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Plans for next year's PSWA Writers Conference are underway.
We’re delighted to announce the addition of Betty Webb as our keynote speaker at Saturday’s lunch. Betty is the author of the prize winning and much acclaimed, hard-boiled Lena Jones books, which are based on stories she covered as a reporter, include Desert Noir, Desert Wives, Desert Shadows, Desert Run and Desert Cut. Her much softer Gunn Zoo series debuted last December with The Anteater of Death. Currently a creative writing teacher at Phoenix College, Betty is a member of National Federation of Press Women, Mystery Writers of America, and the Society of Southwest Authors. Her topic is: "From Hard-boiled to Darn Near Cozy, and Why I Dunnit."
and
Victoria Heckman, Friday’s Keynote luncheon speaker will talk about "The Journey Is Everything" or "Where The Hell's The AAA When You Need It?" about the journey to becoming a writer and how it parallels our own life journeys.
Victoria Heckman is the author of the K.O.'d in Hawaii mystery series trom Pemberley Press
& Writer's Exchange. Kapu, A Coconut Man Mystery of Ancient Hawai'i, 2008 from Seven Sisters Publishing http://www.victoriaheckman.com
PSWA’s (Public Safety Writers Association) annual conference is being held in Las Vegas, June 18-21, 2009 at the Suncoast Hotel and Casino. The conference is open to anyone writing crime and mystery fiction or non-fiction, technical writing for public safety magazines in print or online, or anyone interested in writing. Registered attendees may offer a suggestion for a presentation or panel. There is no-restriction as to who can serve on a panel.
Steve Scarborough, a Forensic Scientist with over 30 years experience in Law Enforcement with Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and the FBI.an accomplished technical writer and the author of several books, will give a presentation on “Writing Forensics Right.” http://www.steve-scarborough.com/
Tim Dees, Editor-in-Chief of LawOfficer.com, after serving in law enforcement, he was the first editor-in-chief at Officer.com before joining Elsevier Public Safety and LawOfficer.com in January 2008. His work has been published in nearly every major law enforcement magazine. His topic for the conference will be: Writing for the New Media.
Fire Fighting and Arson, Presenter: Dave Doust
Logistics of Writing: How to gear up and rev up you writing productivity. A system to layer on top of your present way of writing. A practical series of step that will show you how to switch into a proactive approach of generating work.
Presenter: Sarah Cortez
Authors may bring their books for sale. PSWA will keep 10% to help defray the cost of the conference and for the scholarship fund.
Some surprises are being planned, so keep watching the PSWA website: http://policewriter.com
There is a price break for members and for non-members registering before September 30th.
Membership is open to anyone in any of the public safety fields or writing or interested in writing for or about them.
Marilyn
Friday, June 27, 2008
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Graduation and so on
The graduation was lovely, the kids with marital problems got back together, and life got sort of back to normal. I say sort of because the bathroom still isn't done, and somehow, rats (yes, rats) managed to take up residence in a closet near the bathroom. One of our cats discovered them, husband and grandson got rid of lots, the cat has managed to round up a couple of more. Ugh! I hope they're all gone.
In the meantime I finished the ghost writing project I'd been working on and I'm only a few pages from finishing my own work in progress. And because my latest Tempe is coming out in September, I've been busy setting up the promotion for it.
Of course I'm still promoting the books I've got on hand. I had a booth at a flea market in Temecula where we have two grown grandkids with families--we stayed with one and then the other and had fun visiting the great-grands.
I'm also reading books for a prestigious contest--one I help judge every year.
So I've been busy--as usual.
On the 4th of July I'll have a booth in Exeter(CA) for their big celectration, on the 5th I'm headed to Fresno for the San Joaquin chapter of Sisters in Crime at 10:30at Yosemite Falls Restaurant. I'm not speaking, but the person who is will be talking about fires and fire crimes and I've been asked to bring copies of my books with fires in them.
On Saturday, the 12th of July from 10 to 3 I'll be at the West Coast Authors Premier, at the Crowne Plaza at the beach in Ventura CA. I'll be giving a talk about e-publishing. (The night before we're staying in a haunted room at a bed-and-breakfast at our request. More about that later.)
