Killer Questions – Favorite Crime or Writing Reference Book(s)
Heather Weidner - Stephen King’s On Writing, Kathryn Markup’s A is for Arsenic, and Anne Wingate’s Scene of the Crime
James M. Jackson - The one I’m currently learning from. As I write this, I've just started Understanding Show, Don’t Tell by Janice Hardy.
Annette Dashofy - There are so many, but if I have to pick one, I’d say The Crime Writer’s Reference Guide by Martin Roth. If I can pick a second, it would be Donald Maass’ The Emotional Craft of Fiction.
Debra H. Goldstein – How I Write by Janet Evanovich, Writing and Selling Your Mystery Novel by Hallie Ephron, and Don’t Sabotage Your Submission by Chris Roerden
Sarah Burr - I’m a fan of the Emotional Thesaurus series that helps me capture emotions using different words or phrases, rather than my characters just shrugging all the time.
Kait Carson - Well, this could get us on a lot of watch lists! 400 Things Cops Know, Police Procedure & Investigations, How Dun It.
Susan Van Kirk - On Writing (King) Bird by Bird (Lamott), Don’t Murder Your Mystery (Roerden)
K.M. Rockwood - Chicago manual of style (I know, I'm pretty boring. But I need this.)
Korina Moss - Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott and On Writing by Stephen King.
Shari Randall - Too many to list but right now, I am reading Jane Cleland’s Mastering Suspense, Structure, and Plot. Good to get back to basics.
Mary Dutta - You can’t go wrong with Strunk and White’s The Elements of Style
Grace Topping - For reference, Don't Sabotage Your Submission by Chris Roerden. Chris had thirty years of experience as an editor with major publishing companies in New York City and really knows what makes for a good submission. Reviewing Chris's book before submitting a manuscript is excellent insurance for a successful submission.
Lori Roberts Herbst - On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, by Stephen King. As a “Constant Reader,” I found King’s thoughts insightful and motivating.
Margaret S. Hamilton - Hallie Ephron, Writing and Selling Your Mystery Novel
Elaine Douts - They change with the script so I can’t name any one book other than Chicago Rules!
