With 20 books now to her name and a slew of accolades and bestseller titles under her belt, crime author Candice Fox has gone with something a little different for her latest novel, Redbelly Crossing. Inspired by a real-life family reminiscence, she has reimagined elements of two actual Sydney cold-case murders – and in this episode, Candice discusses how she balanced the sensitivity of a real case (including speaking with the victim’s husbands) with her creative storytelling instincts and a genuine desire to solve the case.

00:00 Welcome
06:56 Writing tip: Set an Intention
09:51 WIN!: Astral Library by Kate Quinn
11:49 Word of the week: ‘Ylem’
13:52 Writer in residence: Candice Fox
14:41 Crossing the line into a true-crime inspired novel
16:25 Candice’s mum’s encounter with a possible killer
20:30 Rabbit Holes and why she didn’t make a true-crime podcast
26:07 Similarities in the cold cases: one killer or two?
26:44 Writing real tragedy into fiction: meeting the husbands & making hard edits
28:50 Pitching the project to her agent
32:23 The novel’s elevator pitch
34:22 Ending a fictional case when the real one is unsolved
37:02 What readers should take away
39:55 Career reflections – 20 books in 12 years
42:19 Candice’s writing routine and finding ideas
45:25 Top tips for crime writers
47:39 Final thoughts

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Connect with Valerie and listeners in the podcast community on Facebook
Visit WritersCentre.com.au | ValerieKhoo.com

With 20 books now to her name and a slew of accolades and bestseller titles under her belt, crime author Candice Fox has gone with something a little different for her latest novel, Redbelly Crossing. Inspired by a real-life family reminiscence, she has reimagined elements of two actual Sydney cold-case murders &ndash; and in this episode, Candice discusses how she balanced the sensitivity of a real case (including speaking with the victim&rsquo;s husbands) with her creative storytelling instincts and a genuine desire to solve the case.
00:00 Welcome 06:56 Writing tip: Set an Intention 09:51 WIN!: Astral Library by Kate Quinn 11:49 Word of the week: &lsquo;Ylem&rsquo; 13:52 Writer in residence: Candice Fox 14:41 Crossing the line into a true-crime inspired novel 16:25 Candice&rsquo;s mum&rsquo;s encounter with a possible killer 20:30 Rabbit Holes and why she didn&rsquo;t make a true-crime podcast 26:07 Similarities in the cold cases: one killer or two? 26:44 Writing real tragedy into fiction: meeting the husbands &amp; making hard edits 28:50 Pitching the project to her agent 32:23 The novel&rsquo;s elevator pitch 34:22 Ending a fictional case when the real one is unsolved 37:02 What readers should take away 39:55 Career reflections &ndash; 20 books in 12 years 42:19 Candice&rsquo;s writing routine and finding ideas 45:25 Top tips for crime writers 47:39 Final thoughts
<a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/blog/ep-710/">Read the show notes</a>
Connect with Valerie and listeners in <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/2346749828883788/">the podcast community on Facebook</a> Visit <a href="https://www.writerscentre.com.au/">WritersCentre.com.au</a> |&nbsp;<a href="http://valeriekhoo.com/">ValerieKhoo.com</a>

Everything you’ve always wanted to know about succeeding in the world of writing and publishing. Learn practical writing techniques, go behind-the-scenes and discover how real-life authors got their big break. Uncover the creative processes of writers who have made it. Your host is Valerie Khoo – author, journalist, creative and CEO of the Australian Writers’ Centre. 

Everything you&rsquo;ve always wanted to know about succeeding in the world of writing and publishing. Learn practical writing techniques, go behind-the-scenes and discover how real-life authors got their big break. Uncover the creative processes of writers who have made it. Your host is Valerie Khoo &ndash;&nbsp;author, journalist, creative and CEO of the Australian Writers&rsquo; Centre.&nbsp;