Saturday, April 18, 2015

Marilyn Meridith, Guest Author



My friend and one of my favorite authors, Marilyn Meredith, is visiting today. I always enjoy having her visit, and she always finds interesting things to write about. Today's post is short but interesting. Check out the details for a book giveaway at the end of the post, too. Welcome, Marilyn!



The Inspiration for Violent Departures

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=marilyn+meredith

On a previous blog, I wrote a post about the inspiration for the main plot of the latest book in my Rocky Bluff P.D. mystery series, a newspaper article about a man who disappeared right out of his car that was left running in his driveway.


 But there is something else that inspired one of the plot threads and that was a memory I had of the days back when Charlie Manson and his crew were in the news, how and where they lived.

It also brought back memories of hippies and the “flower children” of the past. Because I lived through those times, lots of ideas flooded my thoughts.

Though none of them are in the book, some of those memories gave me an idea that became rather important in solving the main plot of the story.

It is amazing how many different things can trigger a plot idea or give you other threads that can be woven into the whole of a story. 

F. M. aka Marilyn Meredith

Blurb for Violent Departures:
College student, Veronica Randall, disappears from her car in her own driveway, everyone in the Rocky Bluff P.D. is looking for her. Detective Milligan and family move into a house that may be haunted. Officer Butler is assigned to train a new hire and faces several major challenges.

Bio:
F.M. Meredith, also known as Marilyn Meredith, is the author of over thirty published novels. Marilyn is a member of three chapters of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and on the board of the Public Safety Writers of America. Besides having family members in law enforcement, she lived in a town much like Rocky Bluff with many police families as neighbors.

Contest:

Because it has been popular on my other blog tours, once again I’m offering the chance for the person who comments on the most blog posts during this tour to have a character named for him or her in the next Rocky Bluff P.D. mystery.

Or if that doesn’t appeal, the person may choose one of the earlier books in the series—either a print book or Kindle copy.

Links:
Tomorrow I’m answering a question I’ve never been asked before, “Who Do I Write For?”

21 comments:

  1. Lovely to discover another new to me author, thanks Marja, I'm off to Marilyn's to subscribe to her too

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  2. Hi, Bec, I'm so happy that you stopped by Marja's blog today. And Marja, of course I'm thrilled to be here once again. Thank you, for hosting me!

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    1. You're very welcome, Marilyn. I always enjoy having you in.

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  3. I thoroughly enjoyed reading "Violent Departures," Marilyn. But then, I've loved every one of your Rocky Bluff P.D. mysteries.

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  4. Patricia, thank you so much. I love writing them to, but it's always gratifiying to hear that a reader likes them too.

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  5. Patricia, thank you so much. I love writing them to, but it's always gratifiying to hear that a reader likes them too.

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  6. That news story of someone taken from his car while it's still running, is a real hook in itself. Using Charles Manson stories and other real life events and fictionalizing them has to make this a very interesting book. I remember Manson and all the flower people well too.

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  7. The story is reminiscent of a photojournalist whose car was found with the motor running along a Wyoming highway. He was never found. You always come up with fascinating plots, Marilyn, and I look forward to reading your latest release.

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    1. As you well know, Jean, we authors just need to keep our eyes and ears open to come up with plot ideas.

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  8. The Charlie Manson link was a surprise, Marilyn. I remember those days, too. It is amazing what has inspired you or given you a great idea for one of your wonderful books. And Marja McGraw is another one of my very favorite authors, so this was an added treat.

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    1. Hey, Jackie, nice to see you again. Now we live close to Charlie again--the Corchoran prison is his home now. We drive by everytime we go to the coast.

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  9. Linda, years ago we lived near a store that the Manson followers got their food out of the trash bin. When we found out they liked to creep around in people's houses while the slept that was scary.

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  10. Love your novels, Marilyn. I'm looking forward to hosting you on my blog tomorrow.

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  11. Thank you, Evelyn. I always think of you as one of the characters in Murder in the Worst Degree--so much fun writing that one too. I'll be there bright and early!

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  12. Love hearing the back story of where your inspiration comes from

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    1. Hi, Dee, ideas are everywhere. Seems like when I get started with the main premise of the story, other ideas just flow in.

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    2. Hi, Dee, ideas are everywhere. Seems like when I get started with the main premise of the story, other ideas just flow in.

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  13. Marilyn is one of my favorite authors. Feel like I have been to the scene of her crimes as she always gets forensic details correct. Thanks to you both. Really enjoyed those Purple Cows & Spies.

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  14. Marilyn is one of my favorite authors. Feel like I have been to the scene of her crimes as she always gets forensic details correct. Thanks to you both. Really enjoyed those Purple Cows & Spies.

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  15. Hi Marilyn, thanks for such an interesting post :-) Looking forward to reading your books soon...!

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