Marilyn Meredith

Marilyn Meredith Chases Spirit Shapes

Marilyn Meredith is the author of over thirty published novels, including the award winning Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery series. She borrows a lot from where she lives in the Southern Sierra for the town of Bear Creek and the surrounding area, including the nearby Tule River Indian Reservation. She does like to remind everyone that she is writing fiction. Marilyn is a member of EPIC, three chapters of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and on the board of the Public Safety Writers of America. Visit her at http://fictionforyou.com and follow her blog at http://marilymeredith.blogspot.com/

Could you please start by telling us a little about yourself?

I’ve been writing stories since I was a kid, but my first book wasn’t published until I was a grandmother. I’ve seen a lot of change in the way authors write and publish: from typewriters and carbon paper to computers and sending manuscripts in as attachments; querying my mail to email queries. Believe me the new ways are much easier.

Do you plan all your characters out before you start a story or do they develop as you write?

Because I write series mysteries, I know my main characters very well. Of course I always introduce new characters and yes, I plan a lot about them ahead of time, but as I write, they often change—even to the point of who I thought was the murderer was wrong, and it is someone else.

How much research do you do for your books? Have you found any cool tidbits in your research?

For my Deputy Tempe Crabtree series I’ve done ride-alongs with law enforcement officers, examined a resident deputy’s truck and equipment, learned a lot about Indian legends, done some exploring on our local Indian reservation, and I always ask a lot of questions. Probably the coolest tidbit I’ve learned is about the Hairy Man, a Big Foot type creature who lives in the mountains on the reservation. I’ve seen pictographs of him, his wife, and child in a rock shelter.

Do you write full time? What did you do before you became a writer? Or Still do?

Yes, I consider myself a full-time writer—and I was even when I had my last job which was living in and running my licensed facility for developmentally disabled women—a job I loved, by the way. My residents went to a sheltered workshop all day and in-between doing laundry etc., I wrote.  I’ve been around for a while and I was a telephone operator, and a teacher in a pre-school for developmentally disabled kids, a day-care center teacher, and a pre-school teacher for non-English speaking kids. (By the time the semester was over they all spoke English.) No matter what I was doing, I always found time to write.

What is your writing process? Do you outline, fly by the seat of your pants or a combination of both?

First, I always start thinking about the story. What will Tempe be involved with—what kind of crime, how will it affect her and her husband. As ideas become clearer, I start jotting them down. I don’t outline, but I do make a lot of notes. Before I know everything, I start writing. As I write I jot down more notes about where I think the story is going, so it kind of a combination of plotting and going by the seat of my pants.

Do you have a ritual when it comes to writing? Example….get coffee, blanket, paper, pen and a comfy place.

I do most of my writing in the early morning hours at my computer in my office. Usually I have a cup of Chai latte, or will get one when I need to take a break.

Current Release Details:

In Spirit Shapes, ghost hunters discover a dead body in a haunted house. When Deputy Tempe Crabtree arrives on the scene she soon realizes the house not only is inhabited by ghosts but also evil spirits.

When you have writer's block how do you break free?

To tell the truth, I never have true writer’s block. Sometimes I have a bit of trouble getting started, but I always have something that needs done, could be editing whatever I’ve written previously or perhaps some sort of promotion.

What would be the best way for readers contact you? Do you have a website? Email address? How can readers find out more about you and your books?

I love to hear from readers. My email address is mmeredith@ocsnet.net and yes, I have a website where you can read about all my books and me: http://fictionforyou.com/.  My blog is http://marilynmeredith.blogspot.com/ and I have guest authors, write about what I’m doing, give writing tips, and anything that I feel like writing about. I also have a monthly newsletter. If you’d like to subscribe, just email me and let me know. I’m also on Facebook under my name, Marilyn Meredith.

Do you belong to a critique group? If so, how does this help or hinder you?

I adore my critique group and have belonged to the same one for years. I consider them my first editors. They write on copies of my chapter, tell me what I need to fix etc. I never defend anything, but take what they’ve done home and work on the chapter. Sometimes I do exactly what was suggested, other times I do something totally different, and once in a while, ignore what was said or written. Most of the time, they are spot on.

