I was actually kidding about the movie thing. (You know it’s a good joke when you have to explain that it’s a joke) Living in Arizona, I hear from people all the time whose image of the state is all cowboys and Indians.

Good luck with the fiction.

Melbourne sounds nice. I’ve always wanted to visit that corner of the world, but haven’t made it yet. I hear watching the film Australia staring Hugh Jackman is just like being there. Is that right?

Does working in the Australian school system give you plenty of material for your true crime writing?

Good luck with the writing and thanks for the comment.

Hi Vikki -- Thanks for accepting the invite. Best of luck to you with your true crime books. Reece

Good day, Vikki:

I am a true crime writer and member of the International Thriller Writers (ITW). We are working on a true crime anthology and I am seeking out true crime writers from abroad to contribute a "thrilling" true crime tale.

If you are interested, let me know.

Best,

R. Barri Flowers

Good Morning Vikki,
Thanks for the ideas and suggestions. Do you think that a second book with the sme main character would be good, or just strictly about some of my cases? I have 17 years worth.

Take care,
Lee

Hi again Vikki,
Yes, I had thought about it, but my reasoning for adding a couple of twists here and there was bacause I did not want to make my book like so many other crime scene books that are dry or repeative. I wanted to make it different so I decided to combine the true crime scenes with a twist to it. Maybe my idea on that wasn't the best?

The reason I ask some writers if they would read the manuscript of my book was not so much to get a critics comments, rather other writers who are in the business. I absoutely understand your view point about not wanting to read the manuscript, no problem at all. Thanks for the advise and I will talk to you later,
Lee

Hi Vikki,

The crime scene cases are all based on true cases I have worked over the years, however, I have added a fiction twist to some of them, so I guess it is crime/fiction, though based on true cases. Talk to you soon,
Lee

Hi Vikki,

I just wanted to intro myself and say hello. I am a first time author and a retired Forensic Crime Scene Investigator. It sounds like you have done quite well in writing. I hope to finish my second book sometime. As a first time author, I am naturally interested in finding out what others with more experience than I think of my writing. If you have time, would it be ok to send you a manuscript copy of my book? I would love to have your opinions.
Thanks,
Lee

I'm glad that you liked AUSTRALIA the movie as well. As to your definition of an epic: A great love story, a hardship, happy ending. It needs a bit of tweaking. An epic is also the story of a people, and it seems to me that this movie covers both the native aborigines and the the settlers. Amazing how close this is to an American "Western."