Marilyn's Musings

I lied, I did take notes of the last two panels--found them tucked away in books I'd taken to the conference. Not sure I can read all the scribbles because I wrote while people were talking--but here goes.  WRITING IN DIFFERENT GENRES Moderator: Michael Black Panelists: Marilyn Wooley, Dave Cropp, Kelli Peacock, Marilyn Meredith, John Bluck Marilyn Wooley wrote JACKPOT JUSTICE, complicated non-fiction. John writes science fiction and mystery. Worked in TV.  Has a novel set in Hollywood, writes short stories, and is working on a novel about NASA.   Kelli Peacock writes police procedurals, supernatural, ESP.  Dave Cropp writes poetry, children's stories, flash fiction, passion in the stories along with tragedy. Marilyn Meredith, Tempe Crabtree series, Native-American mysteries, and Rocky Bluff P.D. series is a police procedural, as much about the families as the mystery. BLOGGIN YOUR WAY TO SUCESS Moderator: Mysti Barry Panelists: George Cramer, Thonie Hevron, Frank Za...

From the PSWA Conference: POLISHING YOUR MANUSCRIPT Moderator: Kelli Peacock Panelists: Austin Camacho, Jo Wilkins sub, Jim Guglili, and subs I don't remember. You need the structure of an outline. Beta readers will read the amnuscript before it's polished and give feedback. Needs to be someone who knows the genre. Some asked on Facebook who wanted to be a beta reader. Need three or four who like to read your genre.  Questions for them: Did it hold your attention? Did you enjoyr it? Were you confused? Any suggestions? You  should ask for it back in a week. Use the beta readers before you send it to the professional editor. Beta readers may be very different from the author.  Be sure to research any subject you don't know enough about.  GATHERING THE EVIDENCE Moderator: Pete Klismet Panelists: Gloria Casale, J. L. Greger, Bob Calkins, Scott Decker, Bob Doerr Need to be trained to gather evidence correctly. Gloria Casale said it was difficult to collect evidence in the...

This is the topic I talked about at the PSWA workshop. Here's a brief overview: Of course there's the Internet--and information person at most libraries. As a member of PSWA, I have access to the listserve where I can ask all sorts of questions and get the best answers https://policewriter.com/ I've asked what a skeleton in a truck in an attic for many years would look like: how a cadaver dog acts when searching for a dead body; funniest vice crime; and anything about firearms.  I've learned the difference between a robbery and a burglary. Ways to kill people. Ask on line, books on poisons. Indian Lore: talking to natives, learning the history of the Indians I'm writing about, reading books about various tribes, legends and mysthology. Learning the history of the place where your story takes place.  Pay attention to people and what they have to say. Talk to police officers--they love to tell their stories. Go on a ride-along. Visit  your local police station, ask qu...

(I met Joe at a PSWA conference a few years back, and we've been friends every since. He's a most interesting guy and the author of novels:   Shame: The Story of a Pimp,  and   An Ocean in the Desert.  He also contributed to the PSWA anthology,   Felons, Flames and Ambulance Rides.   He's an award winning poet, writer and lecturer on the sexual  exploitation of women and children in prostitution and pornography.) From the pen of Joseph B. Haggerty Sr.  I am a retired vice detective from the Metropolitan Police in Washington, D.C. I did 35 years with the department. Most of my vice years was devoted to investigating and arresting pimps/child predators. Through that endeavor I learned a great deal about the prostitution culture and firmly believe that the women involved in prostitution are more victims than criminals with a relatively high percentage of them victims of sexual molestation as children. In my latter years with the department I was...

We had a wonderful time in Cambria, not just at the author event, but also being tourists. Visiting all the beautiful ocean spots, mountain areas, shops and restaurants, and historical places. And like with any of these events where authors are gathered, I got to see old friends and made some new ones. One of the big highlights though was meeting with an author friend I haven't seen for years, Rebecca Buckley. We had dinner together both evenings we were there, had the grand tour of her apartment and the theater she owns. Believe me, we had great conversations. Next up is a trip to Vegas and the PSWA conference. I'll be busy at that one. Participating in the pre-con workshop and talking about description. Also moderating a panel on critique groups and on a panel about POV. This has been a busy summer. Oh, how many books did I sell? Only three, but passed out many cards and talked to lots of people. No, it's not profitable, but I enjoy doing this. ...

