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Paradise Springs
One of our grandsons is getting married this weekend and they've chosen to have the wedding in a beautiful place in the midst of old-growth giant Sequoias. The area once was a logging camp which has been greatly upgraded into an ideal setting for weddings and other events.
I noticed the absences of any mention of WiFi or Internet connections so I'll be out of touch with everyone. What I do plan to do is take my iPad and use it to take picture of the surroundings for future Deputy Tempe Crabtree blogs. You may not know it, but Bear Creek where Tempe lives and works though based on the village where I live is fictional. I've moved it up in the mountains 1000 feet for better trees, the kind of trees you see in this photo. There are giant Sequoias in the area that I write about and in fact have appreared in several of the Crabtree mysteries--and I'm sure that they will again. Some of these giants are located on Indian reservation land. Because I'll have my iPad, I'll probably take notes about the book I'm working on now--a Rocky Bluff P.D. crime novel, and I have books to read on it too. Then again, maybe I'll have too much fun walking some of the trails, visiting with new in-laws and the relatives that I already know. And of course, the best part will be watching my grandson marry the woman he loves. Marilyn |
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Where I am Spending the Weekend
Monday, May 20, 2013
Planning Ahead for my Next Deputy Tempe Crabtree promo
Mundania Press has a form to be filled out after you've sent them a copy of your new book. Among other things, you must write a short blurb for the back of the book, a synopsis, and what you'd like to see on the cover. Fortunately, my Deputy Tempe Crabtree series covers have been assigned to a cover artist who uses Native American designs in the covers. I'm hoping for something wonderful once again.
Spirit Shapes is the title of this book and the story has many spirits, ghosts and even demons in it--and of course several murders--one new and two from the past. I hope, somehow, the artist will be able to convey some of that.
Now it's time for me to think about what kind of things I should do for promotion of this book--and that's where you can chime in. Is there anything in particular you'd like to see me do?
Of course I'm considering a blog tour--and I'd love to have some volunteers--if I don't get any, then I'll chase some folks down. And with a blog tour, I need a contest. What kind of contest do you prefer? To have your name used as a character in my next book? Or would you rather choose a copy of one of the books in the series before Spirit Shapes? (I never give away the book I'm promoting because I'm hoping people will buy it because of what I'm saying about it.)
I love giving talks about writing, publishing, promoting and about what gave me the idea for whatever book I happen to be promoting--or the series itself. Anyone who'd like to come have me speak, (California, Arizona or Nevada please), email me at mmeredith@ocsnet.net
Of course I'll be going to writers' conferences--next year both Left Coast Crime and Bouchercon are in California and I'm already planning on going--if I'm able and like my husband always says, "And the creek don't rise." Well, we do have a small river behind our house and so far it hasn't risen high enough to keep me from doing much of anything. And of course, I'll make an appearance at PSWA.
Any other ideas? I'd love to hear from you.
Marilyn
Spirit Shapes is the title of this book and the story has many spirits, ghosts and even demons in it--and of course several murders--one new and two from the past. I hope, somehow, the artist will be able to convey some of that.
Now it's time for me to think about what kind of things I should do for promotion of this book--and that's where you can chime in. Is there anything in particular you'd like to see me do?
Of course I'm considering a blog tour--and I'd love to have some volunteers--if I don't get any, then I'll chase some folks down. And with a blog tour, I need a contest. What kind of contest do you prefer? To have your name used as a character in my next book? Or would you rather choose a copy of one of the books in the series before Spirit Shapes? (I never give away the book I'm promoting because I'm hoping people will buy it because of what I'm saying about it.)
I love giving talks about writing, publishing, promoting and about what gave me the idea for whatever book I happen to be promoting--or the series itself. Anyone who'd like to come have me speak, (California, Arizona or Nevada please), email me at mmeredith@ocsnet.net
Of course I'll be going to writers' conferences--next year both Left Coast Crime and Bouchercon are in California and I'm already planning on going--if I'm able and like my husband always says, "And the creek don't rise." Well, we do have a small river behind our house and so far it hasn't risen high enough to keep me from doing much of anything. And of course, I'll make an appearance at PSWA.
Any other ideas? I'd love to hear from you.
