Blog

For Writers and Readers First      It’s not too late to join us! MAPLE LEAF MYSTERY CONFERENCE You’re invited to join us and participate in this five-day online event with interactive interviews, conversations and panel discussions with some of Canada’s best crime writers and international bestselling authors, including Ian Rankin, Rick Mofina, Maureen Jennings, Vicki Delany, Iona Winshaw and Continue Reading

Celebrity authors It doesn’t seem fair. They’re already rich and famous. Celebrities have an instant advantage over other writers. It’s a very effective hook to pull readers into a book – the inside story by an insider! Fact or fiction, it’s an easy sale for the former President, Secretary of State, Mafia hit man, rock star, or astronaut. It doesn’t Continue Reading

Crime Writers of Canada Report for the Quebec Region – April/May 2022 It has been an interesting year 2012-2022 for Crime Writers of Canada. In spite of the disturbing death and disaster continuing in the world around us, we are working on our writing and book marketing projects and our ongoing activities to support and encourage our fellow CWC members Continue Reading

Another milestone! The next novel, #5 – CRASH LANDING – Draft #3 is ready for early reader review. The full draft manuscript of Novel #5, CRASH LANDING, is finished and ready for final review and revision. I’m pleased to offer you an advance review copy in E-book/.pdf for your feedback before I present it to agents and publishers. CRASH LANDING Continue Reading

Sharing the news! Maple Leaf Mystery Conference: May 24th-28th For fellow readers and writers of crime fiction – mysteries, thrillers & suspense – I wanted to share the news of this new writers conference based in Ottawa and available online to readers, writers, friends, and fans from around the world. The Maple Leaf Mystery Conference: May 24th – 28th Featuring author Continue Reading

Promo: First in the Series With less social commentary? Feedback from readers of the Dale Hunter Series is still helping me write better action thrillers. Thank you! In my last email update, I explained how I am also learning from the outstanding bestselling novels of Arthur Hailey and John Grisham. They are both great storytellers and do an excellent job Continue Reading

Arthur Hailey or John Grisham? For business fiction. You may not know me as Your Uncle Ralph for non-fiction writing and business advice for entrepreneurs, but my mission of promoting and supporting enlightened entrepreneurship includes the Dale Hunter Series of crime thriller novels with an entrepreneur as the hero fighting crime and corruption. The novels have hidden messages for entrepreneurs Continue Reading

Who’s your favourite Canadian author? In addition to me, of course. I recently realized that my novels are influenced by the original Canadian internationally recognized best-selling writer, Arthur Hailey. You may remember him from Hotel,  Airport, and Wheels (1965-71) or his final books, The Evening News (1990)  and Detective (1997). My own novels, the Dale Hunter Series, are about a Continue Reading

How to write a novel   There’s a process? What process? I’ve read a lot of books on writing and listened to a lot of writers explain their process for writing a novel. Many explain how very disciplined they are and how they get up every morning at 5:00am to write for three or four hours before going to work Continue Reading

Why do you write? And why do you read?  I recently posted my answers to five Frequently Asked Questions that I get from readers, friends and fans. But the one question I did not answer and that I get most often from family and close friends in particular is, “Why do you write?” So I’m going to answer that question Continue Reading