At the moment, I'm really getting close to finishing my next Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery. I am woefully late with this as I usually have a new Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery coming out in August. Won't happen this year. If you are one of my blog followers you may know some of the reasons I'm so behind. Working with the news publisher for my Rocky Bluff P.D. series to update all the books that now or will have matching covers, I re-edited each one. I do have a new one in the series--but it's not out yet because of what's going on overall. Then my good friend, Lorna Collins, found and pointed out to me, various problems with the Tempe Crabtree series--so, of course, this meant more re-editing. In the meantime I've been trying to do some promotion, since I don't have a new book, it would be nice to have some new readers for my older books. Besides online promotion, I also have been going to various book fairs and conferences. This weekend is th...

Even though I do not have a new book to promote--events that I had no control over have slowed down both the writing and production of the latest Rocky Bluff P.D. crime novel--I have plenty of books to promote and sell. When this post appears I'll be at the Madera Library with a many of my RBPD novels and my Deputy Tempe Crabtree mysteries.  I'll be heading to Ventura on the 23rd of this month for the Public Safety Writers Association. This is not promotion, but it's our planning session for the year and ultimately the big conference in July. I know that those who come will have an opportunity to learn about promotion as well as promote their own books. March 11 I'll be at the Sierra Vista Mall in Clovis from 10 - 8.  On April 1, I'll be speaking at the San Joaquin chapter of Sisters in Crime with our president, Cora Ramos about all things writing. You can find me in Hanford on April 15th in the library at 3 p.m. Will have 30 minutes to delight t...

Yes, I've been busy--but I always am. In the writing part of my life, I've been working on my blog tour for A Crushing Death . The schedule is set, the posts are all written and I've sent off most of them. Before I send each one, I carefully go over it, trying to eliminate all typos and other errors. From much experience, I know that I'll miss some that I won't see until the day they're printed. I've also been working on my next Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery. I'm at an exciting part, but haven't really had much time to write. I read a chapter each week to my writing group, which means I do have to be at least on chapter ahead. Those who are my real life or Facebook friends know there are many other things that take my time: Number one is family--and I wouldn't have it any other way. I love my family and spending time with them. Number two is my church. I teach a Sunday School class of 3rd through 5th graders, most boys...

While I'm writing this, Bouchercon is going on in Raleigh, North Carolina and I've been following all the photos and comments as they've appeared on Facebook. I've also been reading some blog posts and comments from some who think that these big mystery cons are a waste of time and money for mid-list authors. Here's my take on the matter. My first Bouchercon was in Monterey CA and I had a great time. I didn't sell any books, because I didn't have any, however I was on a panel--my first. I had friends who were there and made lots of new ones. Hubby and I attended many more Bouchercons and Left Coast Crimes all over the United States and had fun. I got to meet many favorite authors and lots of fans. Did it do anything for my mystery writing career? Probably not a whole lot. I never sold many books, after all some of the most famous mystery writer are always in attendance. Going with the thought of selling lots of books will probably end up in disap...

Hi Marilyn. Since we last talked, my novel, HEALER , has done quite well. In fact, it won an award at the 2015 Public Safety Writers Association Conference in Las Vegas. For those who have yet to read HEALER , here’s a short blurb: Sixteen-year-old Billy Anderson’s short life has been full of daunting challenges. A birth defect, and later, the death of his parents, has forced him to live with his Aunt Staci who serves as his guardian. That situation becomes untenable for Billy and he chooses to live on the street, rather than suffer the humility and neglect from his own relative. One day things change dramatically for Billy when he receives the “Gift of Healing.” Not only does Billy’s own life take a dramatic turn, but also his new gift affects those around him. Is this gift a blessing or a curse? I’ve had many favorable reviews. CatholicFiction.com said, “ The hardest thing for Christians to comprehend is the mind of God. The most common question asked of Him is “Why?” ...

My recently released book FOOTPRINTS IN THE FROST has a bit of history…about 17 years’ worth, to be honest.  I actually first wrote the original manuscript and title for this book back in 1998.  At that time, I was only writing articles and short stories, mostly through the Public Safety Writers Association (known as the Police Writers Club).  Having never written a book before, I spiral bound it at home and put it aside.  I ran across it again early in 2014, sat down and read through it one more time.  That’s when I decided to give it the acid test and submit it to the Public Safety Writers Association’s 2014 Writing Competition.  My decision was, if it bombed there, that was to be the end of it.  Imagine my surprise when it won First Place in the Fiction Book Non-published category. At that point, I was inspired to see if I could have it published.  So,I  rewrote it until a fellow author told me to stop  because I could ...