On Saturday, the 19th, I'm giving a talk about Self-Editing to the writer's group at Willow Bridge Bookstore in Oakhurst CA beginning at 2 p.m. Visitors are welcome, booksigning to follow.
Would love to see anyone who actually reads my blog.
Marilyn
http://fictionforyou.com
In the meantime I finished the ghost writing project I'd been working on and I'm only a few pages from finishing my own work in progress. And because my latest Tempe is coming out in September, I've been busy setting up the promotion for it.
Of course I'm still promoting the books I've got on hand. I had a booth at a flea market in Temecula where we have two grown grandkids with families--we stayed with one and then the other and had fun visiting the great-grands.
I'm also reading books for a prestigious contest--one I help judge every year.
So I've been busy--as usual.
On the 4th of July I'll have a booth in Exeter(CA) for their big celectration, on the 5th I'm headed to Fresno for the San Joaquin chapter of Sisters in Crime at 10:30at Yosemite Falls Restaurant. I'm not speaking, but the person who is will be talking about fires and fire crimes and I've been asked to bring copies of my books with fires in them.
On Saturday, the 12th of July from 10 to 3 I'll be at the West Coast Authors Premier, at the Crowne Plaza at the beach in Ventura CA. I'll be giving a talk about e-publishing. (The night before we're staying in a haunted room at a bed-and-breakfast at our request. More about that later.)
On Saturday, the 19th, I'm giving a talk about Self-Editing to the writer's group at Willow Bridge Bookstore in Oakhurst CA beginning at 2 p.m. Visitors are welcome, booksigning to follow.
Would love to see anyone who actually reads my blog.
Marilyn
http://fictionforyou.com
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Life and Writing
Yes, life does get in the way of writing. Though Iknow what a pain it is to remodel, we're now in the middle of redoing a bathroom. It's a major project as everything at that end of the house was built in a ramshakle fashion. And like most contractors, the workers never show up when they say they are coming. This guy was smart though, he didn't say how long the job would take. The room is at the end of a long hall with my office at the other end. There's no door on my office and it's the only way to get into the rest of the house--so that's going on.
I'm trying to work on my next Deputy Tempe Crabtree novel which I was half way through when I got side-tracked to ghost write a thriller. Of course I did it because the money was good.
We have a grown grandson living with us who likes to check on what I'm doing, somewhat like my husband, he'll come and sit in the extra chair in my office.
Our next to youngest granddaughter is graduating from high school tomorrow night and we have company coming in from out of town--lots! Her married sister is having dramatic marital problems and had to be fetched by my daughter-in-law, which complicates all of the celebratory plans. I wish young people didn't think their lives should be like soap operas.
The next in the Tempe series to come out is expected in August and I'm busy planning the promotion for that.
So writing blogs is about the last thing that comes on the list--though I knew it had been awhile since I posted on this one. Now it's time to cook dinner.
Marilyn
I'm trying to work on my next Deputy Tempe Crabtree novel which I was half way through when I got side-tracked to ghost write a thriller. Of course I did it because the money was good.
We have a grown grandson living with us who likes to check on what I'm doing, somewhat like my husband, he'll come and sit in the extra chair in my office.
Our next to youngest granddaughter is graduating from high school tomorrow night and we have company coming in from out of town--lots! Her married sister is having dramatic marital problems and had to be fetched by my daughter-in-law, which complicates all of the celebratory plans. I wish young people didn't think their lives should be like soap operas.
The next in the Tempe series to come out is expected in August and I'm busy planning the promotion for that.
So writing blogs is about the last thing that comes on the list--though I knew it had been awhile since I posted on this one. Now it's time to cook dinner.
Marilyn
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
More About Mayhem in the Midlands
Every mystery con or writers conference has its own personality. Mayhem has a super friendly atmosphere--and is attended by many mystery fans and readers. Over the years I've been blessed by making good friends with several of these fans.
