mercredi 21 août 2013

Publishers Announce New Murder Mystery Writers

By Tara Daniels


Crime novels are a highly popular genre for all ages. Nearly everyone loves an intricately woven tale of mayhem. New murder mystery writers surface frequently. From first chapter books to adult novels, there are novels for everyone. Even those who write other genres often include an element of criminal activity in their stories.

Publishers have certain long-term authors they depend on for any of the genres they publish. These are the tried and true authors who consistently produce good stories. However, any publisher is eager to launch a new author. They often feature new talent in a special series that combines veteran authors with new names in the field. The themes are similar, which promotes these new names to loyal readers.

Though they are not exactly new, Cozy novels are considered a new genre. Similar to old British crime novels, but with a difference, these novels feature a female sleuth as the protagonist. Read mostly by women, they are also generally written by women. The female sleuth is quite good at figuring out the puzzle presented, often when others have been unsuccessful. They are able to solve the crime with what seems to be little effort.

Certain significant characteristics are common for the cozies. The biggest is the absence of violence. Though someone does get killed, the reader never sees the gory details that are often portrayed in other mysteries. There is merely the suggestion of what happens. The reader decodes the event using their experience with other crime novels.

Among other traits of these type tales is the fact that the sleuth is generally a woman, is an amateur, and is not associated with any organization such as a police force. They may, however, cooperate with local law enforcement officials. Romantic relationships may develop, but the intricate details of any sexual exploits are not directly revealed.

These stories are not plot-driven, but rather character-driven. The characters have strong profiles, especially the female sleuth. Settings are often exotic, such as on cruise ships or other settings where the action takes place. Sometimes the action takes place close to home, in the detective's own neighborhood. Either way, the setting needs to be meaningful for the sleuth.

The focus on characterization does not mean the author cannot weave an intricate plot. Quite the contrary. Many of these authors have very strong plots of their stories. It's just that the focus is about character development and not so much about the plot. The plot takes a backseat to the characters, especially the protagonist, the female sleuth who is unravelling the puzzle. Variations include the romantic suspense novel and the darker Gothic novels.

The rise in popularity of these cozy crime novels means there are many more being written and published. Publishing companies are searching for talented authors who can tell a strong character-driven story with a strong plot as well. Some newer authors who are popular and recognized for their adherence to the specifics of this genre include Gillian B. Farrell and W. Edward Blain. Not all of the new murder mystery writers adhere to the form of this genre, however.




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