  Mystery
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"Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; Truth isn't."
Mark Twain
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Inspiration for writing mysteries can come from odd places. I was intrigued recently by a news program on ABC news regarding the revelation that about a dozen people have disappeared off of commercial cruise lines in the last two years. Where did these people go? Where they killed? Fell over board? Ran away? No one knows the answers for these true life cases. What I discovered was sobering news.
The most recent one involves a young couple on their honeymoon. Jennifer and George Smith were on a cruise around the Mediterranean in the summer of 2005, when George Smith vanished. The only evidence found was a pool of blood on the deck below their honeymoon suite. Where did George go? Was he murdered? Fell overboard while intoxicated?
The night before he disappeared, the honeymooners were seen drinking and gambling on the ship with some new acquaintances. Evidence shows they may have smuggled in some absinthe, a drink that can cause hallucinations and disorientation. Jennifer Smith was found passed out on the deck above their room, with no recollection of events that may have led to her new husband’s disappearance. Some witnesses say they heard a fight in the Smith’s cabin that night, but the cruise line did not investigate. The families are currently in the process of suing Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines for hindering the investigation.
In another case, Merrian Carver disappeared on a cruise with Alaskan Royal Caribbean Cruises. The family noticed wasn’t returning phone calls, and no one had seen her for a while. When the family filed a missing persons report the police found out she had been on a cruise. No one from the cruise line ever contacted the family that Merrian didn’t return with the rest of the passengers. Her father has spent over $75,000 trying to find his daughter. He, and the rest of her family, are working with congress on hearings regarding the cruise line disappearances and other crimes on board.
I found many more cases of people vanishing right off the cruise ships including grandparents on a vacation, single women, single men, married couples and children. What is happening to these people? Why has this been covered up for so long?
http://www.internationalcruisevictims.org is a web site started by families of people who were victims of crimes while on cruises. Please go to this site and read about the different cases and give any information to the families if you have any.
Maybe you can use some of this information to pen your next mystery. Perhaps it will happen on the high seas or at an exotic port. Whatever it will do, it will certainly make you think about The Love Boat in a different light.
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I looked for non-fiction mysteries this week and found a few for you to read. MORE are needed. Come on, writers, do some research. Remember what Mark Twain said!
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We all know what happened to Laci now, but when this was first written, it was a mystery the whole USA followed, much like Natalee Holloway is today. What are your ideas on Natalee's disappearance?
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bizaromike  :Other sections to add to the character profile: strongest relationship, weakest relationship, strongest fear. I got these from a book on description, but I foget the title.
True, these would be good ones to add. My strongest fear is of bridges, what is yours?
merlin  :Does anyone else keep files full of descriptions of people they've seen while waiting in line, on the bus etc? Then when you need a character for any kind of story, most of the work is done for you - it also helps pass the time/journey.
What a great idea! I sometimes do that with my blog: first thing in the morning I will write character sketches of the people who rode the elevator with me.
Loralei :Outlining is a really good suggestion, one I used to follow but lost the habit. I've had a story in mind for several years about telephone party lines but the specifics were not there. Now, just outlining my main character has given me the meat.
Thanks
Characters can do that for a story!
shaara: Great newsletter. I like the way you gave us a form to consider was we write our stories. It sure would be easier than the way I do it, which is always to put in the information and constantly have to go back looking for it as I continue. (ie. Now what color did I make his eyes?)
Thanks,Shaara
I was always doing that too. Plus, I would forget the names of pets or if they liked peas or not.
shaara:Thank you, thank you for featuring my novel. Wow! You are so sweet, kind, wonderful . . . Thank you!!!!!!!
Smiles,
Shaara
You are welcome 
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Mystery: April 05, 2006 Issue [#959]
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