Contest:   Two people who comment on this blog post will be chosen at random by Marilyn to receive a copy of Raging Water, the previous Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery.

 

Ghost hunters stumble upon a murdered teen in a haunted house. Deputy Tempe Crabtree's investigation pulls her into a whirlwind of restless spirits, good and evil, intertwined with the past and the present, and demons and angels at war.

 

Mundania Press LLC / Amazon

 

Met RWA® Golden Heart® finalist Diana Layne

Native small town Texan Diana Layne is an award-winning published author and an RWA® Golden Heart® finalist. She's a homeschooling mom of six kids who grew up riding horses and motorcycles, practicing the piano and reading every chance she could. As an only child she kept herself entertained with imaginary playmates and now writes romantic suspense thrillers and historical romances.

What do you do on a typical writing day?

I’m not certain any day is typical. In my fantasies, I have created a perfect, typical day, but reality has yet to live up to the fantasy. Since I’ve always homeschooled and I’m on the last two (though two of the older ones, a DIL and two grandkids live with me), I find it’s easier for me to get up early, like at 4 am early, to get any writing done. Our homeschooling could probably be labeled eclectic, meaning it’s a combination of unschooling and homeschooling. Which means I let the kids sleep as late as they can; no “get up at a certain time, start lessons at a certain time.” The longer they sleep in the mornings, the longer I can write. With the first four kids (who are much older) I had an early riser in the bunch. And now with the last two—yep, I have another early riser. He rarely sleeps past seven. Still, if I’ve managed to haul myself out of bed on time, I can get a couple good hours in before he wakes up. In the winter, it’s a LOT harder getting out of bed that early on a cold morning though. (I live in an old house so I have to light the heaters every morning, until it warms up, it’s pretty danged cold! At least cold for this Texan!)

Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

Growing up as an only child (and only grandchild), many of my best friends were imaginary. These were the days before cable, computers, video games-heck, the TV only had four channels. So I played a lot with those imaginary friends.

While I wrote to entertain myself, it never occurred to me I could write novels for others to read.  I thought writers were members of special clubs, were super smart and rich, everything I wasn’t. One day when I put the kids down for a nap (at the time I was running a home childcare business and naps were vital then) I picked up my Romantic Times magazine and read an article about RWA. You mean they let normal people write romance? (okay, okay, normal is probably subjective, how many normal people’s best friends are imaginary, right?)

Is there anyone who really mentored or inspired you to keep writing until you were finally published?

The path to publishing was a long and bumpy one, marred by a very bitter divorce which knocked me off balance for a long time. The characters had deserted me, the silence was deafening. And I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to write again.

As they say here in Texas if the horse bucks you off, get up and dust yourself off and climb back on. That sucker bucked me off and I flew through the air and had the wind knocked out of me when I landed flat on my back and hurt so much I didn’t want to move. But I wanted my kids to see that you never give up if you have a dream. So I pulled myself up, dusted myself off and climbed back on that horse.

When you have writer's block how do you break free?

Yeah. Been there a few times. Or twenty. First time it was bad. Scary. What happened, why couldn’t I write?

I read The Artists Way by Julia Cameron, saved my sanity. Morning pages. Hate them. Really. Hate them. Don’t do them anymore but I do something similar, I just don’t call it morning pages. I journal. Write down all I’m feeling, analyze it, figure out where I’m blocked-usually it’s some situation or an emotional reaction to a situation that I’m ignoring and real life has leaked over and destroyed writing life. Writing all that down gets it out of my head so my brain doesn’t have to worry with it like a cat with a toy mouse, and I know I won’t forget about it because it’s all down on paper. At that point, my characters have room to come back and play.

How much research do you do for your books? Have you found any cool tidbits in your research?

I do however much research is needed. Usually a lot because usually I’m clueless. Why can’t I pick something I know to write about? Like wiping snotty noses or changing diapers… But assassins? Yeah, that’s something a small town homeschooling mom is gonna know about. Sailing a pirate ship? Um, no, my toy bathtub boats sink. Tanning hides? Well, I got my hide tanned a few times when I was a kid, but…tanning an animal hide like the 1800s Native Americans, no clue.

