Behind the scenes Category - Page 6 of 7 - Rachel Amphlett

Home / Behind the scenes / Page 6

Image shows Rachel Amphlett posed in a studio laughing at the camera while the photographer's dog is sleeping on the floor behind her with its tongue out

Author interview: November 2017

Welcome to a new feature – an Author Q&A where YOU provide the questions! Every month, I’ll go through all the comments on here, my YouTube channel and emails to answer your queries. […]

Image shows an Metropolitan Police SUV in London

How Do I Research A Detective Novel?

To ensure her Kay Hunter series is procedurally accurate, Rachel relies on a network of retired and serving police officers, specialised crime blogs, and forensic handbooks. She also enhances her knowledge by taking online courses in forensic investigation and psychology to better understand witness interviews and pathology.

Image shows an Apple MacBook on a white duvet or counterpane next to a cup of coffee and a small cake on a plate

How Do I Write A Book?

In this article, Rachel describes herself as a “plotser” who blends pre-planning with organic discovery. Her workflow involves gathering ideas from news and observations, organising scenes into a five-act structure using Scrivener as the story develops, and refining the manuscript by prioritising pacing and sensory details.

Image shows railway tracks and junction in fog with a sepia tint applied to the photograph

Blurred lines: crime writing and blending fact with fiction

One question that is often raised when I’m at crime fiction conferences or responding to interview questions is: how do you choose where the facts end and the fiction begins? When I was […]

Image shows a Jack Russell dog peering over the lower part of the frame

Why is Detective Kay Hunter’s other half a vet?

When I was developing the idea for a crime thriller series led by a female detective, I decided early on that I didn’t want her to have a fractured home life – there […]

Images shows the old and new book covers for Look Closer side by side

Why change a book cover?

Ever wondered why publishers change a book cover image from time to time? I thought I’d share a few common reasons why this happens, and why I chose to do so with Look […]

Image shows a close up of a notebook with the original premise for One to Watch written down

One to Watch: how a mystery novel grew from a photograph

I can still recall the exact moment the idea for One to Watch sprung to mind. In fact, here’s a photograph from my notebook. As you can see, the Kay Hunter series was […]

Writing crime thrillers as a female author

I had a great time chatting with Rebecca Levingstone on Brisbane’s ABC612 radio this morning. We talked about the crime thriller genre, what it’s like to be a female author writing crime thrillers, […]