Marilyn's Musings

A Turn for the Better

2008-08-05T09:12:00.000-07:00

Since my last post was so bleak, decided I'd better put up a cheerier one since I'm getting ready to leave town in the a.m. We're going camping for two days then to San Luis Obispo to the Creative Women's Festival where I'll have a table with my books.

My eldest daughter and husband have been here since Sunday late afternoon and we've been having lots of fun with them. Mostly talking a lot! But yesterday we went to see Swing Vote which is a great flick with many of the same political sentiments that I have. My son barbecued ribs for dinner and the food was wonderful. We always turn barbeuing duty over to him.

Today our plan is to head for the Indian casino. I don't like to gamble, but since I write about the casino all the time I really ought to at least take a look at what this one is like. I've been to special occasions held in the Bingo parlor but that's the only place.

What else we'll do I don't know. Before we go though, I have to make a run to the post office.

Just wanted you to know that things are happier around here now.

Marilyn
http://fictionforyou.com

Alcoholism

2008-08-02T09:53:00.000-07:00

Do not read if you expect to be entertained.

This past week a young woman who was only in her late thirties and I counted as a friend passed away from complications due to alcoholism. She was addicted to Vodka.

She had five children, the last born a little over a year ago. Her eldest daughter, who is grown and living on her own, has been caring for the youngest one ever since she was born because of the mother’s illness. And alcoholism is an illness as well as an addiction.

I know this young woman’s mom, her husband (who is an alcoholic too and spends a lot of time in jail for drunk driving), and the children. The eldest son has managed to find other places to live throughout his high school days, places with kindhearted souls who were willing to pay for all his needs including what it took to be on the football team. He’s turned out to be a wonderful young man, has a job with a place to stay–again thanks to kindhearted souls.

Another daughter is married now and living in another state with her military husband. She also found other places to stay during her high school years and folks who were willing to pay for her needs.

One boy, who is in high school now, has been living with his mother and father. What is going to happen with him now, I have no idea.

The young woman started going drastically down hill about two months ago when her kidneys and liver began to fail. She was hospitalized and put on dialysis. At times, things seem to be going fairly well. She was released from the hospital, though she was unable to care for herself and had to have dialysis three times a week. Hospitalized again, at least one time that I know of, for blood transfusions, she was sent home.

When her eldest daughter was unable to wake her, an ambulance was called–and she was pronounced dead.

Her mom called me to tell me what happened. She said, “It’s not right for a child to die before her mother.” I certainly can relate to that having lost a son to cancer. But this young woman's death was preventable.

What is my point for telling this sad story? This young woman was attractive, friendly, had wonderful children and yet all she lived for was another drink. She put vodka in water bottles to make sure she had it with her at all times. What a terrible waste!

Though I’ve heard of others who had plenty to live for losing their life to alcoholism, this was my first time I really knew the details and was this close to the devastating outcome.

As a Christian, I’m positive this young woman, who I know was a believer despite her inability to escape from alcoholism, is in Heaven, which means she is finally healed.

What is so sad is that her children have been deprived of their mother whom they all loved, a mother has lost her daughter, a sister has been left behind along with many nieces and nephews. Maybe some good will come out of it–perhaps what happened will convince others of the evil of becoming addicted to alcohol.

Tears come to my eyes just thinking about this.

Marilyn
http://fictionforyou.com

What's Up Next

2008-08-01T13:12:00.000-07:00

One thing I've learned from small presses is that some authors don't realize that most of the promotion of their books is up to them. Yes, the publisher will do some, but even if you're published by a big house and are not a big name author, you aren't going to be sent on an all expense-paid book tour.

Every author should have a marketing/promotion plan worked out before their book is even published. My publisher, Mundania Press, expects a marketing plan along with the book proposal. I've been doing marketing plans for ages.

For me, except for some wonderful independent bookstores, I don't do many book signings. And I prefer to give a talk when I am visiting a bookstore. I have three set up for my coming Deputy Tempe Crabtree book, Kindred Spirits. Instead, my book launch will be in a Crescent City CA where the first part of the book is set at a wonderful Bed and Breakfast. (I'll give details in a later post.)

