Marilyn's Musings

If all has gone as planned, I'm in New Orleans and spent the day sightseeing. When I get back I'll have photos and give a report. I've been looking forward to this trip so much I've even dreamed about eating crayfish.(As long as I don't think of them as the crawdads my kids used to catch, I'm okay.) Today, I'm also on Kaye Boone's Blog, Meanderings and Muses. I don't know Kaye, but I feel like I do. She came from the same hometown and my husband, Cambridge MD. Hap left when he was 18 to join the Navy--and he's quite a bit older than Kaye, so they never crossed paths. I've read most of Kaye's blogs so know quite about her even though we've never met in person. If you visit her blog, please let her know I sent you. Marilyn

No, haven't made another trip to the coast, but I've been thinking about the ones coming up. I love visiting the ocean. For years we lived only a mile away--as soon as it started getting warm, usually around April, the kids and I would head for the beach. Back in those days I always swam in the ocean. Can't imagine doing it now, but the cold didn't seem to phase me back then. I jump on every opportunity to sign up for any kind of book event that's being held in the coastal area. In March, we're hading over their twice. First, to Oxnard where I'll have a booth at the Celebration of the Whales at Channel Islands Harbor. That's March 21. Because we still have daughters in the area, we won't have to find a hotel. On March 28th, from 1-3, we're going back to Morro Bay for a joint book signing at the Coalesce Bookstore. That means we'll be spending the night. I just recently received an application for the Central Coast Book and Art Festival coming...

Michelle and son, Marc, in Utah. I met Michelle when she came to one of the first conferences after PSWA reorganized. She's attended every one since that time, and took on the huge job of running the writing competition. She's also a lot of fun as you'll see when your read what she had to tell me. Marilyn: How did you first hear about PSWA and decide to join? Michelle: I believe I discovered PSWA originally via the website. It was December, 2005; I had just resigned as a dispatcher/9-1-1 operator with Phoenix (AZ) PD and moved way up north in Michigan to pursue writing full-time. I spent a lot of time browsing the web and I stumbled across it. I remember thinking how neat it was to find a group of people who had the same eclectic interests I did. After all, I had just finished getting my Bachelor’s at Arizona State majoring in Justice & Social Inquiry and minoring in English Literature. I always thought that was a strange combination, but after finding PSWA I realized I...

Marilyn: Hi, Amy, I've not had the pleasure of meeting you as yet. Will you tell me and my blog readers something about yourself? Amy: My name is Amy Denton. I have lived on the Gulf Coast of Texas since 1981. I was born in Washington D.C. I have a sister who has 3 kids and I like being an aunt. I taught high school for five years before I got tired of beating my head against the wall (in regards to regulations, etc, NOT the students). I attempted to run a professional organizing business but realized that I wasn't a very good business owner. I wasn't willing enough to put in the time that was truly needed. I just graduated from graduate school with a Master's in history and I am I going to use that to teach in college and/or on-line college. Marilyn: Why did you join PSWA? Amy: I have a great respect for all in the law enforcement field. I would like to write stories with accurate representations of law enforcement people in them. I joined PWSA so I could gain the know...

Yes, once again I'm headed out on another blog tour, starting tomorrow. I'm repeating my stops just in case someone didn't see them yesterday. I'm hoping for lots of comments so the people who are hosting me will be happy that they extended their invitation. Mar 1 http://theplotline.wordpress.com/ Mar 2 http://theplotline.wordpress.com/ Mar 2 http://www.pumpupyourbook.com interview Mar 3 http://rebeccasnotebook.blogspot.com/ Mar 4 http://personovelty.com/ Mar 5 http://booktoursandmore.blogspot.com/ Mar 8 http://thebookconnectionccm.blogspot.com/ Those are the first stops. If you're so inclined, stop and leave a comment. These are really fun to do and of course, the idea is to get people interested in your book enough to want to buy it. If you ever do a blog tour, remember, it's important for you to leave comments too and go back and see if anyone asked a question or made a comment you'd like to respond to. Marilyn http://fictionforyou.com

Despite the problems of not yet having my book in hand, my blog tour is beginning as planned. I do hope some of you will visit the blogs I'm featured on and leave a comment. That helps me, and the blog owner to know that I'm actually working to have people visit each blog. Here's my first week's schedule: Mar 1 http://theplotline.wordpress.com/ Mar 2 http://the plotline.wordpress.com/ Mar 2 http://www.pumpupyourbook.com interview Mar 3 http://rebeccasnotebook.blogspot.com/ Mar 4 http://personovelty.com/ Mar 5 http://booktoursandmore.blogspot.com/ I'll be in New Orleans at Epicon from the 3rd through the 7th, so I'll do what promoting I can with my teeny weeny computer in my hotel room. But, folks, I'm not going to spend all my time in the hotel while I'm in New Orleans. We're arriving there on the 3rd, God willing, since we have to not only transfer planes three times, but also airlines. We're not near a big airline hub, so we always have to ma...

John Miller, more commonly known as Jack is another member who I've met through the PSWA Conference. Marilyn: We begin the interview with what I ask nearly everyone, will you tell me about your background? Jack: I was born into the job. My dad was a Michigan State Police trooper from 1924 until 1949. I think Law enforcement and investigations are in my blood. I have never had second thoughts about doing anything else. I enlisted in the Army to be a MP. Then for personal reasons I enlisted in the US Air Force to be an Air policeman. I did that job for seven years then applied to be a special agent with the Office of Special Investigations. I was selected and did criminal and counter-intelligence investigations for ten years. I retired as a Senior Master Sergeant in 1975 and went to work with the Las Vegas District Attorneys office. We ran surveillances on organized crime figure Tony Spilotro and his gang. After two years I saw an opening with the Nevada State Gaming Control Board. I...