Marilyn's Musings

A guest was scheduled for today, but life, as it does sometimes, got in her way. So I'm filling her spot. With all the bad stuff that's going on in the world today, I'm sure there are those who wonder why I keep on writing, and I have several reasons. The number one reason is I can't really do much about all the world's troubles. Oh, our country is in my prayers every day--and I do think that's important. But even in the small patch of world that I live in everyday, I don't have much control. Again, my family is always in my prayers, but things happen that I can't fix. The one and only place I do have some control is the fictional worlds that I've created. I must confess though, that oftentimes, the characters take off and do things I never expected. However, when I'm writing, I'm in a world where the horrible events that bombard us from the news and Facebook every day are not a part of the fiction I'm creating. Another reason I k...

The question could be taken two ways--the actual weather going on outside while you're writing, or the weather that's happening in the book. I'm going to go for the second one--how much does weather influence what's happening in the tale that you're writing. I use weather a lot to enhance suspense. In my Deputy Tempe Crabtree series, I've had a white-out snow situation, ( Intervention ), hot,dry weather that causes forest fires ( Kindred Spirits ), and too much rain causing a massive mud slide ( Raging Water.) (So you don't get confused, the e-book has a different cover.) The big weather component in many of the Rocky Bluff P.D. series is fog. Rocky Bluff is a beach community in Southern California. Fog is nearly an everyday reality first thing in the morning and at night. Fog is a fun weather element to add varying degrees of suspense.  Weather in a book will also predict what a characters is wearing: Is it approp...

Oh, and what a hunt it has been! I've never ever gone through a book as much as I've gone through this one nor have as many other pairs of eyes looked at it. The saga began when I was finished writing the book. Yes, you could call in the first draft. I do keep notes on what day and time things happen, the kind of cars, people drive, their names and what they look like. If can't remember I check my notes. First people to see the book, chapter by chapter is my critique group. They are great, they find many repeated words, point out discrepancies, dialogue that sounds false, grammar errors, and where I've used the wrong name for someone. That's why I'm surprised so many mistakes popped up later. Next I run the grammar and spell check--which catches a lot. Before I send a book off to the publisher, I go over it again, word by word. Once the publisher gets it, she reads it and notes errors and sends it back. I fixed those errors, found some more and res...

Now that the blog tour is over, I bet you want to know what I'll be doing on my blog next. (Whether that is true or not, I'm going to tell you anyway.) Through the end of the year, I have a great line up of authors who are coming to visit me to tell you about their great books. I'm also going to tell you a bit more about the earliest books in the Rocky Bluff P. D. crime series. The reason I'm going to do that is sometime after the first of the year the next in that series will be coming out. I'm in the process of writing the one that will come out in 2014. I'd like to see this series continue because I want to know what's going to happen in the lives of all these characters I've created and have become real to me. For it to continue, people need to buy the books--though I seem to be willing to write for mostly the reward of the writing itself and hearing people say they like my books--my publisher would like to be making some money from my efforts. ...

Thursday, November 15, I'll be visiting the Porterville Library, 41 W. Thurman, Porterville,  from 6:30 to 8 p.m. This time I'll be downstairs, I believe. (In any case, just ask) Libraries are wonderful places--and librarians are wonderful people. What I am planning for this visit is to bring a my books and tell what inspired me to write each one. That is a question I am often asked at events like these--so thought I'd tell about each one. (The other question is do I make a lot of money--the simple answer is "no.") I am open to other questions anyone might like to ask me. I do hope to see some of you there. Marilyn Latest Deputy Tempe Crabtree mysteries:: And the Rocky Bluff P.D. crime series: Looking forward to seeing some of you. Marilyn

I just learned from my publisher that No Bells , the latest in the Rocky Bluff P.D. crime series will be free for Kindle readers until November! I had no idea this offer lasts for such a long time. I truly hope many of you will take advantage of it and get to know the ongoing characters: Detective Doug Milligan and his wife, Stacey, who is an officer in the RBPD, and their son, Davey. Ryan Strickland, the public information officer for RBPD, and his wife, Barbara, and their three sons. Sergeant Abel Navarro and his wife, Maria, and their daughter, Lupe. Officer Gordon Butler who never seems to have good luck and his quest for love. Benay Weiss, who seems to be the answer to Gordon's heart's desire--but there is one big problem, she's the major suspect in a murder case. Once you read No Bells , try the others in the series.

Romance and Mystery All in One   By Cheryl C. Malandrinos Long the butt of the police department's jokes, Gordon Butler never seems to catch a break. He gets sent on the oddest calls and manages to end up in some rather strange situations. It looks like his luck might be changing, though. A routine traffic stop introduces Gordon to Benay Weiss, a local hair stylist. He thinks he's finally found the love he's been seeking. But when Benay's best friend, Geri, is reported missing and then found dead, Benay soon becomes a prime suspect. Gordon puts his job on the line to prove her innocence. I've read all the books in the Rocky Bluff P.D. series. Gordon has been my favorite character since he was introduced. I am so thrilled No Bells spotlights this great character. The point of this series and what F.M. Meredith has always done well, is to show how the job impacts family life and vice versa. Even though we've gotten some glimpse of Gordon's per...