Marilyn
Saturday, May 18, 2013
The Asylum, by John Harwood--my review
Truly, I did not know what to expect with this book. The cover, which for some reason I've been unable to copy, is that of a black and white photo of a young woman, sad and from an earlier time period. The title and author name are in pale yellow. An arresting cover.
The chapter headings are the names of the POV character for that particular segment. I found that helpful because at times I wasn't sure. One of the reasons is because this is the story of Georgina Ferrars who wakes up in an asylum with no recollection of how she got there. I had no idea where the story was going but immediately was caught up in the horrifying dilemma this young woman found herself in.
All of her pleading that she is not who the head doctor of the asylum says she is not believed. Her back story is wonderfully told and I was immediately captivated, wanting to learn what happened to this young woman.
Years ago, I loved reading gothic tales and The Asylum has the same atmosphere--but not the standard plot by any means. The publishing company calls in a gothic thriller, but I'm not sure thriller is the best description. To me it was more of a gothic psychological mystery.
The more I read, the more I wanted to read. I loved it, brilliant writing, intriguing characters and a most complicated plot.
Marilyn aka F. M. Meredith
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Why I Chose a Small Independent Publisher(s) and More
The "and more" refers to why I've chosen to remain with my small publishers and not jump off and go the self-publishing route as so many others have.
First, I was thrilled when Mundania Press agreed to pick up my Deputy Tempe Crabtree series after I lost the first two publishers. I'd met the publisher at several writing conferences and he had the know how and business sense I was looking for.
I met the publisher for Oak Tree Press also at a writing conference. In fact I met her several times before I approached her about publishing the next one up in my Rocky Bluff P.D. series. I parted ways with the first publisher, the second one published two books and then decided to retire. Approaching Oak Tree Press seemed the next logical stop.
Why did I make that choice and stick with it?
Number one, I don't want to learn how to do something new. Frankly, I don't have the time for it. I want to have time to write my books. I don't want to design my covers and format the pages of my book. I don't want to deal with all those business things.
What do I expect from my small press publishers?
That once my book is accepted, that the book will be edited. Before I ever send it off, my critique group has heard it and critiqued it chapter by chapter. Next, I've had a beta reader or two. Then I go over it once more carefully. That doesn't mean there won't be mistakes--goodness, there always seems to be mistakes. But between me and the editor, hopefully we'll catch most of them.
And then the galley proofs--I will again go over the book looking for mistakes, typos, flaws.
I expect my publisher to come up with a great cover. If I have an idea what might work, I'll give my input. If there's something I don't like about the cover, I'll say so. Sometimes changes are made, sometimes not. I've loved most of my covers.
I'm the one who has to write a short blurb for the back of the book. I'm also the one who has to find authors to write something about the book--though one of my publishers makes great suggestions.
I expect my publisher to get the book up in all the places it might sell such as Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
I'm the one who has to get a buzz going about the book and I try to get this started long before the book is to come out. I'm the one who will be doing most of the promotion. I am the one with the marketing plans. What venue will I be attending where I can talk about and/or sell my book? What online promo will I be doing? What blogs brought in the most visitors on my last blog tour? Should I plan another blog tour and who should I ask to be a part of it? What other social media should I use again, or try anew?
What I won't do? I won't bug my publisher or ask for things I know won't happen with a small press. A good way to lose a publisher is to be a pest. Another is to not understand the publishing business and ask for the impossible--and keep asking. For one thing, I'm way to busy for that.
Maybe I don't know everything that I ought to know, goodness, I certainly haven't made a fortune writing. I certainly haven't made the dollars some of my fellow authors are reporting. What I do know is that I have some loyal fans, I love hearing from them and when I am fortunate to, I love meeting them. And one more thing, I have a good relationship with both my publishers.
I'm sure there's a lot more. Chime in and tell me why you are doing what you are doing.
