Tag Archive for: Lingering Spirit

My Christmas Offering by Marilyn Meredith

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Between December 7 and December 11 I am offering an old book of mine, Lingering Spirit for 99 cents on Kindle.

Why am I doing this? Because it is one of my favorite books–not a mystery in the usual sense of the genre–but there are many questions to be answered. Mainly, I’d categorize it as a romance with a touch of the supernatural.

After a month long blog tour, Lingering Spirit made the top 100
best sellers of supernatural romance on Amazon.
Book blurb: 
Some Review Snippets:
“…Meredith
is a master of characterization. She fully rounds out the facets of her
protagonists’ personalities and richly develops the details of the supporting
cast. She does not hit any false notes with her dialogue and builds strong
relationships among her characters. She realistically describes what a young
widow would go through following the tragic death of her husband.
Overall, uncovering why this spirit lingers is an incredibly
moving experience.”
—New York
Journal of Books–Reviewer Nicole Langan owns the independent publishing house,
Tribute Books
5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous Book!
“…Lingering
Spirit is well worth buying and spending time with. It’ll give you a lot to
think about after the story is finished. I loved it, as you can tell. It’s the
perfect summer OR winter read. Great book, one of my favorite reads this year.”

–Beth Anderson, author and book reviewer.
“I
rate this book 5 Stars out of 5 Stars!
I LOVED this book I could not put it down! I
am telling you all Marilyn is a FANTASTIC writer and anyone who does not read
this book is missing out on a fabulous read…” – Vanessa -Ohio Girl Talks
“,,,I
polished this book off in two days and you won’t want to stop reading it once
you pick it up.
Lingering Spirit is the type of book that romance lovers
dream of finding.” –Cheryl Malandrinos, The Book Connection
Blurb: After her police
officer husband is killed in the line of duty, Nicole Ainsworth struggles with
the changes forced on her life. Her efforts to focus on her daughters and cope
with her grief are kept off-balance by images of Steve, her deceased husband
who seems to be trying to communicate with her. Eventually, Nicole finds that
Steve isn’t the only one watching over her, and discovers a second chance at
happiness.


http://www.amazon.com/Lingering-Spirit-Marilyn-Meredith-ebook/dp/B017J2QEOM/ref=sr_1_2_twi_kin_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1446912902&sr=8-2&keywords=lingering+spirit

I do hope some of you will try it, remember only .99 cents between December 7 – 11

Marilyn

Susan Lucci Syndrome Broken, Finally!

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I’ve been a member of Epic the premier organization for electronically published authors. The organization began before the first e-reader came long–The Rocket eReader. The first convention was held in Omaha NE and yes, I as there. In fact, with the exception of last year’s, I’ve attended every one.

They’ve given out awards for the “best” e-book in many categories at each of these conferences. And I’ve had an e-book as a finalist in almost everyone of these conferences. Even being a finalist is an honor as hundreds of books are entered, but I’ve never won.

I know exactly how the Academy Award nominees feel when their names are not called for the category they’ve been nominated for. Sure, I was disappointed but I always smiled and congratulated all the winners even in my category, which was usually mystery.

I finally gave up though, and decided I’d always be a “bridesmaid” and never a “bride”, so I didn’t even bother entering a book for the last two years. What a surprise when I leaned my publisher entered my romance (with a touch of the supernatural) Lingering Spirit in the Spiritual/Metaphysical Romance Category. I told her I wouldn’t win.

I wrote the book quite awhile ago, but the publisher at Oak Tree Press published it as an e-book in the right time period to be entered in the contest. Despite my feelings, I went to the convention which was held this past weekend in San Antonio. I knew I’d have a great time, no matter what, because I have so many friends in Epic and my publisher was attending too.

And yes, I had a great time. I gave a workshop on blogging and blog tours, visited with everyone, went on the river cruise, ate some wonderful food, and told everyone I knew I wouldn’t win the Eppie.

The night of the banquet I sat with my publisher and other friends, including the president of Epic and the contest chairperson.

When my turn came, of course I hoped and even felt a bit nervous though in my heart I knew there was no chance. And when the presenter opened the envelope and read my name, I couldn’t believe it. I hollered, “Finally, I’m a bride!”

President of Epicon, Anne Manning, and me. The theme of the conference, Murder at the Menger  (hotel in San Antonio)

 Here’s a bit about Lingering Spirit:

Book blurb: After, Steve, her police officer husband is killed in the line of duty, Nicole Ainsworth struggles with the changes forced on her life. Her efforts to focus on her daughter an cope with her grief are kept off-balance by Steve’s ghostly visitations who seems to be trying to communicate with her. Eventually, Nicole finds that Steve isn’t the only one watching over her, and discovers a second chance for love.

Review Snippets:
“…Meredith is a master of characterization. She fully rounds out the facets of her protagonists’ personalities and richly develops the details of the supporting cast. She does not hit any false notes with her dialogue and builds strong relationships among her characters. She realistically describes what a young widow would go through following the tragic death of her husband.
Overall, uncovering why this spirit lingers is an incredibly moving experience.”
–New York Journal of Books–Reviewer Nicole Langan owns the independent publishing house, Tribute Books
5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous Book!
“…Lingering Spirit is well worth buying and spending time with. It’ll give you a lot to think about after the story is finished. I loved it, as you can tell. It’s the perfect summer OR winter read. Great book, one of my favorite reads this year.” –Beth Anderson, author and book reviewer.
“I rate this book 5 Stars out of 5 Stars!
I LOVED this book I could not put it down! I am telling you all Marilyn is a FANTASTIC writer and anyone who does not read this book is missing out on a fabulous read…” – Vanessa -Ohio Girl Talks
“,,,I polished this book off in two days and you won’t want to stop reading it once you pick it up.
Lingering Spirit is the type of book that romance lovers dream of finding.” –Cheryl Malandrinos, The Book Connection
Watch Lingering Spirit book trailer for a preview.

