Hayden, G. Miki 1944-

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HAYDEN, G. Miki 1944-

PERSONAL: Born 1944.

ADDRESSES: Agent—c/o Author Mail, Jona Books, Box 336, Bedford, IN 47421. E-mail—gmh222222@aol.com.

CAREER: Writer. Has also worked as a book reviewer, first reader for literary agents and periodicals, book doctor, writing teacher, and freelance writer.

MEMBER: Mystery Writers of America,

WRITINGS:

By Reason of Insanity, Free Range Press (New York, NY), 1998.

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Pacific Empire, Jona Books (Bedford, IN), 1998

Writing the Mystery: A Start-to-Finish Guide for Novice and Professional, Intrigue Press (Philadelphia, PA), 2001.

Contributor of short stories to numerous genre magazines, including Murderous Intent Mystery Magazine, Whispering Willows, Futures, Nefarious, Tale Spinner, Kracked Mirror Mysteries, Keen Science Fiction, Unholy Orders, Spaceways Weekly, Star Anthology, Galactic Citizen, Lost Worlds, Romantic Bower, True Romance, and True Love. Contributor of short stories to anthologies.

WORK IN PROGRESS: A sequel to By Reason of Insanity.

SIDELIGHTS: G. Miki Hayden is the author of two novels, Pacific Empire and By Reason of Insanity. Pacific Empire is an alternative history novel based on the premise "What if Japan had not lost World War II?" Covering the period of time from the 1930s to the 1980s, the novel features the family of Japanese Baron Shimazo. Shimazo, along with other Japanese leaders, is attempting to retain Japan's hold on its shaky Pacific Empire. The story is presented in nine parts, featuring Shimazo's sons, wives, lovers, children, and crewmates as they move through the decades of alternative events. In the New York Times, Gerald Jonas praised Hayden's ability to convincingly present a world that never existed, as well as her depiction of vibrant characters. He also noted that some of the book's "finest moments" involve the clash of Japanese tradition with the rapidly changing world of the twentieth century.

In By Reason of Insanity Hayden tells the story of psychiatrist Dennis Astin, who is also his small town's medical examiner, and his quest to determine who murdered a young woman found dead in a local park. Astin is convinced that someone he knows is the killer, but at the same time, he begins to question his own sanity. Although Dan Swearingen wrote in Book-browser that the setting of the book is "drab," he noted that in this novel, the characters provide color and texture, and that he did not figure out the murderer's identity until late in the book.

Hayden's Writing the Mystery: A Start-to-Finish Guide for Novice and Professional provides down-to-earth advice for aspiring mystery writers. In accessible, everyday language, Hayden explains the ins and outs of plotting, characterization, suspense, editing, agents, and publication. She also provides helpful exercises that allow writers to practice what they've learned, and interviews with well-known mystery writers such as Elmore Leonard, Laura Lippmann, and Rick Riordan. A Publishers Weekly writer noted that this volume would be helpful to both aspiring writers and experienced writers who want to move up in the genre.

In addition to writing fiction and nonfiction, Hayden has worked as a book reviewer, feature writer, and columnist for various mystery magazines. She has also worked as a first reader for literary agents and for various publications, including Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, Asimov's Science Fiction, and Analog Science Fiction. Hayden is also a teacher of online courses for Writer's Online Workshop.