Marilyn aka F.M. Meredith
First, I was thrilled when Mundania Press agreed to pick up my Deputy Tempe Crabtree series after I lost the first two publishers. I'd met the publisher at several writing conferences and he had the know how and business sense I was looking for.
 |
| Raging Water, the latest in Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery series |
I met the publisher for Oak Tree Press also at a writing conference. In fact I met her several times before I approached her about publishing the next one up in my Rocky Bluff P.D. series. I parted ways with the first publisher, the second one published two books and then decided to retire. Approaching Oak Tree Press seemed the next logical stop.
 | ||
| Latest in the Rocky Bluff P.D. series, Dangerous Impulses. |
Number one, I don't want to learn how to do something new. Frankly, I don't have the time for it. I want to have time to write my books. I don't want to design my covers and format the pages of my book. I don't want to deal with all those business things.
What do I expect from my small press publishers?
That once my book is accepted, that the book will be edited. Before I ever send it off, my critique group has heard it and critiqued it chapter by chapter. Next, I've had a beta reader or two. Then I go over it once more carefully. That doesn't mean there won't be mistakes--goodness, there always seems to be mistakes. But between me and the editor, hopefully we'll catch most of them.
And then the galley proofs--I will again go over the book looking for mistakes, typos, flaws.
I expect my publisher to come up with a great cover. If I have an idea what might work, I'll give my input. If there's something I don't like about the cover, I'll say so. Sometimes changes are made, sometimes not. I've loved most of my covers.
I'm the one who has to write a short blurb for the back of the book. I'm also the one who has to find authors to write something about the book--though one of my publishers makes great suggestions.
I expect my publisher to get the book up in all the places it might sell such as Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
I'm the one who has to get a buzz going about the book and I try to get this started long before the book is to come out. I'm the one who will be doing most of the promotion. I am the one with the marketing plans. What venue will I be attending where I can talk about and/or sell my book? What online promo will I be doing? What blogs brought in the most visitors on my last blog tour? Should I plan another blog tour and who should I ask to be a part of it? What other social media should I use again, or try anew?
What I won't do? I won't bug my publisher or ask for things I know won't happen with a small press. A good way to lose a publisher is to be a pest. Another is to not understand the publishing business and ask for the impossible--and keep asking. For one thing, I'm way to busy for that.
Maybe I don't know everything that I ought to know, goodness, I certainly haven't made a fortune writing. I certainly haven't made the dollars some of my fellow authors are reporting. What I do know is that I have some loyal fans, I love hearing from them and when I am fortunate to, I love meeting them. And one more thing, I have a good relationship with both my publishers.
I'm sure there's a lot more. Chime in and tell me why you are doing what you are doing.
Marilyn aka F.M. Meredith
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
How I Got from There to Here, Michael Bigham
Located
smack in the middle of Oregon, Prineville, a small cattle and mill town, is
nestled in the Crooked River Valley beneath rimrock plateaus of the Oregon high
desert. I grew up there, a small town boy, among cowboys and loggers. During my
college years, I fought range fires for the Bureau of Land Management. We
bunked in a guard station fifty miles east of nowhere. It was the most amazing
experience of my life. Every day, we’d journey up into the pine forests of the
Ochoco Mountains or down into the sagebrush and juniper flats of the lowlands.
We fought fires on isolated cattle ranches and on farms in lush river valleys.
After
college, I spent my working life as a cop. Even then I was a closet writer and,
after leaving police work, I decided I wanted write full time. I attended
Vermont College and earned an MFA in Creative Writing. When the time came to
create my first novel I knew it had to be set on the high desert. With my cop
background, the mystery genre was natural.
I
wanted to write a period piece, but not a traditional western, so I picked 1952
as my time period and created a fictional central Oregon town,
Barnesville as my main setting. Here’s how I describe it in my mystery, Harkness, A High Desert Mystery:
Barnestown was a fair little burg. We had one paved road, an official U.S.
highway, running through the middle of town.
Every other street was dirt, dusty in summer, swampy for those few days
in the spring when we got rain. I
cruised down the main drag. Frank
Flehardy, the town maintenance man, glanced up and nodded as I passed. Half of his time seemed to be spent replacing
pine boards in the sidewalk in what served as the business district. I swerved to avoid the milk delivery wagon.
There were as many horses on the road as automobiles, though the horse traffic
had thinned as the pioneer generation died out.
