19 Comments
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Mark Leidner's avatar

Your reasoning for splitting it up makes sense to me.

FWIW, I prefer "The Perfect Crime" to "Nuts & Bullets" though I could see both working. "The Perfect Crime" is more appealing to me personally because it makes a bigger promise — i.e. a "perfect" understanding of all the mechanics of mystery writing — while also referencing the fun of planning / admiring / unraveling a villain's perfect crime. "Nuts & Bullets" feels like it promises less—a handy manual of useful tidbits, with quirky humor perhaps—but not a comprehensive or wholistic education about the entire genre, which I feel like is what you bring to the table that is unique from other mystery-writing how-tos.

I like Jon Gutierrez's idea of combining the titles, seems like the best of both worlds.

In any case, thank for all your research and analysis.

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Jane Kalmes's avatar

Thank you very much for this thoughtful comment, Mark! Appreciate it.

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Meredith Clermont-Ferrand's avatar

I agree with Mark. Sounds like an amazing plan. And I love the new title!

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Jane Kalmes's avatar

Thank you so much, Meredith!

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Jon Gutierrez's avatar

I’ve been eagerly awaiting the chance to learn more plot twists, but completely understand you wanting to finish the first book first. Good luck!

(As for the name, you could always combine them into something like: The Perfect Crime: A Nuts & Bullets Guide to Writing a Mystery.)

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Jane Kalmes's avatar

Hmm, interesting idea Jon! Thank you!

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Susan Marie Graham's avatar

I will love having books in hand, so looking forward to that! Any timeframe? There are like three bazillion books titled The Perfect Crime, so maybe not? Maybe a variation of the previous suggestion, like Nuts and Bullets: A Guide to crafting the perfect crime? Do I win a prize if you pick that? (Kidding kind of!) I love your videos and teaching, and wish you tons of success with this idea!

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Jane Kalmes's avatar

Thanks so much for your thoughts, Susan! Appreciate it! I'm hoping the timeline will be in the next six months. I still have perhaps 2 months of content to create, and then there are a few large (and a lot of small) edits I need to make.

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The Woolfe Files's avatar

Hi Jane,

This sounds like a splendid plan. I'm eagerly looking forward to both books.

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Jane Kalmes's avatar

Thank you so much!

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Cat's avatar

Hi Jane , will the first book be an actual book you can buy at :Amazon, Chapters , Barnes and Nobel?

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Jane Kalmes's avatar

Yes! It will be an actual book, with both digital and paperback copies available. For sure it will be at Amazon. Bookstores are a little more difficult for Indu writers to get into, but I'm definitely going after them! It just may take a little longer.

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Mark Burgess's avatar

Sounds like a great plan, Jane!

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Jane Kalmes's avatar

Thank you, Mark!

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Janet Boyer's avatar

I really like this idea, especially since I'm not as interested in plot twists. 🙂

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Jane Kalmes's avatar

Great, thanks for writing!

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Janet Boyer's avatar

My pleasure! 😀

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Kelly Oliver's avatar

Great. Can’t wait for the print version!!

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Jane Kalmes's avatar

Yes, I am so excited to finish it up and get it out there! Thanks, Kelly!

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