A TOUCH OF ROMANCE
Unfortunately one of our bloggers had to pull out of the MWW blog tour. I'd already written what she asked for, so I'm posting this in her place.
First, she asked where the story came from. Raging
Water is the latest in my Deputy Tempe Crabtree series. I’ve gone into
what inspired the main mystery in other posts, but it all began when two
friends (both members of our church) died the same night. Both women were poor,
lived on social security disability, were a bit on the eccentric side, had no
family and in were poor health. Neither deaths were investigated nor were
autopsies done—despite the fact the circumstances were suspicious. I decided to
write about their deaths—and put their names on the dedication page—and give
them some closure even if what I wrote was fiction.
To add to the suspense, I added weather has a huge
element. The flooding of the little town of Bear Creek is something I’m quite
familiar with and in fact it has happened right here where I live.
Next, she asked for a couple of paragraphs
from the beginning of the book, so here goes.
Miqui Sherwood woke from a sound
sleep. A floor board creaked. She raised her head and listened. No, she wasn’t
imagining things. There it was again. Someone was in her house. Neither
Cleopatra nor Blondie stirred from their comfy spot tucked beside the bend in her
knees. No wonder, her two darling pets were both old and hard of hearing.
Maybe it was that pesky raccoon
again who once sneaked in through the doggie door. No. It took more weight than
that to make a floor-board creak.
The last request was that we talk about the place of romance and suspense in our
mystery.
Because
my heroine, Deputy Tempe Crabtree is married to Pastor Hutch Hutchinson, the
romance is within their ongoing relationship. In Raging Water Tempe and
Hutch are so busy they hardly have time to even see each other, much less even
spend the night together. Tempe is trying to investigate two murders while
trying to rescue those living in the flooded areas. Hutch is feeding and
housing the homeless in his church. However, they do manage to share some
tender moments.
Marilyn
Raging Water
Blurb: Deputy Tempe Crabtree’s
investigation of the murder of two close friends is complicated when relentless
rain turns Bear Creek into a raging river. Homes are inundated and a mud slide
blocks the only road out of Bear Creek stranding many—including the murderer.
I know there are some people who
like to read a series in order, but let me reassure you that every book is
complete. Though the characters grow through each book, the crime is always
solved. Here is the order of the books for anyone who wants to know:
Deadly Trail, Deadly Omen, Unequally Yoked, Intervention, Wing Beat, Calling
the Dead, Judgment Fire, Kindred Spirits, Dispel the Mist, Invisible Path,
Bears With Us, Raging Water.
Bio:
Marilyn Meredith is the author of over thirty published
novels, including the award winning Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery series, the
latest Raging Water from Mundania Press. Writing as F. M.
Meredith, her latest Rocky Bluff P.D. crime novel us No Bells, the forth from
Oak Tree Press. 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/
Marilyn
borrows a lot from where she lives in the Southern Sierra for the town of Bear
Creek and the surrounding area.
Do enter my giveaway contest for a copy
of the previous Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery, BEARS WITH US. Leave a
comment and you're automatically entered. Include your email addy so I can get
in touch with you should your name be selected at random. The winner will be
announced on my blog http://marilynmeredith.blogspot.com
on December 11, 2012. Good luck!
Comments
Wendy
W.S. Gager on Writing
Madeline
Thank you, Madeline and Jean for visiting.