http://oaktreebooks.com/Shop%20OTP.htm#NoBells is the direct link to get this book at a bargain price. This may be my favorite book in the series--I really love Gordon Butler--and so do some of the series' fans. Rather than say much myself about the book here are some reviews. The first is an email from a fan who read No Bells , Hi Marilyn: I stayed up late last night to finish No Bells.  As to be expected, I really liked it.  It is a refreshing change to read--even if it's fiction--things from the police dept and police officers families points of views. Thank you for another great read! Best Pat "Fans of F. M. Meredith’s long-running Rocky Bluff Police Department mysteries will be happy to learn the newest book may be the best yet. In No Bells , Gordon Butler gets his first leading role in this clever ensemble series. Butler is like Joe Btfsplk, the ...

http://www.oaktreebooks.com/Shop%20OTP.htm is the place to get this book if you want a bargain.Scroll down through Dark Oak Mysteries, and books are in alphabetical order. Angel Lost 's idea began when the image of Jesus appeared in a carpet store window in downtown Porterville on a nightly basis. For about three weeks, crowds gathered to view the unusual sight. I happened to pass by one evening when the crowd, busily taking pictures, was so huge two policemen had been assigned to the scene to keep people out of harm's way. (The store is located on a busy street.) This went on until someone discovered the image was caused by a light from a store across the way. Some rearranging of what was in the window and the image disappeared. In Angel Lost the image of an angel in a furniture window captivate the religious and the curious of the beach town of Rocky Bluff. In the meantime, Officer Stacey Wilbur is distracted by wedding planning. Yes, she and Detective Doug ...

Detective Doug Milligan and his partner question suspects in the murder of a stalker including the stalker’s target, her boyfriend, father and brother, as well as the stalker’s step-father. The investigation leaves little time for Doug to see his fiancée and fellow officer, Stacey Wilbur. Stacey handles a molestation case which involves the son of a friend. She and her mother talk wedding plans, though all must wait until Doug’s renter, Officer Gordon Butler finds another place to live. When Doug disappears while tailing a suspect, Stacey sets out to find him, hoping she can reach him time. If you want a bargain price, you can order an Axe to Grind from the publisher's bookstore, look for Dark Oak Mystery and titles are alphabetical. http://www.oaktreebooks.com/Shop%20OTP.htm Review snippets of Axe to Grind : Right from the start, like Meredith does with all the books in this series, the reader is instantly drawn into the world of the Rocky Bluff P.D. Gordon Butler, who i...

No Sanctuary Blurb: Officer Stacey Wilbur works with Detective Doug Milligan investigating the death of a popular minister’s wife,and she's given an undercover assignment to catch a pedophile, is offered a new job, and learns a church isn’t always a sanctuary . You can buy No Sanctuary from the publisher's site at a great price.  http://www.oaktreebooks.com/Shop%20OTP.htm   Scroll down to find No Sanctuary . I often ask other others what inspired the book--here's my answer about this one. I've belonged or visited many churches over the years--met and listened to good preachers and bad, some were true ministers to their flock, some not. And if you ever want to find an intriguing cast of characters, churches are full of them. I am not bad-mouthing churches--I love the little church I go to and the members. We have a preacher who is a true minister and cares for and watches over his flock. Like all churches, interesting souls...

My son-in-law police officer told me that the big thing that bothered him about cop shows, TV or movies, is that the viewer had no idea how bad death smelled. Of course this gave me an idea for another Rocky Bluff P.D.s mystery--and the title. Officer Stacey Wilbur is the first one of the scene of a ghastly murder, one that leaves two young children motherless. Detective Doug Milligan enlists her aid to question neighbors. Not much later, he is called to another murder scene--this of another woman who turns out to be the first victim's mother. Meanwhile, a child goes missing. Doug again asks Stacey to help with the questioning of witnesses. As with every Rocky Bluff P.D. novel, other members of the department and their families are a part of what is going on. A warning, this installment is a bit darker than some other books in the series--and like the others, it is complete, all cases solved, bad guys brought to justice. As with all the books in the Rocky Bluff P.D...

Cover photo from Amazon) Bad Tidings Blurb: Lt. Tom Gilbreath, who is called “the old hound dog” behind his back, is the one who often delivers bad news. He is soon to receive some of this own. His wife, Marlene, often knows as much about what is going on with the Rock Bluff P.D. as her husband, and she knows even more about the other officers’ private lives. Officer Joe Guzzo has perfect wife and a wandering eye. A knock-out, Officer Georgia Lindquist captures the interest of all the single guys in the department and the notice of the married ones. Two murders bring chaos to the beach community of Rocky Bluff and keep Lt. Gilbreath busy as he faces a crisis of his own. Show More Show Less In Bad Tidings I love the relationship between Lt. Tom Gilbreath and his wife, Marlene, so much better than the one between Officer Guzzo and his perfect wife. In this book, two murders bring chaos to the small beach community of Rocky Bluff and keep Lt. Gilbreath b...

Tips for Writing a Mystery First, you need to decide exactly what type mystery you are planning to write. Hopefully you’ve read enough crime novels (seems to be the preferred name for the genre these days) to know what kind of novel you are going to write. To name a few: the private eye novel, amateur detective, usually someone with an interesting or unusual profession, can be hard-boiled or a cozy, the police procedural, romantic suspense, woman in jeopardy (think Mary Higgins Clark), historical mysteries–can be a combination of any of the above, thriller, when an innocent becomes involved, either by accident or coincidence, in dangerous events beyond his or her control (think Alfred Hitchcock movies), suspense, when the protagonist is in a constant and increasing state of danger. Mysteries of earlier times were more interested in the hero solving the crime, now are as interested in the emotional impact of the crime of the hero and his or her private life. You have to create a credi...