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Showing posts from March, 2009

Day-to-Day Planning

Because I write so much about my book promotion I'm always having people make comments about how do I do it all. Book promotion is only part of my life--as I'm sure it is for any other author. First and foremost comes my family. Because my husband is so good about hauling books for me, going with me to mystery conventions and conferences, driving me here and there, hefting luggage into overhead bins on airplanes--and sometimes even being on a panel. (He was on a panel of spouses of mystery writers at Mayhem one year and may be doing it again this year.) We try to go out together at least once a week, sometimes to a movie and/or out to eat, and sometimes shopping together. I have a huge family, five kids (though we lost one of our sons to cancer a few years ago), eighteen grandkids and eleven greats, I do like to spend time with them when possible. One of my granddaughters who lives next door and during her grammar school and middle school years lived with us during the week bec

Blog Tours

I'm just finishing up my latest blog tour for No Sanctuary. This is the third tour I've been on arranged through PumpUpYourPromotions.com. It's a lot or work, even when I don't have to find the blogs to visit myself. Each of the blog hosts has their own ideas for what you should do for them: might be an interview or a set bunch of questions to answer, an interview of one of your characters, writing tips, or any variety of tasks. Most will want a copy of the book so they can put a review on their site. Because I've always wanted a book trailer, I've paid extra for that. This time the trailer was superior. It was obvious that Cheryl Maladrinos, my tour guide and the one made the trailer, had read the book. It's terrific and available on U-Tube under No Sanctuary and also on my website: http://fictionforyou.com Do blog tours help? My number always go down on Amazon when I'm on a tour (that's a good thing) as a book begins with a number in the millions

Writing Two Series

As most of you know, as F. M. Meredith I write the Rocky Bluff P.D. series. No Sanctuary is the latest. I have another finished that I've already sent off to the publisher. I know it hasn't been looked at yet, and I certainly don't want it to come out until the first of next year. The main reason is because I'm still promoting No Sanctuary . The second reason is I'll have another Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery series coming out in the fall, called Dispel the Mist . Another is finished, I'm editing it right now. At the same time on on Chapter 9 of another Rocky Bluff. You might wonder if I ever get confused. Not really, there are big differences between the two series. The Rocky Bluff P.D. Crime series is written from many points-of-view. Though the last two books have had a lot about Officer Stacey Wilbur and Detective Doug Milligan, other characters play important parts in every book. The stories are a tad edgier than the Tempe books and set in a totally diffe

Public Safety Writers Association Conference

The time is drawing near (March 31) for the expiration of the lowest registration fee for the Public Safety Writers Association's conference. The conference is in Las Vegas in June--details here: http://www.publicsafetywriter.com This is a writing conference geared toward fiction and non-fiction crime and mystery writing and writing for the trades (magazines and on-line). Award winning mystery author Betty Webb is one of the keynote speakers. We also have two forensic experts on board plus many in the law enforcement field. Two publishers and an editor are also attending. This is a small conference with lots of opportunities for networking. I'm the program chair and I guarantee there will be something for everyone interested in any kind of writing and particularly with an interest in any of the public safety fields. And there is a writing contest. Marilyn http://fictionforyou.com

Reviews

http://readingmama.blogspot.com/ has another review for No Sanctuary . As I've said before, it's always a bit nail-biting time while waiting for reviews. I'm always glad someone is willing to read the book and write a review--but there's no way of telling whether someone will actually like it. Tastes do differ. Though the crimes I write about can be pretty horrific--I don't go into detail. My cops are for the most part family men and don't use bad language. Though there are relationships, I don't go into intimate details. I figure most adults can fill in the blanks with their imaginations. Most of my readership appreciates the lighter touch--and it makes it possible for kids to read the books. They do tend to buy them when I'm doing book fairs and festivals. Marilyn aka F.M. Meredith

Planning for Future Events

Planning for what I'll be doing in the area of promotional events always takes up a great deal of my time. I'm planning into next year. There's a big complication though--my granddaughter got engaged last week and is planning her wedding for next spring. She doesn't have a date yet which means I better be very, very careful about what things I sign up for. Right now I'll just avoid anything that happens from April through June. Hopefully I'll know the exact date before we start planning for PSWA's conference in 2010 since this year's is in June. For this April I have two book fests/festivals--a small one in the city of Hanford and the enormous L.A. Book Festival on the UCLA campus. I received an application for Exeter's Fourth of July Celebration in the Park and I'll be signing up for that. I'll also be teaching the Yosemite Romance Writers how to write a mystery. First Saturday in May I'm talking to the SAn Joaquin Sisters in Crime in Fr

