William G Tapply

To address these valid and important issues, I invited, begged and bribed some of the most prominent and successful people in the mystery business to share their experience and expertise for this new edition.

Phil’s books have been touted on the television show “Good Morning America.”

published six “standalone” novels, three of which have been optioned for movies. Bill’s most recent novel, The Repo, is the first in a new mystery series.

half of the G. H. Ephron team that has collaborated on four (and counting) popular and critically acclaimed mystery novels featuring psychiatrist Dr. Peter Zak.

a veteran literary agent with the Jed Mattes Agency in New York City, which specializes in mystery novels. Fred has worked with both first-time novelists and old-timers.

the founder, editor-in-chief, and publisher of the Poisoned Pen Press in Scottsdale, Arizona; the proprietor of the Poisoned Pen bookstore; and the editor of several anthologies on mystery writing. Barbara has won a number of awards and is one of the most influential people in the mystery world.

owner and proprietor of the Mysterious Bookshop in New York City, has been in the bookselling business for twenty years. He’s a publisher and a writer and the editor of numerous mystery short-story anthologies. Otto has won just about every honor the mystery community bestows.

Jerry has written seventeen novels and more than sixty short stories, fourteen of which have won or been nominated for the Shamus Award. He belongs to all of the mystery organizations and has been the keynote speaker at countless conventions.

an expert on her subject. A successful film critic and magazine editor, Vicki served a twelve-year apprenticeship writing, revising, rewriting, and submitting mystery novels before her persistence finally paid off and Body Parts was accepted for publication.

I respect and admire all of the contributors to this edition. I am happy and honored to know them as friends as well as colleagues. In fact, Vicki, to whom this book was (and still is) dedicated, is my wife. Her persistence is one of her most lovable traits.