The Bit Nobody Puts on the Cover
People think publishing a book goes like this: Write book. Publish book. Become mysteriously successful overnight. I’d like to introduce you to reality… Stage one: the idea. You…
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Behind the Book
Publication news, research, writing process, and spoiler-free essays connected to Harbinger, Sam Rourke, and crime fiction.
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News and notes.
Why Some Characters Stay With Us — and Others Push Us Away
Protagonist Dilemma Most readers have experienced it. You pick up a book with a brilliant premise. The setting is interesting. The mystery is promising. The writing may even…
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What Makes a Thriller Villain Truly Dangerous?
A well-developed villain does not become frightening simply because they are violent. Violence can shock a reader. It can raise the stakes. But what makes a thriller villain…
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The Unexpected Catalyst
If life gives you lemons… write a book! In September 2024, I found myself lying in a hospital bed in Tenerife wondering how a perfectly ordinary holiday had…
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Why Are So Many Crime Novels Set in Chicago?
When readers think of crime fiction, certain cities immediately come to mind. New York.Los Angeles.London. Yet Chicago continues to hold a special place in the imagination of crime…
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How Harbinger Began the Sam Rourke Series
Steven Harrison explains how editorial feedback transformed Harbinger from a standalone psychological thriller into the beginning of the Sam Rourke series.
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