Category Archives: Deciding How to Kill Off a Character in a Novel

Why Do People Kill?

Posted on October 17, 2018 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

It’s a simple question, but people have been struggling to find the answer for centuries. In a previous blog I discussed the core legal definition of murder, but I asked this very question as I researched the subject. Law enforcement officials are … Continue reading →

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MURDER – The True Definition!

Posted on September 26, 2018 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

The criminal act known as MURDER is defined in a number of ways, but in most references the definition is distilled to the following words: an unlawful killing with malice. The words unlawful and malice give the term its defining structure and distinguishes the act from acceptable killings, … Continue reading →

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Using DNA To An Author’s Advantage

Posted on August 23, 2018 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

It’s been some time since I’ve posted a new blog. What can I say—life gets in the way! It’s amazing how getting into and out of the habit of writing can happen so easily. I’ve decided to get back into … Continue reading →

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Novichok = A Political Poison?

Posted on March 23, 2018 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

I generally don’t blog about anything related to politics, religion or sex. However, a fascinating, yet horrifying, incident occurred recently in Salisbury, England that intrigued me. Sergei Skripal, a former Russian military intelligence officer who reportedly worked for years undercover … Continue reading →

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PRIONS and the Zombie Disease!

Posted on December 13, 2017 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

Imagine designing a murder mystery or thriller plot using a substance that transformed ordinary people into zombies and then writing a convincing story based on the science of it all. The victims in your story would have difficulty walking because … Continue reading →

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FENTANYL – The Good and The Bad!

Posted on October 25, 2017 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is utilized in medical practice as a powerful pain reliever. It’s most commonly used in clinical settings either prior to surgery to induce sedation before administering longer-lasting sedation or in the recovery room following … Continue reading →

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Propofol – The Milk of Amnesia

Posted on August 23, 2017 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

Propofol is a short-acting sedative-hypnotic that’s used to initiate and maintain general anesthesia. It also decreases levels of consciousness along with a loss of memory for sedation during minor medical procedures. It is administered intravenously. The drug was discovered in 1977. … Continue reading →

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Self Defense 101 (Part 2)

Posted on August 2, 2017 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

Last week I wrote a blog on various self-defense techniques, and I detailed the top seven to protect oneself from an assault. Possibly a character in one of your upcoming storylines will need such skills. I know I’ve considered using … Continue reading →

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Self Defense 101 (Part 1)

Posted on July 26, 2017 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote a blog on how to write a bloodless death scene. It detailed some interesting assault techniques, both physical and by chemical means, to incapacitate and likely kill a character whose demise is a … Continue reading →

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How To Write a Bloodless Death Scene

Posted on July 12, 2017 by James J. Murray, Fiction Writer

The storylines of the novels I write often call for one or more of the characters to be murdered. That’s simple enough when you write murder mysteries—you shoot or stab the person, or use a dozen other ways to kill … Continue reading →

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