Marilyn's Musings

Because DEADLY OMEN  was first to be published, DEADLY TRAIL  is listed on Amazon as #0, which means readers who are following the series often miss this first book. https://www.amazon.com/Deadly-Trail-Tempe-Crabtree-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B07R7XF4L9/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1FQGLQVM6D7I3&keywords=Deadly+Trail+by+Marilyn+Meredith&qid=1641485058&s=digital-text&sprefix=deadly+trail+by+marilyn+meredith%2Cdigital-text%2C485&sr=1-1 T he tranquility of the town of Bear Creek in the Southern Sierra is disrupted by the unusual death of the owner of the local inn. Though resident Deputy Tempe Crabtree’s job is not to investigate a murder case, she feels compelled to get involved when her friend Nick Two John is arrested.  She puts the planning for her wedding aside and realized there are several people who wanted the victim dead, including his wife. As she continues to discover clues she puts her job, her wedding, and herself in danger.   This mystery introduces Tempe,...

Report on how this free deal went: Feb 1, 623 copies downloaded. Feb 2, 116 downloaded Feb 3, 91 downloaded Feb 4  44 downloaded Feb 5   And who knows what will happen today. And some of the other books in the series have been purchased--which is the whole reason for doing this. If you haven't gotten your copy yet: https://www.amazon.com/Deadly-Trail-Tempe-Crabtree-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B07R7XF4L9/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1FQGLQVM6D7I3&keywords=Deadly+Trail+by+Marilyn+Meredith&qid=1641485058&s=digital-text&sprefix=deadly+trail+by+marilyn+meredith%2Cdigital-text%2C485&sr=1-1 Prefer audible books, DEADLY TRAIL is available in that format too --and it's free: https://www.amazon.com/Deadly-Trail-Tempe-Crabtree-Mysteries/dp/B09NWHX9S4/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2MKXHCJJ1SRUC&keywords=Deadly+Trail+by+Marilyn+Meredith&qid=1643983878&s=books&sprefix=deadly+trail+by+marilyn+meredith%2Cstripbooks%2C313&sr=1-1

My free book offering of Deadly Trail is now over.  Did it achieve the results I wanted? I won't know completely for a few days or weeks. The whole idea is that people will like the first book and want to continue reading the series. So far other books in the series have been purchased. Deadly Trail   was offered free for five days, Monday through Friday. Following are how many books were offered each day: Monday  143 Tuesday  223 Wednesday  148 Thursday   53 Friday   38 I used several free and cheap sites to advertise--and there's really no way to tell what worked best. I also advertised a lot on Facebook, my page and in groups, as well as something every day on Twitter. I could have done more but I do have other things to do.  This is a good way to keep your books fresh in people's minds. And I must add, I think it's fun too.  Now, besides hoping people will move on to other books in the series, I hope that some who actually read ...

The Bear Creek Inn in Deadly Trail is very much like the Springville Inn in the town I live in--and in some ways very different. The history of the fictional inn is the same as the history of the real inn.  Bear Creek Inn doesn't look like the real Inn except that it is large with a big parking lot, has a dining room and rooms people can rent.  In this first story, there is a large garden with medicinal plants and flowers. There is a trail with other Native American artifacts. Behind the inn, in the more mountainous areas, there are cabins where some of the staff of the inn live. California has been plagued with even more fires than ever this year, including one in the mountains above us.  Fire plays a big part in the mystery in Deadly Trail. Now is the time to check it out while its free-- a good way to start the series with the first one. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07R7XF4L9?pf_rd_r=TBA3Y1B2XKP1THCR93G9&pf_rd_p=edaba0ee-c2fe-4124-9f5d-b31d6b1bfbee Marilyn

Deadly Trail introduces Tempe Crabtree, her son Blair, Nick Two John, and her soon-to-be husband, Pastor Hutch Hutchinson.   Many people and events created the spark to write the book. Tempe is a combination of three women I met many years ago, a Native American, a resident deputy, and a police officer who took me on a ride-along.   Of course Bear Creek is much like Springville, the town I live in, though the imaginary place is 1000 feet higher in the mountains. And yes, we have an Inn which is much like the book in the story in some ways, but not others.   Some of the plot came about from what was going on at the time I was writing the book as far as the logging industry was concerned.   Another big part came when I heard the details of a garden of healing plants created by  a Modoc Indian.   Remember the book is free today and through the 16th. https://www.amazon.com/Deadly-Trail-Tempe-Crabtree-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B07R7XF4L9/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&...

