Is a Sign Just a Sign? Or is it an Idea?

A friend once sent me an email that grabbed me and wouldn’t let go. It was a sign, sort of, and it said, “Awkward Moment: When you’re digging a hole to bury a body – and you find another body already buried there.” As a mystery writer, how could I let that pass? A germ of an idea took hold and Awkward Moments – A Bogey Man Mystery came to be.

The same friend send me another email that said, “Next time a stranger talks to me when I’m alone I will look at them shocked, and just whisper, ‘You can see me?’” Good grief! I have to admit there are times I feel like following that example, but I don’t.  When I’m sitting alone and I’m quiet, I’m usually thinking about a storyline.

I can’t use every email for a story idea, but after my smile disappears, my brain kicks into gear and ideas start forming. Sometimes ideas for stories come from the most unusual places. If you’re a mystery writer, even a greeting card can start the ideas flowing. A comment made in passing by a friend, or overheard at a coffee house can inspire an entire book. It doesn’t take much more than a fertile imagination. Well, that and a lot of research and grinding hours at the computer.

One of the things I used to enjoy about the television show, Castle, was that something would happen and he’d start spinning stories to fit the event, guessing about what might have happened. Once in a while he was right, but often he was way off base. This is something many writers do. Given a set of circumstances and without having the entire story, they’ll find a scenario to fit the the information they do have.

I have a character in one of my two series who’s addicted to chocolate. At some point she’ll want to be involved in a chocolate mystery. When she was trapped in a ghost town she ran out of chocolate and almost had a meltdown. I can relate to that. Hmm. This might involve a trip to a chocolate factory. I wouldn’t want to get my facts wrong, would I? I mean, research is research. This, happily, could be very interesting research involving some taste-testing.

At the moment I’m mulling over Sandi Webster receiving a text message she didn’t want. A text message that I didn’t want set off alarms – story-wise that is. I’ve begun to write notes to myself so I won’t forget where I’m heading with the idea.

Someone worried that by writing this post another writer might steal my idea. Let them. There are so many possible scenarios that there’s room for all of us. Someone might write a dramatic and suspenseful story, and someone like me might write something with both drama and a little humor. Another author could even turn it into a horror story.

The life of a writer is so much more than I ever thought it would be. It can be a very solitary existence, but there are moments when we come together and share ideas, and… Well, maybe we don’t share ideas, but we do share experiences and stories. Mystery writers are, in general, very generous with their time and support of each other, and I do believe we frequently march to a different drummer. Yes, we even occasionally use clichés like marching to a different drummer. If you prefer, you might say that occasionally we sing a little off key? I do, anyway.

Authors have a lot of fun, aside from the hard work. Aren’t you glad they share their fun through their books? We do our very best to entertain readers and each other.

Until next time, think before you start digging a hole in the ground. You never know what you might dig up. Although, I have heard of people digging up unexpected treasures. Hmmm.

CLICK HERE to visit Marja McGraw’s website

    Just a reminder: On The Books Page, toward the bottom, are some entertaining book      trailers.

CLICK HERE for a quick trip to Amazon.com

It’s finally here! People Lookin’ Half Dead – A Bogey Man Mystery

Think extreme heat and homeless people disappearing, and you’ll have the basis for the story.

Please Join Me

What if we were sitting around my kitchen table, talking about writing? What would you want to discuss? Can I get you a cup of coffee or tea? I’ve got cookies, too, but then I always have goodies in the cupboard.

I’d be talking about working on my new book cover. Much improved, but still in the works. I strive for perfection, but I can’t quite get there from here.

When you finish your current story, what will you write about next? I have no idea what I’m going to do. I have a book that shows the front page (only) of the Los Angeles Times from 1881 to 1987. I’ve been looking at those pages, hoping something will inspire an idea. Nothing yet. It’s interesting because many times they write about a crime, but you only get part of the story since it’s only the front page. “Continued on Page…” So many of the stories are still a mystery when I put the book down. I think I have another book that focuses on the 1940s, but I haven’t looked at that yet.

I’ve often talked about how things were simpler in years gone by, but while reading the headlines, I’ve changed my mind. Yes, a lot of things were simpler, but crime wasn’t. Some of the stories I’ve read were horrendous. I’m almost glad I didn’t have a Page 14 to find out what happened in the end.

Daylight Savings Time started on March 10^th. I wonder if I could come up with an idea having to do with the time change. Sometimes things we take for granted are actually things we can use for a story. Did you know that in Arizona the time never changes? I liked that better than where I’m at now, which is Washington State. Yes, the time changes here.

We’ve all had some weather that was out of the ordinary this year. Maybe that will inspire a story for you. It rains way too often here, but the rain can actually be rather calming.

Have you worked on your genealogy? That task can provide some surprises, and often real life surprises will inspire a story.

Have another cookie. More tea? Coffee?

 Old Farmhouse Kitchen

I’ve always felt the kitchen is the nucleus of the house. I love the old farmhouses where the family gathered around the table in the kitchen. A formal dining room is just… Well, too formal for my taste. I enjoy a casual atmosphere. What about you? I’ve always had a dream of living in an old farmhouse, but it’s never come to pass.