Also, for a small con (less than 200 this year), they manage to draw some big name writers such as: Jeff Abbott, Jan Burke, Sean Doolittle, JT Ellison, Chris Grabenstein, Charlaine Harris, Libby Fischer Hellman, J.A. Konrath, Twist Phelan and a slew of mid-listers and small press authors, like I am.
For the most part, the authors are friendly and accessible too.
In some ways, this particular con feels like a family reunion. It's so good to spend time with those you've grown to love, it's also fun to meet and greet the newbies, and easy to ignore those who are caught up in their own importance.
Of course hubby and I have particular favorites among the folks. He loves Mayhem because he has a bevy of admirers. (Of course that's not unusual for my guy.)
We also love Omaha and especially the Old Marketplace. We spent the first full morning we were there walking in the rain and popping in and out of shops and enjoying a cup of mocha at one of several coffee houses. We had great meals, the first at our favorite Persian restuarant, Ahmad's, and we had Indian cuisine. We ate lunch at a new place called The Bent Fork, or the Twisted Fork, or something like that. We also ate a meal at a Brewery which was also delicious. Part of the fun was visiting with our friends.
As a writer, I spend most of my day in front of my computer. It's great fun to actually interac with people and have normal conversations.
Now, it's time I got back to the laundry from our trip.
Marilyn
Also, for a small con (less than 200 this year), they manage to draw some big name writers such as: Jeff Abbott, Jan Burke, Sean Doolittle, JT Ellison, Chris Grabenstein, Charlaine Harris, Libby Fischer Hellman, J.A. Konrath, Twist Phelan and a slew of mid-listers and small press authors, like I am.
For the most part, the authors are friendly and accessible too.
In some ways, this particular con feels like a family reunion. It's so good to spend time with those you've grown to love, it's also fun to meet and greet the newbies, and easy to ignore those who are caught up in their own importance.
Of course hubby and I have particular favorites among the folks. He loves Mayhem because he has a bevy of admirers. (Of course that's not unusual for my guy.)
We also love Omaha and especially the Old Marketplace. We spent the first full morning we were there walking in the rain and popping in and out of shops and enjoying a cup of mocha at one of several coffee houses. We had great meals, the first at our favorite Persian restuarant, Ahmad's, and we had Indian cuisine. We ate lunch at a new place called The Bent Fork, or the Twisted Fork, or something like that. We also ate a meal at a Brewery which was also delicious. Part of the fun was visiting with our friends.
As a writer, I spend most of my day in front of my computer. It's great fun to actually interac with people and have normal conversations.
Now, it's time I got back to the laundry from our trip.
Marilyn
Monday, May 26, 2008
Back Home From Mayhem
We're home after 4 1/2 glorious days in Omaha at Mayhem in the Midlands. We had a great time. Surprised though to come home to rain and 58 degree weather. When we left we'd been having a heat wave.
Also came home to no water. Sometime during the night a critter chewed through an electric wire on our water pump and shorted the breaker. Hubby is fixing it now. Always something.
We gave away some of our furniture to a grandson--and now we have an empty spot in part of our living room. We need to do some big time carpet cleaning now.
Oh, and did I tell you that we're remodeling a bathroom? That's fun, having workers traipse through the house and my office on their way to the torn up bathroom.
We have another grandson living with us. Thank goodness we have so many bedrooms.
This has to be short, going to help a granddaughter order something on the Net. More laters.
Marilyn
Also came home to no water. Sometime during the night a critter chewed through an electric wire on our water pump and shorted the breaker. Hubby is fixing it now. Always something.
We gave away some of our furniture to a grandson--and now we have an empty spot in part of our living room. We need to do some big time carpet cleaning now.
Oh, and did I tell you that we're remodeling a bathroom? That's fun, having workers traipse through the house and my office on their way to the torn up bathroom.
We have another grandson living with us. Thank goodness we have so many bedrooms.
This has to be short, going to help a granddaughter order something on the Net. More laters.
Marilyn
Saturday, May 10, 2008
New Review for Smell of Death
This one made me cheer!
