Marilyn's Musings

Yes, tomorrow I'll be in Porterville at Books Off Main signing copies of Dangerous Impulses. The store is on Oak with a front entrance--and a back entrance from the parking lot. It's located near Olive St. and right in back of the remodeled Subway. I'll be there from 1 to 4. As usual there are many things going on all over the place. Most of my church friends will be a Springville Park having a picnic. I know big things are going on in Lindsay too. (That's the next town to Porterville.) All I can do is hope there are a few die-hard fans who would like to support me and come to the signing. These are very informal gatherings, I don't give a speech but I love to visit and will answer questions about my book and writing questions or anything else you'd like to chat about. Anyone who buys a book will get a raffle ticket. I'm raffling off a basket that is loaded with fun food items. So if you don't have anything to do sometime between 1 and 4, t...

No Bells Book Launch The physical book launch for anyone in the Porterville area will be on Saturday, April 21, 1-4, at Books Off Main, on Oak Street, Porterville CA. For anyone not familiar with Books Off Main, it is on the side street (Oak) right around the corner from Subway. There are two entrances, one on Oak and another in the back where the parking lot is. I'd love for you to come and see my latest book in the Rocky Bluff P.D. series, which I'm now calling a cozy police procedural. You'll be able to catch-up on what all the RBPD officers are doing as well as the latest in their families. This time Officer Gordon Butler is the one in the spotlight. Refreshments will be available.

As it turned out the day was beautiful weather wise. So beautiful most people opted to do other things rather than come to my  book launch for Bears With Us. My own church had a picnic--I'd been gone for a couple of weeks and had no idea what they'd planned. Not that it would have made any difference as I'd planned the book launch long before. The paper printed two notices about the launch and the local radio station announced it too. I sent invitations out to people who are "fans" of the Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery series and I promoted like crazy on Facebook. So, I more or less did everything I could think of for a book launch in a small used bookstore in the town of Porterville. The owners of Books Off Main are two lovely women who I enjoy visiting with. They provided bottles of water and delicious cookies. The minute I arrived someone was waiting for me--not to buy a book but to discuss something unrelated. A women popped in who had read about the book...

Today, October 8, from 1 - 4, I'll be at Books Off Main, Oak Street behind Subway in Porterville with my latest book, Bears With Us . This will be the first time it's offered for sale in my neck of the woods. Books Off Main is a small, used bookstore that has been kind enough to allow me to launch several of my books there. They also carry several copies of my other books. This will be a most informal event with refreshments available. I'll be glad to tell you what inspired Bears With Us or answer any questions about the writing or publishing world--or we can just visit. Here are a couple of reviews the book has received so far: 5.0 out of 5 stars Thumbs up for Marilyn Meredith's Latest! I just love curling up with a Marilyn Meredith novel. Bears With Us didn't disappoint. Marilyn's writing is as usual, crisp and sharp--and her story interesting,touching timely issues in a lot of folks lives, and connected to Native American traditions. I parti...

First stop on my personal appearances was Books Off Main in Porterville. Yesterday was a gloomy, off and on rainy day. Traffic was extremely light and I didn't have my usual faithful followers turn up--but I did have two who came because of the newspaper article. My daughter came and kept me company during my stay. And two friends from church who'd never been to one of my book signings showed up. Because  a couple of folks purchased two of my earlier books in the series besides the new one, sales weren't bad at all for a tiny used book store off the beaten path. Having my book launches at this little store has increased traffic for the store and that's a good thing. I always have a good time at these events no matter what. Next on my calendar is the Jack Ass Mail Run in Springville. (where I live.) This is an outside event where's we'll have to put up our tent--and hope the weather has changed by then. Books don't do well outside in the rain. This is...

Today, from 1-4, I'll be at Books Off Main on Oak Street in downtown Porterville I'll be talking about and signing copies of Angel Lost .. This is the only bookstore we have in Porterville. It's a neat and well-organized used bookstore. The only new books they carry are by local authors like me. The owners are two retired nurses who are also best friends. Both have little dog companions they bring to work with them. They kindly set up refreshments when I do one of these signings. It's a tiny store and they don't have much seating, so today we're bringing four folding chairs. Though I don't give a talk when I make an appearance here, in the past people like to hang out and visit. When it get crowded, some leave and others sit down to chat. As I'm writing this it's still dark outside so I have no idea what the weather will be like today. You never know how these things will work out. I had a nice article about the book and the signing in the lo...