I'm heading to Taylorville, Illinois to be an instructor for the Oak Tree Press Writer's Conference. Yes, that's a long ways to go, but I've found doing writer's conferences is a way to connect with readers and gain more fans for my series. I'll also be on the program for the WOW writers conference in Scottsdale AZ.

I'll have a table or booth at three craft or bookfairs. This is another great way to meet new readers and interest them in my books.

And of course there's the Internet. Doing blog tours, guest blogging, and participating with all the social blogs are all a part of promotion.

The more you get your name out there and the more people see you and your book, the more apt you are to interest new readers.

Marilyn
http://fictionforyou.com

Movies

2008-07-25T19:02:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite things to do is go to the movies. When I was a kid, many, many, years ago, our family went to the movies every Friday night. (This was during World War II) It didn’t matter what was playing, we went. It was always a double feature. The first movie was always a big name movies with famous starts, then an intermission with a game called Keno where prizes were given like a set of dishes. (The only prize I can remember.)Then there was a cartoon followed by news–we saw all the war news this way–scary stuff for little kids–and last, a B movie. We saw a lot of really bad and gory movies about gangsters.

I suspect there were also previews, I just don’t remember. Previews are my favorite today, so I suspect I liked them back then too.

Things haven’t changed much, I still love to go to the movies–or watch them on DVD. When we go to the theater we always go early. Sometimes we’re the only ones there for that showing. Today we went at 10 a.m. to see the new Batman flick, The Dark Knight. Not really my favorite kind of movie, but my great-grandkids stood in line to watch it at midnight when it first came out. They told me it was fantastic and I had to see it. Though I can’t say it was the best movie I’ve ever seen, it kept my attention all the way through–though a couple of times I thought, “This is really a long movie.” My hubby didn’t fall asleep and that’s also a good sign. The special effects were wonderful! The Joker was spectacular. Sad to realize that young man won’t be making anymore movies. This wasn’t as campy as the previous Batmans. My one criticism might be that they tried to hard to give a message. Sometimes “messages” are irritating in movies. I go to movies to be entertained, not preached to.

We watched Sweeny Todd on DVD. This one was mesmerizing–a musical with gushing blood-letting. Way over the top, this one was definitely campy. Johnny Depp may be one of the best actors alive today–and he certainly doesn’t mind playing strange and eccentric characters.

Frankly, I like most any movie, and I’m sure that’s because I grew up on them. My least favorites sometimes are the ones that one Academy Awards. Why? Though the acting may be wonderful, sometimes the main characters have no redeeming qualities as in There Will Be Blood. I’m not fond of movies that are so realistic that they cease to be entertaining. Like reading mysteries, I want to be caught up in another world. I want to be able to identify with the main characters and cheer them on. And if there’s a bad guy, I want him to get his just desserts in the end.

The one thing that’s changed since my childhood movie-going days is I no longer have nightmares from scary movies. I still have some pretty scary dreams, but they don’t seem to have any connections to movies I’ve watched.

Because it costs so much to go to the movies these days, I can’t go as often as I'd like. And I try to decide which ones I can wait to see when they come out on DVD.

Have you seen any good movies lately?

Marilyn
http://fictionforyou.com

2008-07-22T07:07:00.000-07:00

If you’d like to watch a video taken when I was at the Hanford Library talking about my books, here it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYf11ShLhKo . I had an extremely runny nose that evening.

Despite that, the talk went well and the people were receptive. Saturday, we drove to Oakhurst where I gave a talk on Self-Editing to a writer's group in the Willow Bridge Bookstore. Again, the group was extremely receptive, listened attentively, and asked lots of good questions and made valid comments. I enjoyed myself and I hope they did too.

Though most of the people were new to me, there were two familiar faces which also makes it nice.

I thoroughly enjoy giving talks about my books and the craft of writing.

Right now I'm busily preparing for the launching of my next Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery, Kindred Spirits, which will be coming in September from Mundania Press.

Marilyn
http://fictionforyou.com

Me on You Tube

2008-07-17T08:32:00.000-07:00

A friend sent me this URL which is a video of me at the Hanford Library talking about my books. I didn't remember, but it's obvious I had a runny nose that evening. I loved being there, the patrons were receptive, laughed at all my funny stories, and purchased books. Libraries are wonderful places.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYf11ShLhKo

Marilyn
http://fictionforyou.com

One Night in a Haunted Room

2008-07-14T13:47:00.000-07:00

Because this is the most interesting thing I've done of late, I'm cross posting to other of my blogs.

