MST Roll Call- Sound off now!

Soccer Mom · Aug 9, 2006

Okay, yes, I stole this idea from one of the other genres. I liked the idea of a place for us to share what we are working on and what we write. Also a place to brag and make announcements for publication in the fields of Mystery/Suspense/Thriller.

I'm shopping a suspense novel to agents right now. I'm writing an adult mystery. (31K as of today.) I've also just started a YA suspense novel (2K as of today).

What are y'all working on? What do you write?

DeborahM · Aug 9, 2006

I have a corporate murder manuscript at an agent, who I don't believe is working hard enough and am thinking about voiding the contract and querying elsewhere.

I'm working on what I've titled Mea Culpa, which is about a serial rapist/murderer. I'm at 25,000+ right now.

My next project will be a true crime about the rape/murder of a 16 year old down by Waco just before the FBI invaded the city and the investigation was put off until the siege was over. I met her mother, who has given me everything she has about the case.

After that, I'll go back to what comes out of my evil, manical mind. :e2brows:

Good luck with your queries!

Begbie · Aug 9, 2006

My agent is currently trying to sell my legal thriller. I just yesterday finished the first draft of my second manuscript, a hard-boiled private detective novel.

Ordinary_Guy · Aug 9, 2006

I'm currently reworking a query letter for a 95k word thriller. Other projects include related stories (that thriller has serial potential) and potentially a short speculative (SF-ish) bit aimed at small press.

Good Word · Aug 9, 2006

I've got a supernatural thriller and a short spec-y story in progress, and a handful of poems that I dredged up from a box from years ago that I am tweaking.

And some technical stuff that I'm editing.

nevada · Aug 9, 2006

I'm working on an Action/Adventure featuring a kick-*** woman hero, a mentor/boss who betrays her for money, African weapons smuggling, assassination and much fighting, both with and without weapons. Lots of fun.

And I write literary shorts where nobody fights except with words, there are no weapons, but lots of betrayal.

Linda Adams · Aug 9, 2006

I'm co-writing an "action adventure thriller for women" (which is our pitch line; we've gotten a lot of good reactions from that) called Audacious Run. Co-writer and I are just finishing up the ending now and hope to have a query out to a couple of agents soon. We have one agent from a writer's conference who is interested in seeing it.

MyFirstMystery · Aug 9, 2006

I'm working on my first mystery novel - set in a hospital. My protagonist is an HR manager. I'm about 32K words in.

I have a few half-novels and am determined to finish this one.

http://piecesofme.typepad.com

nevada · Aug 9, 2006

Linda, when I saw what you are working on, an action/adventure for women, I thought shoot I might as well not write mine because that's what I'm writing. Totally illogical. lol I mean there is obviously room for more than one of them. Mine's called The Hunt, which totally sucks. I'm bad at titles. You should see the trouble I have coming up with titles for my shorts.

Ordinary_Guy · Aug 9, 2006

Couldn't resist

nevada said:
...You should see the trouble I have coming up with titles for my shorts.

"Plaid."
"Stripes."
"Polkadots."
"George."

Lee_OC · Aug 9, 2006

I write noir/crime short stories.

I'm working on a novella that will be an erotic thriller. Or maybe it'll be called noir erotica. The label isn't too important. I just need to finish it.

asorum · Aug 9, 2006

I'm working on a thriller based in bush Alaska. I'm at 31k for the moment.

aruna · Aug 9, 2006

I recently finished a suspense novel based on the Jonestown mass suicide. It's been requested in full or partial form by seven agents, all top notch. 111000 words

Next I'm going to write two sequels using the same female MC, both in cult settings.

Lifelongdagger · Aug 10, 2006

I have just begun a novel where the main character, a bitter, faithless, drunken writer of historical fiction stumbles upon a sinister secret society that actually re-writes history for real.

Sounds a bit mad but I think it'll work . . .

Kate Thornton · Aug 10, 2006

I write mystery & crime short stories - just finished several this week and they went out the door: one to AHMM, several to various other venues, one to a holiday murder anthology, and a reprint to the premier issue of Mouth Full of Bullets. I'm currently working on another set of three flash mysteries, a story involving a missing door and a longer work based loosely on my brother's six wives.

