tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post5301484617376232990..comments2024-03-28T19:36:39.783-04:00Comments on Jungle Red Writers: Could You Succeed as a Private Detective?Jungle Red Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16646429819267618412noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-74330687473066553182016-12-03T02:09:53.746-05:002016-12-03T02:09:53.746-05:00Roberta, yes. Gut feelings give direction and allo...Roberta, yes. Gut feelings give direction and allow more clarity in making observations and understanding the possibilities behind what you see or think you see.Maureen Harringtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03499876353651763590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-57347274395789926792016-12-02T17:07:11.061-05:002016-12-02T17:07:11.061-05:00I know I would be hopeless at following someone an...I know I would be hopeless at following someone and especially at a stake out in a car. When I am nervous I immediately want to pee. I'd have to leave my stake out to find a bathroom. <br />But I am observant. I listen in on conversations on trains and in restaurants. I observe human interactions and find myself writing scenes for them. <br />Hank I must say I do enjoy watching the face of someone who has been treating me as a harmless older woman until they find out how many books I have written and how many books I have sold!<br />Rhysnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-24196414497409339982016-12-02T16:11:04.731-05:002016-12-02T16:11:04.731-05:00 Angela, thank you! You are so right! That is what... Angela, thank you! You are so right! That is what I kept thinking… It actually kind of haunts me… <br /> Did I do that when I was that age? Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-75065415444758596082016-12-02T15:15:55.572-05:002016-12-02T15:15:55.572-05:00Thank you so much, Kathy. I know all about life in...Thank you so much, Kathy. I know all about life interruptions! Susan Breenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01830827929749312480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-75838190092341055702016-12-02T15:02:06.192-05:002016-12-02T15:02:06.192-05:00Susan, reading your post about becoming a detectiv...Susan, reading your post about becoming a detective online brought back that little kid thrill of secret code rings and discovering unexpected treasure. I admit that it's something I'd like to try. You have breathed new life into this old gal in searching out some cool adventure. I did an online course on forensics, very basic, but I had one of those life interruptions and didn't get to finish it. I'm thinking a winter project is in order. <br /><br />And, Susan, I think I would love your Maggie Dove books. I'm very taken with the silhouette covers, most inviting. I just added book one to my Kindle and look forward to reading it soon.<br /><br />The weirdest thing I've ever tried? Oh, gee, I can't think of one outstanding weird thing. I'm a pretty fair oddball, and I think weird is more my mantra than an exception. Kathy Reelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17004247271452356577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-36067400635353052292016-12-02T14:29:59.446-05:002016-12-02T14:29:59.446-05:00Thank you so much, Deb. I hope you like it. I have...Thank you so much, Deb. I hope you like it. I have to confess I'm becoming addicted to on-line courses. You can learn anything! Right now I'm taking a Tudor history course from Oxford University. That's for something else, but perhaps Maggie Dove will become a tour guide/PI.Susan Breenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01830827929749312480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-15527633660738793852016-12-02T14:22:56.339-05:002016-12-02T14:22:56.339-05:00Drive and take a picture at the same time?
I can&#...Drive and take a picture at the same time?<br />I can't push my granddaughter in her stroller and get the camera in place quickly enough!Libby Doddhttp://www.libbydoddart.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-19214737570434019352016-12-02T14:08:05.685-05:002016-12-02T14:08:05.685-05:00What a great post for a Friday! Susan, I think it...What a great post for a Friday! Susan, I think it's great that you became a private investigator. You are "full of awesome"!<br /><br />As far as the weirdest thing I've ever tried, that would have to be the singles adventure trip I took to Canada before I got married. We were in the Calgary/Lake Louise area of Canada. We did a week of hiking, biking, horseback riding - and the unusual part for me was the white water rafting trip. I still find it hard to believe that I stepped that far out of my comfort zone to give that a try. As I recall, there were some category 3, 4 and 5 level rapids that we went over. Whew! The tour company had someone take pictures of us along the path, so I have those to see what I looked like in the raft with the others.<br /><br />Hank, that girl working on her PhD really missed an opportunity to really connect and learn from you. Her loss.