Cool tidbits? I learned how to kill someone with a hat pin. I learned that the Elm tree I wanted cut down because it’s right in the way is actually quite useful in several herbal remedies. And I learned that I’m not made for the seafaring life, I got seasick just researching.

What is your writing process? Do you outline, fly by the seat of your pants or a combination of both?

I actually write like I homeschool, half and half. What’s that mean? As I mentioned previously, I do a combination of unschooling and homeschooling, no rigid school schedules here and while we cover basics, the kids are free to explore whatever subjects beyond that make them happy.

For writing, while I look super organized, I have scene sentences on notecards in a notecard notebook after all, they’re actually bare bones sentences and the scene pretty much develops on its own after I start writing the story.

Mainly I start each book with the “sentence” that boils the story down to this: Protagonist with a need vs. antagonist with a need in an interesting setting with a twist. I learned this from Holly Lisle’s course How To Think Sideways, which is a really cool course. Next, I work on scene ideas from that sentence ala Randy Ingermanson’s Snowflake method (incidentally Randy starts with a sentence too, I just like how Holly’s is structured). I write each scene sentence on a notecard, file them in my notecard notebook and ready, set, go! (Randy’s also got great Snowflake software but since I do my rough draft writing by hand, I prefer having my notecard notebook by me.)

What I did learn when I wrote Pirate’s Proposal is that if I start off with the wrong sentence, the story will not work, no matter how I organize myself. I had to ditch the first three chapters on my first attempt-so much for all my organization.

Can you please give us a sneak peek at any of your upcoming books?

This is from a novella that will be out this month. If you’ve read my romantic suspense The Good Daughter, this is the beginning of the love story of two characters who play a prominent role in The Good Daughter, Nia and Sandro. This isn’t a suspense book, it’s strictly a romance; although since Nia’s still in college it might be classified as one of those New Adult romances. If you haven’t read The Good Daughter, no big deal. Red-Hot Italian will stand on its own.

Nia, the heroine, is a world-class soccer player for the American women, while hero Sandro is an international Italian soccer star. Yeah, you could say like Beckham but Sandro is Italian and if you actually go back in history a couple of decades you can say like Roberto Baggio, who was FIFA World Player of the Year in 1994.

Anyway, Sandro is Nia’s soccer hero, she always studied and emulated his style until it developed as her own and by a fluke of unimaginable luck (at least to her) her soccer coach is Sandro’s uncle. When the Italian national team is in town for a friendly match with the American national team, the uncle invites Sandro over.

Here Sandro and Nia are cleaning up the dinner dishes while coach and his wife are having a very loud argument in the other room.

“I know these dishwashers are supposed to clean without rinsing, but it just seems--”

Nia abruptly cut off her sentence when she realized she was chattering to cover her nervousness and the noise in the other room.  Noise which could no longer be ignored.

She stopped to listen, dried her wet hands on a towel. “Do you know what’s going on out there?”

“Si.”

“Well, come on, don’t keep me in suspense.”

Sandro’s gaze captured hers. “I asked if you could stay the night.” 

Ahhh. Why is Sandro wanting Nia, who he just met earlier that day, to stay the night at his uncle’s house? Is he wanting to be naughty or is it something else?

Do you have a website recommendation for other writers?

Naturally I recommend the Ruby-Slippered Sisterhood www.rubyslipperedsisterhood.com.  We’re a group of 2009 Golden Heart® finalists who formed the group the day the finalists were announced. It wasn’t long after we started our blog, designed to help other writers. Our motto is: Your sisters on the yellow brick road to writing success.

How can readers find out more about you and your books?

www.dianalayne.com

Nominated for the RWA® Golden Heart® Award

When reality is a web of lies and the truth endangers all you hold dear . . . you Trust No One.

Drafted into the nebulous underworld of a secret agent right out of college, MJ Thornberg survived betrayal and attempted murder at the hands of her trusted partner. Instead of returning to the deadly realm of espionage, she chose to retire to a small Texas town and work as a mechanic while raising her soon-to-be-adopted baby daughter.

Ben Walker is a man with his own secrets. An agent with MJ's former employer, Vista Security, Ben is clawing his way out of a downward spiral from a job gone wrong when Vista sends him after MJ, with orders to use the threat of halting her baby's adoption to ensure her cooperation.