Hubby and I stayed in Room 17 of the Bella Maggiore Bed and Breakfast in Ventura CA because the room is supposed to be haunted. We did not have a ghostly visitor. My daughter looked up the ghost and said it was because the ghost, a prostitute in her former life, only visited men who stayed in the room by themselves. Guess I ruined it.

However, we did have a rather intimate romantic encounter with a real live young man. Room 17 opens on a balcony shared with another larger room. There are no windows in these rooms, only doors that open to the balcony with no screen door and a transom. We were sitting in our room with the door open, when this darling young man popped in to inform us he was having a surprise party for his girlfriend’s birthday at 10 p.m. on our shared balcony complete with music, a Spanish harp and guitar along with a singer. We were invited.

Both of us were tired, but assured our visitor we’d enjoy the music. Of course we had to shut the door and the drapes in order to go to bed, because the chairs and table were only a few feet from our room. At 10 p.m. the music began. It was lovely and very romantic. It was over by 11.

The next day, after we’d had our wonderful breakfast and hubby was transporting our bags to the car, I was sitting on the bed with door open and in pops the young lover. He wanted to know if we’d enjoyed the music, I assured I’m had. I said, “I hope your fiancee appreciates you, not many men are as romantic.” She came out and meet her (cute young thing) and told her that her boyfriend was definitely a keeper. He said, “Thank you.”

From there we went to the Premiere Author event at the Crowne Plaza hotel. Though it was nice, we didn’t have much traffic. The talks about writing and poetry reading were scheduled back-to-back with no time in-between for the attendees to step into the book room. I sold two books and I don’t think anyone else sold more than one. Of course, the organizers realized they’d made a mistake. But it was wonderful to see and smell the ocean air.

From there, we headed to the Bank of Books (bookstore in a former bank) and set up for a talk about mystery writing. This was planned spur of the moment, so didn’t expect much of a turn-out and I was right. Three people came to hear me and we all had fun. We will plan another event, with a bigger lead-in time for the fall.

No matter what, we had a good time. We spent Saturday night in our youngest daughter’s new home, beautiful and huge. Five bathrooms! Can’t imagine having to clean them all. Of course she says my grandchildren are responsible for their own. (Their grown or nearly grown, so it is possible this might happen.)

After a great breakfast, we left the cool temperatures by the ocean and headed back to the hot temperatures of the San Joaquin Valley.

Now, my energies will be focused on promoting the book that I have coming in September, Kindred Spirits.

Marilyn
http://fictionforyou.com

West Coast Author's Premiere/Bank of Books

2008-07-09T11:52:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, July 12, I'll be at the West Coast Author's Premiere at the Crowne Plaza Hotel at the beach in Ventura from 10 to 3. At 10:30 a.m., I'm going to give a presentation on electronic publishing.

At 4, I'll be at the Bank of Books in downtown Ventura speaking about How to Write a Mystery. I'll have handouts for both presentations.

And as an aside, on Friday night before the event, hubby and I are spending the night in a haunted room at the Bella Maggoire Bed and Breakfast in downtown Ventura. How much fun is that?

Anyone in the vicinity, please do stop by.

Marilyn
http://fictionfroyou.com

Public Safety Writers Association Conference

2008-06-27T20:18:00.000-07:00

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

Graduation and so on

2008-06-22T17:19:00.000-07:00

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

Life and Writing

2008-06-05T16:38:00.000-07:00

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

More About Mayhem in the Midlands

2008-05-27T16:11:00.000-07:00

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

Back Home From Mayhem

2008-05-26T15:49:00.000-07:00

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

New Review for Smell of Death

2008-05-10T21:05:00.000-07:00

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

More on the Public Safety Writers Association Conference

2008-05-10T08:15:00.001-07:00

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

On Politics

2008-05-08T17:56:00.000-07:00

Oh, my, I have no idea how to vote. I don't like any of the candidates. Yes, we can certainly use a change--but I don't want a change that's going to be scary either.