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16432509313245703368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-13997591338060885572016-12-02T14:01:35.825-05:002016-12-02T14:01:35.825-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Deb Romanohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01650858888197217258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-51621162543600096192016-12-02T14:01:17.203-05:002016-12-02T14:01:17.203-05:00Susan, after writing my response up above I went a...Susan, after writing my response up above I went ahead and bought the first book on my Kindle. I didn't want to wait to get out to the store; it sounded too good to have to wait another hour or so!<br /><br />Deb RomanoDeb Romanohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01650858888197217258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-75288264516565754312016-12-02T12:32:44.338-05:002016-12-02T12:32:44.338-05:00Susan, we're kindred spirits! I also wanted t...Susan, we're kindred spirits! I also wanted to learn the ropes for my private investigator character, so I earned a certificate degree in private investigation from the University of Washington. The course lasted a year and was taught by a defense attorney, a criminal investigator, and a private investigator. It was fascinating and great fun, and we learned about the different specialties within the field including domestic (cheating spouses), cyber and corporate espionage to name a few. I decided not to take the final step of becoming a licensed PI since I knew that wasn't my career preference, but I use what I learned every time I sit down to write my PI, Fina. I always tell readers that Fina breaks some rules, but she does so by choice, not ignorance.<br /><br />One of the many things that stayed with me from the course: A former WA state trooper who worked as an accident reconstructionist told us that 50% of the semis in WA have faulty brakes. He urged us to never drive with one right behind in the rearview mirror, and I don't!Ingrid Thofthttp://www.ingridthoft.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-89483737556456522932016-12-02T12:24:48.203-05:002016-12-02T12:24:48.203-05:00Julia, while she is not a hit woman, you might enj...Julia, while she is not a hit woman, you might enjoy meeting Brigid Quinn (from Becky Masterman's series), if you have not already. She is close to 60 and kicks some series a**.Kristopherhttp://www.bolobooks.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-38872733916534999942016-12-02T12:17:02.131-05:002016-12-02T12:17:02.131-05:00I relate! In preparation for writing my Nicki Vale...I relate! In preparation for writing my Nicki Valentine mystery series, I became a registered private investigator in Virginia. I was also fascinated by the career and worked briefly as a P.I. before becoming a mom. Then, instead of investigating as a job, I wrote about a stay-at-home mom turned P.I. The skills I learned still come in handy! I look forward to checking out your series!Susan O'Brienhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00645351764741013129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-89419278750753139792016-12-02T12:13:25.742-05:002016-12-02T12:13:25.742-05:00I think Olympic level anything is impressive, Debo...I think Olympic level anything is impressive, Deborah. What a wonderful story, Hank! I have someone with a Ph.D. in philosophy in my Gotham class, and it's not an easy transition. He has so much to say. But not all of it is in story form.Susan Breenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01830827929749312480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-69286230157668573362016-12-02T11:51:21.535-05:002016-12-02T11:51:21.535-05:00Hank, that's hilarious!! I hope she gets publi...Hank, that's hilarious!! I hope she gets published...in about thirty years...Deborah Crombiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16988750789088153601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-6621469712763031072016-12-02T11:49:59.372-05:002016-12-02T11:49:59.372-05:00Susan, what a great story! And your books sound de...Susan, what a great story! And your books sound delightful. <br /><br />Probably the weirdest thing I've ever done--at least for a book!--was rowing. I got this crazy idea that I wanted to write about Olympic level sculling. A friend got me an invitation to stay at Leander Club in Henley-on-Thames. Leander is probably the most famous and prestigious rowing club in the world, and is also where team GB trains. I should add that I am THE most unathletic person imaginable and had never in my life been anywhere near a rowing scull. So when I was introduced to an Olympic gold medalist (4 times!), Stevie Williams (who is absolutely lovely), and he asked me if I wanted to go out on the river to see what it would really be like for my character, I said, "Well, sure!"<br /><br />It was amazing and terrifying and enormously fun. I've never forgotten it. And I've never done it again, either!Deborah Crombiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16988750789088153601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-58722260186580751352016-12-02T11:41:05.872-05:002016-12-02T11:41:05.872-05:00Talk about invisible… I was at a friends house the... Talk about invisible… I was at a friends house the other day, and her son had his girlfriend there. She is a PhD in English candidate at Harvard. As far she was concerned, I was absolutely not there. Completely irrelevant and invisible. I asked her what she wanted to do with her degree, and she said write books, fiction. <br /> So I said that's great.That is a tough road. She acted like I was boring her to tears. And clearly have no idea what I was talking about. <br /> Then someone else in the room told her "Hanks ninth novel has just come out"<br /> There was a hint of interest. What publisher, she asked.