Zoë Sharp is as another generous British author who was a featured presenter at Love Is Murder in Chicago last weekend. Not only did she take part in panels, she conducted a master class and, at tea time Saturday, she demonstrated self-defense techniques (with the help of Robert Goldsborough, who recovered with a seated massage in the exhibit hall shortly after).
In the master class, one tip she offered was to give careful thought to where to start your story. Sure, that’s not new advice. But in the context of her presentation, I completely rethought the beginning of a book I’ve been working on for the last couple years. That was one of the moments that made the whole conference worth the price of admission.
If you’re unfamiliar with Zoë’s work, even if you aren’t a fan of suspenseful stories, take a look at her Charlie Fox series. If you do nothing more than make a study of her first lines, she’ll inspire you. Check out her website, At the Sharp End … .