Furious and trusting no one, MJ intends on working the job solo until a sniper's bullet alters her plans. With no choice but to work with Ben, MJ must confront ghosts from her past, discover truths of her present, and trust that the future she deserves is in her hands to create.

 Excerpt / Amazon / Amazon UK

 

CONTEST: $20 Amazon or BN gift card

Shirley Oldridge Loves Good English Mysteries

 

Born and raised in Yorkshire, in the North of England. Shirley Oldridge entered into the gaming industry, and left the country in the mid-eighties to work in a Bahamas casino, where she met her future ex-husband, and moved to the US, in 1990.

As the mother of two young children, Shirley became appalled with the stories of violence against women and children that were daily newspaper headlines, and flashed nightly on TV screens.  These stories had such a sickening effect on her that Shirley imagined all the grisly things she could personally do to the perpetrators.  She knew she could not possibly be alone in her thoughts.  Other people had to feel the same way as she did.  What would happen if a group of like-minded individuals with thoughts similar to her own actually got together?  Shirley Oldridge pondered this question, and from it came the idea to write a novel, hence, The Support Group was created.

 

Could you please start by telling us a little about yourself?

I’ve always liked to tell stories. It would get me into trouble as a young child, get me out of trouble as a young adult, and amuse my friends at parties, and gatherings. I’m that person nobody wants to go to the movies with, because I always guess the ending, or solve the mystery, half way through. My eldest daughter Nikki, told me I’m her least favorite person to go see a movie with, apart from the fact, I pay.

Growing up in England, I was raised on Agatha Christie, and Sherlock Holmes. My favorite television shows were always crime stories and mysteries, like British shows, The Sweeney, and Raffles, or more contemporary American shows like, Columbo, The Rockford Files, or Magnum PI. My father and I would both try to be the first to spot the clues, or pick out the villain.

I love a good whodunit!  I think life is full of them.

Sadly, the awful real life stories brandished across newspaper pages, and flashed across television screens have been my biggest inspiration.  I have always tried to imagine how the victims’ families must be coping with their terrible losses, how a tragic crime committed in a moment, can destroy a lifetime for those left behind, while forgotten by the world in an instant.  

Please Describe your writing environment

My writing environment is actually anywhere I can set up my laptop for an hour or so.  Normally on the patio table in my back yard. 

Do you plan all your Characters out?

I actually just have a basic idea about the character when I start to write.  I don’t really think about their appearance or personality until the story starts to unfold.  Then, after they have reacted, in whichever way they react, to whatever situation they are in, I start to get a mental image of how they look, how they talk, who they are.  Then I go back and add my description.

I realized that one of my characters in The Support Group, had actually nothing descriptive about him at all.  Which worked out for me, because in the second book, A Bitter Pill, I decided to change his ethnicity completely, to enhance his personality further. 

Genre

I guess it’s considered Mystery/Suspense. 

Do you write full time?

Wish I did! Waiting for the day I can!  I am actually a dealer, in a very well-known Las Vegas Hotel!  Shh! No names! 

What is your writing process?

I’m definitely a fly by the seat of my pants kind of girl.  Very little in my life is outlined and planned.  Why would writing be any different? 

Can you please give us a sneak peak on your latest book?

I’m currently working on the sequel to The Support Group, A Bitter Pill.  When the cop in pursuit of the Support Group members, finds his family being targeted by a serial killer, he enlists the group, who reluctantly agree to help him track and capture the suspect.  

When you have writer’s block?

I just give up! I will normally just jot down an idea of what I want to say, and come back to it when I’ve figured out how to put it into words.  Sometimes I’ll work ahead into future chapters, and then return to the one I’m having difficulty with later. 

Do deadlines help or hinder?

Never actually had one, but would imagine the worst.  I remember back in high school, working into the small hours of the morning to get a paper done that was due the next day!  I don’t think I would like the pressure of finishing an entire novel in a certain time frame. I think it might affect the quality of the work. 

First published work?

The Support Group is my first novel.  It was published in June of 2012, by Oak Tree Press, as a Dark Oak Mystery.

Mentored? Or inspired?