Maybe I'll just throw a dart.

I'm never been much for politics. The nicest, most intelligent person who runs for president has to promise to do things for horrible people in order to get elected. Yes, they do and if you don't think so, you're naive. Politics corrupt.

It would be far better if we went back to the early (I mean really early) days when politicians weren't paid for their work--and they actually did something. Just think of all the money that would be saved and there's be money to take care of the country's business.

When you get to be my age you did get to be cynical about such things. I feel a bit the same about global warming. All these movie stars, politicians and other celebrities who are going on and on about what WE should do, while they still have multiple cars, fly places in their own airplanes, live in huge houses that aren't the least bit energy efficient, have more than one of these huge energy using homes, spend money in ways we can't even imagine.

Well, I'll get off my soap box now. Guess I'll just get back to thinking about my next book, how to promote it, and planning to go to my next mystery con.

Marilyn
http://fictionforyou.com

On Posting Regularly

2008-05-04T08:57:00.001-07:00

Because I have three other posts I need to do I'm not always up-to-date on my own.

Wanted to share a bit about the Public Safety Writers Association conference held last weekend in Las Vegas. The photo is of Sunny Frazier who gave a great and entertaining presentation on book covers.

This conference is small, which is a good thing, because everyone has the opportunity to really get-aquainted and network with one another. Hopefully, we'll soon have a date and place for our next get-together which will have a name, Crime Writers and Fighters.

My next conference coming up is Mayhem in the Midlands, another favorite. It's held in Omaha every year, which has become a favorite city for hubby and me to visit.

That's it for now.

Marilyn
http://fcitionforyou.com

Jackass Mail Run

2008-04-21T17:20:00.000-07:00

To let you know how exciting things are in the part of California where I live, the Jackass Mail Run made the front page of the local newspaper--complete with photographs. The photo was of the posse that rode into town, guns a blazing, before the mail wagon's arrival. It they'd taken the photo just a bit lower, my booth would have been there, complete with my books and right in front of the dentist's office.

Not only that, an article about the Mail Run was on the second page of the Fresno Bee--with another photo. Oh, yes, there's plenty of bad stuff that goes on, but it's refreshing to read about something so family oriented instead of robberies and murders. Well--mostly family oriented. We did have a group of dance hall "girls" strutting around town (middle-aged girls), and some belly dancers who performed in front of the pizza palace.

Actually, the whole event is pretty mild compared to the "old days." Twenty plus years ago when we first moved here, the Jackass Mail Run meant lots of drunkeness as the afternoon progressed, by evening the deputies hauled dozens of drunks off to jail. We would go early, partake of the food, watch some of the entertainment, then go home before it got too rowdy. We always missed the actual Mail Run. It was fun to be right where the shooting went on--even if it was hard on the ears--and see the mail stolen from the mail wagon--then the bandits shot and the mail rescued to be delivered. the few yards to the post office.

And yes, I did sell some of my books--actually more than what I've sold at some booksignings.

Times change, not always for the better, but in the case of the Jackass Mail Run--this one has definitely improved.

Last night and this morning, I enjoyed a special house guest, Willma Gore, a writing friend and mentor. She's on a tour for her latest book, Long Distance Grandparenting. She's been gone from home for a month, traveling from place to place, making appearances at writing groups and libraries, even a senior citizen's home, and staying with old friends along the way. Quite an endeavor for an 80 plus woman--but she didn't seem the least bit phazed.

That's the news from Springville.

Marilyn
http://fictionforyou.com

Looking Forward

2008-04-16T17:57:00.000-07:00

This has been one of those weeks where I spent most of my time doing work that I no longer enjoy. For 20 years I've been the training chairperson for an association for providers of care to the developmentally disabled. I've arranged the classes, found the teachers, taken care of logistics, bought the supplies, done all the paperwork, and taught many of the classes myself.

I'm tired. It's time for me to spend more time on my writing and the promotion of my books and having some fun with my family. I gave my resignation, but will finish out this year.

