tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post700636668219910978..comments2023-10-30T07:08:09.860-07:00Comments on It's a Mystery: Special OccasionsElspeth Futcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-61366544097529311112009-12-22T00:55:43.561-08:002009-12-22T00:55:43.561-08:00Great advice, Elspeth. Thanks!Great advice, Elspeth. Thanks!Natashahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00481081735923606868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-41193025585588645702009-12-18T08:31:21.777-08:002009-12-18T08:31:21.777-08:00Yep, me too. I like art openings and funerals best...Yep, me too. I like art openings and funerals best followed by races (sailboats, horses or humans). Actually, I've never put the latter in a book but I might now that I think of it.Jan Morrisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01771180344305042855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-25887690803968838402009-12-18T05:47:25.441-08:002009-12-18T05:47:25.441-08:00Great idea Elspeth. Family gatherings of all sorts...Great idea Elspeth. Family gatherings of all sorts are full of stories and conflicts. I have a story I wrote some time ago set at a funeral. It's actually a funny story (if you can believe it) but it works the conflicts and relationships in the room.Laurihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11112458658109887868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-11017120228349295722009-12-17T20:32:40.512-08:002009-12-17T20:32:40.512-08:00Great tips, thanks. Meetcha at the chip dip.Great tips, thanks. Meetcha at the chip dip.Elizabeth Bradleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03150221675618198674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-58821013312407450122009-12-17T17:18:27.135-08:002009-12-17T17:18:27.135-08:00I haven't done this yet - what an excellent id...I haven't done this yet - what an excellent idea :)Jemi Fraserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02214408467456320167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-29873747893644460022009-12-17T16:13:16.692-08:002009-12-17T16:13:16.692-08:00Alan; It's all about the love.
Michele; Thi...Alan; It's all about the love.<br /><br />Michele; Think about it next time you get offered something strange to eat. Seriously, you never know.Elspeth Futcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-24786389423812808772009-12-17T13:52:22.055-08:002009-12-17T13:52:22.055-08:00I hadn't thought of it that way, but so many m...I hadn't thought of it that way, but so many mysteries written DO have gatherings neatly plotted. Louise Penny uses them nicely, if you are familiar with her work. And she really needs to do so b/c her work revolves around a small village and the reader might begin to suspect the strange aura of this small, Canadian town.<br /><br />Thanks for the thought, especially at the holidays!<br /><JournoMichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11170364981958685438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-38536034142187561992009-12-17T13:37:12.353-08:002009-12-17T13:37:12.353-08:00Using the family gathering as a means of forwardin...Using the family gathering as a means of forwarding the plot is a great idea. Life is one big murder mystery!Alan W. Davidsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17067022519729701245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-52619303875379261892009-12-17T12:53:36.678-08:002009-12-17T12:53:36.678-08:00Margot; I've always found them very useful. ...Margot; I've always found them very useful. Glad you agree!<br /><br />Deb; There are plenty of opportunities! Glad you found the advice helpful.<br /><br />Alan; If you think that, then I have a lovely bridge for sale. Only used by a little old lady on Sunday. Seriously.Elspeth Futcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-64887693002736657502009-12-17T12:38:42.741-08:002009-12-17T12:38:42.741-08:00Don't feel bad, Elspeth. Someone with as rosy ...Don't feel bad, Elspeth. Someone with as rosy a worldview as you have would never think of such unfortunate circumstances. Me, on the other hand...Alan Orloffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03695574442723430347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-63818386126349707622009-12-17T12:20:43.308-08:002009-12-17T12:20:43.308-08:00This is great advice Elspeth. So many great opport...This is great advice Elspeth. So many great opportunities... Debhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01603891627784763004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-51566026306899318872009-12-17T12:18:42.060-08:002009-12-17T12:18:42.060-08:00Elspeth - You're absolutely right! Special occ...Elspeth - You're absolutely right! Special occasions are a perfect opportunity to gather disparate people and put them into a situation that may be pleasant or stressful, depending on what the author wants. This also allows for a lot of interesting interactions, past histories, etc., that make for solid suspense.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-52728604379872493682009-12-17T12:11:19.970-08:002009-12-17T12:11:19.970-08:00Carol; It is a marvelous opportunity for interact...Carol; It is a marvelous opportunity for interaction.<br /><br />Alan; Thanks for the reminder; unhappy situations work just as well. Now I feel rather stupid. Thanks, Alan.Elspeth Futcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-35441401466030423132009-12-17T12:06:16.822-08:002009-12-17T12:06:16.822-08:00Don't forget unhappy "special" occas...Don't forget unhappy "special" occasions. Funerals, gatherings at hospitals for unforeseen circumstances, and jail visits can also make great settings for plots. Stress is high and time may be short. (Of course, they're not great in real life, but hey, this is fiction).Alan Orloffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03695574442723430347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-30818292644812501182009-12-17T11:14:09.368-08:002009-12-17T11:14:09.368-08:00I don't usually begin with any special occasio...I don't usually begin with any special occasion, but I often have a party or get together of some sort along the way. It's interesting to see what happens when you throw everyone together.Carol Kilgorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15168273312704732896noreply@blogger.com