Novelist, Japanese Crime Thrillers
H. A. Bryant
A Place for Writers
As a writer, inspiration can strike from anywhere. Here, I’ve compiled a list of some of the books and websites that have fueled my creativity. Additionally, for those delving into the darker side of life, I’ve included a selection of my favorite reference materials on the subject of murder and mayhem.
Finding information about publishing can be a complex task. In the following paragraphs, I’ll share some examples. . .
Books
First of all, writing isn’t something I’ve studied through many books–in fact, I still believe that the most effective way to learn writing is to write. There is no question. Still, if you are interested in reading how to write, here are some recommendations. I enjoy Patricia Highsmith’s book “Plotting and Writing Suspense Fiction” about pacing and plotting; Stephen King for his insight into a writer’s life; and finally the annual editions of the Writer’s Market and Guide to Literary Agents for overall information on the publishing market, see the following website links for their books.
Highsmith, Patricia: Plotting and Writing Suspense Fiction, https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/
572046.Plotting_and_Writing_Suspense_Fiction.
King, Stephen, On Writing, A Memoir of the Craft, https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/
Lamott, Anne, Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life, https://www.goodreads.com/
It is difficult to overstate how profound the insights of Tom Clancy and Agatha Christie into the writing process are. Tom says that writing is like playing golf. The only way you can become good at writing is to write. “I totally agree.”And quoting Agatha Christie, “Economy of wording, I think, is particularly necessary in detective stories. You don’t want to hear the same thing rehashed three or four times over.”
Agatha also provides a valuable perspective on the craft of writing. I hope you find the following websites emphasizing Tom and Agatha’s point of view interesting and useful.
Website links: Tom Clancy, https://www.fastcompany.com/3019240/tom-clancys-5-big-rules-for-writing-and-life and Agatha Christie, https://www.agathachristie.com/news/2021/on-writing-agatha-christies-advice.
Finally, I believe the annual editions of the Writer’s Market and the Guide to Literary Agents provide a comprehensive and interesting overview of the publishing industry.
The website links are: Writer’s Market, https://www.writersdigest.com/writers-market. And the Guide to Literary Agents, https://www.writersdigest.com/guide-to-literary-agents.
Websites
Despite the lack of mainstream educational classes on popular fiction writing, aspiring writers or established authors can benefit from excellent writing organizations like the MasterClass described in the next paragraph.
For pace and plotting view the MasterClass by Dan Brown, https://www.masterclass.com/classes/
dan-brown-teaches-writing-thrillers, and James Patterson, https://www.masterclass.com/classes/
james-patterson-teaches-writing.
Check out my Japanese Suspense Newsletter . It includes an introduction to the Chinese Lunar New Year and my technique for “Plotting a Thriller.” In the PDF you will get a glimpse into plotting which is the most important part of creating your novel.
For thriller writers, I believe the International Thriller Writers is the most reputable organization. Besides writing, the organization provides excellent resources for published authors to help you navigate publishing’s often murky waters. Among the most helpful places to learn about publishing tips and writing do’s and don’ts are the local chapters, the magazine, and its annual conference. This is a wonderful resource, as my interests lie more in suspense and thrillers. Unfortunately, I haven’t joined the group yet.
In addition to the International Thriller Writers, the Mystery Writers of America is also excellent, but you must be published to join either one.
The website links are International Thriller Writers, https://thrillerwriters.org/, and the Mystery Writers of America, https://www.mysterywriters.org/.
Finding the right literary agent is crucial. While there aren’t tons of resources available online, two websites have proven particularly helpful in my journey:
Directory of Literary Agents, https://literary-agents.com/directory-literary-agents/ and the Writers Digest, https://www.writersdigest.com/publishing-insights/20-literary-agents-actively-seeking-writers-and-their-writing.
Note: Look out for some disreputable practices used by unethical agents. By becoming familiar with these practices, you will know whenever someone asks you to pay him or her money during your agent search.
Avoid the website, www.MissSnark.com, it is not recommended. When you open this website, it will say in the URL–Not Secure. It should be avoided.
For the most realistic portrayal of murder and mayhem, there’s no substitute for tapping into the minds of real-world experts. However, securing their insights requires preparation. Before approaching any official agency, from law enforcement to federal investigators, it’s wise to do your homework.
In this regard, several books can be found online at https://www.amazon.com/. It also has a great selection of martial arts how-to books, firearms, and tactical unit (SWAT) books.
Criminology
Eric W. Hickey, Serial Murderers and Their Victims.
Gregory K. Moffat, Blind-Sided: Homicide Where It Is Least Expected.
Stanton E. Samenow, Straight Talk About Criminals.
Resources of the FBI
Candice DeLong and Elisa Petrini, Special Agent.
Roger L. Depue and Susan Schindehette, Between Good and Evil.
John Douglas and Mark Olshaker, Journey Into Darkness.
John Douglas and Mark Olshaker, Mindhunter.
Ronald Kessler, The FBI.
Athan G. Theoharis, The FBI: A Comprehensive Reference Guide.
Here are some of my favorite authors and novels about Japanese crime stories.
Barry Lancet, Jim Brodie novels.
Barry Eisler, John Rain novels.
Yokoyama Hideo, Roku Yon (or Six Four).
Matsumoto Seichi, Inspector Imanishi Series.
Higashino Keigo, Malice (The Kyochiro Kaga Series).
Yokomizo Seishi, The Village of Eight Graves (Detective Kindaichi Mysteries).
All of these authors and their respective novels are available online at https://www.amazon.com/.
And of course, here are a couple of non-fiction books about Japan from 1945 to now.
Robert Whiting, Tokyo Underworld.
Robert Whiting, Tokyo Junkie (60 Years of Bright Lights and Back Alleys . . . and Baseball).
Robert Whiting, Gamblers, Fraudsters, Dreamers & Spies: The Outsiders Who Shaped Modern Japan
Again both of these are available online at https://www.amazon.com/.
Action, Spy, and Crime Thrillers
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Tom Clancy, Jack Ryan, and Jack Ryan Jr. Novels.
Robert Ludlum, The Bourne Series.
Dan Brown, Robert Langdon Series.
J. Robert Kennedy, James Acton Thrillers, The Templar Detective, and Special Agent Dylan Kane Thrillers.
James Rollins, Sigma Force novels.
Daniel Silva, Gabriel Allon novels.
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All are available online at https://www.amazon.com/.