So I look forward to the fun things. On Saturday I'll have a booth at the Jackass Mail Run in Springville. This is an annual event, kicking off Rodeo week. Between 50 and 100 horses and riders will escort the mail wagon from Porterville to Springville, where bandits will try to rob the mail and gunfire will break out. It's fun and noisy. Hopefully I'll sell some books and have the opportunity to visit with folks I havent seen for awhile.

On Sunday, good friend and fellow author, Willma Gore is coming for a short visit. She taught me more about writing than anyone. We'll have a good time catching up with each other.

On Wednesday, hubby and I take off for Las Vegas. First we'll visit my sister and husband. Then on Thursday, the Public Safety Writers Association's conference begins. I've worked on it and looked forward to it since the last one.

Looking forward helps when I'm to busy to do the writing I need to do.

More after my Las Vegas trip.

Marilyn
http;//fictionforyou.com

Lacresha Hayes Visits Today

2008-04-12T12:07:00.000-07:00

The Rape of Innocence , by Lacresha Hayes, is the testimony of a child growing up mostly without her mother and going through incest, rape and molestation. It's a story of a child who grew up too fast, enduring the worst of hardships. She details the struggles of growing up without God and then being disillusioned in the churches by hypocrisy.

This book chronicles the life of a child who became a woman of God, business owner, author, and wife to a pastor. What should have been impossible, God made possible!

This book is for every woman who knows what pain feels like. This book is for every
Christian who has been hurt or disappointed in the ministry. Come share the tears and the joys of triumphant victory.

The Rape of Innocence: Taking Captivity Captive by Lacresha Hayes
ISBN: 978-0-9798154-0-9
Retail price: $19.95

Blurb: A renowned minister and business owner deals with issues of rape, molestation, disillusionment, domestic violence, and abandonment, showing that even the worst situations can be turned to good by taking authority over the victim mentality and trusting God to use all things for good.

The author, Lacresha Hayes, is the President of Living Waters Publishing Company and an author of seven books. She is the founder of Christian Vitality magazine, the wife of Pastor Lensey Hayes, and founder of Compassionate Healing Ministries. She and her husband have a 17 year old son and are currently praying for a successful pregnancy. She says, “I work hard, pray harder and couldn't live without Jesus Christ in my life. I am a survivor of physical and sexual abuse and often speak out about those issues. My passion is helping people overcome the circumstances of their pasts so that their future looks brighter.”

She goes on to say, “I would say that I am truly a work in progress. I've seen myself come through a metamorphosis that I cannot explain except to say that God's Will is perfect. I'm one of those who have done it all, and what I hadn't done, I've seen. I'm easy to talk to, and try each day to be easy to relate to. Yet, I will never compromise God's Word, not even for myself!”

Excerpt from The Rape of Innocence

"Molestation happens across cultural lines. It happens across racial lines. It isn’t based upon intelligence. It isn’t based upon financial health. It may seem to happen more in poverty-stricken communities, but I can assure you that most of it just goes unreported.

I found out the hard way that molestation isn’t just a black thing or a poor thing. It is a perversion thing. It happens to God’s called and chosen people, and it happens to the average Jane Doe in an average home. God created each of us with purpose. I don’t believe the enemy would waste his time tempting people to molest or rape a person who has no destiny and no call upon their life. Because of the very nature of the crime, it can be nothing less than a device of the enemy, one of his strongest weapons.

Someone reading this book may think that they have never been molested when indeed they have been. A molester is a molester long before he touches his first victim. He is first guilty in his thoughts. Some men never actually touch their victims. They just think and fantasize about touching. They rent the videos of children with adults engaging in sex acts. Some molesters do it with the words of their mouths. They talk filth to children. They take advantage of their positions in those children’s lives. They open a door that should not be opened by planting filthy word images in young minds. Some of you haven’t actually been touched, but you have been molested.

That family reunion opened my eyes to a lot of things. Because of that repressed memory, this book exists. God had to allow a series of events to happen to make me go back and deal with my past. This testimony was freed while I was in jail.

I was arrested in August 2005 for old fines and failure to appear warrants. While I was in jail, God kept bringing the memory of what my great grandfather had done back to my mind. It seemed to torment me. It had been 2 years since I first remembered and here it was, still cropping up.