Of course Lingering Spirit can be ordered in all the usual places–and is available on the Kindle and Nook.

Lingering Spirit by Marilyn Meredith
Oak Tree Press
Needless to say, I’ve been floating every since. 
Marilyn

Always a Finalist, Never a Winner

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I was going to call this post Always a Bridesmaid Never a Bride–but since I’m on my 60th year of marriage, that really doesn’t work.

As most of you know who read this blog on a regular basis, I’m primarily a mystery writer. However, I’ve written in other genres too: historical family sagas, psychological horror, Christian horror, and then there’s Lingering Spirit which I’ve always described as a romance with a touch of the supernatural.

I wrote it long ago and it was based on something that happened to one of my daughters but greatly fictionalized. It was published once before as an e-book way back before not many even knew what that meant–and it really didn’t go anywhere, or if it did I never saw any royalties. I took back the rights and later offered it to Oak Tree Press who is publishing my Rocky Bluff P.D. crime series. The publisher loved the book and put it out in trade paper. She put it on Kindle last year which made it eligible for the Epic contest and she entered it. (Epic is an organization for e-published authors and publishers, and I’ve been a member since their second year in existence.)

I recently heard that Lingering Spirit is a finalist in the supernatural/metaphysical category (or something like that.) Of course I’m thrilled, but my track record for the Epic contest isn’t so great. I can’t tell you how many of my books have been finalist (oh, I probably could if I took the time to count back), but I think it’s probably five or six. And though I’ve gone to every awards ceremony where my books were finalist, I always returned home empty-handed.

I’m not going to attend the 2012 Epicon where the awards will be handed out–do you think that might change my luck? I doubt it. And that’s not the reason I’m not going. The truth of the matter is, I’m just getting too old to fly all the way across country and change planes two or three times. I’m just happy that a book I wrote so long ago has managed to become a finalist.

For anyone who is interested, Lingering Spirit is available on Kindle and also as in trade paperback from Amazon. If you’d like an autographed copy, you can order it from my website. http://fictionforyou.com/

Marilyn

I’m Too Old for All This

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At the beginning of the year I had a new Rocky Bluff P.D. crime novel out, An Axe to Grind, which meant putting on a launch party, participating in a blog tour, promoting on the Net and in person.

Soon after, my publisher asked if I’d like for her to put an old book of mine, a romance with a touch of the supernatural, Lingering Spirit, which she’d put on Kindle, out as a paper book. Of course I said “yes.”

That arrived in June at the Public Safety Writers Association’s conference for the first debut. Though it is about the death of a law enforcement officer, it sold well among the police officers and their wives. When I got home I planned and put on another launch at our local bookstore and at the same time wrote a lot of blogs for a blog tour that went on through the month of July.

In the meantime, I was signing up for book and craft fairs, bookstore talks, and filling up almost all of my weekends with one event or another.

I’m still in the middle of all this and trying to write another Rocky Bluff P.D. novel–and it won’t be long before I get the edits for the Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery that’s due to make its appearance in the fall. I know because the publisher already sent me the cover for my approval.

All I can say is Phew! Almost too much for this great-grandma.

Shall I be honest? I’m loving every minute of it.

Marilyn
http://fictionforyou.com/

Switching Gears

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Known as a mystery writer, it seems really odd to be promoting my latest, a romance with a supernatural touch. Actually, I wrote this book long ago because of a tragedy that happened in our family–I think I did it as part of my grieving process. It was only available as an e-book. My publisher wanted to make it into a trade paperback and who am I to argue?

So it is now available in all the usual places. Anyone who wants an autographed copy can order it from my website; http;//fictionforyou.com

My publisher sent copies to the Public Safety Writers Association conference and I really didn’t think it was the type of book that would appeal to cops, FBI and others in the law enforcement fields since it deals with the death of deputy sheriff and what happens after with his wife and kids–but it sold way better than the two mysteries I’d brought.

So, for the next few weeks I’ll be promoting Lingering Spirit while writing the next in my Rocky Bluff P.D. series.

Marilyn

Next Up, Something Different

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My next book is going to be a departure from my usual mystery. It’s a story I wrote long ago that was inspired by a family tragedy.

My son-in-law, who inspired me to write about law enforcement, was killed in the line of duty. Some things happened right after he was killed that made us all realize that his spirit might still be around.

As time went on, I decided to write a story based on some of what happened. Of course the characters are different, and the outcome as well. In some ways, I think the writing was a way of helping me through the loss of a young man I loved like a son.

(I have to mention that this was a horribly difficult time for my daughter who lost her husband of 15 years and had three young boys to raise on her own. This is not her story, though I borrowed a lot from what happened after she lost her husband. The fictional story grew out of her experience of course–but it is fictional.)

I wrote that book long ago and it appeared only as an e-book. After several years, I broke my relationship with that particular publisher. After I signed on with Oak Tree Press for my Rocky Bluff P.D. series, the publisher asked if I had any older books I’d like to put on Kindle. One of the books I gave her was Lingering Spirit. She fell in love with the story.

This year she asked if she could turn it into a trade paperback. Of course I said yes. So in June, I’ll have a romance with a touch of the supernatural coming out.

Honestly, I’m surprised by the turn of events. It’ll be quite different to be promoting a romance.

Marilyn
http://fictionforyou.com