My Hero Taught Me To Read

My hero taught me to read. I don't mean literally.

Perhaps I should say, my hero taught me to love reading and in turn, love writing. Who is my hero?

My sister.

She loves to read. She'll read anything she can get her hands on, especially mysteries written by Agatha Christie, Rex Stout, and Dick Francis. Anyway, that love created a love of reading in me. On so many occasions she would push a book at me and insist I read it because she knew I would love it. And she was always right. Eventually it led to a longing to writing, which in turn changed my life. Writing keeps me sane.




So, I would like to thank my sister because she is my hero.

Click the photo above to take you to other Who's Your Hero entries.

Who is your hero, writing or not?

Survive and Thrive: JANZ Syndrome

I decided to take part in the Survive and Thrive Bloghop put on by Stephen Tremp, Michael Di Gesu, Diane Wolfe, and Alex Cavanaugh.

While researching a character in one of my books, I discovered a disease called JANZ syndrome, otherwise known as Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy (JME), a fairly common form of idiopathic generalized epilepsy, representing 5-10% of all epilepsies.









What are the symptoms of Janz? 

(1) myoclonic jerks on awakening usually of the limbs like arms or legs, this will cause some sufferers to knock over things like juice or coffee.
(2) GTCS generalized tonic-clonic seizures, occurring usually after a series of myoclonic jerks. Also called grand mal seizures.
(3) typical absences seizures.

What to do if someone is having a seizure:

• move them away from anything that could cause injury, such as a busy road or hot cooker
  
• cushion their head if they're on the ground
  
• loosen any tight clothing around their neck, such as a collar or tie, to aid breathing
  
• when their convulsions stop, turn them so that they're lying on their side
  
• stay with them and talk to them calmly until they have recovered
  
• note the time the seizure starts and finishes

DO NOT put anything in their mouth, including your fingers. They may bite their tongue, but this will heal. Putting an object in their mouth could cause more damage.

If you want to see a video from a Janz sufferer, please watch the video below:

If you want to donate to the Epilepsy Foundation, click the link below:

Sources: NHS Epilepsy Information

Epilepsy Foundation

Don't Love Your Characters Too Much

It's so easy to fall in love with your characters.

You're forced to study their lives. To understand why they like what they like, love what they love, hate what they hate. Spend enough time with them and you will fall in love, even the minor characters.








Why is that a bad thing?

Sometimes it's not. Sometimes it can give your story depth and intrigue.

But sometimes it can cause problems.

How?
(a) it can change your plot, sometimes for the worst - especially if you've written half the book and weren't planning the novel to go a certain way
(b) minor characters can changed to major characters - especially in a love story, the character you meant one character to love might not be the one they end up with

Have you ever fallen in love with a character so much that you changed the plot or made the minor character a major character?
Do you think your characters should be able to change the plot?

Photo credit: minifig / Foter / CC BY-NC-SA

Writing & Wellness: Dealing with Stress, Self-Doubt and Snacking

Today I'm visiting an awesome website where I talk about how I deal with stress, self-doubt and snacking.

Come Visit!

Underrated Treasure: Bo Bruce

I don't really like to participate in blogfests but I really wanted to share a musical artists that I like:

Bo Bruce

About the artist:

• Appeared on The Voice UK (Series One) and came in second.
  
• Her voice reminds me of The Cranberries.
  
• She's titled: Lady Catherine Anna Brudenell-Bruce
  
• Her webpage: Bo Bruce 

Have Fun and Win a Free Copy of my Book!

Type a sentence or two based on the photo above and you could win one copy (of five) of my latest mystery novel! What could be easier than that? Go to Carol Kilgore's webpage and check out her contest.

Click here:
http://www.carolkilgore.net/contest/

Also, Mason Canyon did an awesome review of my book. You can see the review here.

3 reasons to write like a... Director

Writers and directors have this in common--they both use scenes. However, although most writers write their scenes in the order they appear in the book, directors rarely film the scenes in the order they appear on screen.

Why not?

