Tag Archive for: Marilyn Meredith

What Really Influenced my Love of Mysteries

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Like many mystery authors I often attribute my love of mysteries to Nancy Drew, but thinking back it was really something else.

Back in my childhood we didn’t have a TV until I was in junior high. Our entertainment came from the radio. We had our big standing radio in the living room, and my sister and I each had our own little Philco on our bedside table. I listened to every mystery show I could. Inner Sanctum was scary enough to send shivers down my spine, but among my favorites were I Love a Mystery, Sam Spade, The Shadow, and Philip Marlowe.

Every Monday night, Lux Radio Theatre had a live radio show, though later on they recorded them for later broadcast. Many of them were mysteries.

My very favorite though was Perry Mason. I went to one of the live broadcasts. Afterwards I went to the parking lot and got autographs of all the stars.

 Of course I continued to read Nancy Drew and soon graduated to grown-up mysteries. I loved the paperback detectives like Mike Hammer. I remember making book covers out of paper sacks so no one would know what I was reading at school.

If you like reading mysteries what ones do you remember best? And if you write mysteries, what influenced you to begin writing them?

Marilyn
http://fictionforyou.com/

Hanging Out With Youngsters

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Yep, that’s what I’m doing here.

When I read some of your posts I know I’m truly over the hill. Oh, don’t get me wrong, some of the blog posts are truly heart-rending when you talk about your bouts with life-threatening diseases. I can remember what it was like when you talk about challenges you’re facing while raising your kids. I’ve certainly been there with five of my own and the several grandkids that lived with us at different times. (We are in fact going to lose our latest house guest soon when he moves to the state of Washington to work with his brother. We’ve been thrilled by how he’s matured since living with us.)

I’ve never run a marathon though I used to walk 3 miles every day with my mom–when she was in her 80s. Needless to say we didn’t walk all that fast.

I love your posts about writing, though I’ve probably been at it far longer than any of you, I still face the same problems as you all do. And though I started out with a New York publisher, since then, my publishers have all been small presses, and I’ve very happy with the two I’m with now.

I know that some of you are still working full-time and juggling families AND writing books. I retired from my job a few years ago but I can tell you that I seem to have less time now then I did then. I think when you’ve got so many things that have to be done you prioritize better.

I still do a lot of online promotion–certainly this blog is something I do faithfully. I’ve never done a book tour where I’ve gone from store to store. I do go to some bookstores but usually when I’ve been invited to give some kind of talk. I make appearances at libraries, sometimes solo, sometimes with other writers. This year I’m giving talks at two different colleges, one to lots of students, the other to only 16. I love giving presentations to writers groups and at writers conferences. Though the big cons are fun to go to, because I’m not a big name author, the smaller cons are more beneficial to me. I also do book and craft fairs where the book selling is often quite brisk. The older I get though, the harder it is to get to some of these things, so I know in the future my promotion will probably become more centered on the online.

And as most of you know, I have a big family which means a lot of family events to attend. The big one coming up next is my great-grandson’s high school graduation! And I’ll also be going to the celebration of my youngest granddaughter’s high school graduation right after that.

Life goes on whether I get that book written or not.

Marilyn

Glorious Day with the Reading Club

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There I am yakking away about my books at the Reading Club. Oh my, I wish there were more of them around, I had so much fun and I think they did too.

My daughter-in-law was the designated driver and a good thing because the traffic was horrendous for our 3 1/2 hour drive. We just made it for our luncheon date with the program chair and the president of the group–two delightful ladies.

Over forty women showed up for the event. They meet twice monthly and always have a speaker who might talk about a book she’s recently read or some other topic that the others might be interested in, afterwards tea is served. Tea in the old-fashioned sense of the word, but I’m getting ahead of myself.

They’d asked me to talk about my writing history and then the inspiration for my books. One thing I’ve learned over the years is to tell something fun and interesting about the book or what I had to do for research, and to be sure and make the audience laugh–which I did. When I felt like I’d talked long enough, I asked for questions and had plenty to answer. Once I was through, the women rushed up to buy books. Thank goodness I brought my daughter-in-law because she handled the money while I autographed books.

We stayed long enough for a cup of tea before packing up and heading home–which was an easier drive than getting there.