One night as I was praying, God spoke to me in a whisper and told me that I would be in jail until I learned obedience. He would never specifically tell me what I needed to do because I already knew. I was in jail for 44 days, skirting the issue, hitting and missing at what He wanted from me. Finally, I put pencil to paper and began to write. With every paragraph I was stopping and crying. It was dreadful! I didn’t feel prepared for the suffering!

With every page I completed, the family reunion kept coming back up. The answer had been right before my eyes. The reason the memory continually resurfaced was that God was telling me to share my testimony with the world. He wanted to use my story to break heavy yokes of oppression, depression, worthlessness and anger off of others. In my own family, rape had happened… not only to me, but to others that I loved. I was angry. I was really angry at the devil for the first time and God helped me to channel that anger onto these pages.

My family reunion was the genesis of my assignment, my destiny. I was called to bring the light of exposure to the hidden world of familial incest and perversion inside and outside of the Church, and to bring encouragement to men and women around the world who have been victimized and disillusioned. Though this call is not easy, I wouldn’t trade it for anything."

http://www.livingwaterspc.com/UpcomingReleases.html

There is a powerful message in this book. Ms. Hayes bravely told her story in hopes of helping others.

Marilyn
http://fictionforyou.com

Visiting With a Book Club and Ghost Writing

2008-03-31T15:57:00.000-07:00

The Fresno Newcomer's Book Club ordered a book for each of its members with an invitation for me to come to the meeting where they would discuss the book.

The book in question was my latest Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery, Judgment Fire. The meeting was held in a beautiful home in a newer section of Fresno. The women, for the most part, weren't quite as old as I am, but came close.

Several told me they loved the book. They had plenty of questions about the book and about me. I visited with them for nearly two hours and enjoyed every minute of it.

Though I have another Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery about half done, right now I've been busy on a ghost writing project. Though I can't tell you much about it, what I can say is that the book is something I've never attempted before and has required quite a bit of research.

I've ghost written other projects, a couple of autobiographys and a fantasy.

What's interesting about ghost writing is it belongs to the person you are writing it for. What they want is what you have to put in it. Hopefully, I'll be able to understand the person's vision and be able to put it into words. Believe me, it isn't easy.

I love writing, so I do enjoy working with someone who has a book "in them" but isn't able to write it.

Marilyn
http://fictionforyou.com

Hanford Branch, Kings County Library

2008-03-22T14:43:00.000-07:00

Thursday night I gave a talk at the Kings County Library in Hanford.

But let me begin with what happened the day before. I received a call from the librarian telling me that a TV station would like to interview me. I was to go to Fresno (an hour and 45 minute drive from where I live) to the TV station and be there by 6 a.m. It would be locked so I was to knock on the side door. The interview would be 6 minutes long. Did I go? No. If I'd gotten up in time to do that--around 3 a.m., by the time the library talk rolled around I'd have been incoherent. Sometimes I'm smart enough to realize my limitations, and this was one of those times.

My daughter-in-law agreed to go with me and drive (I hate driving after dark in places I'm not familiar with). We used the Magellan to tell us where the library was, it did--one of the world's modern miracles--then we found a restaurant to eat dinner before my gig. It was a lovely Italian restaurant--but the prices were a bit high so we opted for appetizers. We ordered an antipasto plate (full of deli meats, olives, cheese,and peppers) and friend sweet potatoes. Yummee! We only drank our water and the bill was as large as any full dinner for two with beverages.

The Hanford Library is lovely. They set up for my talk in the children's section. Right away I spotted a familiar face, Winnie Furrur from the Visalia Writers Group. Another woman from that group arrived too, making two people that I knew.

The group was small, about fourteen. The librarian blamed it on families being gone because of spring break. They may have been small, but oh so attentive. I talked about my inspirations for writing mysteries.

I've always loved reading them since I was a kid. It seemed natural to start writing them--and especially after living in a neighborhood filled with cops. We partied with them and I had coffee with the wives. Later on my youngest daughter married a police officer. I loved him dearly. He'd come for coffee after his shift and tell me stories about what he'd been up to all night. I also went on a ride-along with Mike.

Sadly, Mike died in the line of duty. It's been a lot of years since then, his three sons are all grown now. Daughter remarried and now has a daughter who is a freshman in highschool.

