Tag Archive for: Marilyn Meredith

Writer’s Block–Do You Suffer From it?

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I just read a really good blog about writer’s block and though I left a comment I really wanted to write more so thought I’d do it here.

Though I don’t really suffer from writer’s block, I do procrastinate about clicking on Word and my latest work in progress. Instead, I check my e-mail, read posts on Facebook and write one or two, read some blogs I’m following, and maybe write a blog or two.

Though I don’t work outside the house, I do some writing jobs that bring in money and if I have one of those, it will always come first. (Yes, my books bring in money, but not right away like some other things I do.)

If there is some housework jobs I really need to do, I’ll probably do them before I write. One of the reasons I do that comes from my bringing up–mom made sure we’d done all of our work before we did something fun. And since writing is something I truly enjoy, I don’t feel right doing it until all the more tedious jobs are done. (Funny how moms can still influence us even when we’re really old–and in my case, mom has gone on to her heavenly reward.)

Fortunately, I long ago figured out a way to not have a problem knowing what to write when I finally do open up that work in progress and that’s to stop in the middle of a scene, that way I know exactly what to write next.

Another trick is to go back and read what you wrote last making it easier to just continue on when you get to the blank place.

I truly love writing and with the book I’m working on now I have so many ideas for it they are spilling out of my brain. What I should do is change my schedule completely and write first–then do all the other things that need to be done. I’ll try, but I don’t think my many years of training and habit will let me.

I know a lot of you do your writing at night. Wish I could, but by evening I’m done. Brain is no longer functioning well enough to do anything challenging like writing.

Do you have trouble with writer’s block? If so, what’s your cure?

Marilyn

Sitting Among the Super Stars

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In the photo: me, Donna Andrews, Marcia Talley and Deborah Crombie.

First, let me say, this past weekend at Mayhem in the Midlands was extraordinary.

The con is always held in Omaha, and we’ve been to this particular mystery event nine times. We’ve gone so often we’ve made friends with people who live in Omaha and others who attend this conference on a regular basis.

This year, one of my panels was with the guest of honor, Deborah Crombie, and Marcia Talley, the toast master, moderated by Donna Andrews.

I knew most of the people who attended that panel hadn’t come because of my presence on that that panel. Deborah and Marcia are good friends and it definitely shows when they are bantering back and forth. My biggest contribution was making people laugh. One thing I know how to do is offer one-liners.

An interesting, and most rewarding event for me and I think the audience to was a conversation with authors. Radine Nehring, Nancy Pickard and I sat in a circle with audience surrounding us. Radine had come up with many interesting subjects for us to discuss and it worked well. Several people told me it was like eavesdropping on our conversation. I hadn’t read Nancy Pickard’s work, so before the conference I purchased The Smell of Rain and Lightening (or maybe it’s the other way around) and I absolutely loved it.

In fact, for every panel I was on or moderated, if I hadn’t ever read anything by the author before, I got the book and read it. Believe me, that really helps–especially when you’re on a panel with brand new and nervous authors.

This year besides those two panels, I moderated one and I was on another about Religion in Mysteries. 17 of my books sold, which is the best I’ve ever done at this conference. Being on panel and being a good panelists helps sell books. Being a good panelist means that you have to be engaging without hogging the panel. (Yes, some authors do hog panels.)

Being on panels and going to them is only one part of attending a mystery con. The people who come and the great conversations you have are another plus. And I can’t give a report about Mayhem without saying that the eating at Mayhem is pretty darn good too. There is a reception the first night, and this year they had a mac and cheese bar. You put the mac and cheese in a champagne glass and chose what toppings you wanted from a vast array. Of course they had the usual fruit, cheese, cracker, meatballs etc. for the less daring.

The Sisters in Crime buffet this year consisted of tacos and all the trimmings–delicious.

The hotel for Mayhem is right at the end of The Old Marketplace which is full of wonderful restaurants. Of course we had one lunch at Ahmad’s Persian Restaurant, our most favorite. We also ate at the Indian Oven, M’s, and a new place called Stokes. Of course we always had a great group of people with us.

