Digging into suspense writing

Y’all know I write suspense, which means something bad always happens to someone in my books. My current work in progress involves a character who’s buried alive. Naturally, I had to dig around to see what it’s like to get dumped in a grave while you’re still breathing. Here are some things I learned:

• If you have an accommodating attacker who offers a choice, make sure to opt for a coffin. The casket provides a temporary source of oxygen, but if you’re dumped in loose soil, forget it. Time is not on your side when dirt starts filling your nose and mouth.
• Don’t panic. With shallow breathing, the average person can survive about five hours in a casket so don’t waste that air by hyperventilating.
• Feel around. Maybe there’s something useful in the casket with you. A cell phone would come in handy, but a pocket knife or even a sturdy belt buckle can be useful in your attempt to bust out. This is the time when you hope the person who buried you went for the cheaper option of a cardboard casket rather than a steel one.
• In the 1800s, there was such a fear of being prematurely planted, it became common to put bells in coffins. During the Civil War, bells were often tied to the hands of dead soldiers just in case someone made a mistake.

It also helps to be strong. In “Kill Bill Vol. 2”, Beatrix Kiddo (Uma Thurman) employs mad martial arts skills to punch her way out of a coffin, then dig out of the grave.

What I’m reading

When I’m not writing, I’m reading. A couple of books I’ve enjoyed lately have ties to Israel, but they’re very different. One is a modern account of being a tourist in Israel, the other is historical fiction that has the heroine traveling (usually on foot) all over this diverse country.

A Traveling Grandma’s Guide to Israel: Adventures, Wit, and Wisdom by Delores Topliff

Such a fun book. Even if you’re not planning a trip to Israel, the author’s tales of her travels are fun and informative. Delores Topliff makes a daunting trip seem do-able and affordable. I’ve no wish to travel to Israel, but Delores clearly loves it and I enjoyed her descriptions of places, people and foods. I also liked the author’s easygoing attitude about travel, with lots of tips and practical advice.  For anyone who’s nervous about an overseas journey, this makes it seem less intimidating.

Ahoti: A Story of Tamar by Eva Marie Everson and Miriam Feinberg Vamosh

Wow. I almost never give five-star reviews, but this is such a good read. “Ahoti” is a story about what might have been the fate of the Biblical character Tamar, after being assaulted by her half-brother. Authors Miriam Feinberg Vamosh and Eva Marie Everson did such incredible research to provide wonderful period details about everything from food to medicine to cosmetics to social customs. But the heroine and the strong women who stood by her are the stars of the story. Lots of intrigue and suspense.