Happy Wednesday, Booklovers!
It's a little cool in the Midwest today, and hot coffee tastes especially good this morning. Draw up a chair and join me in chatting with mystery writer Marilyn Meredith.
A pleasure to see you, Marilyn. What may I get you to drink?
MM: My morning drink is Chai latte that I make myself on my Keurig. When out and about, I might choose something else.
Ally: I'll fix that latte while you introduce yourself to readers.
It's a little cool in the Midwest today, and hot coffee tastes especially good this morning. Draw up a chair and join me in chatting with mystery writer Marilyn Meredith.
A pleasure to see you, Marilyn. What may I get you to drink?
MM: My morning drink is Chai latte that I make myself on my Keurig. When out and about, I might choose something else.
Ally: I'll fix that latte while you introduce yourself to readers.
About the Author:
Marilyn Meredith’s published book count is nearing 40. She is one of the founding members of the San Joaquin chapter of Sister in Crime. She taught writing for Writers Digest Schools for 10 years, and was an instructor at the prestigious Maui Writers Retreat, and has taught at many writers’ conferences. Marilyn is a member of three chapters of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and serves on the board of the Public Safety Writers of America. She lives in the foothills of the Sierra, a place with many similarities to Tempe Crabtree’s patrol area.
Something unusual not included in your regular bio: "Besides being a mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, I’m also a great-great grandmother! I’m truly blessed."
Author Contacts:
Webpage: http://fictionforyou.com
Blog: http://marilymeredith.blogspot.com/
And you can follow her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marilyn.meredith or Twitter: http://twitter.com/MarilynMeredith
Marilyn Meredith’s published book count is nearing 40. She is one of the founding members of the San Joaquin chapter of Sister in Crime. She taught writing for Writers Digest Schools for 10 years, and was an instructor at the prestigious Maui Writers Retreat, and has taught at many writers’ conferences. Marilyn is a member of three chapters of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and serves on the board of the Public Safety Writers of America. She lives in the foothills of the Sierra, a place with many similarities to Tempe Crabtree’s patrol area.
Something unusual not included in your regular bio: "Besides being a mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, I’m also a great-great grandmother! I’m truly blessed."
Author Contacts:
Webpage: http://fictionforyou.com
Blog: http://marilymeredith.blogspot.com/
And you can follow her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marilyn.meredith or Twitter: http://twitter.com/MarilynMeredith
Interview:
Ally: Let's start by talking about your writing process. Do you set daily goals?
MM: My usual plan is to write in the early morning hours, however if the writing is going really well, I’ll write whenever I have time. Though I don’t consider myself a plotter, I have a good idea where I’m headed before I begin and have decided who my victim will be, the suspects, and usually the manner of the murder as well as the setting or settings.
I keep handwritten notes that include character names, descriptions, and most importantly, a timeline.
I don’t set number of words goals like some authors do, I just write until I have to stop. However, because I write two books a year (two different series), I know I have to keep at it.
Ally: What comes after your first draft? How much editing do you do?
MM: I belong to a critique group, the same one I’ve belonged to for years. They hear every chapter of every book, and I consider them my first editor. Though I don’t always do exactly what they suggest, I take every suggestion to heart. I usually fix the chapter the next day. The editing is continuous.
Once the book is done and I’ve gone over it several times to make sure it’s the best I can make it, I send it off to the publisher who assigns the manuscript to an editor. The editor then will go over it and send it back with corrections and suggestions. Once I’ve fixed it again, it goes back to the publisher, the editor goes over it again. I’ll be sent the proof copy to check for typos and other errors. I always print out this copy to make sure I catch as much as I can. I send back a list of what I’ve found—then the book is off to publication.
Ally: Since characters are the heart of any story, how do you choose and name them?
MM: Because I’m writing a series, I have some ongoing characters who were named long ago. Tempe Crabtree was my great-grandmother’s name and I thought it fit the Indian woman I envisioned as my heroine. Frankly, I don’t remember what prompted her husband, Hutch’s name, except that it’s short for his last name, Hutchinson. Tempe’s good friend and mentor’s name, Nick Two John, just came to me. As for new characters’ names, over the years I’ve saved graduation programs giving me a great source for both first and last names.
Ally: What is your best marketing tip? What didn't work out for you?
MM: Being friendly to everyone and never judging someone by how they look. I’ve sold books to the most unsavory looking folks because I smiled and chatted with them. I’ve been invited to give talks to various groups for the same reason. At big mystery cons I’ve sought out the readers to get acquainted with rather than the other writers and gained some fans that way. Of course I do all the usual, Facebook, Twitter, my blog and a blog tour for each new book, and a monthly newsletter.
Though I continue to do book store signings, they are not my first choice of promotion. I do like to find other venues for book signings, planning one for a chocolate store. How fun is that?
Ally: Have you thought about one of your books being made into a movie? Who would play the parts?
MM: I’ve had many readers tell me that my Deputy Tempe Crabtree series would make a great TV series. If that should ever happen, I would want all the Indian characters to actually be played by Native Americans.
Ally: What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?
MM: I’m working on my next Rocky Bluff P.D. police procedural right now. I suspect it’ll be out sometime after the first of the year. And I do have the idea for the next Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery—the ideas for that are beginning to churn in my subconscious.
