Ok, so this week, I had my students write a short story for math class. I know that you’ll be shocked to find out that it was a msytery short story — a crime complete with partial phone numbers, combination locks and getaways. The probability book we’ve been using deals with probability in terms of who might have committed a crime. So you see, it’s not that far off track actually.

We’ve had a lot of fun in my class, and I’ve connected with my students in some fun ways because we’ve had some great talks about writing and mysteries. I find that as an educator, it’s best to have the student explain something to you. If they can explain it, then they know it.

I think the same is true of authors. In order for us to be able to write it, we have to know it. That’s part of what makes our lives so fun. For any particular book, we might have to learn about blood spatters or IRS regulations or how to get a stain out. It’s all part of our work.

In the course of my work, I’ve had to “struggle” through watching the musical Gypsy, travelling to parts of the country, talking to movie stars and authors. Life is all the more rich for these things — and I’d like to think my writing is as well.

*** Over Her Dead Body by Kate White