I would have to say my ex-mother-in law, Rose.  My ex-husband had little or no confidence in my ability to write.  He did little to encourage my desire to write a book.  Not out of malice, just a lack of interest.  My mother-in-law however, waited eagerly for each new chapter.  She would give me feedback, and tell me which characters she related with the most.  She actually kept me motivated to finish it.  Thank you Rose!

 

Award-winning actress Margo Preistley had it all until her daughter is brutally raped and murdered. Margo attempts suicide, but fails and is ordered to attend a support group for families of violent crimes’ victims. After witnessing a random attack, Margo impulsively kills the assailant, only to watch the victim-- her only witness--flee the scene. Unable to legally justify her actions, Margo, and her now-accomplice, Peta, drive away before the police arrive. Luckily, her companion knows someone within The Support Group who can help them. Soon they realize that – collectively -- they have the means necessary to rectify any situation…

 Dark Oak Mysteries / Amazon /  Author Website

Travel with Walter W. Luce on his tales

 

Walter W. Luce was born in Vermont where he still spends his summers.  He has been a successful real estate developer in Florida, Georgia, and California.  He lives in the Palm Springs, California area with his wife Bonnie, where he wrote his first novel of five, Eva Pennington.

          He is the oldest of seven. He graduated from Braintree Randolph Union High School in 1962, and attended Miami Dade Junior college after being honorably discharged from the Army in 1967. 

His hobbies are writing, running and golf.

 

Could you please start by telling us a little about yourself?

I was born in Vermont where I still spend my summers.  I’ve been a successful real estate developer in Florida, Georgia, and California.  I now live in the Palm Springs, California area with my wife Bonnie, where I wrote my first novel of five, Eva Pennington.

          I am the oldest of seven. I graduated from Braintree Randolph Union High School in 1962, and attended Miami Dade Junior college after being honorably discharged from the Army in 1967. 

Please tell us your latest news!

My novel Vermont Bound the third in the Donatelli series was just published by Oak Tree Press and it’s doing very well.  Eva Pennington—Trouble in Georgia is also published.   Next up will be Miami Exit, and Vermont Bond. My latest work is another Eva Pennington novel, Eva Pennington—Damsels of Diversion. 

Please describe your writing environment.

We own a cabin (Camp Cupcake) in the foothills of the Vermont National Forest and I have a writers loft on the second floor. In the desert I write from my in-house real estate development office.

 

How much research do you do for your books? Have you found any cool tidbits in your research?

I do some research.  I find that in the advent of the computer, research is made easier. 

 

How does your family feel about having a writer in the family? Do they read your books?

They’re amazed…as I am.  Most of them read my work.

What are your hobbies?

Golf and periodic running.  

If you had to choose one person to have dinner with, who would it be? And why?

A dead person would be Samuel Clemens…In my opinion he’s one of the greatest writers that ever lived. Today, would be Steve Forbes…I’m in favor of a flat tax.

If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?

I’ve just reread Vermont Bound for the umpteenth time and I wouldn’t change a thing. But that doesn’t mean it couldn’t be improved upon, your work is never complete.  Read something you wrote a year ago and see if you don’t just choke.  You have to draw the line. 

Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

My wife at the time taught college journalism and was a MENSA member.  In the ‘70s she forced me to go to one of their meetings. After three meetings I was determined to do what they were talking about doing…write a book.  Thirty years later I wrote my first novel for all the wrong reasons—not being an educated man I thought if I wrote a book people would think I was smart.  By the way none of them ever wrote that book they talked about and writing a book didn’t make me any smarter.

Do you write full time? What did you do before you became a writer? Or still do?

I don’t profess to be a writer it just happened.  I’m a real estate developer who buys dirt and builds buildings.  I still do both.

What is your writing process? Do you outline, fly by the seat of your pants or a combination of both?

I start with an idea and just let the characters take me for a ride.  It’s easier now that publishers and the public like shorter novels.  I love the ride. 

Do you have a ritual when it comes to writing? Example….get coffee, blanket, paper, pen and a comfy place

Between five and six AM I secure my first of four cups of coffee, read the Wall Street Journal, check my emails, work on my real estate deals, reread what I wrote the day before and then write anywhere from 1,500 to 2,500 words.  

