Note: This article discusses Ouija boards, history, folklore, psychology, religion, and personal opinions. I encourage you to draw your own conclusions. Most people hope they’ll hear from a beloved relative. I’d be sitting there, worried I’d just invited Jack the Ripper into the conversation. That’s always been my problem with Ouija boards. We don’t know […]
Ouija Boards: A Door Best Left Closed? Read More »
Welcome to Creekwood, New York and the Marnie Reilly Mysteries Series of psychic thrillers. At a glance, it’s an Adirondack town where people know your name, your coffee order, your family history, and what you did wrong when you were five-years-old. It has mountain views, old secrets, loyal dogs, complicated friendships, found family, and a
New to the Marnie Reilly Mysteries? Start Here. Read More »
Old houses have secrets. Our ancestors have traditions. If we could walk their shoes and spend enough time around historic homes and you’ll hear stories about hidden rooms, sealed staircases, forgotten wells, and notes left behind by long-dead builders. Most discoveries have a practical explanation, but others are a mystery. Then there are the shoes.
Hidden Soles: The Forgotten Tradition of Concealing Shoes Read More »
I saw a post last week saying writers shouldn’t use AI, and I agree with a few points. 1.) Authors should not use AI covers.2.) Authors shouldn’t pass off AI writing as their own original book. But what about other aspects of the writing world like social media and vision boards? Times change. Technology evolves,
Technology Changes. The Art of Storytelling Doesn’t. Read More »
My true north is the same in my personal life as in my author world. I write psychic mystery thrillers for people who know the world can be dark, but still believe courage, humor, loyalty, intuition, and human connections matter. As a cautious optimist, I know life isn’t easy, that happy endings are not guaranteed,
MY TRUE NORTH—AUTHOR SHARI T. MITCHELL NAVIGATES THE DARKNESS Read More »
How about a jigsaw puzzle of Detective Danny Gregg’s Adirondack hideaway—120 digital pieces at a time? Warm lights in the windows. A star-filled sky. And that lake is so calm it looks like it’s holding its breath, or someone is just below the surface is.😏 IYKYK No lost pieces. No table required. Just you, your
PUZZLEME THIS: DANNY’S CABIN JIGSAW Read More »
Who’s up for a word search? When my other half made an interesting suggestion, I went down a rabbit hole, searching for possibilities. And so, dear Marnie Reilly Mysteries readers, here is the first word search of 2026 for your enjoyment. Good luck! Please let me know what you think in the comments. What other
PuzzleMe This: Divine Guidance Word Search Read More »
Crazy me. I participated in the 7 Deadly Sins Writing Challenge last week, hosted by yours truly and fellow authors TL Brown and Jennifer Brasington-Crowley. Pride, Greed, Envy, Lust, Wrath, Sloth, and Gluttony took center stage, as we wove tales for each. Imagine writing a story using only 15,400 characters, not words. Why? Because that’s
The 7 Deadly Sins Writing Challenge Read More »
I write mystery thrillers because I’m drawn to complexity—of people, of secrets, and of the choices we make when the odds are against us. What lies beneath the surface fascinates me: hidden motives, unresolved trauma, and unseen forces, emotional or otherwise, shaping decisions. Humans rarely act without reason, even when their actions appear irrational, cruel,
Why I Write Mystery Thrillers Read More »
Trigger warnings started as a courtesy in specific spaces. Academic discussions. Trauma-informed therapy settings. Places where the goal was processing, not storytelling. Somewhere along the line, they wandered into fiction. Content warnings create a problem for thrillers, horror, and dark fiction. Giving the reader a heads-up of what’s coming sabotages the entire point. Suspense relies
Trigger Warnings: The Impact on Thriller Fiction Read More »