Gravel crunched under my tires as I stopped
in the county parking lot. The county
courthouse was the largest human construction in our town, with a granite clock
tower built by the faithful at the turn of the century when Barnestown had been
the hub of central Oregon. People may
not change, but times did, and Barnestown had slipped into the back eddies of
commerce, still hanging on as a cow town, but mostly the postwar boom had
eluded it.
My
hero, Matt Harkness, is a flawed man. He drinks too much, falls in love with
the local judge’s wife, and suffers from the trauma of fighting in the Pacific
during World War II. Even with all that, he’s content until two young star-crossed
lovers disappear. Then everything he knows and loves are at risk. You can pick
up a copy of Harkness at http://www.amazon.com/Harkness-High-Desert-Mystery-ebook/dp/B009T7HPN0/.
Also check out my blog at www.michaelbigham.com.
My
thanks go to Marilyn for this opportunity to be a guest on her blog. I’m in the
middle of her mystery, The Devil’s
Foothold. Great stuff, pick it up.
About the book: In
this thrilling debut novel, by Michael Bigham, Sheriff Matt Harkness faces a
perilous challenge. He isn’t your typical Western sheriff. Cowboy boots make
his arches ache, he’s phobic of horses, he drives an old battered pickup and
his faithful companion is a wiener dog named Addison. Set on the Oregon High
Desert in 1952, life in the small town of Barnesville has been easy-going for
Matthew until a star-crossed teen-age couple disappears. Harkness is the keeper
of secrets in his little town and to solve the crime, he must decide which
secrets to expose. One secret involves Judge Barnes, the county’s most powerful
man. But Harkness has a secret of his own: he’s in love with the Judge’s wife. How
much is Harkness willing to risk to catch a murderer?
About the author: Raised in the mill town of
Prineville in Central Oregon beneath blue skies and rimrocks, Michael Bigham
attended the University of Oregon and during his collegiate summers, fought range
fires on the Oregon high desert for the Bureau of Land Management. He worked as
a police officer with the Port of Portland and after leaving police work,
obtained an MFA degree in Creative Writing from Vermont College. Michael lives
in Portland, Oregon with his wife and daughter. Harkness is his first novel.
Harkness
Tour Schedule
Monday,
May 6th
Book spotlight at Between the Covers
Tuesday,
May 7th
Book spotlight at The Writer’s Life
Author interview at
Beyond the Books
Friday,
May 10th
Author interview at
Blogcritics
Monday,
May 13th
Guest post at Murder by 4
Tuesday,
May 14th
Guest post at Marilyn’s Musings
Friday,
May 17th
Guest post and
giveaway at The Busy Mom’s Daily
Wednesday,
May 22nd
Author interview at
As the Pages Turn
Thursday,
May 23rd
Book review at The Book Connection
Friday,
May 24th
Author interview at
Literarily Speaking
Tuesday,
May 28th
Book spotlight at Tribute Books Reviews &
Giveaways
Thursday,
May 30th
Book review at Thoughts in Progress
Monday,
June 3rd
Book review at Community Bookstop
Tuesday,
June 4th
Book review at WV Stitcher
Wednesday,
June 5th
Guest post at Lori’s Reading Corner
Thursday,
June 6th
Guest post at The Story Behind the Book
Friday,
June 7th
Podcast interview
at 6:30 PM EST at A Book
and A Chat
Monday,
June 10th
Author interview at
Examiner
Tuesday,
June 11th
Book review at The Library at the End of
the Universe
Wednesday,
June 12th
Author interview at
Pump Up Your Book
Thursday,
June 13th
Book review at CelticLady Reviews
Monday,
June 17th
Author interview at
Broowaha
Tuesday,
June 18th
Book spotlight at The Dark Phantom Review
Wednesday,
June 19th
Author interview at
The Dark Phantom Review
Thursday,
June 20th
Book spotlight at Literal Exposure
Monday,
June 24th
Author interview at
Paperback Writer
More
stops coming soon!
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Remembering Mom
Happy Mother's Day to all of you mothers out there.
Of course I'm a mom too, but I want to talk about my own mom. She left this world to begin her new life in Heaven at the age of 97.
Things were different back when I was a kid. Mom had to work really hard every day. She did have an automatic washing machine for as far back as I can remember (Dad loved to get her anything new like that.) But she had to hang clothes on the line, bring them in when dry, fold and put them away.
