A Tribute to Writers
Books,  Musings about life,  The life of a writer

A Tribute to Writers #ShareTheLove

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A Tribute to WritersWriters inspire, arouse, support, and even enrage … but no one can call us boring. For our readers we’ve watched bodies decompose at the Body Farm, witnessed autopsies and the miracle of childbirth. We’ve delved into twisted minds and nearly drowned in swirling questions of Why? or What if? We’ve lifted fingerprints with black powder and horse-hair brushes, studied ballistics and death investigations, and cried with a mother who lost her child in a fatal car wreck or senseless shooting. We’ve rallied for justice, rejoiced for equality, encouraged diversity, and have come too close to death on more than one occasion.

Writers know the grass is never greener once we cross the street, nor are most situations ever black-and-white. The gray areas are where we shine. It’s where we ask, “What if this happened instead?” Or, “How could she be so cold?” Or, “How did the killer feel as the life drained from his victim?” We’re driven to seek the ultimate truth.

Our innate curiosity, and yes, our imagination, takes us to places some may fear to dwell, but it’s also why we’re able to escape the confines of this world and create. Writers reign where passion ignites, where heroes become family and villains threaten our very existence. The turmoil we create can turn deadly. Everyone plays with fire, and no one is ever truly safe. In our world, husbands and wives keep secrets, best friends can get you killed or jailed, and our pets age uber-slow — we can’t bear to say goodbye!

We writers immerse ourselves in dark places, dance under the moonlight, and frolic in worlds not yet imagined. We delve into the more menacing side of life, where criminals stalk the street, where serial killers justify their actions, even though in the real world their reasoning never really makes sense.

How do we spend so much time researching monsters and not be affected? We are affected! What our readers find between the folds are bits of our shredded heart, our fears, our sorrow, our pain, our soul poured like sand through a child’s fingers. Writers feel everything … the joy, the heartbreak, the devastation. If we block those feelings and completely detach, we won’t be able to share what we find with you, dear reader. And that, is one of the best reasons we write. We’re storytellers. We’re visionaries. We are catalysts of change and sadly, targets of hate.

We’re storytellers. Some say professional liars, but I’ve never particularly liked that phrase. We aren’t liars. Our characters are in turmoil, their emotions spilled all over the page. Everything they think, see, hear, smell, touch, feel, including secrets best left buried, is on display. How is that a lie? Transparency implies the opposite.

We write … to heal, to satisfy, to ease our sorrow. We write … to dance, to sing, to celebrate life. We write … to entertain, to frighten, to touch lives. The reasons why we write are as varied and complex as the stories we tell. But all of us, every writer who has come before us and those who haven’t yet begun their journey, write to fulfill a need, a yearning, some may even say it’s a calling. We’re helpless to fight it. Our deep-rooted need to write was instilled early in life, often by the hand of other writers, and the overwhelming craving needs to be satisfied. So, we write.

We chase our dreams, celebrate our victories, and pick each other up when we fall. Writers support other writers — we’re forever linked by a shared love of the written word.

It’s in this spirit that I share the love for two special writers. Not only do I love their work, but these amazing storytellers help the writing community on a regular basis.

Jordan just scored her first BookBub feature deal for The Last Victim (she shared her experience in this post). Let’s help her make it count!

She also has two back-to-back releases. The marketing of which is its own special hell. Yet, she’s killing it! Go, Jordan!

I’m reading Fiona’s Salvation now. Ryker Townsend is one of my all-time favorite characters.

I adored Valentine Steel Heart. It’s Book 1 of an exciting new series, and it touched me on such a deep, emotional level.

Caleb never misses an opportunity to help his fellow writers. His first Kindle World book released in October. Let’s try to repay all the love he’s shown us over the years. Just scored my copy!

He also has a new memoir that’s sitting on my Kindle. Caleb is such a beautiful writer, with over 70 novels to his name. Impressive, right? I can’t wait to read The Man Who Talks to Strangers!

Writers are a rare, funny, eccentric, scary, supportive, helpful, loving bunch. We’re blessed to walk together on this journey. Which writers have inspired you? #ShareTheLove in the comments.

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A couple quick announcements. Starting in October, Google now warns visitors if a website/blog isn’t SSL protected, which basically means the site is hackable. That doesn’t mean the site will be hacked, only that it’s possible. Readers of this blog can rest easy. Murder Blog is SSL encrypted. No matter if you type “http://” or “https://” before “www.suecoletta.com” you will still be protected. Joining my community has never been safer.

Also in October, I became a member of the Kill Zone. As a longtime follower of the blog, the invitation had me happy-dancing for days. For tips with social media, blogging, and SEO, check out my first post.

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Which writer has inspired you? #ShareTheLove by giving them a shout-out in the comments, and leave a link to their blog or books!

Sue Coletta is an award-winning crime writer and an active member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. Feedspot and Expertido.org named her Murder Blog as “Best 100 Crime Blogs on the Net.” She also blogs on the Kill Zone (Writer's Digest "101 Best Websites for Writers"), Writers Helping Writers, and StoryEmpire. Sue lives with her husband in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire. Her backlist includes psychological thrillers, the Mayhem Series (books 1-3) and Grafton County Series, and true crime/narrative nonfiction. Now, she exclusively writes eco-thrillers, Mayhem Series (books 4-9 and continuing). Sue's appeared on the Emmy award-winning true crime series, Storm of Suspicion, and three episodes of A Time to Kill on Investigation Discovery. When she's not writing, she loves spending time with her murder of crows, who live free but come when called by name. And nature feeds her soul.

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