• Sometimes it's because of the actor's schedules or health or commitments
  
• Perhaps they only can shoot scenes in a certain location at a certain time

Sounds complicated. And it probably is. So why would a writer want to write like a director? I actually came up with some reasons:

(1) It improves our ability to write in scenes - we are often told it's better to write in scenes but many writers lament that it's hard, "I don't know where one scene ends and another starts in my novel." Well, when you write in scenes (and scenes out of order) you are forced to have a starting point and an ending point. You will focus more on the goal of the scene--the reasons for that scene.  

(2) The setting stays fresh in our minds - Let's say we write our scenes in order of location. Well, we have in our minds eye the location. We know where things are placed and if items are moved or changed in a previous scene, we're more likely to remember. 

(3) It keeps your writing fresh - sometimes when we're writing and we get stuck, it's because we don't know where we're going with that part of the story, so move the story to a different time or location. Write all the scenes of a certain character (especially one you're jazzed about writing) or all the scenes from a certain location. It may take more planning but you may be surprised with the end product.

Have you ever done this? Do you think it will work for you? Why or why not?

Pic source: here

Clarissa's Research: What is a burn phone?

I'm interrupting a series to post this little mystery tidbit. We often hear in tv shows or movies about criminals using burn phones. Well, here's what I found out. This is solely for mystery/crime writing research.














What is a burn phone?
Burn phones are prepaid cell phones. Also known as throwaway phones. They are used only for a limited time and can be thrown away. Sometimes they come with time on it or you have to buy minutes. You don't need a contract because you buy the phone outright.

Why do criminals like to use them?
These phones are inexpensive, simple cell phones that cannot be traced by a SIM card. These phones don't require a credit card to activate because you can purchase minutes on cards with cash. In part because you don't need to give any personal information, or show any identification to buy one of these devices.

Where can burn phones be bought?
Anywhere. Walmart. They are sold at large retailers like Walmart, drug stores, and even grocery stores.

Burner Phones and Crime Stories
The criminal complaint recently filed against the 10 Russian nationals on charges relating to espionage, for example include the fact that they all used prepaid cellphones, or "burn phones to communicate. These phones were used once maybe and then discarded.

For years organized crime and drug cartels have used prepaids to stay one step ahead of law enforcement.

If that wasn't bad enough cheap prepaid cellphones can be used to trigger an "improvised explosive devices" (IED's) remotely, as was the case with the recent Times Square bomb plot in New York. Police say terror suspect Faisal Shahzad, a Pakistani American citizen use a prepaid cellphone to detonate the vehicle bomb.

Sources:
ehow
allvoices.com
ask.com

Swan Lake, New Notebooks & Auditions are coming in!

Over the weekend, I went to see my first ballet: Swan Lake. I've always wanted to go but have been too afraid of the crowds. Well, I sucked it up and went anyway...and, impressive. Brilliant. Can I subscribe to the ballet now?

Also, I splurged and bought two notebooks from moleskine. What a lovely site that is. Buying notebooks is like a drug for me and I'm addicted. I bought the London notebook and the 2012 mini daily planner. I'm super excited to receive it in the post.

Mystery Writer's Guide to Forensic Science - Bang, Bang, you're dead!

I often fall asleep to the sound of gunfire. Ah, the smell of gunpowder in the morning. However, I'm not going to talk about Mexico today. I'm going to talk about guns - handguns to be specific. I'm going to take the most important questions and give you my research.

What do handguns look like?
Here are two examples of popular service pistols used by law enforcement. Do more research to find out what type of weapon the shooter would use.

Browning Hi-Power

SIG Sauer P226

Where is the safety on a gun? 
Well, every gun is different. And, in all honesty, when writing mystery fiction, do we really say more than, "he/she took the safety off"?

However, some popular guns have safety in the grip -such as the 1911 guns. For such a gun to fire, even if you press the trigger if the back of the grip is not pressed in – which it always is in when you hold it for firing but never otherwise as it is spring loaded to stay out – even if you press the trigger that gun will not fire. The grip safety must be pressed in to go BANG. Some popular guns such as Glocks have no safety switches but they have little levers on the trigger. To fire the gun, whether cocked or not, you must first press the little trigger lever and then pull the trigger.
Revolvers have no safeties but they are much harder to pull the trigger (relative to a semi-auto).  