Grocery shopping wasn't all that easy either. The first big store was in Glendale and started out in a big tent. As I remember it was Ralph's. It wasn't all that far, but we did have to drive to get there. Mom did all the shopping, the cooking, the cleaning and the paying of bills. With the exception of mowing the lawn, mom took care of all the gardening too.
It was a different time--and my sister and I had free run of the neighborhood. The only rule was we needed to get back home before our dad came home at 5 p.m. When she went to the school for PTA meetings or school programs, she always dressed up as did all the other mothers. Sometimes this included a hat.
She made sure we looked presentable for school, packed our lunches and was always home when we got there. We went to Sunday School and church every Sunday and when we were teens, to the night youth group. We always had a wonderful dinner after church and usually visited family after we ate. (I don't remember helping with the cooking or clean-up, though I know I did do dishes on weeknights.)
I got sick when I was in the sixth grade. Rheumatic fever. In those days, the doctors felt that anyone with this disease should not get out of bed at all. This meant a bed pan and meals in bed. Poor mom, she never wanted to be a nurse, but she took care of me valiantly for the whole six week recuperation period.
Mom was an avid reader. She subscribed to three L.A. newspapers--and one was like the Enquirer, filled with Hollywood gossip. She also subscribed to the Book of the Month Club and she took us to the library where I got my limit of 10 books a week. (Not sure, but I think that was mainly in the summer time.)
Both of us read Gone with the Wind over and over--and went to the movie several times.)
We went to the movies every Friday night no matter what was playing and stayed for both features.
The only time she really got a break was when we went camping for three weeks. Then my dad did the cooking. Weird food. He always put everything in one big frying pan--not always a success, but we had to eat it anyway.
If mom had a failing it was not wanting us to try anything new because she didn't want us to be hurt. (Fortunately, that didn't keep my sis or me from doing whatever we wanted anyway.)
When I wanted to get married to the sailor I hardly knew who lived across the country, she went with me on the train so I could have my wedding. (It worked out, we've been married forever.)
Once the babies started coming, mom was delighted. There was nothing she loved more than being a grandmother. She loved to visit and for us to come visit her.
My mom nearly always had a smile on her face. She was great to talk with and I miss that.
Happy Mother's Day
Marilyn
Of course I'm a mom too, but I want to talk about my own mom. She left this world to begin her new life in Heaven at the age of 97.
Things were different back when I was a kid. Mom had to work really hard every day. She did have an automatic washing machine for as far back as I can remember (Dad loved to get her anything new like that.) But she had to hang clothes on the line, bring them in when dry, fold and put them away.
Grocery shopping wasn't all that easy either. The first big store was in Glendale and started out in a big tent. As I remember it was Ralph's. It wasn't all that far, but we did have to drive to get there. Mom did all the shopping, the cooking, the cleaning and the paying of bills. With the exception of mowing the lawn, mom took care of all the gardening too.
It was a different time--and my sister and I had free run of the neighborhood. The only rule was we needed to get back home before our dad came home at 5 p.m. When she went to the school for PTA meetings or school programs, she always dressed up as did all the other mothers. Sometimes this included a hat.
She made sure we looked presentable for school, packed our lunches and was always home when we got there. We went to Sunday School and church every Sunday and when we were teens, to the night youth group. We always had a wonderful dinner after church and usually visited family after we ate. (I don't remember helping with the cooking or clean-up, though I know I did do dishes on weeknights.)
I got sick when I was in the sixth grade. Rheumatic fever. In those days, the doctors felt that anyone with this disease should not get out of bed at all. This meant a bed pan and meals in bed. Poor mom, she never wanted to be a nurse, but she took care of me valiantly for the whole six week recuperation period.
Mom was an avid reader. She subscribed to three L.A. newspapers--and one was like the Enquirer, filled with Hollywood gossip. She also subscribed to the Book of the Month Club and she took us to the library where I got my limit of 10 books a week. (Not sure, but I think that was mainly in the summer time.)
Both of us read Gone with the Wind over and over--and went to the movie several times.)
We went to the movies every Friday night no matter what was playing and stayed for both features.