When we first arrived, one of our friends in Omaha took us to another restaurant on the other side of town, plus gave us a tour of some of the new things that have been built since the last time we were there. On our last night we also went out with this same gal to another great place, The Upstream Brewery and hubby and I both had their root beer, which is delicious.

Anyway, I’m back, tired and overwhelmed with work.

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

It’s a Small, Small World

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Last Saturday I attended the Central Valley Jane Austen Fest as a vendor. Frankly, I felt a bit out of place–though I wasn’t the only one. Selling modern-day mysteries at an event celebrating Jane Austen didn’t seem quite right–but the organizer insisted that I come. I’m glad I did because I really had fun meeting people, seeing the costumes some of the attendees wore, and talking about my books to the different people who stopped at my table–and I even sold quite a few books.

One of them came directly to me and asked, “Are you Marilyn Meredith who is part of the Stiletto Gang?” I assured her I was and she identified herself as Anjali Kapoor-Davis and she’s related somehow to Misa. We had a super visit. I included the photo even though my eyes are closed–that’s why I put in the one of me with my eyes open.

I had no idea so many people were so enthusiastic about Jane Austen and her books. Most of the people who came were women, but as you can see, even men came dressed in authentic clothing.

Most interesting was a group of teenage boys who stopped to talk for awhile. They were reading Jane Austen in high school and said they loved the books and their teacher suggested they come to the event.

Will I go again next year? Sure, if they invite me.

Marilyn
http://fictionforyou.com

Stilettos, High Heels, Crocs

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Despite being a part of the Stiletto Gang, I wince whenever I see an actual Stiletto. No, I’ve never had a pair.

Years ago, though, I did wear high heels everyday to work. Looking back I wonder how I did it. I had my first real job working as a file clerk for Pacific Bell in downtown L.A. To get there, I rode the bus, then the streetcar to 8th street, then I walked four blocks up hill to the office building.

Like everyone else back in that time period, besides the heels, of course I wore nylons (no pantyhose yet), and dresses.

At the job, we often sat on little stools to get into the bottom drawers to do our filing, what a trick with skirts. Nylons didn’t last long either.

I even had high heels for leisure, cute sandals.

As I got older and had more kids, the high heels were saved for dress-up occasions and work. On and off I worked as a telephone operator, mostly in Oxnard while hubby was stationed there. Even though no customers ever saw us, we were required to wear nylons and dresses to work. And yes, I wore my high heels then, even when I was pregnant. Three times I worked at the phone company, got pregnant, worked until they wouldn’t let me any longer, and left.

But, I digress. Back to the heels. I didn’t feel dressed up unless I had on heels.

When we moved to where we live now and took over the residential care facility, I didn’t wear heels while I was working with the ladies we cared for, but I wore them when we went to town, or I had to go to a meeting.

I did this for several years until I finally realized, I could still look fine with a nice pair of flat dress shoes. Now that’s all I have–and they better be comfortable.

Really, since I’m now a great-grandmother there’s not anyone I need to impress. You’ll not find a single pair of high heels in my closet today.

Okay, big confessions of the day, do I still get to play with all you Stiletto Gang cuties?

Marilyn
http://fictionforyou.com

A Scorpion in my Bed

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Sounds like a book title, doesn’t it? Unfortunately, it’s the truth.

When I went down to my bedroom last night and turned back the covers, there was a scorpion on my side of the bed. No, I didn’t scream. I thought it was dead–if I knew it was alive, I’d have killed it right then and there.

I decided to tell my husband and ask him if he’d put it in my bed. (I knew he hadn’t but was trying to be funny.) By the time I got him and came back to the bedroom, no scorpion. The daggone thing was alive!

We tore the bed apart, shook everything out, no scorpion. My first thought was to sleep somewhere else, but decided my bed was far too comfortable, if the scorpion was still there, he’d just have to scoot over.

Slept the night through with nary a problem.

Before you all freak out let me tell you I live in the foothills of the Sierra in a very old house. I’ve had encounters with scorpions before and usually dispatch them with ease–but I thought this one was dead or I would have taken care of it.

We have lots of spiders too, some really big and ugly ones, but they don’t bother me either.

