THE OFFICIAL AUTHOR BLOG

Dispatches from the Author’s Desk

Step into the stories behind the suspense. Explore authentic 19th-century frontier research, secret inspirations, forgotten historical archives, and writing craft essays directly from Ken Merrell.

How Do You Know If You’re a Good Writer?
★ FEATURED ARTICLE
Behind the Book•7 min read•Oct 24, 2026

How Do You Know If You’re a Good Writer?

How do you know if you’re becoming a better writer? Ken Merrell offers five signs: you can identify why a sentence isn’t working, recognize techniques in writing you admire, choose specific and purposeful details, trust readers to understand without excessive explanation, and revise to solve problems rather than simply change words. Through practical examples, he shows how thoughtful choices strengthen clarity, character, tension, and emotional impact. Progress isn’t always accompanied by confidence; sometimes improvement means noticing weaknesses you previously missed. Comparing older work with what you can accomplish today provides useful evidence of growth, while focused reader feedback helps reveal what still needs attention. The goal is to understand why a change helps—and keep developing the judgment to make your next page better.

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How Do You Know If You’re a Good Writer?Behind the Book★ FEATURED
Oct 24, 2026•7 min read•Behind the Book

How Do You Know If You’re a Good Writer?

How do you know if you’re becoming a better writer? Ken Merrell offers five signs: you can identify why a sentence isn’t working, recognize techniques in writing you admire, choose specific and purposeful details, trust readers to understand without excessive explanation, and revise to solve problems rather than simply change words. Through practical examples, he shows how thoughtful choices strengthen clarity, character, tension, and emotional impact. Progress isn’t always accompanied by confidence; sometimes improvement means noticing weaknesses you previously missed. Comparing older work with what you can accomplish today provides useful evidence of growth, while focused reader feedback helps reveal what still needs attention. The goal is to understand why a change helps—and keep developing the judgment to make your next page better.

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Kentucky’s Divided Families: When the Civil War Came HomeBehind the Book
Oct 23, 2026•10 min read•Behind the Book

Kentucky’s Divided Families: When the Civil War Came Home

Kentucky’s Civil War divided families as deeply as it divided the nation. Brothers—including the sons of statesman John J. Crittenden—served in opposing armies, while military pressure, competing loyalties, and slavery shaped lives across the state. For enslaved Black Kentuckians, Union service offered a path toward freedom. This article explores those conflicting experiences and the wounds that remained long after the fighting ended.

Q&A
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