What are the parts of a handgun called?

The Simple Diagram

The More Complex Diagram

What do handgun shots sound like?
Well, again, it depends on the gun, where you are (indoors or out), how far away you are. I once was a few houses away when police started shooting but it was with rifles so it was loud. Also, I was running to my car, so I wasn't trying to think of what it sounded like either. From far away (like a few streets away, they are much quieter and sound more like popping to me. I put a video on my youtube account, you can go watch it here. You do NOT see any dead bodies - no one dies. (Keep in mind, it sounds different on TV.) If any of you have heard a gun go off, what did it sound like to you?

What happens when you shoot a gun in the air? 
The bullet comes down. And hard. Some idiot on New Years Eve shot a gun outside of my father's house into the air and the bullet came down through my father's Honda Civic roof and down into the drivers seat. Had my father been sitting behind the steering wheel, he'd be dead. If you shoot a gun in the air, it can kill someone.

Is this all I need to know?
Of course not. But, I have this word of advice. You don't want to get your facts wrong, don't go into to much detail. The average reader does not need to know much more than someone was shot. However, when doing witness statements or forensics, research is good to have.

I want to hear your gun stories, people!  What kind of experience do you have with firearms? Anything you want to know for my next gun post?

Next week: Gunshot residue. Bullet holes. Can bullets go through concrete? What about glass?

Sources: Rightnerve.com
 Smith and Wesson

Luminol

The Alphabet in Crime Fiction - The concept was started by Kerrie at Mysteries in Paradise. This week's letter is the letter L.


Here are the rules: By Friday of each week participants try to write a blog post about crime fiction related to the letter of the week. Your post MUST be related to either the first letter of a book's title, the first letter of an author's first name, or the first letter of the author's surname, or even maybe a crime fiction "topic". But above all, it has to be crime fiction. You could write a review, or a bio of an author, so long as it fits the rules somehow.

LUMINOL

Theory Luminol is used by crime scene investigators to locate traces of blood, even if it has been cleaned or removed. The investigator prepares a solution of luminol and the activator and sprays it throughout the area under investigation. The iron present in any blood in the area catalyzes the chemical reaction that leads to the luminescence revealing the location of the blood. The amount of catalyst necessary for the reaction to occur is very small relative to the amount of luminol, allowing the detection of even trace amounts of blood. The glow lasts for about 30 seconds and is blue. Detecting the glow requires a fairly dark room. Any glow detected may be documented by a long exposure photograph.

Drawbacks

• Luminol chemiluminescence can also be triggered by a number of substances such as copper or copper-containing chemical compounds, and certain bleaches; and, as a result, if a crime scene is thoroughly cleaned with a bleach solution, residual cleaner will cause the entire crime scene to produce the typical blue glow, effectively camouflaging any organic evidence, such as blood.
  
• Horseradish sauce, via the enzyme horseradish peroxidase, catalyses the oxidation of luminol, emitting light at 428 nm (blue in the visible spectrum), which may result in a false positive.
  
• Luminol will also detect the small amounts of blood present in urine, and it can be distorted if animal blood is present in the room that is being tested.
  
• Luminol reacts with fecal matter, causing the same glow as if it were blood.
  
• Luminol's presence may prevent other tests from being performed on a piece of evidence. However, it has been shown that DNA can be successfully extracted from samples treated with luminol reagent.

 Sources: http://laciudadatomica.blogspot.mx/2011/01/10-luminol.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luminol

Have you mentioned Luminol in your books? Has it solved the crime?

Also, authors I want to check out that start with the Letter L:

LESLIE CHARTERIS

Leslie Charteris (12 May 1907, Singapore – 15 April 1993), born Leslie Charles Bowyer-Yin, was a half-Chinese, half English author of primarily mystery fiction, as well as a screenwriter.

The Last Hero -This book talks about how the Templar makes the acquaintance of his arch-villain, destroys a dangerous death ray, and thereby saves the world from catastrophe and a second Great War. It was written in 1930.