Scavenger Hunt Contest

Hi, and welcome to BWL_Readers Grand Opening Scavenger Hunt. Your job, should you choose to accept it, is to follow this trail, collect the answers and then email them to me at mizging@gmail. com . Please put Scavenger Hunt in the subject line. Each answer is clearly displayed in an excerpt, teaser or description on the designated websites listed below. Please DON'T post your answers online. We want everyone to do their own leg work. *smile* You'll have until April 30th at 12:00 noon to submit your entry to me at mizging@gmail. com . From the submissions, the winners will be selected and posted here on the loop. So...without further ado, get on your mark, get ready, Go hunt! 1.Dee Lloyd http://www.deelloyd .com In Dee’s book, Ghost of a Chance, read the review and tell me what offended Milly? 2. Rita Hestand http://ritahestand. com/ExcerptRunaw ay.html In Rita's book, Runaway Bride, what did Chad so when Susannah told him she was leaving? 3. Barbara Hodges htt

Wrinkles and How They Got There

Hubby just called out a 1-800 number to call to get a free trial package of something that will get rid of wrinkles. I told him, "Thanks, but I earned everyone I've got." Here's how they came about: Having a husband who had three tours in VietNam. Taking care of five kids while husband was gone--and when he came home. All the problems that come with five kids as they are growing up. Nursing kids through all their childhood diseases and broken bones. Working as a telephone operator, pre-school teacher, day care center teacher, having our own residential care business. Kids falling in love and getting married. Writing and trying to get published Planning and paying for weddings Arrival of grandkids. Writing and trying to get published. Parents getting old, coming to live with us, getting ill and dying. Raising various grandkids at different times for different reasons. Getting published. Publisher dying. Grandkids getting married. Another publisher dying Great grandkids

Knowing, the movie

We went to see Knowing starring Nicolas Cage last week. Hadn't been to the movies for quite awhile. If you aren't familiar with the Bible, you'll probably think the movie is science fiction complete with aliens. However, it is far, far more. The movie is laden with religious clues from the mention of Ezekiel, the book of the Bible that is loaded with prophecy. I suggest you pay close attention as the movie comes to its climax. I can't say much more without spoiling the story, but what you might think are aliens are revealed to be something far more remarkable. In any case, we loved the movie. Marilyn http://fictionforyou.com

Winter Came Back

We drove up the mountain to Oakhurst CA enjoying the colors of the wildflowers on the hillsides: orange, yellow, gold, blue, violet, purple and white. I gave a talk about e-publishing to a small but very congenial group of folks at the delightful Willow Bridge Bookstore. While I was inside, huge, black clouds gathered. At least 4 inches of snow was predicted to fall that evening. We were glad to be headed home. In the night the sound of lots of rain woke me. The storm reached us in out foothill community. Fortunately, because I need to rest, I have a couple of weekends before I go out promoting again. My next gig is with the Yosemite Romance Writers in Fresno on April 18th, and together we're going to plan a mystery. On the 19th from 11 to 3 I'll be upstairs at the Veteran's Memorial Bldg. in downtown Hanford at a BookFest. My good friend, Sunny Frazier, organized this one, and I'm looking forward to it. The following weekend, we're headed down to UCLA and the LA Bo

No Sanctuary Review

"F.M. Meredith’s novel reads like a “who done it” Agatha Christie novel with murder, mystery, intrigue and plenty of suspects. The small town of Rocky Bluff has a hard time coming to grips with the murder of the local pastor’s wife. It registers a shock for all townspeople and even more baffling for the Rocky Bluff Police Department who can’t seem to come up with any leads even though there are a lot of suspects. Secondary to the main story is a second crime taking place that the main character Officer Stacy Wilbur must handle delicately for all those involved. As a police officer, she often has to make quick decisions—usually they are the right ones, but sometimes she finds herself in a situation that will take all of her abilities to figure out an escape route. As Officer Stacy Wilbur does her best to balance life between her son and work she has a hard time dealing with her apparent interest in Detective Doug Milligan, of which she vowed she would not let happen. In the end she
Read about my writing rituals here http://ping.fm/LjLwn
Learn Ofc. Stacey Wilbur http://ping.fm/uT7Bz

Afraid by Jack Kilborn (a review)