<br /> I smiled, and told her Forge.<br /> This had her contemplating briefly, as if I was almost a person. <br /> What kind of books are they she asked.<br /> Thrillers I said. <br /> She Paused, and smiled, and said "that's badass. "<br />Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-43302543076441507822016-12-02T11:36:24.711-05:002016-12-02T11:36:24.711-05:00That last comment was me, Susan D. Blogger somehow...That last comment was me, Susan D. Blogger somehow lost my id. I don't do anonymous.Susan Dhttp://www.susandaly.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-28700247067707065592016-12-02T11:34:56.489-05:002016-12-02T11:34:56.489-05:00Susan, this sounds like a wonderful adventure. Th...Susan, this sounds like a wonderful adventure. Thanks for sharing it with us.<br /><br />Umm, Hallie, let me get this straight. You talked an MRI lab into letting you spend time with them <i>to learn how to kill someone in an MRI lab and then put it in a book??</i>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-61379927137492072402016-12-02T11:10:13.639-05:002016-12-02T11:10:13.639-05:00Susan, that's real dedication to research! Sin...Susan, that's real dedication to research! Since I hit middle age myself, I've come to agree that being a suitably dressed middle-aged white woman is as close to invisible as one can come. <br /><br />I'm waiting for a series about a sixty-year-old hit woman!Juliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09553268569509053159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-13466539826647080222016-12-02T11:04:03.512-05:002016-12-02T11:04:03.512-05:00With so much information out there(and I use some ...With so much information out there(and I use some of it regularly for my job-- my favorite part of the job, probably because I love mysteries) I don't understand why some people still receive phone calls that the caller has called by mistake. On many occasions I've received calls at home that are clearly meant for someone else, but the caller will call me a liar, rather than admit that he or she called the wrong number or was given the wrong number! (This is why I now screen all calls.) On one occasion I asked the caller to spell the person's last name so I could look it up in the phone directory. I was called "uncooperative"! (I later googled the person he was looking for, and found a number for her.)<br /><br />I love doing research and have daydreamed about doing the research part of investigative work, while someone else does the dangerous fieldwork!! (Although a short, slightly stooped over sixty-something woman could probably blend into a crowd.) I might almost look into an on line private investigator course, just for fun!<br /><br />Deb Romano Deb Romanohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01650858888197217258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-85203509852091843192016-12-02T10:59:32.404-05:002016-12-02T10:59:32.404-05:00It sounds interesting for you to have actually tri...It sounds interesting for you to have actually tried being a private detective. It certainly comes in handy for your books. I don't think it's ever convenient to take photos from the car when driving! I have enough trouble trying to get photos when I'm in the passenger seat.Jodyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17875883473433798682noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-35233432841297454462016-12-02T10:58:58.382-05:002016-12-02T10:58:58.382-05:00Thank you so much to everyone for your warm words....Thank you so much to everyone for your warm words. When I showed my kids my detective ID card, they looked at me like I had finally gone off the deep end. But I can see I'm in the right crowd here!Susan Breenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01830827929749312480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-89575753488515344212016-12-02T10:38:18.648-05:002016-12-02T10:38:18.648-05:00This is fantastic! I am so looking forward to pick...This is fantastic! I am so looking forward to picking up your books, Susan. I used to be a librarian so I am all about the research. I still dig into online databases just for kicks. My favorite at the moment is: mugshots.com Weirdest thing I had to learn/fake it 'til you make it on the job was when I did a stint as a children's librarian and had to wear the giant dragon costume - aka Bookbreath - and dance around community events in Phoenix in 90 degree heat. Good times!Jenn McKinlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03214926031147370862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-1746093066423353012016-12-02T10:36:41.954-05:002016-12-02T10:36:41.954-05:00Ah, nice to see Susan here on JRW today. I've...Ah, nice to see Susan here on JRW today. I've been wanting to read this series since Dru Ann mentioned the books to me in passing - or maybe on her blog - can't remember. I'm picky with the cozies I read these days, but something about this one caught my eye/ear. <br /><br />Being a private eye or detective is likely one of those things that seems interesting at the start and then quickly becomes deathly boring. Like Susan, I would probably be better at some aspects and hate others. Kristopherhttp://www.bolobooks.comnoreply@blogger.com