Today is the start of the free deal to download Deadly Trail on to your Kindle. https://www.amazon.com/Deadly-Trail-Tempe-Crabtree-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B07R7XF4L9/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Deadly+Trail+by+Marilyn+Meredith&qid=1601648285&s=digital-text&sr=1 -1 This is the first in the Deputy Tempe Crabtree series.  Here is a review that will give you a taste of what the book is about: From Dawn Dowdle, “Deputy Tempe Crabtree arrests Nick Two John for slashing the tires of a logging truck during a protest.  On the way to the jail, he repeatedly begs for his freedom.   He believes that with her Native American heritage, she should understand she should understand what the loggers represents and not arrest him. Then he offers to reveal a secret information if she’ll release him.   While she is curious to know the information, she does not give in.   She begins to regret that decision when Andre Donato, owner of the Bear Creek Inn, collapses and di...

Yep, I'm doing it again, this time for Deadly Trail,  the first book in the Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery series.  From October 12 to October 16 you can download it free on your Kindle.  Re-edited and with anew cover, Deadly Trail, the first book in the Deputy Tempe Crabtree series is once again available.   This offering introduced Tempe Crabtree, her son, Nick Two John, and Pastor Hutch Hutchinson.   Many people and events created the spark to write the book. Tempe is a combination of three women I met many years ago, a Native American, a resident deputy, and a police officer who took me on a ride-along.   Of course Bear Creek is much like Springville, the town I live in, though the imaginary place is 1000 feet higher in the mountains. And yes, we have an Inn which is much like the book in the story in some ways, but not others. Some of the plot came about from what was going on at the time I was writing the book as far as the logging industry wa...

Publisher let me know 91 readers purchased a .99 cent copy of Murder in the Worst Degree .  He thought that was good--I've done way better while doing one of these sales when the price is zero. As I move onto editing the latest in my Deputy Tempe Crabtree series. Sending the last chapters to members of my critique group. When they've suggested their fixes and changes, I'll send it on to my editor. That means it's time to start promoting the Deputy Tempe Crabtree series once again, before the new on comes out. For those who like to start a series at the beginning, here is some information about Deadly Trial . It is the first. Some facts about Deadly Trail. 1.   Tempe meets Nick Two John. 2.  Her relationship with Pastor Hutch Hutchinson is revealed. 3.  Her son, Blair, is introduced. 4. The Inn plays an important part in this story. 5.  A lot of the information about plants came from a Native couple who had a gar...

Soon, four of the first books in the Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery series will be available, newly edited and with brand new covers. Deadly Trail is the first one. #2 Deadly Omen #3 Intervention #4 Wingbeat If you are unfamiliar with the series here is an overview: The Deputy Tempe Crabtree series Deputy Tempe Crabtree is the resident deputy of the small mountain community of Bear Creek and the surrounding area. Because she is part of the Yokut tribe, she is often called to help investigate crimes on the nearby Indian reservation. Tempe is married to a Christian pastor who worries about her soul when she uses native mysticism to aid in solving crimes. One of her most interesting cases on the reservation introduced her to the legendary Hairy Man, much like Big Foot, as well as the many spirits that linger in the painted rock shelter where pictographs of him and his family can be seen. ( Dispel the Mi st ) The Hairy Man makes appearances in oth...

My new publisher for the Rocky Bluff P.D. series had me re-edit all the older books. Quite an experience as I found that the plots were still good, but my writing style had changed a bit. And of course because they'd been written so long ago there were no cell-phones or much computer usage, nor modern forensics. Because the publisher of my Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery series is fixing some problems with the older books on Amazon, I've done some re-editing of them too. So far I've finished working on Deadly Trail and Deadly Omen . I have two more to do. I'm in the middle of Wing Beat- -and it's amazing how much I've forgotten about that book. I remember it had to do with an illegal pot far way up in the mountains, and of course murder, but there's another side plot involving Pastor Hutch.  I have one more to do after that, Intervention . I'm sure besides typos and things that need changes, I'll discover some surprises too. It...

