Laugh*
Lots of people enjoy going to comedy clubs or watching comic routines on television or in the cinema. Whether you prefer sketch comedy, slapstick, cerebral comedy, or something else, there’s bound to be someone or other out there who makes you laugh. And that’s a good thing if you think about it; laughter is an important part of mental health, and a good laugh can make everything better. But the life of a comedian is not an easy one.
Paint Me the Places You’ve Seen*
GPS systems have become almost a necessity in the modern world. You really don’t need to know the way to your destination anymore. All you have to do is enter it into the GPS, and a voice guides you from here to there. It’s an incredibly handy tool, but there is also something to be said for maps. Especially if you tend to think visually, a map gives a real sense of the route to where you’re going. Maps can be beautiful, too (have you seen hand-drawn original maps?).
Ride Share
Liam waited outside Bellamy’s. The Uber app told him his ride ‘Danny’ would be arriving in two minutes. It couldn’t be soon enough for him. At least the weather was good, and he’d had a good lunch. You couldn’t say J.J. was cheap, anyway. He glanced behind him. J.J. was still inside – probably in the men’s room. Just as well. The less conversation, the better. Liam glanced down at his right hand to be sure the brown sling bag he carried was zipped up.
Someone Like Me Should Know Better*
Let’s face it: we all make mistakes sometimes (please, tell me I’m not the only one who does!). Most of the time, we learn from our mistakes, and most of us try not to make the same sort of mistake twice. And that’s the way many crime fiction fans like their characters, too. They want characters to be human enough to make mistakes. At the same time, making the same sort of mistake over and over can be off-putting in a character.
In The Spotlight: Henry Chang’s Chinatown Beat
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In The Spotlight: Samantha Downing’s For Your Own Good
I know the fee, Col. I have far too much on my TBR, too! LikeLike
This Old Antique Shop Hides Lots of Stories*
Even if you’re not an antiques buff or a collector, it can be fascinating to visit an antiques shop. You never know what you’ll find, and some of the items have rich and interesting histories. In that way, antiques connect us with our past. Of course, some antiques are really valuable, too, and there are plenty of people who buy and sell them for just that reason. Antiques shops are also interesting contexts for crime fiction if you think about it.
In The Spotlight: Brannavan Gnanalingam’s Sprigs
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Virtual Bookish Events for September 20-26, 2021
The Virtual Bookish Events Newsletter is sent weekly and events are separated into four categories: For Readers - Free, For Writers - Free, For Readers - Paid, For Writers - Paid. This newsletter is sponsored by Free Expressions Seminars, WP expert Nate Hoffelder, and The Shape of a Star Podcast.
And She Always Wore Coco Chanel*
As this is posted, it would have been Coco Chanel’s 138th birthday. As you’ll know, she was one of the influential designers of the 20th Century. She was also an independent businesswoman at a time when that wasn’t as common as it is now. Two of her most famous innovations were the ‘little black dress,’ and the Chanel suit, both designed for the increasingly independent post-WW I woman. And, of course, there was the perfume.
And Good Comes From Bad Anyway*
Can good come out of something as awful as murder? You might not think so; after all, murder is a horrible thing, and it has a lifelong impact on those affected by it. And yet, it is sometimes possible for good to come out of a tragedy. And it can add a welcome note of hope to a story when that happens in crime fiction. It’s got to be done carefully. In real life, people don’t live ‘happily ever after’ in the wake of a murder.
I Need a Doctor For My Pressure Pills*
How do you handle stress? It’s a part of nearly everyone’s life, and successful coping with stress is an important part of a healthy adult life. We all have different ways of handling stress, and those ways are part of what make us unique. That’s one reason why coping with stress is a really interesting way to explore characters in fiction. Some characters use jokes to handle stress. That can at least help to relieve the tension, and it adds a lighter touch to what can be a very suspenseful story.
You Are Not Who I Thought*
When the police investigate a murder, one of the first things they try to do is to establish who the victim was. Once the victim’s identified, it’s much easier to try to find out who would want that person dead. That’s one reason it’s so important to get an accurate identification. In these days of DNA testing and other identification procedures, the process is more precise than it used to be. But even today, it’s possible for a body to be misidentified.
She Makes Me Wanna Smile All Along the Way*
As this is posted, it would have been Agatha Christie’s 130th birthday. That her books are still highly regarded says a lot about her skill as a writer. As you’ll know, she is (rightfully, I think) admired for her plotting. And, while she’s not as famous for her characters, fans know that she created some interesting, even memorable, ones. You might not think about this right away when you think of Christie, but she also had a solid wit that’s woven through her work.
In The Spotlight: James Sallis’ The Long-Legged Fly
Hello, All, Welcome to another edition of In The Spotlight. New Orleans is a city rich with history, different cultures, world-class music and food, and plenty of dark secrets. It’s a complex place, and that’s part of what makes it such an effective setting for a crime novel. Let’s take a look at one today and turn the spotlight on James Sallis’ The Long-Legged Fly.
Words of Wisdom*
You might not think of crime novels as sources for ‘words of wisdom.’ But they can be. In fact, there’s a surprising amount of everyday wisdom in lots of crime novels. Sometimes, those gems come from the sleuth; sometimes they don’t. Either way, though, you can learn some interesting lessons when you read in the genre.
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