Storytellersunplugged

Assaults of all kinds can result in body wounds, and most involve skin damage. Our skin just seems to hang around not doing much, but it performs some very important functions. It stands between us and many harmful agents. It also plays important roles in maintaining our body temperature and in gathering sensory information from our surroundings.Skin comprises an outermost layer known as an epidermis. Its thickness ranges from 0.05 mm eyelids to 1.5 mm palms and soles, and pigment (melanin) is ... Read More

Viewers of CSI and other crime shows often observe agents comparing fingerprints for possible matches with prints on file in a system referred to as AFIS. DNA is also compared for possible matches with DNA on file in a system known as CODIS. The following includes a brief description of those systems and some other helpful forensic systems and agencies that characters in reader's future stories might find useful. Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS) Many states have AFIS systems; IAFIS is a national, ... Read More

Being a cross-genre kind of girl myself, I seem always to be preaching to other authors to think more broadly about other genres their books might fit into, and about how to promote themselves in other genres. This kind of thinking and marketing is particularly important for authors in the horror genre because, let’s face it, horror is not exactly a popular book genre these days. In fact, I’m not sure it could be any LESS popular. ... Read More

According to Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary, a poison is "a substance that through its chemical action usually kills, injures or impairs an organism" or "a substance that inhibits the activity of another substance or the course of a reaction or process." Since there are many types of poisons, only a few of those commonly encountered in novels have room for mention here. For the same reason, acute (relatively quick-acting) poisoning rather than chronic (relatively prolonged) poisoning will be addressed. Many novels and films ... Read More

For the files of murder mystery and horror story writers. Benny was feeling luckier than he had ever felt before as he carefully picked his way through dark woods skirting a long-abandoned logging road. After weeks of effort to gain the trust of a major drug dealer, he was about to meet and make a buy from one of the dealer’s runners. The returns he would get when he distributed the drugs would finance a legitimate business he had been planning to establish ... Read More

During his seven years on Earth, Devin had not spent much time with his father.  The latter was a heavy drinker and was spending increasing amounts of time away from home.  When his dad was home, he would frequently have intense arguments with Devin’s mother; and many fights were about Devin.  His mother had never wanted him in the first place, and she had often reminded both Devin and his father of that fact.  On Devin’s eighth birthday, his father had left ... Read More

R. C. Jones The buzzing sound began as I started down a narrow set of stairs leading to a large basement room. I had never been there before, but I knew what the source of the buzzing must be. It was the sound of a small vibrating saw cutting off the top of someone’s skull. READER ALERT! Anyone with an especially queasy stomach might wish to abandon ship here. In my last essay, we got as far as what happens forensically to ... Read More

R C Jones In case some of you unpluggers might someday wish to write about a situation involving a shooting, some information about firearm identification might come in handy. First, a bit of basic background. For the sake of brevity, I will limit the discussion to handguns, that is, to revolvers and semi-automatic pistols. Both fire cartridges each of which comprises a casing, within which is held an explosive powder, a bullet held in the forward end of the casing, ... Read More

(How about a big Storytellers welcome for Robert Jones - he's agreed to do occasional fill-in essays - and to catch a few of those 31st dates that we ignore so well, and so thoroughly. Welcome aboard, Bob) by R. C. Jones Rewards come in many forms. One of the most commonly recognized rewards for writing is probably financial, but there are others that can be immeasurably meaningful. Some who write have received not only financial rewards but also literary ... Read More