Gravity · Aug 10, 2006

Okay, where to start? My third Joe Box novel (To Skin a Cat), will be in both CBA and ABA stores nationwide on 1 September. The first two, Until the Last Dog Dies, and When Skylarks Fall, garnered some nice reviews (thank God!), and Cat got some nice inside-the-front-cover and back cover blurbs. I'm only about five thousand words into the fourth Joe Box book, With Wolves as Music, and it's not moving along as briskly as I'd like (although my agent loves what she's seen so far). A spec-fiction thriller, Gravity Fades (about 100k words), is being considered by a CBA house now. Another CBA house is considering a science fiction novel, A Certain Slant of Light (it's not yet written; all they have so far is the sell-sheet and synopsis). Plus I have another series started, featuring a different detective. The first one, Consumed (running about 90k words), is being reviewed by several houses, including some pretty nice New York ABA ones.

That's about it!

Good Word · Aug 10, 2006

What are CBA and ABA?

Gravity · Aug 10, 2006

CBA: Christian Booksellers Association, ABA: American Booksellers Association (secular stores).

Soccer Mom · Aug 10, 2006

I am enjoying this so much. I love hearing about everyone's WIP. Keep us posted as it goes.

John, I'm going to look for your Joe Box books.

BTW- I love the idea of women's thrillers! I love action. It is time people realized that women want more than cozies.

Good luck to everyone with novels/ss pending out there in hopeful limbo

Calla Lily · Aug 11, 2006

My first thriller is a finalist in the American Christian Fiction Writers Genesis contest (for unpubbed writers).

2 houses are looking at partials.

It's #1 in a series of 3, but swirling in my brain are ideas for companion-type books: same setting, different characters.

Contest winners announced end of Sept.

The waiting is getting to me--but what a rush after umpteen rejections!

stormie · Aug 11, 2006

I'm still trying to break into AHMM or EQMM. It's one of my goals.

I have a ghost story my agent is shopping to publishers right now.

But it's August, and responses seem to be so-o-o slow in August. Everyone seems to be on vacation.

OmenSpirits.com · Aug 11, 2006

I'm launching an Ezine Pulp magazine and in the works to edit an anthology for an Indie publisher out of Brooklyn.

Plus shopping a few short stories, a serial, and a novel to write.

Plus finishing the Ezine web site-built-updated-and maintained by yours truly.

Plus writing a short story for said anthology and webzine.

I've a busy plate, and am happy for it.

"GET READY FOR ADVENTURE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

rtilryarms · Aug 12, 2006

I have a UFO Mystery/Thriller. Fiction based on a true event.

And I have a Mystery/Suspense. It kind of exposes still another, previously secret arm of the CIA. It is also fact based fiction.

Ordinary_Guy · Aug 12, 2006

rtilryarms said:
I have a UFO Mystery/Thriller. Fiction based on a true event.

And I have a Mystery/Suspense. It kind of exposes still another, previously secret arm of the CIA. It is also fact based fiction.

Sounds cool! Both of 'em. Are they WIPs or are they published?

I'm reworking my crap query letter [almost] as we speak – which actually seems to fall squarely between your two works. Good news that you're making [made?] the attempt, though – tells me there's still a market for it.

rtilryarms · Aug 13, 2006

Ordinary_Guy said:
Sounds cool! Both of 'em. Are they WIPs or are they published?

As of this morning the Mystery/Suspense is about 42K (targeted for 100K) and the UFO is 9K. The Mystery/Suspense is completely outlined to the last chapter, so it's just typing left.

The 9K of the UFO is the fact part. I'm trying several stories around it but they are all conspiracies. I'm experimenting wth an alternate explanation for the real reason for UFO's and that is the way I am leaning.

My primary WIP is about 60K (targeted for 100K) and It is also 100% outlined. It's highly sensitive stuff about some dirty politics involving real people previously untarnished. I have to be extremely careful with that one or I can get into some real trouble. I might have to wait another 10 years to publish or at least get some historical and writing credits behind me.

MST Roll Call- Sound off now!

Crypto-fascist

I need espresso & chocolate!

Quite a character

Industrial Strength

still crazy after all these years

Soldier, Storyteller

Having Fun with Words

Industrial Strength

Benefactor Member

On a wing and a prayer

Still Happy to be Here. Or Anywhere

Seen 'em come, seen 'em go

still crazy after all these years

Seen 'em come, seen 'em go

Crypto-fascist

On hiatus

storm central

Crossbows and Handgonnes

Industrial Strength

Crossbows and Handgonnes