Lizards love to sneak inside when it gets really hot. Haven’t seen any this year yet. They are hard to catch and herd back outside–usually leave it up to the younger generation.

Never had a snake inside, though there are plenty around outside during the summer, including rattlesnakes. I’m not afraid of them either, but do have a healthy respect for them. I leave it up to others to take care of those critters.

We had a rat infestation when our bathroom and bedroom were being remodeled because the workers left all the doors open. We had to keep the cats shut off in the other part of the house, not wanting them to leave, so they were no help. Hubby and a grandson managed to dispose of the unwanted creatures except for one that managed to make it into cat territory and that was the end of him.

Oh yes, and there are skunks. I’ve never had an encounter, but my poor daughter-in-law did one night when she was leaving our house.

Living in the foothills has its downside, but there is plenty to make up for it. The scenery is gorgeous especially this time of year when everything is still green and the snow is plentiful on the mountains. We live on a hill above the Tule River and when I was younger I joined the kids in the swimming hole, now I just watch and listen to the water rushing over the rocks on its way down to the lake. At night, the stars are gorgeous.

This is the most popular time of year around here too, last week was the Jackass Mail Run, this weekend is Rodeo time. We’re a stone’s throw from the rodeo grounds so can hear everything that’s going on. I’ve been many times, but I’m skipping it this year. From the front yard, I can watch the parachutists jumping out of airplanes to land in the arena of the rodeo grounds–that’s enough.

During the month of August, there’ll be a barbecue and dance every Saturday night at the rodeo grounds to raise money for next year’s rodeo.

All summer long, there’ll be free concerts in the park too.

I think I can manage to share my space with all the critters who were here before me.

Marilyn

One Thing After Another

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When you have a family as big as mine, there’s always something happening.

We’ve had our share of divorces–and I’ve seen what happens to the poor kids when mom and dad finally split. Fortunately, I’ve also seen how the kids have managed to become decent adults after a few mishaps along the way.

Recently touched base with a grandniece (yes, I have a bunch of those too) whose parents divorced when she was a kid, and she’s had four kids who are now 10 and under. She’s working on her GED because she wants to go to the police academy. Her goal is to have a decent job so her kids can go to college and she can retire sometime and not be like her parents. Her father is remarried and raising a new six year old of his and his new wife’s as well as her two teenage daughters. He has his own business, but has to work really hard to make ends meet. Retirement isn’t in his near future. The ex-wife still works as a bartender.

Seems like things go along fine for awhile, then we hear some scary news about someone–an accident or a bad diagnosis, or someone has decided to end a marriage, or one of the grandkids has gotten into trouble. Once in awhile, it’s a new baby on the way.

In some ways it’s almost like living in a soap opera except we’re related to everyone. Maybe that’s why hubby and I like to watch General Hospital, the soap opera, worse things happen to those folks than what happens in the extended Meredith family.

You might ask if I’ve ever used any of our family drama in any of my books–of course I have, not that anyone would recognize it. But how could I not use such a wealth of material when it’s unfolding right in front of my eyes. Usually I don’t use it while it’s fresh–but someday, sometime, one of those incidents will be the perfect element for a story I’m writing.

And of course, having relatives in law enforcement gave me the desire to write about police officers and their families.

Marilyn
http://fictionforyou.com

Friends

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I started to write about different kinds of friends, but then I realized I’d gotten too specific about a certain type of friend who is kind of a downer to be around and realized she just might read this blog post. I would never ever want to hurt her feelings, so I’m going to try again.

What kind of friends do you have?

Over the years I’ve had some interesting varieties. One of my very best friends turned out to be what they call a fair-weather friend. I stuck by her through all sorts of her family crisis and a few of her personal ones, but when something tragic happened in my family she disappeared from my life.

Since that time, I’ve never had another “best friend.” Instead, I’ve got many friends from all over. There are friends that I only see once a year when I got to a Mayhem in the Midlands–dear friends who are not writers but readers. I look forward to spending time with them and sharing at least one meal somewhere in Old Town. They are much younger than I am and I enjoy being with them.

I have dear friends who attend the same church with me, ones who I can count on to listen when I need a friendly ear and I’m there when they need the same.