The old is Deadly Trail which first came out from Hard Shell Word Factory years ago. It actually should have been first before Deadly Omen.  When I approached the publisher for the series, she only wanted Deadly Omen, Unequally Yoked, Wing Beat, and Intervention. Mundania Press has done a bit of republishing, and soon they will all be republished and available. I've actually signed five new contracts with them. I re-edited Deadly Omen and sent it off. Now I'm working on Deadly Trail . And yes, it does need re-editing. I'm not bringing it up to date with cell phones, etc., but taking care of my excessive us of ellipses and exclamation points. And because it is so old--I had to take care of double spaces after periods. Both those books were written and saved in Word Perfect, so there have been other issues especially with the formatting--all of this is time consuming. In the meantime, I'm also working on a new Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery--and I have to at le...

While my Rocky Bluff titles are all being resurrected in re-edited form with new covers, some changes are being made in the Deputy Tempe Crabtree series--which of course means more work for m. Not complaining, because it's a good thing. Deadly Omen was first published as a trade paperback. The publisher after doing four books in the series, passed away. I received copies of three of the books. As of this time, I've either sold or given away all copies o f Deadly Omen. Mundania Press is going to republish it. I've re-edited it and it will receive a new cover. The first book in the series was Deadly Trail  and first published by HardShell Word Factory. HardShell was bought out by Mundania. Deadly Trail languished. It didn't look like the rest of the series. It is going to be revived once I re-edit it. Quite a dilemma because I want to finish writing the newest in the series. The only recourse is to balance the writing--work on the new book to keep a ...

Want to start at the beginning of the Deputy Tempe Crabtree series? Deadly Trail is called book 0 by Mundania. I prefer to call it the prequel. It was the first one written in the series and the introduction of Pastor Hutch, Tempe's son, Blair, Nick Two John and the Bear Creek Inn, which I merely called The Inn in this book. The book was first published by Hard Shell Word Factory. To by it at Mundania's 40% discount, put in the code HOLIDAY. http://www.mundania.com/book.php?title=Deadly%20Trail

Deadly Trail was the first book written in the Deputy Tempe Crabtree series, but as I reported earlier it was not the first published. It was later picked up by Hard Shell Word Factory, which is no longer in existence, but promoted the book as a prequel to the series. This was Deputy Tempe Crabtree's introduction and also her introduction to the enigmatic Nick Two John when he becomes the prime suspect in the murder of the owner of the Inn. (at that time I just called it the Inn, it has since become known as the Bear Creek Inn.) Much of the story revolves around the Inn which is based on the Springville Inn, physically it's a bit different though the early history is the same. Pastor Hutch makes his first appearance in this one too. Tempe and he are not married yet, but the wedding happens between this book and Deadly Omen . And if you would like to hear a bit of a a confession, there is an earlier book that I wrote as a Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery, but there was n...

I've been writing about Deputy Tempe Crabtree for a long while now. Though Deadly Trail is the first book in this mystery series, it wasn't the first to come out. The publisher I found wanted to begin with Deadly Omen . Because I wanted Deadly Trail to also be available to readers, I contacted an electronic publisher who also does trade paperbacks, Hard Shell Word Factory, and she was willing to publish it, so it came out later and I promoted it as a prequel. In Deadly Trail , Tempe is not yet married though the wedding is soon to come about. However, all her plans are put on hold when the owner of the local inn is murdered. The detectives arrest Nick Two John because he's been having an affair with the owner's wife. Tempe doesn't believe her Indian friend is the guilty party and strikes out to find the right person. In this first book, thanks to Two John, Tempe begins to learn more about her Indian heritage, something she's ignored in the past. As readers of ...

Hard Shell Word Factory posts their best sellers both in e-books and trade paperbacks for the year and for the last quarter. The first in the Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery series, Deadly Trail , was the 20th best seller in trade paperbacks for the entire year. Pretty good since this book has been out for several years. For the last quarter, Wishing Makes It So was the 6th best seller in trade paperbacks. Again, this book has been out for awhile. Amazing, and also good news! That's one of the big pluses for print-on-demand, books using this technology never got out of print--they are always available when someone wants one. Wishing Makes It So has always been one of my favorite books. It was based on something that our family went through though I can assure you I made it much darker than what actually happened, and the end results were much different. Deadly Trail is the beginning of the Tempe series, and many of the characters in it have survived though they have grown and chan...