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I’m pleased to announce the release of my crime novel, The Invisible Hand, in digital and print editions from New Pulp Press. Some of you may remember the long road this novel took to publication and its appearance in the Kindle Scout program. The wait makes this moment all the sweeter, though, and I’m happy all the same. Continue reading
The attacker ran away after the protagonist pulled a knife. The protagonist probably shouldn’t chase after the bad guy into a dead end and slit his throat. That’s murder. If that matches the character’s path in the story, go for it. However, it’s easy to overlook how quickly the “good guy” in a story can do some bad things that might be out of character. (Shutterstock photo)
TLDR: Using a knife for self-defense can put a character on some shaky ground. The best tactic, legally speaking, is to inflict an injury that allows for a retreat when one is otherwise not possible.
It’s a lot of fun to choose knives for characters. I played the part of armorer for a vigilante detective character not long ago, and I enjoyed the hell out of it. The blades in that instance (I recommended two for the character) were to be used for last-ditch self-defense. I stopped short, however, of detailing what self-defense with a knife can mean in a legal sense.
Maybe this matters to a story and maybe it doesn’t. But if you’re going to assign a character a knife, don’t disregard how easy it is for a knife-wielding character to cross the line from self-defense to murder. Continue reading
Since starting this blog and my other projects, I’ve moved away from the book reviews that initially were my bread and butter. But then along comes a book like Knife Laws of the U.S., and I can’t let it pass by without getting the word out to writers reading this blog.
Written by one of the foremost Second Amendment attorneys in the country, Evan Nappen, Knife Laws of the U.S. details exactly that. Whereas my book, The Writer’s Guide to Weapons, offers a crash course on this subject, Nappen’s work picks up where I left off, then runs a mile with it. This is the premier resource to turn to when assigning knives to characters if the laws of the setting count. Continue reading
Many knives fit the criteria for a “survival knife,” but I went with the ESEE-5 for one of my projects. (ESEE photo)
TLDR: Forget the bells and whistles. Fixed blade knives built for durability and practicality are the best for getting a character out of a pinch.
On the surface, a “survival knife” might seem to be any blade within arm’s reach that saves a character’s carcass from certain defeat. But if you’re a regular reader of this blog, you know things are never as simple as that. There’s plenty to consider when assigning a character one of these resilient brutes. I even had to gut-check myself with one of my most recent releases, Chase Baker & the Vikings’ Secret. Continue reading
(Image by Eduard Piél via sxc.hu)
Rachel Amphlett writes thrillers, most notably the Dan Taylor series, from her home in Australia. You might recognize her from the James Bond movie, The World is Not Enough, where she was an extra. (OK, you wouldn’t have known that without reading her bio, but how cool is that?) In all seriousness, go check out Amphlett’s bio. Guitars, movies, bars, globe-trotting, she’s done it all. How could that not result in some great reads?
Tight regulations on firearms in Australia means Amphlett has to get creative when researching these critical story components. If you live in an area where firearm access is limited, or just don’t feel like putting one in your hands, I think you’ll enjoy her tips below.
Enjoy!
~Ben Continue reading
The Writer's Guide to Weapons 