ThrillWriting for Writers

One of the difficulties writers have when creating characters who are LEOs (law enforcement officers), be they patrol officers or detectives, is understanding the both the mindset of these men as well as the procedures that they employ in their line of work.  I’ve been fortunate, while working as security guard, to have met several and watched them first-hand while they work.  But, that by no means make me (or any other writer, except those who have worked as LEOs) expert on them.

To fill the gaps in the knowledge base that is so critical to understanding their line work, writers often turn to books, blogs, or interviews with police and detectives in order to gain an insight into these things.  As I write the first Mike Guidry novels, I’ve had to find some of these resources and I am grateful that they are out there. 

One of the best, “ThrillWriting,” is published by Fiona Quinn, who describes herself as “[having] degrees out the yin-yang,” and is author of the Lynx thriller series featuring Lexi Sobadao.  In it, she features interviews with LEOs at all levels about the intricacies of their job as well as provides voluminous information about criminal mindset; securing crime scenes; processing of evidence; and the legal ins-and-outs that affect criminal investigations. 

The major sections of the “ThrillWriting” are dedicated to thriller writing techniques; expert witnesses; applied psychology; and, quite importantly, “Saving Your Heroine,” all those little things that are important to creatively getting your main character out of the pickles you can write them into.  Readably presented, Fiona Quinn has created a resource where she has gathered in one place all those things that thriller and mystery writers will find useful.  I highly recommend it for the wealth of information it contains.

http://thrillwriting.blogspot.com/