The only time she really got a break was when we went camping for three weeks. Then my dad did the cooking. Weird food. He always put everything in one big frying pan--not always a success, but we had to eat it anyway.
If mom had a failing it was not wanting us to try anything new because she didn't want us to be hurt. (Fortunately, that didn't keep my sis or me from doing whatever we wanted anyway.)
When I wanted to get married to the sailor I hardly knew who lived across the country, she went with me on the train so I could have my wedding. (It worked out, we've been married forever.)
Once the babies started coming, mom was delighted. There was nothing she loved more than being a grandmother. She loved to visit and for us to come visit her.
My mom nearly always had a smile on her face. She was great to talk with and I miss that.
Happy Mother's Day
Marilyn
Friday, May 10, 2013
Finally, Getting it Together for Next Rocky Bluff P.D. mystery
Yes, I'm busy working on next year's Rocky Bluff P.D. mystery.
I have a title--actually had the title before I had any idea what the book would be about. A friend--one I've actually met--suggested it. I though, why not? As I began putting together what I wanted in the book, I knew the title would work.
So far I'm building around the mysterious death of an old man, his family, his three friends, their time in the Seabees together, and a mysterious woman who will have the same name as someone who won a contest.
A new female Chief shakes up the whole Rocky Bluff P.D.
Officer Stacey Milligan is called upon to investigate a serial rapist.
Officer Gordon Butler is put on graveyards, slowing his romance with Lizette Gibbs.
Ryan Stickland becomes a father and loses his position as public affairs officer.
Felix Zachary is now a Detective and Doug Milligan's new partner.
Yes, it is coming together. My biggest problem is having enough time to work on it. And work on it I must. I need to keep ahead of my critique group. I've read them Chapter 3 and I'm only writing Chapter 7.
These are the things that interrupt the writing:
Other jobs that I have to do that actually bring in some money.
Keeping up this blog. I like to have a new post every other day, which means having a guest or writing one of my own.
Doing some promotion for my latest RBPD, Dangerous Impulses.
Working on the program for the Public Safety Writers Association's conference. (There are other things I have to do for the conference, too many to list.)
And of course reading and responding to my email and checking out Facebook.
There are other normal things I have to do also, like cooking dinner, eating meals, doing the laundry etc.
And once in awhile, hanging out with family.
You could help me along with the promo stuff by checking out and possibly buying one of my RBPD mysteries that I write as F. M. Meredith. It would please me and please my publisher. The latest is Dangerous Impulses.
Marilyn aka F. M. Meredith
I have a title--actually had the title before I had any idea what the book would be about. A friend--one I've actually met--suggested it. I though, why not? As I began putting together what I wanted in the book, I knew the title would work.
So far I'm building around the mysterious death of an old man, his family, his three friends, their time in the Seabees together, and a mysterious woman who will have the same name as someone who won a contest.
A new female Chief shakes up the whole Rocky Bluff P.D.
Officer Stacey Milligan is called upon to investigate a serial rapist.
Officer Gordon Butler is put on graveyards, slowing his romance with Lizette Gibbs.
Ryan Stickland becomes a father and loses his position as public affairs officer.
Felix Zachary is now a Detective and Doug Milligan's new partner.
Yes, it is coming together. My biggest problem is having enough time to work on it. And work on it I must. I need to keep ahead of my critique group. I've read them Chapter 3 and I'm only writing Chapter 7.
These are the things that interrupt the writing:
Other jobs that I have to do that actually bring in some money.
Keeping up this blog. I like to have a new post every other day, which means having a guest or writing one of my own.
Doing some promotion for my latest RBPD, Dangerous Impulses.
Working on the program for the Public Safety Writers Association's conference. (There are other things I have to do for the conference, too many to list.)
And of course reading and responding to my email and checking out Facebook.
There are other normal things I have to do also, like cooking dinner, eating meals, doing the laundry etc.
And once in awhile, hanging out with family.
You could help me along with the promo stuff by checking out and possibly buying one of my RBPD mysteries that I write as F. M. Meredith. It would please me and please my publisher. The latest is Dangerous Impulses.
Marilyn aka F. M. Meredith
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