Oh my goodness! As I read Afraid by Jack Kilborn that phrase kept running through my mind. This is the first book I’ve read all the way through in one sitting for years. The reason I couldn’t put it down was because one horrific thing happened after another and I had no idea how anyone was going to make it out alive. People mistakenly believe that living in a small town is safe. The citizens of Safe Haven in Northern Wisconsin share this belief about their quiet haven with only one road in an out. The haven is shattered when a helicopter crashes in the woods unleashing an unspeakable force on the unsuspecting township. Annihilation seems to be the main purpose as the unsuspecting and simple folks are murdered by the most horrific ways with no explainable motive. The story follows a widow and her young son who are running for their lives as well as their friends and neighbors. The odds are against all of them. Labeled an horrific thriller, it is laced with mysterious elements–why is thi

Promotion and Personal

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We spent Saturday in Camarillo visitng our youngest daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter and while there watched the Wrestler, which I didn't like. Too brutal and too much other yukky stuff. Early in the a.m. we headed for Channel Islands Harbor and found our spot and set up our booth. Because we had the harbor on one side and the beach on the other, it was chilly most of the day. There were plenty of people--the big draw was the Farmer's Market with the most gorgeous fruits and vegetables and strawberries the size of plums. I was a novelty with my books, but managed to sell quite a few, talked to lots of people and handed out many cards. Our eldest daughter, hubby and golden retriever arrived in the afternoon and sat with us and also helped us pack-up our booth when it was time. We had dinner with all of the kids then went to the eldest daughter's home. We saw Slum Dog Millionaire which I liked and also watched The Amazing Race and Celebrity Apprentice. Of course we did

Review of DVD for Very Young Children

The DVD and the Mystery of the Lost Mosquito Treasure is a cute cartoon featuring Hermie and Friends. When Skeeter’s “wonderful brother Sir Sinclair M. Skeeto comes to town, Skeeter is completely overshadowed. All of his friends look up to Sinclair as they set out on an adventure to find a treasure. When it takes both Skeeter and his brother to unlock the secret of the treasure they both realize that each of them is unique and special in his own way. The cute creatures and the outstanding acting of the talents behind the voices add to the lesson about each one of us being designed by God. This story should hold the interest of pre-schoolers and could be used as a basis for a Sunday School lesson on what makes each one of us special. Marilyn Meredith Sunday School teacher of many years and author of the Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery series.

New Contest!

New Contest! When I received one of my reviews for No Sanctuary, the reviewer kindly pointed out three errors in the book. Of course I immediately emailed my publisher and the mistakes have been fixed–in any book ordered from Oak Tree Press, Amazon or Kindle. However, I’ve purchased about 100 books that still have the mistake. These books can only be ordered through my website: http://fictionforyou.com If you order No Sanctuary from my website, read it and find the three errors and send me an email with a description of the error and the page number it’s on, you’ll be put in a drawing for first prize, a $50 gift certificate from Amazon.com, 2nd prize $30 certificate from Amazon.com, and 3rd prize $20 certificate from Amazon.com. My email address is: mmeredith@ocsnet.net If you already purchased the book from me at a book signing, you are eligible to enter the contest but you must tell me where you bought the book. The contest begins now–and will end April 30. Good luck! Marilyn

Tour Stops for Monday and Tuesday

We won't be heading home until Monday. I want everyone to know that I'll be at http://valleygirlmusings.blogspot.com both Monday and Tuesday. This is a fun blog and I don't want anyone to miss it. I grew up in Eagle Rock CA. Not sure if that classifies me as a Vally Girl, but when I was growing up I was a huge movie fan and definitely had my favorite stars. Valley Girl, who hosts this blog, is also a big movie fan which is reflected in the questions she asked me. I hope some of you will be kind enough to visit and perhaps leave a comment or two. Marilyn a.k.a. F. M. Meredith

Blog Tour and the Weekend

If you haven't already, be sure to go to http://www.thebookconnectionccm.blogspot.com/ and take a look at the blog and by all means, view the book video. It's absolutely wonderful! This morning we're headed to Camarillo where we'll be spending the night with our youngest daughter and her family. Always glad for an excuse to head down that direction and get an opportunity to catch up on family. Sunday, we're going to have a book booth (#50) at the Celebration of the Whales at Channel Islands Harbor in Oxnard. We'll be there from 10 to 4:30. If you're in the area do stop by. Marilyn http://fictionforyou.com

Are Vampires Green?