What I learned.

Most of these women were in the fifty through seventy age range, though I spotted a couple that might have been in their forties, and one lady apologized for her shaky handwriting as she wrote her check and she was 90. Many had been school teachers and several married to professors at the local university. (Of course I didn’t hear everyone’s backgrounds, but this was from those who shared with me.)

All were nicely dressed and many in spring colors like the room was decorated. Reminded me of other women’s groups I’ve spoken to over the years.

None of them owned a Kindle. We did talk about e-readers a little and some agreed it would be nice to have one while on a trip. My daughter-in-law told me she’s downloaded a Kindle Ap to her iPhone and that’s how she plans to read all the Sookie Stackhouse vampire books.

Turlock is a medium sized city located on 99 between Merced and Modesto (Central Valley, California) which is mainly agricultural) and all three cities have colleges.

Many of these women liked to read a series in order, but when I assured them each of my books has a satisfactory ending despite the ongoing characters, they chose the book that most interested them when I talked about it.

And to emphasize what I’ve learned when I first began doing this, people seem to like it that I don’t have to refer to my notes–I didn’t have any–and they love it when I make them laugh.

So that’s the report on my glorious day with the Reading Club in Turlock.

Marilyn
Books by Marilyn

Income Tax, Grrrr!

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I have always done my own income tax, even in the days before there were tax programs that did all the mathematics.

A confession here, I am no good at arithmetic. My adding skills are lousy–even using a calculator. Despite all that I still did my own income tax. I was good at reading and understanding the instructions and often sent for the extra booklets and studied them. When something had to be added up I handed it to my husband, he has all the mathematical skills in our relationship.

I’ve never been audited, though I have received letters questioning me about things which I easily answered and cleared up without a problem.

Years ago when I was in the residential care business, when there was a question about a certain section in the tax law about people who took care of others and were paid, I was the lucky one chosen to go to the main Income Tax office and explain their own law to them. This resulted in my taxes being scrutinized and several phone calls from that office asking me questions about how I did this or that. A bit nerve-wracking, but they came over to our side.

Now for the first time I’m stymied and am going to have to see a professional tax person.

It has to do with a mutual fund we cashed in which lost more money for us than it earned. I have all the paperwork–though it took me forever to figure out exactly what it was–and now I don’t have a clue how to put the information into the tax program I have. I’ve tried, believe me I’ve tried, but I’m not doing something right.

I’m losing sleep over it, so I give up. Why on earth do “they” have to make everything so difficult?

So that’s my rant for this week. Hopefully, when next Tuesday rolls around I’ll have the problem solved.

Now back to your regular scheduled and much lighter programming.

Marilyn
http://fictionforyou.com

And Then She was Married

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It’s been one month since granddaughter Jessica married Jerry. They are having a great time being Mr. and Mrs. I’ve been fortunate because for right now they are staying in her old room with her folks next door as they save for their next home.

Of course the first photo is her proud dad (and my youngest offspring) walking her down the aisle.

The second photo is Jessi with her brothers, Nathan and Nick.

Nick and Nathan both lived with us during a part of their growing up years–Nathan during middle school, and Nick was with us from the age of 11 until he turned 20. We had Jessi during the school week (because our little school up here in the foothills is wonderful) until her dad and mom moved into the house next door.

Just had to share, will get back to normal–if there is such a thing–next week.

Marilyn
http://fictionforyou.com

My Valentine

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Lest you think I’m so old I’ve forgotten about all the romance in my life, I thought I’d go back to the beginning.

This is how my hubby looked back when I met him on our blind date. A girlfriend had called and said she and a bunch of kids were going out, but a date was needed for a sailor, would I be interested? I was a senior in high school and certainly thought I could do as I pleased and said, “yes.” I left a note just saying I was going on a blind date–no other info.

The group that was going out started walking in my direction and I in theirs. We probably lived about 3 miles away from one another. My two girlfriends and their older sister all showed up with servicemen in uniform, another sailor and I believe a Marine and soldier. The extra was cute as could be, but a bit on the drunk side. I’d never seen anyone who was drunk before, but I didn’t worry about it. We headed back in the direction of my friends’ but when we reached the streetcar tracks, we all boarded one heading for downtown L.A. We ended up in a Chinese restaurant where they had a live band and dancing.