LYNDA LA PLANTE

Lynda La Plante, CBE (born Lynda J. Titchmarsh on 15 March 1943) is an English author, screenwriter and former actress, best known for writing the Prime Suspect television crime series. La Plante's father was a salesman in Liverpool. She attended RADA and began her career as an actress, mainly on television. As Lynda Marchal, she appeared in several popular series including Z-Cars, The Sweeney, The Professionals and Bergerac.

Trial and Retribution -The murder of a young single mother begins a police enquiry that spirals into a hunt for a serial killer. How much evidence do you need to convict a guilty man; and how much fear can be instilled to make an innocent one plead guilt?

Sources: Wikipedia and Amazon.com
Writing and selling your mystery novel by Ephron
http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php/type/doc/id/419

Mystery Writer's Guide to Forensic Science - Arsenic

Arsenic is an irritant poison. It attacks the cells and in post mortem, you will find traces of arsenic in almost all parts of the body including the hair, bones, and fingernails. This method of killing has been used in many mysteries.

Symptoms of arsenic poisoning:
1) It will begin with irritation and burning in the throat, faintness, nausea and depression.
2) It will be followed by vomiting (food then mucus with blood)
3) Abdominal pain (like red-coals on the stomach)
4) Tongue covered in white fur and then constriction in the throat
5) After 12-18 hours, there will be diarrhoea and pain. Cramps will set in to the legs and the pulse will be weak and irregular.
6) Collapse and death soon occur.
7) Externally, the skin will appear blue due to lack of oxygen in the bloodstream (cyanosis)

Treatment:
Chemical and synthetic methods are now used to treat arsenic poisoning. Dimercaprol and dimercaptosuccinic acid are chelating agents which sequester the arsenic away from blood proteins and are used in treating acute arsenic poisoning.

Testings for arsenic:
There are tests available to diagnose poisoning by measuring arsenic in blood, urine, hair, and fingernails. The urine test is the most reliable test for arsenic exposure within the last few days. Urine testing needs to be done within 24–48 hours for an accurate analysis of an acute exposure. Tests on hair and fingernails can measure exposure to high levels of arsenic over the past 6–12 months. These tests can determine if one has been exposed to above-average levels of arsenic.

Marsh Test
The Marsh test is a highly sensitive method in the detection of arsenic, especially useful in the field of forensic toxicology when arsenic was used as a poison. It was developed by the chemist James Marsh and first published 1836.

Interesting facts about arsenic
1) Found in most human bodies
2) Smells like garlic when roasting the metallic ore

What are your favorite stories with arsenic poisoning?

Mystery Writer's Guide to Forensic Science - Blood Patterns - Part 1 (Might be disturbing)

Hi, everyone! Just wanted to say a few things before I start: 1) The chapter reviews are not part of a contest. You can request a critique at any time. Just click the round button to the right ---> 2) Recently, bloggers have been posting about various blogging habits such as commenting and blog layout. If you have anything that irritates you about this blog (like slow upload time), let me know.

Just a warning: The article below has photos with blood patterns. If that sort of thing bothers you, don't go on. Nothing Gory. No dead bodies.

When a violent crime is being committed, most of the time, blood is left behind. How do forensic scientists classify and analyze these stains?

Passive bloodstains - are those stains created by the force of gravity.

Drip Pattern

Drop Pattern

Passive Drops - Bloodstain drop(s) created or formed by the force of gravity acting alone.
Drip Pattern - A bloodstain pattern which results from blood dripping into blood.
Flow Pattern - A change in the shape and direction of a bloodstain due to the influence of gravity or movement of the object.
Pool Pattern - A bloodstain pattern formed when a source of blood is stationary for a period of time.

Angles of Inpact

Transfer/Contact bloodstains - A transfer or contact stain is produced when an object with blood comes in contact with an object or surface that does not have blood. It may be possible to discern the object that left the blood impression.

Blood Transfer by Hand

Wipe Pattern - A bloodstain pattern created when an object moves through an existing stain, removing and/or altering its appearance.
Swipe Pattern - The transfer of blood from a moving source onto an unstained surface. Direction of travel may be determined by the feathered edge.