AAA Book Review
Smell of Death
Author: F. M. Meredith a.k.a. Marilyn Meredith
Publisher: Tigress Press
Reviewer: Jeff Edwards
"Smell of Death is a tightly woven tapestry of romance, human tragedy, and
murder.
Officer Stacey Wilbur has problems. As a single parent and the only female
officer assigned to the Rocky Bluff Police Department, her life is quite
complicated enough. When she suddenly finds herself dealing with two murders, a
kidnapped child, and a pair of clumsy burglars, things begin to get out of control.
Somewhere in the middle of all of that, she’s beginning to fall for one of the
detectives in her squad.
Author F. M. Meredith has been compared to Joseph Wambaugh, and I can
definitely see the connection. The cops of her fictional Rocky Bluff PD have lives
that extend beyond the chase and the crime scene. They struggle to raise their
children, deal with leaky faucets, and pay their mortgages. They have hopes,
loves, fears, and nightmares. They come across like real people, with real lives.
The police work in Smell of Death is not fancy, or even particularly high-tech.
There’s no CSI magic to be found here. There are no courtroom theatrics, and no
hyper-intuitive detectives. Just hard working cops doing the sort of methodical
spadework that probably solves most real life crimes.
Fans of Hill Street Blues will find this book right up their alley. F. M.
Meredith has crafted a smoothly compelling police drama, peopled by
convincing characters."
Needless to say I am thrilled. The book can be purchased from my website, from Amazon, and as an ebook directly from http://www.tigresspress.com
Marilyn
http://fictionforyou.com
AAA Book Review
Smell of Death
Author: F. M. Meredith a.k.a. Marilyn Meredith
Publisher: Tigress Press
Reviewer: Jeff Edwards
"Smell of Death is a tightly woven tapestry of romance, human tragedy, and
murder.
Officer Stacey Wilbur has problems. As a single parent and the only female
officer assigned to the Rocky Bluff Police Department, her life is quite
complicated enough. When she suddenly finds herself dealing with two murders, a
kidnapped child, and a pair of clumsy burglars, things begin to get out of control.
Somewhere in the middle of all of that, she’s beginning to fall for one of the
detectives in her squad.
Author F. M. Meredith has been compared to Joseph Wambaugh, and I can
definitely see the connection. The cops of her fictional Rocky Bluff PD have lives
that extend beyond the chase and the crime scene. They struggle to raise their
children, deal with leaky faucets, and pay their mortgages. They have hopes,
loves, fears, and nightmares. They come across like real people, with real lives.
The police work in Smell of Death is not fancy, or even particularly high-tech.
There’s no CSI magic to be found here. There are no courtroom theatrics, and no
hyper-intuitive detectives. Just hard working cops doing the sort of methodical
spadework that probably solves most real life crimes.
Fans of Hill Street Blues will find this book right up their alley. F. M.
Meredith has crafted a smoothly compelling police drama, peopled by
convincing characters."
Needless to say I am thrilled. The book can be purchased from my website, from Amazon, and as an ebook directly from http://www.tigresspress.com
Marilyn
http://fictionforyou.com
More on the Public Safety Writers Association Conference
I wanted to share this photo from the conference because I love it. Keith Bettinger, retired cop, is receiving one of his prizes from Michelle Perin-Callahan, contest chair. Keith also took care of securing the hotel and solving all the problems that came up--and yes, they do happen in the best planned conferences. Keith has a wonderful sense of humor and keeps everyone in stitches with his cop stories. He's written a full-length book and lots of short stories.
Michelle is a police dispatcher, writes for several law enforcement magazines, is a mom of two, and a newlywed, besides being in charge of the PSWA writing contest. She's a great gal and lots of fun to be around. To show how supportive she is, she drove authors to Henderson to a bookstore for a group signing after the conference even though she didn't have a book to sell.
This is a great group. I could go on and on about them. If you write mysteries with characters in law enforcement or fire fighting or other public safety organizations, or write non-fiction about or for any of the same, by all means, consider joining PSWA. http://www.policewriter.com
Marilyn
http://fictionforyou.com
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