Unfortunately, my date said he didn’t know how to dance. (He really didn’t, but after we married I taught him and he became a better dance than I ever was.) The other fellows in the party all took pity on me and asked me to dance–each one saying they were sorry that my date was such a dud.

Of course as time went on, my sailor (whom I soon learned was a Seabee) sobered up and began talking more. By the time we got back to my friends’ house, we’d learned a lot about one another. My date was going to school at the Port Hueneme Seabee Base and had hitch hiked to L.A. for some fun. He’d run into the other military fellows who’d brought him along to my friend’s.

My friend said her mom would take me home–but she never showed up and it started getting really late–way past midnight. Of course I didn’t even think to call home. My date and walked back to my house. Lights blazed which meant my parents were waiting for me. I’ll say they were. After the initial interrogation, I introduced my blind date and asked if he could spend the night.

Mom conferred with my dad in the kitchen. We heard him holler, “Who? Do what?”

Next we were brought into the kitchen where my blind date was interrogated by my father. One question I remember was, “Are you a Christian, boy?” Blind date’s answer, “I’m a Methodist, does that count?”

To make this story a bit shorter, blind date who I now called Hap was given a blanket and pillow and put in the den on the couch. He came to our house every weekend, except when he had the duty. He spent a lot of time with my dad who was working on a boat in the garage. He went along with us when the boat was taken out in the ocean the first time.

Most of our time was spent on family outings, but once in awhile we went on a real date to a movie. It was on one of these “real dates” that he proposed.

At the time I was 17 and Hap was 20. In California at the time, the female had to be 18 and the male 21 to get married without the parents’ permission. We were not given permission. Hap finished his schooling and was sent back to Norfolk VA. Before he left, Mom promised if he got overseas orders, she’d see that I got back East to marry him.

It wasn’t long before I received a call that the overseas orders had come through. Mom kept her promise and we traveled by train back to Washington DC and Hap met us and took us to his family’s home. We were married by his minisiter in the parsonage on the next weekend. Mom cried when she left me behind.

There were lots of hard times after that–and plenty of good ones. The marriage survivied despite everyone’s predictions of disaster, we had five children, and to date, eighteen grandkids and eleven great-grands. We’ll celebrate 60 years of marriage this coming October.

And that’s the story behind my Valentine.

Marilyn

February Already, Goodness!

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Who besides me is having trouble with how fast time flies?

Seems like it was just the beginning of January and everyone was talking about their New Year’s Resolutions–now it’s time to gear up for income taxes. Eeeek!

The older I get, the faster the days go by. I’m an early riser, so I do get started early. But I’ve found that checking my email, answering it, doing things that I have to do that comes in the email, and taking a peek at Facebook, making sure I’ve promoted whatever is on my own blog for the day http://marilynmeredith.blogspot.com and whatever household chores really must be taken care of, half the day is gone.

I sure don’t remember the time disappearing like that back when I was raising five kids, working half day, and going to college in the evenings. Somehow I managed to grocery shop, cook, clean, do the laundry, and homework.

I’m working on a new book and though I have plenty of ideas I’m finding it difficult to find the time to actually write.

Oh, I know what you’re going to say, write first, then do all the other stuff. I know that’s what I should do, but what if there’s something really important in my email?

This month will go by even faster because it’s shorter than all the rest.

Marilyn
http://fictionforyou.com

New Photo and New Book

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by Marilyn Meredith
http://fictionforyou.com/

This photo was taken at my grandaughter’s wedding. We all had such a great time. And she having so much fun writing on Facebook that she’s going here and there with her husband.

Now it’s time for me to buckle down to work. I’ll soon have a new Rocky Bluff P.D. crime novel coming out called Angel Lost and I just received the cover for it last night and I love it.

Here’s the official blurb:

As plans for her perfect wedding fill her mind, Officer Stacey Wilbur is sent out to trap a flasher, the new hire realizes Rocky Bluff P.D. is not the answer to his problems, Abel Navarro’s can’t concentrate on the job because of worry about his mother, Officer Gordon Butler has his usual upsets, the sudden appearance of an angel in the window of a furniture store captures everyone’s imagination and causes problems for RBPD, and then the worst possible happens—will Stacey and Doug’s wedding take place?

