Marilyn's Musings

 Thanksgiving in the past--another one I didn't have to cook.To let you know how long ago, the two little ones in front, great grandson is finishing high school, and his sister is in her second year at St. Mary's Univrsity (Notre Dame.) Though not nearly as busy as it once was--a good thing because I'm not up to doing what I used to do. Also seems like I can't accomplish what I used to in the time I used to do it. (Chalk that one up to my age.) Used to be I'd be planning Thanksgiving dinner but instead we've been invited to a grandson's home in a beautiful spot in another foothill community. Fortunately, son and wife are willing to drive us there. Besides getting to see family we don't get to see ofthen, the meal will be cooked by grandson's father-in-law who is a great chef.  In the past, I'd be buying Christmas gifts and wrapping them. Now I only give money to my kids, and sometimes See's candy. We draw names for those who spend Christmas E

THE HELLO GIRLS   Stories of veterans who served their country during wars are treasured as first-hand accounts of history.Yet, there are many stories that never get told. One of these is the story of the Hello Girls of WWI.   My friend told me about a non-fiction book by Elizabeth Cobbs called “The Hello Girls.” I found it in the library along with a fiction account Jennifer Chiaverli titled “Switchboard Soldiers.” In 1917, America entered the war in Europe. Communication was vital. Portable switchboards were designed but the men assigned only knew Morse Code.   General Pershing went searching for trained female telephone operators who could speak fluent French.They had to be single and in their 20’s. He felt that they would be less argumentative than their male counterparts, who had a habit of disconnecting irate officers. 7,600 women responded. Although they weren’t allowed to join enlist in the Army, the women became part of the signal corps. They were expected to buy the

Today is the last day of BONES IN THE ATTIC being free for Kindle.  If you haven't gottein it yet, here's where to go: https://www.amazon.com/Bones-Attic-Rocky-Bluff-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B08CBM56JF/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2YSIDMUUW0MFG&keywords=Bones+in+the+Attic+by+F.+M.+Meredith&qid=1662124622&s=digital-text&sprefix=bones+in+the+attic+by+f.+m.+meredith%2Cdigital-text%2C191&sr=1-1 I was excited the first day whwn 181 copies were downloaded. By the end of October, 3,303 had been downloaded! BONES IN THE ATTIC was #1 in police procedrals. What else happened in October is 14 other books in the series were ordered. And surprisingly, 12 books in my other series were ordered. As for todai, the last one of the sale, 551 copies have been downloaded, and 2 of the first in the series were purchased. So, I'd say this endeavor turned out to be quite successful.  And I had a lot of fun checking the stats too many times each day. Now back to writing the next Tempe Crabtree mys

This is another one of the many books that was re-edited and re-published, thanks to Lorna and Larry Collins. Loran did the editing and all the work that goes into publishing. Larry redid all the covers. The covers are similar except each one is a different color.  When all together they look great. The setting, Rocky Bluff, a small beach community, is not a real place--though it has a strong resemblance to other beach towns before they to popular and big. I once lived in one of those towns, and have visited many other similar ones. In reality, because of where the town is situated, if real it probably would have grown and had different kinds of problems. I've enjoyed keepint it small--with a police department that is underfunced and understaffed.  As for the officers and their families, I've had so many firends who were police officers and knew them and their families so well, it's been a joy to show what goes on in the family as well as with the police department. Downloa

The major plot centers on Detecivte Milligan's daughter and her art class decorating an abandoned house for Halloween to make money for the class.  Of course, it's what they find in the house that moves the story along.  I can't really tell you where the idea from this story came from because it would be a spoiler, but let me tell you, it was a true event shared with me by a friend. You'll have to guess what it was when you read the book. I'd like to think the Art Gallery I was a member of would be as kind and supportive to teens as the one in my story. I do hope you'll get your free Kindle of Bones in the Attic  and let me know if you figrue out what was the true happening that gave me the idea for the story.  https://www.amazon.com/Bones-Attic-Rocky-Bluff-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B08CBM56JF/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2YSIDMUUW0MFG&keywords=Bones+in+the+Attic+by+F.+M.+Meredith&qid=1662124622&s=digital-text&sprefix=bones+in+the+attic+by+f.+m.+meredith%2Cdigital-t

Since it is Sunday, I'd like to tell you that my series is mostly free of bad language, and some of my characters go to church--Protestant and Catholic. However in the first few books of the series, the plots are darker than later ones. Don't really have an explanation for that except I may have been reading darker books at the time. Or because real events do trigger ideas for books, and I kept up on the news, which I don't so much anymore.  I have always written about the family life of the Rocky Bluff police force and BONES IN THE ATTIC is no exception. The plot not only encompasses Detective Milligan's family, but also other families and what happens to them. Hope you'll take this opportunity to read BONES IN THE ATTIC. https://www.amazon.com/Bones-Attic-Rocky-Bluff-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B08CBM56JF/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2YSIDMUUW0MFG&keywords=Bones+in+the+Attic+by+F.+M.+Meredith&qid=1662124622&s=digital-text&sprefix=bones+in+the+attic+by+f.+m.+meredith%2Cd