And how about the friends we never see? Like the friends we’ve made on this blog. It’s been a joy to learn more about each and everyone, to find out how they feel about things with a perspective much different than my own.

When I was much younger, I had an older friend who mentored me with my writing. In fact, I learned more from her about writing than any class I ever took or book that I read. She’s moved too far for me to see her in person anymore, but she’s still going strong nearing 90. And yes, we do email one another.

Many years ago, I worked in the nursery at church with an 80 year old woman who I truly admired. We became great friends and giggled about some of the silliest things while caring for the little ones.

Now I’m at the other end of the scale–being one of the older women–and I have friends of many ages and love and enjoy every one.

I am still careful though, I limit the time I spend with the complainers and the whiners–life is too short for that. But when you spend time with someone who is fun, can laugh at themselves, is loving and enjoys life–you feel so much better yourself.

Not sure there’s a point to this, but it is what I felt like writing about today.

Anyone have any thoughts about their friends?

Marilyn

Passover and Easter

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This is the garden at the bookstore where I did a signing this weekend–thought it looked appropriate for Spring.

Not being Jewish, I don’t celebrate Passover, though I certainly know the Passover story. As a Christian, and a Sunday School teacher, I’ve read the Bible and heard about and taught what happened the night the Jewish people put the blood of the lamb on their doors, and the angel of death passed over and none of the Jewish children died when the first born of the Egyptians did.

I’ll be celebrating Easter on April 4th. Our little church always has a Sunrise service at 6:30 a.m. Suprisingly, we always have a crowd despite the cold and the early hour. We see people who never come to church, but want to participate in an Easter sunrise service. We sit outside and our praise team leads us in Easter songs and our pastor gives a short sermon. Afterward, we enjoy a breakfast provided by different members of our church. At the usual times, Sunday School and our regular worship service begins.

Again, because it’s Easter, we’ll have folks turn up to the regular service who haven’t been to church since Christmas and even a few new people who are just looking for a church to attend on Easter.

In earlier days, women wore new dresses and often a fancy new hat. Now it’s different, people come as they are. Little girls might have a new outfit, but not even many of them do. That’s something that seems to have gone out of favor–or maybe it’s because our church has so many poor people who belong.

I’ll probably have to figure out something to fix for Easter dinner–something easy, because I won’t be up to cooking anything big since I’ll be up so early to go to the Sunrise Service. (Since I first wrote this I ordered a honey-baked ham and plan to make potato salad and macaroni salad. Invited family members to bring something to share.

Tell me about what you do for Passover or Easter, if you celebrate one of the other. Or any rituals that signify Spring for you.

Marilyn
http://fictionforyou.com

I’m Late, I’m Late, I’m Late to a Very Important Date

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Goodness, I’m seldom late to anything, in fact I’m usually early. My husband is the late one.

I thought I’d already written a blog for today and had it waiting in line. Wrong. I received a reminder from one of my fellow bloggers.

I love writing blogs with this bunch of gals–they make me feel so young. I’m probably thirty years older than most of them. I was a kid during World War II, married the cute sailor I met on a blind date the same year I graduated from high school, we raised five children, and I led a Camp Fire group for ten years–until they graduated from high school.

Through the years, I had various jobs. When the kids were little, I worked as a telephone operator off and on. Hubby, a career Seabee, was gone as much as he was home. When he finally retired, I went to work part time as a teacher in a pre-school for kids with developmental disabilities and began college.

Three of our children married, grandkids began arriving.

Hubby wanted to move to a smaller town and we found the perfect place, the foothills of the Sierra. We purchased a licensed residential facility for developmentally disabled women, moved in and took over. (A much more complicated process than that.)

Though I’d been writing all along, I didn’t get published until the first year that we lived in our new place. After our ladies left for work, I wrote for about three hours–and as the years passed, more books were published.

We had our facility for over twenty years and finally decided it was time to retire.

Now I’m writing nearly full time–though life interferes at times.

That’s just a quick overview–but you can see I’ve been on this planet much longer than the other members of the Stiletto Gang. I love them all, and they certainly brighten my life and I bet they do yours too.

Marilyn
http://fictionforyou.com/