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Guest Blog from Liz Jasper: March 7-13 is go green, read an e-book week. I could spend this time rattling off statistics about the spared trees, reduced pollution, etc. associated with reading e-books. However, while I am concerned about our collective carbon footprint, there are lots of people who have already researched and written about this. (The most comprehensive I've run across is in the June 08 issue of Environmental Science and Technology. If you'd like to run across it: http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/es087144e?prevSearch=electronic+books&searchHistoryKey=) So what I would really like to know, as an environmentally responsible vampire mystery writer, is this: Are vampires bad for the environment? Think about it. Unless they have the bad fortune to collide chest first with a sharp stake or (depending on the vampire) step out into a lovely, sunny, existence-ending day, they live forever. Longer than Styrofoam in a landfill. Or Twinkies. Or broccoli on my nie

King's County Public Library Today

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This is how my book display was done for the book launch for No Sanctuary. I'll be talking at the Hanford Branch of the King's County Public Library at 6:30 p.m. My topic will be about my road to publication, and of course I'll mention my two latest books and how they came to be. The Hanford Branch Library is a great library and good venue for an author. They are most hospitable to every author who makes an appearance there and I'm looking forward to it. It's about a 1 1/2 drive from my home in the foothills, so I'm taking along my daughter-in-law to be my driver. Not really thrilled to drive a long ways by myself. We'll go out to eat beforehand some place near the library. Last year we found a lovely Italian restaurant, rather expensive, and we managed to dine quite nicely on appetizers. Tomorrow I'll have a guest blogger--interesting author of vampire books. Do take a look. Marilyn http://fictionforyou.com

Wednesday and Plenty to Do

This is where I'm touring today: http://tristisbooktours.blogspot.com Getting in trouble from not having enough to do will never happen to me. Today we have to shop for some more paint and the like for our bedroom remodel. Grandson and any friend he can con into helping him, are painting the room and will put down the new floor. We also have to go to the bank to talk to a financial advisor--don't know what exactly we're doing this for. There is other shopping to do also. In the evening, I'm heading down to my critique group. I haven't written anything new on that book lately, too many other things to do. Marilyn http://fictionforyou.com

Busy Day Ahead

Have to promote my stops on my blog tour--and once again I'm visiting http://theplotline.wordpress.com/. If you get a chance please stop by and leave a comment. This blog tour has been great, put on by Pump Up Your Promotions, and the tour guide is Cheryl Maladrinos who has been terrific about getting me hosted here and there--she's also responsible for the video. I also have laundry to do because of being gone and a galley proof waiting to be checked. A huge box of books for me to review arrived while we were gone, so needless to say, I'll be busy. Feel like I have a job--guess I do. Marilyn http://fictionforyou.com

My Blog Tour

Today I'm visiting at http://theplotline.wordpress.com and I was there yesterday too. Going on a blog tour is lots of fun, but it is important to visit the blogs and let other people know so they can visit too. I've been fortunate to go on three blog tours with Pump Up Your Promotions and I couldn't ask for nicer or more competent tour guides. Today I will spend doing lots of catch-up and also starting to go over a manuscript for one of my earlier Tempe books that will be re-published by Mundania Press. That's it for today. Marilyn

Home from Epicon and Video for No Sanctuary

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_du3UtWAYXw is the new video for No Sanctuary--it's a good one. Epicon was great as usual. The MonteLago Village was absolutely elegant. It looks like an Italian village on a hillside overlooking Lake Las Vegas. Always great to see old friends and make new ones. As usual, we learned a lot--especially about promotion. I'm exhausted--but happy. Also got to see my sister while in Vegas and we had a great time together, as usual. Until later. Marilyn

Great Contest in Celebration of Spring

YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS THIS! In celebration of the grand opening of the new Books We Love Reader's Group at yahoo, BWL_Readers@yahoogroups.com, we're asking you to get acquainted with some of our authors by participating in a fun scavenger hunt. We promise it isn't hard. You just have to follow the provided links listed on the loop the morning of March 20th and answer some really easy questions. The answers are all there...you just have to find and collect them all to be entered into a drawing for one of eighteen books. Some will even be personally autographed. You'll have two days, with the contest ending Saturday at midnight. All entries must be received by Ginger Simpson at mizging@gmail.com by noon on Sunday, 3/22. Winners will be announced shortly after. Whether you come to play or not, we hope you will join us in celebrating the beginning of what we hope will be a stimulating and pleasant group experience. If you aren't familiar with us, please v