One of the reasons I write mysteries, is because the bad guy always gets it in the end--something that doesn't always happen in real life. The way the world is today, there's plenty of ideas for mysteries.

My talk at the library went well. Seven books were purchased--not bad for a crowd that size.

Daughter-in-law and I had a good time visiting. That's what I call a successful evening.

Marilyn
http://fictionforyou.com

Writers of Kern

2008-03-16T18:11:00.001-07:00

Probably by now you've guessed I belong to a lot of writers groups. Three chapters of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, Epic, Public Safety Writers Association...and I also belong to Writers of Kern which is part of California Writers Club.

I was fortunate to be one of the guest speakers at their conference this last Saturday. Hubby and I got up at 5 a.m. so we could leave by 6:30 to arrive at the starting time of 8 a.m. This was a small group with lots of familiar faces.

The first speaker was Mike Russo of Russo's Books in Bakersfield. He described the dismal state of the book business. The next to speak was a poet who talked about creating poetry. My turn came and my topic was "Plot or Character, which is most important in Mystery?" Of course they are both important. I had a great time telling them why I thought each one was important. Last to speak was Steve Mettee, the publisher of Quill Driver Books. We've shared program time more than once.

Afterwards, hubby and I had lunch in the cafe next to the hotel. It was an old-fashioned style cafe, the kind my mom and dad used to take us to when we were kids.

I truly enjoy giving talks about writing and of course I always sneak a few plugs in about my books.

Marilyn

Patricia Guthrie Author Interview

2008-03-11T19:28:00.000-07:00

Patricia Guthrie, In the Arms of The Enemy, Interview:

Tell me something about yourself. Where are you from? What do you do besides write?

I'm grew up in the town of Lynbrook on Long Island in New York. We moved out to Smithtown when I was in high school. I spent my college years in New York City and now I live in the south suburbs of Chicago.

What do you do besides write?

I spend much of my time promoting my book, going to book signings, setting up book signings and networking. I was a music teacher in the Chicago Public School System. Now I'm retired with three collies who keep me busy and a horse who puts me on guilt trips when I can't go out to the barn where he's stabled. I've been dedicated to showing my dogs in obedience, have been an obedience instructor and have done
therapy work with schizophrenic patients. I've shown and trained horses to a limited extent. Now, my writing career takes up so much of my time. When I have the time, I love to read. . Yeah, right.

Tell me the premise of your book.

A man goes undercover to catch a killer and falls in love with his prime suspect.

What prompted you to write it?

Horses. I love them. I care about them. The seed of this story comes from a scandal in the horse show and racing industries where greedy horse owners would kill off horses that were not performing well for the insurance money. Most of these horses were insured for a lot of money. Think six figures in some case. In the racing industry someone might pay a million dollars or more for a promising yearling. And if the horse can't perform?

From the time you first got the idea, how long did it take you to get to the point where you knew the book was finished?

I got the idea about In the Arms of the Enemy many years before I started to write it. I miscalculated how finished it was when I sent it in to Harlequin for its Intrigue series. I received a very nice rejection letter. Then I let it sit for six months and when I pulled it out again, I knew why it had been rejected. It wasn't ready. Unfortunately, no matter how much editing I do, I never think they're ready. That presents its own problems. Over editing sometimes is worse than not editing enough..

Are you anything like the heroine in your story?

I tried to make her different, but I supposed there must be some of me in
the heroine. Unfortunately, I've seen some of my traits in my villain too.
How do your family and friends feel about you being an author?

My sister is an Episcopal priest and she's had several books published. My brother is proud of me, I think. I guess they're proud of me. I haven't thought of it much. My mom was a poet and she didn't even want to hear any of my stuff. That was sad. I have no clear explanation. My sister said the same thing. We don't know. She's deceased now so we'll never know.

Besides your blog tour, what are you doing to promote it?

I'm doing a lot of internet networking. I'm calling book stores and setting
up book signings. I've managed to get on two radio programs. I've had book signings in unusual places like the barn during "Vet Day." and an obedience seminar in Danville, Illinois. I love horse and dog people.

What else would like to tell me and the visitors to my blog about your novel or yourself?

This book is dedicated to those horses lost to man's greed and inhumanity and to those humanitarians who'd save and protect them.