Projected bloodstains - this occurs when some form of energy has been transferred to a blood source. (We'll look at those in more detail next week)

Terminology

Angle of Impact -- The acute angle formed between the direction of a blood drop and the plane of the surface it strikes.

Bloodstain -- Evidence that liquid blood has come into contact with a surface.

Bubble Rings -- Rings in blood that result when blood containing air bubbles dries and retains the bubble's circular configuration as a dried outline.

Directionality -- The directionality of a bloodstain or pattern which indicates the direction the blood was traveling when it impacted the target surface. Directionality of a blood drop's flight can usually be established from the geometric shape of its bloodstain.

Directionality Angle -- The angle between the long axis of a bloodstain and a predetermined line on the plane of the target surface which represents 0 degrees.

Drip Pattern -- A bloodstain pattern which results from blood dripping into blood.

Flight Path -- The path of the blood drop, as it moves through space, from the impact site to the target.

Flow Pattern -- A change in the shape and direction of a bloodstain due to the influence of gravity or movement of the object.

Parent Drop -- A drop of blood from which a wave, cast-off, or satellite spatter.

Passive Drop (Bleeding) -- Bloodstain drop(s) created or formed by the force of gravity acting along.

Point (Area) of Convergence -- The common point (area), on a two dimensional surface, over which the directionality of several blood drops can be retraced.

Point (Area) of Origin -- The common point (area) in a three dimensional space to which the trajectories of several blood drops can be retraced.

Satellite Spatter -- Small droplets of blood that are distributed around a drop or pool of blood as a result of the blood impacting the target surface.

Perimeter Stain -- A bloodstain that consists of only its outer periphery, the central area having been removed by wiping or flaking after liquid blood has partially or completely dried.

Spine -- The pointed or elongated stains which radiate away from the central area of a bloodstain.

Swipe Pattern -- The transfer of blood from a moving source onto an unstained surface. Direction of travel may be determined by the feathered edge.

Target -- A surface upon which blood has been deposited.

Transfer/Contact Pattern -- A bloodstain pattern created when a wet, bloody surface comes in contact with a second surface. A recognizable image of all or portion of the original surface may be observed in the pattern.

Void -- An absence of strains in an otherwise continuous bloodstain pattern.

Wave Cast-Off -- A small blood drop that originates from a parent drop of blood due to the wave-like action of the liquid in conjunction with striking a surface.

Wipe Pattern -- A bloodstain pattern created when an object moves through an existing stain, removing and/or altering its appearance.


Sources:
1) Wikipedia
2) Suite 101
3) Chem Matters
4) ezine
5) bloodspatter.com
6) Blood spatter video (very interesting - not gory)

Joseph Addison's Essays: Sir Roger at Home

First, if you want to read the story, you can here: page 1, page 2, page 3, page 4. It's a short, short story probably around 500-1000 words long.

Modern Day Soho Square (click to enlarge)

Who is Sir Roger?

Joseph introduces us to Sir Roger de Coverley in this essay, a beginning of many regarding this baronet. Not much is written about this character but what is known is that his grandfather invented a dance called, "Sir Roger de Coverley" otherwise known as the Virginia Reel. You can watch the dance on YouTube. They've danced this way many times in Jane Austen films.

Modern Day Soho Square (click to enlarge)

When in London, Sir Roger lived in Soho Square. He kept himself a bachelor because he was crossed in love by a widow in the next county over.

Notes from the Essay:

Addison comments on Roger's treatment of his servants. Commenting that all his servants have been with him for years, growing old with them. When Sir Roger comes home from London or elsewhere, the servants will go as far as crying over his return and disappointment over not being able to help him around the house.

Next, Addison talks about a companion of Sir Roger, a clergyman who is considered more of a "relation than a dependent" and who has lived with Sir Roger for over thirty years. The clergyman is a dispute settler and because of his wisdom, has kept peace among Sir Roger and his tenant. Sir Roger gave his clergyman and friend all the sermons he could find in English and so instead of the clergyman having to make his own, he could work on perfecting the delivery of them.

Addison remarks that he wished all clergymen would employ their time likewise. "This would not only be more easy to themselves, but more edifying to the people."