I bet you think the first thing I do is sit down at the computer wearing my p.j.'s. I know there are many authors who do just that, but not me. I shower and dress because I never know what the day may bring. With a family as big as mine, sometimes things come up I hadn't planned for and it's always best to be ready to go. Because I'm nearing the end of my blog tour for Angel Lost, the first thing I'm going to do today is check out the blog I'm visiting, and today it's an interview at Examiner . Once there I'll read it, leave a comment, and then spread the word (and the link) through Facebook, Twitter, and other social networks and on some of the lists I subscribe to. As the day progresses, I'll check the blog to see if there are comments I should subscribe to. Next, I have to make an appointment with a tax consultant. My taxes are done, but I have an issue I can't figure out and need someone smarter about taxes to help me. If I can get an ap...

After spending two whole days at the Art Gallery from 9 to 5, I must tell you, that though it was slow at times, we had two fun days--and sold a lot of books. As usual, the best customers were the other vendors. Many of them have bought previous books in the series and wanted the next one. There were other people who read about me being there in the paper and came just to buy the latest book. One nice thing was when anyone asked where they could buy my books at other times, we told them about the new used bookstore in town, Books Off Main, which is located right around the corner from the Art Gallery. Most of the people had no idea it was there. On my way home, I stopped in and the owner told me she had three new customers we sent over. There was a man there, a potter, who played guitar and clarinet, who serenaded us with Christmas songs and also told some funny stories. Hubby bought me a gorgeous cross from one of the jewelry makers for Christmas. I enjoy being around all th...

My book launch for Invisible Path is schedule for Saturday, October 23rd--yes, this Saturday and I learned on Monday that there had been a problem with the bar code holding up production of the books. I ordered 50, I've got reviewers waiting for copies to read before my blog tour in November. Time is running out. This happens too often and certainly makes me nervous. The last word is some of the books will be delivered via air transport, so I'll at least have some for the launch. I've sent a notice to our newspaper already and of course a poster for the bookstore, Books Off Main in Porterville, they have hanging in the store. I'll be there at 2 p.m. with books or not. All of you who read my blog posts, pray and think positive thoughts that my books arrive in time. Marilyn, who hates when this happens.

The first place Lingering Spirit will be available is Books Off Main on Oak Street in Porterville this Saturday, the 17th, from 1 to 4. Today. I've done everything I know to do to promote the event. I took a book to the editor of our local newspaper and sent information. There was a nice article in there on Friday. I've sent letters and emails to local folks who might be interested. And of course, I've done a lot of promoting on the Internet, Facebook, Twitter, and other social networks that I'm on. I've got my books packed up ready to go. I do hope I won't be sitting there alone with the bookseller and my husband. I'll let you know how it goes on Sunday. Hopefully, I'll try to remember to take some photos. I'm not the best at that. Besides my blog tour, which I'm on at the present time, I have events lined up for the six Saturday this month and next. And if you're not going to be near any of the spots I'm going to be visiting and you...

This juggling business seems to get harder and harder. Though I know exactly how the book I'm writing know is going to go, I can't seem to find big enough blocks of time to really get much written--it's been two or three pages at a time. What's interfering? This month, the blog tour I'm on is one biggie. Because when you're jumping from blog to blog, if you want your tour to be successful, you need to visit each blog the day you're there, add a comment, check comments to see if anyone has asked a question your should answer, and because I'm running a contest on how many people comment on every blog, I need to keep track of names. Also, I have some physical events that I need to publicize to at least try, if not ensure, that people will come. Next will be the physical launch for Lingering Spirit on Saturday, July 17 from 1-4 at Books Off Main (the store is on Oak Street, right off of Main St.)in Porterville CA. I've put it on Facebook and will be sen...

I forgot to take pictures! I am so bad about that. My book launch in the Porterville area was Saturday from 1 - 4 in Books Off Main, a new used bookstore that carries local authors' books. No one came for the longest times--no one, no one for me, no customers for the store. All sorts of things were going on around town: a huge quilt show, a Tea Party gathering in the Fairgrounds, and a few other things I can't remember, plus it was a gorgeous day--first in a long, long time. When we came down from Springville we saw a lot of people at Lake Success. Finally, someone came in who'd never seen the shop before. I told her about my book, An Axe to Grind , and she bought one. Another long, nothing happening spell. Then someone crashed into a city bus on the street by the parking lot. No injuries, but the way into the parking lot was blocked and for awhile the police blocked one lane of the main street the other way. I spent some time watching the excitement out the window and samp...