Last year was my first crack at the A-Z Blogging Challenge, a blogging phenomenon created by the amazing Arlee Bird. The object is to blog every day of the month of April (except Sundays), and to increase the challenge (if you want), to blog thematically from A to Z. No sweat, right? Last year, I blogged about music with Jessica Bell. This year, I'm heading back to my roots and blogging about all things thriller. Join me?
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The differences between the mystery and thriller genres have always been a bit of a grey area for authors - well, except for the writers well-versed in mystery. Or thriller.
When I started my first novel, ABSOLUTION, I didn't really know if it was a thriller or a mystery - but maybe that's because I didn't understand how they differed.
A thriller is loosely defined as a story in which the reader is waiting for something significant to happen - for the protagonist to stop the bomb from exploding on a speeding bus, for example. The reader experiences a vicarious thrill by identifying with the hero and the danger he/she faces.
A mystery, on the other hand, is a novel of revelation - with the action being more mental than physical (though they can certainly encompass both). A significant event has occurred - generally a murder - and the protagonist's job is to discover the who, and the why. The villain and the details of the cime remain unidentified, and the showdown between the major foe and the protagonist doesn't happen until the final scene.
Based on that, ABSOLUTION is absolutely a thriller - with um, mysterious elements.
I read a lot of both genres and throughout the A to Z Challenge I've identified some of my favorite thriller authors, with more to come. But, I grew up on Mary Higgins Clark and Sue Grafton - two really awesome mystery writers. My favourite, I admit, is J.D. Robb. So much so that I named my male English Mastiff, Roarke.
Got a favorite mystery writer? Tell me about one - I kind of miss reading the genre.
- Dawn
P.S. - It's Muse Avatar Monday! How about a little Shemar Moore for "M"? Go forth and INSPIRE.
The Book In My Bag Today: The Fault in Our Stars, John Green
RESOLUTION 2013 STATS
Total words last week: 0 (This plague is killing me...)
Total words to date for 2013: 68,239
Total pounds lost for week: 1
Total pounds lost to date for 2013: 27
Books read last week: 0
Total books read to date for 2013: 7
Movies watched last week: 0
Movies watched to date in 2013: 4
Total words to date for 2013: 68,239
Total pounds lost for week: 1
Total pounds lost to date for 2013: 27
Books read last week: 0
Total books read to date for 2013: 7
Movies watched last week: 0
Movies watched to date in 2013: 4
I still love the old chestnut Agatha Christie. :-)
ReplyDeleteI don't read a lot of mystery books, but I do have a few Mary Higgens Clark - great writer! :)
ReplyDeleteHello, Dawn! Agatha Christie is awesome of course. I really like Sue Grafton's Kinsey Milhone series and Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series. In thrillers, I like John Grisham's legal thrillers and Dan Brown's Robert Langdon books.
ReplyDeleteHappy A to Z-ing! from Laura Marcella @ Wavy Lines