Dave Freedland is one of the members of PSWA who attended the recent conference. It's a pleasure to have him visit my blog and discuss his book. Lincoln 9 Inspiration It had always been my plan to write following retirement; but I chose fiction because I thought that it might be an interesting way to be creative. I had saved most of my “day-timer” calendars and steno pads over the years with the cryptic notes chronicling my numerous calls for service, crimes investigated, and SWAT call-outs. I wanted to write something which I felt had not been sufficiently covered in works of either fiction or non-fiction. For years, the image of Special Weapons and Tactics teams members had been that of knuckle-dragging, heavy handed individuals whose only solution to problems was the application of force. However, over time that stereotype began to evolve as more educated, problem-solving leaders filled the ranks of SWAT operators, as evidenced by their frequent top tier pla...

I'm delighted to welcome my friend, Thonie Hevron, to my blog today. I met Thonie at last year's PSWA conference. Thonie Hevron Marilyn suggested I write about how I got published. It’s a great idea and may offer the unpublished writer some hope to be published! I’ve been writing for years—since I could hold a pencil. About fifteen years ago, I got serious and decided to write a novel. It took several years but I completed Probable Cause  which became B y Force or Fear   eventually.  Getting serious included joining a professional writing association- Public Safety Writers Association (PSWA but in those days it was known as Police Writers Association). One of the perks of membership is a free manuscript evaluation by a professional editor. I sent Probably Cause  in and was encouraged to submit it as an unpublished manuscript in the PSWA annual writing contest. I tied for third place in the unpublished fiction novel category. Woohoo! This made me an ...

Which ones do you belong to and why? I belong to several. Mystery Writers of America. I joined long ago when my first book was published--and it wasn't even a mystery. I've maintained my membership through the years. And to be honest, I've kept it mostly because of the prestige associated with it. I've never lived close enough to either the Southern or Northern California chapters to attend any of the events. Sisters in Crime. I joined the national group year ago, before there were many chapters. I get a lot of information from being on the listserve. I went to the first get-together where a group of mystery writers gathered together in Fresno to talk about organizing a chapter--now the San Joaquin SinC. I've belonged ever since and do attend meetings whenever I can. I've gotten a lot out of these meetings, besides making many, many friends and hearing lots of interesting speakers, buying lot of author's books, I also got some ideas for books...

Yes, I'm busy working on next year's Rocky Bluff P.D. mystery. I have a title--actually had the title before I had any idea what the book would be about. A friend--one I've actually met--suggested it. I though, why not? As I began putting together what I wanted in the book, I knew the title would work. So far I'm building around the mysterious death of an old man, his family, his three friends, their time in the Seabees together, and a mysterious woman who will have the same name as someone who won a contest. A new female Chief shakes up the whole Rocky Bluff P.D. Officer Stacey Milligan is called upon to investigate a serial rapist. Officer Gordon Butler is put on graveyards, slowing his romance with Lizette Gibbs. Ryan Stickland becomes a father and loses his position as public affairs officer. Felix Zachary is now a Detective and Doug Milligan's new partner. Yes, it is coming together. My biggest problem is having enough time to work on it.  And w...

As I settle back into my recliner after a superlative Easter Brunch at my sister’s sister-in-law’s (talk about extended family!), I reflect on the holidays that I’ve missed.  Technically, you couldn’t really say I missed them as I was present but often not at the place of the celebration.  In the years I spent on the job, missing a holiday celebration was part of the deal. I signed up knowing that I’d miss Christmas morning with the kids opening their gifts, Thanksgiving afternoon with Mom and Dad, birthdays and anniversaries. Those days were often spent driving around alone trying to keep busy but not get into trouble or sitting in a dimly lit room staring at flickering monitors. Santa surprises a patrolman It’s kind of funny, going to work on Christmas morning when everyone you know is still in sugar-plum fairy land isn’t as doleful as it sounds. I always (even in the depths of my comatose commute) felt a little special to be awake when everyone else was aslee...