Current Release Details:

Vermont  Bound was just released. Eva Pennington—Trouble in Georgia is being released, followed by Miami Exit and Atlanta Exit.  Eva Pennington was released on Kindle in Sept 2010 and now is available in print.

If you could be one of your characters - Who would you be? And why?

This might seem odd, but though I’m a man, I would like to be Eva Pennington.  She’s a ballsy lady in the 60s’ who doesn’t take any shit from men.  I’ve lived the Donatelli character. 

What do you do on a typical writing day?

Work on business deals for few hours in the morning, write until mid-day, and go for a run if I’m not playing golf.  In the afternoon I catch up on the news, check my emails and read. 

Can you please give us a sneak peek at any of your upcoming books?

Atlanta Exit

Turk Donatelli, a self-made millionaire at the age of twenty four. Turk grew up poor in a small Vermont lumber town, the oldest of eight. As Turk, whose thirst for knowledge was insatiable, grew into a teenager and then a man, he struggles to become respected, and respectable. 

          In 1970 Turk Donatelli left the mob controlled city of Miami. Turk along with his close friend, China Jon and Digger his Navy Seal protector, follow a fast paced adventure through Ocala, Florida and the European continent before arriving in Atlanta.  Here he crosses the line when he builds adult bookstores for Nikolas J. Pappas, known as the "Porno-King of the Southeast,” and who is currently facing a charge of murder of a competitor. Turk thought money would cure his angst, as he lives a life he always dreamed about. Instead, it made him feel empty and unfulfilled.

Seeking to tame his wild desires…women, drinking, and gambling, Turk, marries a brilliant journalist, who has a five year old son. Their seemly idyllic marriage is far from ideal when his wife is diagnosed with progressive Multiple Sclerosis. Turk is determined to find a cure and raise his adopted son. When Niko is sent to prison Turk is pressured by the FBI to leave his employ; however he is forced to continue the partnership with Niko in order to fund his search for a cure for MS, preserve his banking ties, and to afford his lifestyle that has been so important to him…will Turk cross that line a final time?

Who is your perfect hero? And why?

My hero would be Ronald Reagan—a great communicator, a great husband and just a damn nice guy who did a lot for this country.  Visit his library…you’ll come out feeling that maybe America can regain her respect if only we could find another commander and chief like him. 

When you have writer's block how do you break free?

I’ve been fortunate I haven’t experienced the dreaded block yet.  I always have at least a couple of books in the works I can switch back and forth.  I read the same way.  I usually have three books going at the same time.

 

What would be the best way for readers contact you? Do you have a website? Email address? MySpace site? Blog? Message Board? Group? How can readers find out more about you and your books?

Visit my website www.walterluce.com or contact me at walterluce1345@yahoo.com

What is the best and worst advice you have ever received?

The best advice was to just write don’t worry about what you write just write. The worst advice I ever got was to, trust your banker.

 

What's your favorite genre to read?

I prefer biographies and classics.

What type of book have you always wanted to write?

I’d love to and will write a book modifying our political system. 

When did you first decide to submit your work? Please, tell us what or who encouraged you to take this big step.

When the real estate industry fell apart in 2006 my wife Bonnie said to me, “Stop your complaining about having nothing to do, and dust off that novel you wrote thirty years ago, and work on getting it published.”

What was your first published work and when was it published?

Eva Marie Pennington published on Kindle through Oak Tree Publishing in August 2010.

Is there anyone who really mentored or inspired you to keep writing until you were finally published?

I write not to get published…I write because I can’t stop writing.  If I was never published I would still write…its therapy.

 

Turk Donatelli, a poor, but ambitious boy from Vermont, jumped into the real estate development game in the Southeast. He made millions while still in his 20s—but not without some brushes with the Miami Beach Mob.

Turk tried walking away from it all, but his dwindling bank balance pulls him back into the high stakes — high risk world when mob-connected Niko Pappas recruits him for his Atlanta-area construction projects.

Soon Turk is caught in a triple bind, Can he walk the razor’s edge? Or is the FBI’s Witness Protection Program the next stop?

 Oak Tree Press / Amazon