I'm so thankful that I found a passion to explore for the second half of my life. Have you had a similar experience? What passions have you discovered later in life?

My 6th period class has been the inspiration for my second book in the Susan Wiles Schoolhouse Mysteries. It involves a murder at a highschool... I'm enjoying writing it-I'm about halfway done already.

So excited to announce that Murder is Elementary is now available on Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=murder+is+elementary

So, you've figured out your key plot points and created your characters. What now? Decide where your story will take place. Is your story more suited to a big, anonymous city, or a quaint small town where the characters know each other? Try drawing a map of the town or a floor plan of the house.
     Next, try writing in narrative the actions that will take place, scene by scene. For example, if a murder occurs in the first chapter, write:
1. Suzy and Bill are eating dinner with their grown children at a restaurant.
2. Suzy gets up to use the restroom and discovers a dead body in one of the stalls.
3. Suzy calls for help. The police and paramedics arrive.
Get the picture? After you know what you need to happen in the scene, get inside of the characters head and imagine how she would speak and react. Clear your head. The dialogue for me, flows from here.  
    Writing a book is more of a marathon than a sprint but you need to set aside time to do the work. Step by step, you will eventually have your book if you just keep doing it!