Introduction At over 10,000 feet in altitude, our fictional setting is Oresville, Green County, Colorado, with a population of approximately 2,000. The citizens of Oresville thrive in 2015 with a foothold in the mining spirit of the mid-1800s. Although several of our characters have moved to Oresville from other states, they feel the acceptance and […]
mystery
Posted inSunLit, SunLit Interviews
SunLit Interview: How two friends turned a fundraiser into their first mystery novel
Judilee Butler, left, taught kindergarten and special education, with a master’s degree in learning disabilities, before shifting to the corporate world and marketing. After a 20-year career with IBM, she and her husband retired to the central mountains of Colorado.Jean “GaGa” Gabardi worked in telecom, with master’s degrees in project management and business. After earning […]
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SunLit Interview: A mystery on the family ranch led author David M. Jessup to a trilogy
David M. Jessup grew up at Sylvan Dale Ranch in Loveland, Colorado, owned and run by his family. He is passionate about preserving open space and telling stories about the American West. He is a popular speaker on topics such as cattle ranching, sustainable agriculture, land conservation, flood recovery (he’s been through two floods on […]
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SunLit Interview: For M.E. Browning, 22 years as a cop paved the way to this “police procedural”
M.E. Browning served 22 years in law enforcement and retired as a captain before turning to a life of crime fiction. Writing as Micki Browning, she penned the Agatha-nominated and award-winning Mer Cavallo Mysteries, and her short stories and nonfiction have appeared in anthologies, diving and mystery magazines, and textbooks. As M.E. Browning, she writes the […]
Posted inBook Excerpts, SunLit
SunLit Excerpt: In “Shadow Ridge,” a detective, a crime scene and a curious visitor collide
Chapter 1 Detective Jo Wyatt stood at the edge of the doorway of the converted garage and scanned the scene for threats. She’d have the chance to absorb the details later, but even at a glance, it was obvious the occupant of the chair in front of the flickering television wouldn’t benefit from her first-aid […]
Posted inBook Excerpts, SunLit
In “Death of a Car Salesman,” a daughter discovers her semi-famous father’s death could be a homicide
From Chapter II Alice Washington It was a strange feeling, going back home. For most people, home is their primary identifier, the answer to the single most-asked question when you first meet someone: “So, where are you from?” My working theory is that people ask that question so they can put you into a box […]
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SunLit interview: How a family estate battle turned Collin Brantmeyer into a novelist
Collin Brantmeyer lives in Longmont, Colorado with his wife and son. He has a B.A. in Communication Arts from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. “Death of a Car Salesman” is his first novel. Tell us this book’s backstory. What inspired you to write it? Where did the story/theme originate? Growing up, my family was torn apart over […]
Posted inBook Excerpts, SunLit
In “The Body in Griffith Park,” a period-piece mystery combines interrogation with romance
Jennifer is a research scientist and writer of historical mysteries. Her novels take place in 1900s Los Angeles among the police matrons of the LAPD and combine mystery, history, humor, and romance. In addition to two Colorado Author’s League Writing Award nominations, her novels have been nominated for three prestigious Lefty Awards, the Macavity Award, […]
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Jennifer Kincheloe built her stories around a relatively little-known venue for women’s rights
Jennifer is a research scientist and writer of historical mysteries. Her novels take place in 1900s Los Angeles among the police matrons of the LAPD and combine mystery, history, humor, and romance. In addition to two Colorado Author’s League Writing Award nominations, her novels have been nominated for three prestigious Lefty Awards, the Macavity Award, […]
Posted inContests, SunLit
Cast your readers’ choice votes for Rocky Mountain Mystery Writers’ 6-word mystery contest
The finalists have been selected and the jury is out. But while the membership of the Rocky Mountain Mystery Writers of America mulls the best selections from its 6-word mystery contest, Colorado Sun readers can help select the “Readers’ Choice” winners. We’ll announce all the winners on Dec. 11: the official RMMWA contest, the Sun […]