Out side of that, if In the Arms of the Enemy was a cake its ingredients
would consist of:: deception, deceit and murder sprinkled with romance and horses.

http://www.inspiredauthor.com:80/promotion/Patricia+Guthrie

For much more information about Patricia Guthrie and In the Arms of the Enemy, visit her virtual book tour site - 1. http://inspiredauthor.com/promotion/Patricia+Guthrie

Book Summary

WANTED: ASSASSIN TO KILL RACE HORSES ON DEMAND
FLEXIBLE HOURS-GOOD BENEFITS
Light Sword Publishing announces the release of Patricia A. Guthrie’s first published novel “In the Arms of the Enemy.”
When the death of a racing stable’s prize horse and his trainer is blamed on the stable’s owner; his son, Adam Blakely, goes undercover convinced that the trainer’s partner, Maggie McGregor, is the killer.
Determined to leave the tumultuous world of horse racing, Maggie returns home to try and find peace. When a handsome horse owner moves his horse into her father’s boarding stable and asks Maggie to train his horse, family finances dictate that Maggie accept--and that’s when the accidents begin.
Drowning in deception and lies, Maggie and Adam search for a killer and uncover an insurance scam so insidious, it threatens to rock a horse racing empire and bring the killer to their doorstep. They need to learn to:
Keep your friends close; but your enemies closer.
Review magazine "Affaire de Coeur" says, "With a strong mystery and a sizzling romance, Ms. Guthrie captivates readers from the start. This is an enjoyable thriller with a plot that will keep you guessing until the climactic end.”
* * * * * Rated five stars
AUTHOR BIO
Patricia A. Guthrie is a resident of Park Forest, Illinois. A recently retired music teacher from the Chicago Public Schools (May Community Academy and Chicago Vocational Community Academy) and former opera singer, Author Patricia A. Guthrie is now an avid horse owner, dog obedience trainer and writer. Ms. Guthrie lives with three feisty collies who act as “ghost writers” and help her write at every given opportunity.
This story is dedicated to those horses lost to man’s greed and inhumanity and to those humanitarians whose mission is to save and protect them.
In the Arms of the Enemy By Patricia A. Guthrie
www.paguthrie.blogspot.com
www.patriciaanneguthrie.com
www.myspace.com/paguthrie

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"Coastal Suspense with a Touch of Romance"
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Epicon

2008-03-10T13:28:00.000-07:00

As usual Epicon was great–even though I didn’t win an Eppie, at least Judgment Fire was nominated. I seem to always be a bridesmaid, never a bride–or maybe I've caught the Susan Lucci syndrome.

One of the best things about any of these events is connecting with friends and making new ones. Lorna and Larry who wrote 31 Months in Japan; Lee Emory, publisher Treble Heart Books; John Schembra, a friend from PSWA; Murdock Hughes, who often looks like a werewolf and writes about one too; and way too many more to name.

The highlight of the conference for me was hearing Mike Powell of Powell’s Books (Portland OR) speak. While many independent bookstores are disappearing, Powell’s keeps on growing. No doubt the largest bookstore anywhere, there are also four other speciality Powell’s in Portland and two that I saw in the airport!

First, he spoke quite positively about e-books, including the fact that 18% of his business was in e-book sales and he expects that to percentage to continually increase. He buys from Ingram and Baker and Taylor, but he also buys directly from Lightning Source one of the largest print-on-demand printers of books. And he buys directly from publishers. He also told of the horror of big book warehouses that when they get too full, transport books to the dump. He predicts most books will be print-on-demand in the near future because it isn’t environmentally sane to continue printing books that may become landfill.

Of course this all goes full in the face of Mystery Writers of America’s and Sisters in Crime’s argument about e-publishing and print-on-demand being a “thing of the future.”

Portland is a wonderful town with a great system of public transportation, beautiful vistas–when it was clear we could see Mount Hood and Mount Saint Helens.

Besides authors, hubby made friends with the Chinese waiter in the hotel’s restaurant, and on the way home, we learned all about our cab driver’s life in Iran and here.

I took lots of notes at all the seminars I attended and had great audiences for the ones I taught.

It was a great weekend.

Marilyn
http://fictionforyou.com