Movie Poster for No Sanctuary

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Isn't this clever? A movie poster of my latest book, No Sanctuary . Cheryl C. Malandrinos, who is supervising my blog tour made this for me. She is one clever gal. In case I can't get Internet access in my hotel at Epicon, decided I should have a few blogs prepared ahead of time. Marilyn http://fictionforyou.com

Wonderful Review for No Sanctuary

Cheryl Malandrinos gave me permission to post her whole review of No Sanctuary as it appears on the Book Connection: Riveting, fast-paced, and filled with twists and turns, No Sanctuary by F.M. Meredith is a crime fiction reader's dream. Officer Stacey Wilbur is the first on the scene of a one-car accident. A green Toyota has smashed into an oak tree and the female driver is dead. But it soon becomes obvious that the accident is a cover up for murder. The victim is the wife of a popular local minister, and her preacher husband soon becomes the most likely suspect. Gossip in town tells of trouble in their marriage, but as Stacey and Doug start putting pieces together, they find several other likely suspects who could have wanted Mallory Cookmeyer dead. Called away from the case to work on a special assignment, Stacey is faced with decisions that will impact her career and her budding romance with Doug Milligan, and most likely, put her in harms way. When we last heard from Stacey W

Guest Author David Snowdon

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For those of you who love excitement and adventure this book is a thriller that will keep you turning pages from the beginning to the end. The Mind of a Genius by David Snowdon (The Formula That Could Change The World) Special Agent, Jason Clay from the MI4 is hired to find a secret formula that was invented by the famous British scientist, Malcolm Prince. The only weak element in Clay’s strategy to accomplish his mission is Laura Prince, the beautiful wife of the scientist, who Clay has to seduce in order to obtain the formula. But the CIA, the Denmark Intelligence, the Australian Intelligence and many other very determined individuals are also after that formula, and can’t wait to get their hands on it. The competition is fierce, but who’s going to win? The story develops as a travel through the world; with the action starting in London, then moving onto Copenhagen, Hong Kong and Australia. Clay appears to be the right man for the job; extremely handsome and a natural charmer, noth

Virtual Book Tour Dates

Because I'm leaving for Henderson NV on Wednesday, I'm posting the places I'll be on my virtual book tour for the time that I'm gone. March 4 http://bookexcerpts.wordpress.com/ March 5 http://silverrushmysteries.blogspot.com/ March 6 http://www.murderby4.blogspot.com/ March 9 http://theplotline.wordpress.com/ I'm hoping that the hotel will have wifi as I'm taking my new mini-laptop with the intention of using it to continue with the promotion of No Sanctuary and to work on my book in progress. To be perfectly honest, since we're spending the first day and night in Las Vegas with my sis and hubby, I know I won't be doing--or want to be doing--much then. Because Epicon is so much fun and I have made so many friends with other authors over the years that I know will be there, I doubt I'll be doing much in the way of writing--but you never know. That's about it for now, lots more to do before I'm ready to leave for Las Vegas. And, no, I will no

On to Epicon

We leave on Wednesday for Las Vegas NV. We will be driving--not looking forward to it, it's a horrible drive. Too much traffic, boring scenery. I plan on editing the next Deputy Tempe Crabtree novel which is all done. Once I get it polished, I'll send it on to my publisher then I can get back to Rocky Bluff PD novel in progress. Our first stop (not counting the potty stops we'll have to make because we always begin our trips with an iced flavored coffee from McDonald's)will be at my sister's in Vegas. I love conferences in Vegas because it gives me the opportunity to visit with my sis and her hubby. We'll stay the first night there and leave after lunch for Epicon. What is Epicon? It's the conference for electronically published writers. I was published in e-books long before there were any readers like iPhones and Kindles, even before the first Rocket E-Reader, when to read a book published electronically the only ways to do so was on the computer. Romance

Book Launch Report

Did all the things I said I was going to do and got to the church and started decorating. First thing we did was put a sign in front of the church directing people to the side entrance to the fellowship hall. Put up all the wanted posters and signs plus nice big poster of No Sanctuary. Decorated tables with black cloths and crime scene tape. Set up the food table: smoked salmon, crackers, deli-meas and cheeses and wonderful cookies. Just as we were finishing up, a woman came and visited for awhile, bought books, ate a couple of cookies and left. The rest of the folks who came were relatives or my biggest fans who also bought books. Only thirteen in all--but I've got to tell you I've sat in bookstores and been lucky to sell two or three. The food was scrumptious, I got to visit with people I enjoy and I'd say it was a successful day. Next, we're headed to Epicon. Marilyn