While I’m planning the promo for this book, I’m also writing a new Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery and I’m on Chapter 6. Though I know where I’m going, more or less, it’s been hard to concentrate with all the wedding excitement going on around me.

I’m also in the process of reading the Rocky Bluff P.D. novel that comes after Angel Lost to my critique group, chapter by chapter. The group is always my first editor.

The Rocky Bluff P.D. series is different in that it’s always about the officers and their families as well as whatever crimes are going on the small beach community. A book may focus more on one character than another and new characters are introduced, but the main group of people who inhabit the Rocky Bluff P.D. and their families are always going to have their lives chronicled in one way or another.

Of course, because Angel Lost will be available in March, I must get busy with my promotion plans.

I do have a blog tour planned, and several in-person events, but there’s always more to do, so I’m signing off and getting busy.

A Tough World

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Yesterday’s post put the horrific events in Arizona out on the blog. Even mentioning this is so different from the usual atmosphere of this blog, but it’s something that really can’t be ignored.

We are living in difficult times, and I do think that’s one of the reasons people are reading more–to find themselves in another environment where things have a pretty good chance of turning out better.

My big problem with what everyone is saying about what caused this latest horror is that the shooter or shooters if they do find out it was more than one, was mentally unbalanced. Anyone who would shoot into a crowd and not care about who was killed, is not right in the head. That’s all there is to it. What do we do about it? I haven’t a clue.

Because a person who is crazy doesn’t act normal and is usually not a comfortable person to be around, even family members shy away. No doubt there were plenty of signs that trouble was brewing with this man or men–but no one was brave enough to try and do anything about it.

Think back to the Columbine shooting, the parents of those boys professed that they knew nothing. Of course they knew something wasn’t right, but they didn’t really want to know the truth. Teachers and their fellow students had to know that these kids had problems–but instead they were ignored and probably shunned for being different when they needed serious help.

You can blame it on politics or any number of things, but the real truth is there are people in this world who aren’t right. Years ago, they were put into institutions. Now a person who is mentally ill has rights, the option to take or not take his medication, the option to live on the streets if he’s too deranged to hold a job. We see someone like that and we walk past with our eyes turned away.

In a perfect world, someone would intervene. Unfortunately this is not a perfect world. I have no answers, but it’s too easy to blame what happened on someone else–politics, politicians, talk show hosts, news people–I don’t think that’s where the blame belongs. It belongs with all of us who do not pay attention to the people around us, who aren’t willing to notice when things are going wrong with our friends and relatives.

It is a tough world and it’ll probably get tougher.

I know this wasn’t helpful, but it’s how I feel.

Marilyn

Greetings, 2011!

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Here’s hoping for a great year for the Stiletto Gang and their families.

I’m not one to make resolutions, but I do have some hopes and desires for the coming year.

My granddaughter is getting married on the 15th. This is not my first grandchild to get married, but a very special one. Jessica lived with us at various times during her growing up years–first with her mom when she was a baby. She went to grammar school at the little school in town, staying with us during the school week. She was here when it snowed for three days (something that hasn’t happened since). She invited me every year to speak to her class as an author. I had to come up with new topics as the kids were always the same. One birthday she had a slumber party at our house because it was bigger than her folks and she wanted to invite lots of kids. (That’s when I knew I was getting old because I had to go downstairs and quiet them down.)

My hope for her and Jerry is that this will be the start of a wonderful life for the two of them. (That’s Jessica and Jerry in the photograph.)

I have an Auntie who is turning 100 this fall–I’m hoping that she’ll make it as long as she stays healthy.

I’m hoping for the rest of my big family to stay healthy and to be able to achieve their dreams for this year.

I’ll change my hopes to prayers for our little church that we can continue to help out the less fortunate in our foothill community.

For myself and hubby, that we can remain healthy and able to do all the things I’ve already got inked into the 2011 calendar including another try at the ill-fated mystery cruise that we didn’t get to go on last year. This time we hope to celebrate our 60th wedding anniversary while on the cruise since it happens at the right time of year.

And that’s just a few of my hope for the coming year.

What are some of yours?

Marilyn