Ally: Let's talk about you in these short answer questions.
a. Favorite TV show: Blue Bloods
b. Do you believe in love at first sight? I believe in attraction and infatuation at first sight. I met my husband, a very cute sailor, on a blind date and married him a very short time later. I certainly thought I was in love, but true love didn’t come until later. And yes, I’m still married to him after 64 years.
c. Favorite quote: “I’m too blessed to be stressed.” (It’s also my mantra)
d. Your pets: We have lots, two inside cats, Butch and Sundance. Many feral outside cats that I have not named, my husband’s pets. One dog, Bo. Because we live in the country and our granddaughter and her family live with us, there are many other animals here: a miniature horse named Sparky, the kids’ dog, Cowboy, chickens and a rooster, and some ducks.
e. A guilty pleasure: Going out to eat. Because I am the chief cook around here (I like to cook and I only know how to cook for a crowd), it’s a real treat to go to a nice restaurant and eat something that I didn’t make.
Ally: Always a pleasure to have you, Marilyn, and to learn about the newest Deputy Tempe. Speaking of which...please tell us about A Cold Death.
MM: My usual plan is to write in the early morning hours, however if the writing is going really well, I’ll write whenever I have time. Though I don’t consider myself a plotter, I have a good idea where I’m headed before I begin and have decided who my victim will be, the suspects, and usually the manner of the murder as well as the setting or settings.
I keep handwritten notes that include character names, descriptions, and most importantly, a timeline.
I don’t set number of words goals like some authors do, I just write until I have to stop. However, because I write two books a year (two different series), I know I have to keep at it.
Ally: What comes after your first draft? How much editing do you do?
MM: I belong to a critique group, the same one I’ve belonged to for years. They hear every chapter of every book, and I consider them my first editor. Though I don’t always do exactly what they suggest, I take every suggestion to heart. I usually fix the chapter the next day. The editing is continuous.
Once the book is done and I’ve gone over it several times to make sure it’s the best I can make it, I send it off to the publisher who assigns the manuscript to an editor. The editor then will go over it and send it back with corrections and suggestions. Once I’ve fixed it again, it goes back to the publisher, the editor goes over it again. I’ll be sent the proof copy to check for typos and other errors. I always print out this copy to make sure I catch as much as I can. I send back a list of what I’ve found—then the book is off to publication.
Ally: Since characters are the heart of any story, how do you choose and name them?
MM: Because I’m writing a series, I have some ongoing characters who were named long ago. Tempe Crabtree was my great-grandmother’s name and I thought it fit the Indian woman I envisioned as my heroine. Frankly, I don’t remember what prompted her husband, Hutch’s name, except that it’s short for his last name, Hutchinson. Tempe’s good friend and mentor’s name, Nick Two John, just came to me. As for new characters’ names, over the years I’ve saved graduation programs giving me a great source for both first and last names.
Ally: What is your best marketing tip? What didn't work out for you?
MM: Being friendly to everyone and never judging someone by how they look. I’ve sold books to the most unsavory looking folks because I smiled and chatted with them. I’ve been invited to give talks to various groups for the same reason. At big mystery cons I’ve sought out the readers to get acquainted with rather than the other writers and gained some fans that way. Of course I do all the usual, Facebook, Twitter, my blog and a blog tour for each new book, and a monthly newsletter.
Though I continue to do book store signings, they are not my first choice of promotion. I do like to find other venues for book signings, planning one for a chocolate store. How fun is that?
Ally: Have you thought about one of your books being made into a movie? Who would play the parts?
MM: I’ve had many readers tell me that my Deputy Tempe Crabtree series would make a great TV series. If that should ever happen, I would want all the Indian characters to actually be played by Native Americans.
Ally: What is your next writing project? Anticipated release date?
MM: I’m working on my next Rocky Bluff P.D. police procedural right now. I suspect it’ll be out sometime after the first of the year. And I do have the idea for the next Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery—the ideas for that are beginning to churn in my subconscious.
Ally: Let's talk about you in these short answer questions.
a. Favorite TV show: Blue Bloods
b. Do you believe in love at first sight? I believe in attraction and infatuation at first sight. I met my husband, a very cute sailor, on a blind date and married him a very short time later. I certainly thought I was in love, but true love didn’t come until later. And yes, I’m still married to him after 64 years.
c. Favorite quote: “I’m too blessed to be stressed.” (It’s also my mantra)
d. Your pets: We have lots, two inside cats, Butch and Sundance. Many feral outside cats that I have not named, my husband’s pets. One dog, Bo. Because we live in the country and our granddaughter and her family live with us, there are many other animals here: a miniature horse named Sparky, the kids’ dog, Cowboy, chickens and a rooster, and some ducks.
e. A guilty pleasure: Going out to eat. Because I am the chief cook around here (I like to cook and I only know how to cook for a crowd), it’s a real treat to go to a nice restaurant and eat something that I didn’t make.
Ally: Always a pleasure to have you, Marilyn, and to learn about the newest Deputy Tempe. Speaking of which...please tell us about A Cold Death.
A Cold Death:
Genre: Mystery, rated G
Deputy Tempe Crabtree and her husband answer the call for help with unruly guests visiting a closed summer camp during a huge snow storm and are trapped there along with the others. One is a murderer and another is a ghost.
BUY Links:
Publisher: Anyone who orders any of my books from the publisher‘s website: http://mundania.com
can get 10% off by entering MP20 coupon code in the shopping cart. This is good all the time for all my books, E-books and print books.
On Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074XNP87Z/
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