F.M. (Marilyn) Meredith, Mystery We Write Blog Tour
As the Mystery We Write Blog Tour begins, my friend Marilyn Meredith is my guest and I couldn't have asked for a better way to start the tour. I know you'll enjoy Marilyn's blog as well as her books, and she has over thirty titles to choose from. Welcome, Marilyn!
Gathering Ideas for My Rocky Bluff P.D. Series
Because this particular series has an ongoing cast of characters besides whatever the main story line is, I want to write about what is going on in the lives of each of the characters. My main goal for this series has always been to show how what is happening on the job affects the family and what is going on with the family affects the job. So whatever the major plot I’ve decided upon will have some influence on the characters and their loved ones.
I got the main idea for the plot for No Bells from a murder that happened in Ventura County and I saved all the newspaper clippings about the case. While I developed who would be murdered and who the suspects would be, they had very little resemblance to the real story—but that had been my jumping off place to start my brainstorming. I’ve always collected newspaper stories about murders that sometime I might use some way in a future story.
Officer Gordon Butler has become a favorite of my readers and I knew I wanted him to have a starring role in this story. Nothing ever goes right for Gordon. If there’s an odd call, Gordon is the one who is going to get it, and he definitely goes on some very odd calls in this story.
In fact, I contacted some police officers I knew and asked if anyone had an odd vice crime that I could use in a story and someone came up with the perfect tale.
Sometimes I search the Internet for small town crimes too which often gives me some incidents I can weave into the storyline.
Of course Stacey and Doug Milligan are important to this story for many reasons. They were recently married in Angel Lost so I knew readers would want to know how their marriage was going. Of course Doug Milligan, a detective for RBPD, will be investigating the murder along with his partner, Frank Marshall. Because the department is small, Stacey helps interview suspects.
Other ongoing characters appearances will revolve around the murder and whatever is going on in each of their lives.
It didn’t happen with No Bells but I have used stories people have told me about terrible things that happened to someone they knew or to a relative. Once in awhile someone will email me an idea they think I should use. Never will what I write be recognizable because what these stories do is act like a jumping off point. My thinking will probably start like this, “What would happen if instead of this, it went this way.”
Once I’m writing the book, more ideas flood in, some even arrive in the form of a dream or nightmare.
And that, good friend, Marja, is where some of my ideas comes from. As a side note, I’ve met Marja at various places over the years and now I consider her a good friend and I really enjoy her mysteries.
F. M. Meredith aka Marilyn Meredith
Marilyn, thank you so much for visiting today. The feeling is mutual, and I enjoy both you and your books so very much. I hope you’ll return when your next book is released.
No Bells Blurb:
Officer Gordon Butler has finally found the love he’s been seeking for a long time, but there’s one big problem, she’s the major suspect in a murder case.
Bio: F.M. Meredith, also known as Marilyn Meredith, is the author of over thirty published novels—and a few that will never see print. Her latest in the Rocky Bluff P.D. crime series, from Oak Tree Press, is No Bells. Rocky Bluff P.D. is a fictional beach community between Ventura and Santa Barbara and F. M. once lived in a similar beach area.
Marilyn is a member of EPIC, Four chapters of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and serves as the program chair for the Public Safety Writers of America’s writing conference. She’s been an instructor at many writing conferences.
Visit her at http://fictionforyou.com and her blog at http://marilynmeredith.blogspot.com
And if you’d like to get in touch with her email: mmeredith@ocsnet.net
Link for No
Bells http://tiny.cc/h8skbw
CONTEST: The person who comments on the most of my blogs on this MMW Spring Blog Tour will win a copy of No Bells so be sure to leave your email too, so I can contact you if you win.
The Blog Tour continues on April 18 with Anne K. Albert. I know you'll enjoy hearing what Anne has to say.
CLICK HERE to visit Marja McGraw's website
CLICK HERE to view the book trailer for Bogey's Ace in the Hole
CLICK HERE for a quick trip to Amazon.com
Categories: Research, Authors, Mysteries, Guest Author, News vs. Fiction, Story Ideas, Fiction Writers, Books, Developing characters, Book Marketing and Promotion, Contest, Reading, Marja McGraw
Tags: Marja McGraw Blog Fiction Writers Mystery writer Books Mystery Blog Authors Mystery series Marja's Mystery Blog New books Story Ideas Author Interview Mystery characters Guest Blogger True Life Experience Mystery We Write Blog Tour writing Research Marilyn Meredith Motivation Oak Tree Press
Obviously I really like visiting you since it hasn't been long since I was here before. Thank you so much for the opportunity to come again and talk about No Bells.
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It's always my pleasure to have you visit, Marilyn. Drop in any time.
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Wonderful interview as always, Marja!
Marilyn,
When you talk about the characters in "No Bells," I get the feeling you know them inside and out - that they're very real to you. That's one of the reasons I love to read a mystery series; the characters become long time friends.
Looking forward to your interview on my blog on the 24th!
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Hi, Pat, yes, the people who live in Rocky Bluff seem very real to me and that's why I keep writing about them--I want to know what's going to happen with them next.
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Marilyn, I love the concept of how the job and family relate to the character. It's so important, yet often overlooked.
Please advise when No Bells will be available for my Kindle. I can't wait to read it!
Great post, Marja. (As always!)
It's a joy and honor to begin the 3rd Mystery We Write Blog Tour with you both.
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I wish I knew when it would be available on Kindle--but I'll shout it over the web when it is.
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It sounds like your book characters are all part of your family and you have to keep readers up to date on their lives.
Morgan Mandel
http://morganmandel.blogspot.com
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Yes, I really feel like I know all these folks--better than my family, because I created them.
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Oh Marilyn, you know how much I like Gordon! Interesting where ideas come from--sometimes from the most unexpected places.
Madeline
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I like Gordon too and I wish he didn't have such bad luck. Thanks for stopping by, Madeline.
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It's interesting that people e-mail you ideas and that you can make them unrecognizable in your own stories. Great blog!
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People are always suggesting something I should write or have one of the characters do--sometimes I can use what they send in one way or another.
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This is a twofer day so I really have enjoyed learning more about NO BELLS. Photo of you & Hubby is a great touch.
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Glad you found me, Jake. I have a lot of photos of us a book and craft fairs, though I might as well use them.
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Interesting ideas on writing your mysteries. I enjoyed reading about No Bells and some of your characters.
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Thanks for stopping by Velda.
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So great to see you and your handsome man, Marilyn! You're right about newspapers. They are a perfect place to start a story. And you can end it any way you please.
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Hi,Lou, thanks about my handsome hubby. He started out cute and got better with age--not sure that's what happened with me. Yep, love bizarre newspaper stories.
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Marilyn, I always marvel at how you talk about your characters as if they were real people in your life. That's wonderful. Best regards.
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Earl, my characters do seem real to me.
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I said on DorothyL and I do mean it -- send Gordon over here. I want to give him a big, motherly hug.
Radine
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