I can remember so many stories that were shared over the kitchen table. Confessions, secrets, humor and heartbreak were all shared there, too. Maybe it’s more comforting to sit in the kitchen.

Back to one of my first questions; have you decided on the subject matter for your new story yet? I guess I’d better finish editing and publishing my most recent book before I worry about that.

Discussing writing and everything that goes with it can be addictive. I had no idea until I talked about writing so much that my husband’s eyes used to glaze over. Who knew?

Oh, you want to discuss marketing and promoting? I think we’ll have to leave that for our next visit. You’re welcome anytime, you know.

Drop in again. I look forward to visiting.

Until next time, enjoy some time at your table with good friends. Talk about anything that tickles your fancy, but don’t use silly phrases like I just did.

CLICK HERE to visit Marja McGraw’s website

CLICK HERE for a quick trip to Amazon.com

COMING SOON: People Lookin’ Half Dead – A Sandi Webster Mystery

Think heatwave and missing homeless people. Just a clue about the story.

What Happened?

When you finish a book, what’s the first thing you do? Sigh loudly and grin? Jump up and down in your chair? Wave your arms in the air and act like an idiot? Or maybe you just take a deep breath and breathe again. On the other hand, if you’re like me, you do all of the above and forget everything you should be doing, like writing last week’s post.

People Lookin’ Half Dead – A Bogey Man Mystery is about to be edited and will be available soon. Right now I’m working on the cover, which is a whole ‘nother story, but think hot summer with record-breaking temperatures. And in the midst of the heat, homeless people are disappearing.

 Rough draft of the book cover. It will probably change. Well, yes, it will change.

Quite by accident, and with the help of Chris Cross’s grandmother, he and his wife, Pamela, become involved – again. Keep the heat in mind because it’s not going anywhere, and neither are the people who live on the street – with the exception of the few who are disappearing.

There was a young, tall, very thin homeless man whom I saw at a fast food place in Arizona. He was so dirty that his skin looked ashen. All he wanted was a drink of water. He was so soft-spoken and polite that you had to listen closely to hear him. I’ve never forgotten him, and he inspired this story. I wish I could have known what happened to him, but since I don’t, I gave him his own story.

There’s a touch of humor in the book. Even homeless people can laugh at life sometimes.

What about the book cover? Have you ever looked at an asphalt street during the hottest part of summer? Have you noticed the heat waves emanating from the asphalt? I wish I could have found a photo like that to use for my book cover, but I guess you can’t photograph heat waves. So I’m sticking with a very hot sun and a view of the city from a distance. Simple authors create simple covers.

Once the book is released I’ll look at doing some promotion. I haven’t really promoted much over the past few years. Oh, well… Life has changed and so have I.

The next book will be another Sandi Webster Mystery, but I haven’t decided on the subject matter yet. Another cold case? Maybe. Something current? We’ll see. I’ll be as surprised as you.

Back to the grindstone. I can’t seem to get the cover quite right. At least it keeps me busy while I try to dream up another escapade.

What do you do when you type The End at the finish of your story? Something exciting, I hope.

Until next time, I wish you a week of beginnings instead of endings. Maybe your personal story is just about to begin, and I hope it’s filled with laughter.

CLICK HERE to visit Marja McGraw’s website

CLICK HERE for a quick trip to Amazon.com

Ho Ho Ho

(Since Christmas Eve is a week from today, on a Monday, I’m sharing my Christmas post with you now.)

Once a year I write about my holiday beliefs. This is your lucky day.

I thought and thought about what to write for my Christmas blog. I read about the origins of celebrating on December 25^th, and then I thought some more. I know from reading the Bible, books, articles and listening in church that Christ wasn’t actually born on that date, but eventually it was chosen as a day to celebrate His birth. I still wasn’t sure what I’d write about. Logically, a Christian should probably celebrate His birth every single day of the year. Many of us do.

Then I remembered a song. It’s the only song that will make me cry no matter where I am or what I’m doing. It doesn’t matter if I’m shopping at the mall or sitting at my desk, or even watching television. If I hear this song, it makes me cry. O Holy Night is the most beautiful and powerful music I’ve ever heard.

When the verse comes up that says, “Fall on your knees, and hear the angels voices…” I just blubber. The funny thing is that I very seldom cry, and yet this song will do it every time.

CLICK HERE to hear O Holy Night, and listen to the end. I’m amazed that Charlotte Church (love her last name) can hit that oh-so-high note.

Christmas has been neatly deleted from schools, public buildings, stores and all types of places, but the joy of the Lord is still in my heart. Someone might wish me Happy Holidays, but I’ll always wish them a Merry Christmas.

Yes, Santa came to our house when I was a child, to my house when my daughter was small, and he kept coming after my grandson was born. However, first and foremost was the real reason for celebrating – the birth of Christ. We never lost sight of the real reason.

I know not everyone believes the way I do, and that’s okay. Celebrate whatever you want to in any way that pleases you. I’ll do the same.

Someone might think, “But, hey! She writes murder mysteries. How could a Christian write something like that?” Well, there really are murders and there really are mysteries. My intent isn’t to gross someone out, but to entertain. While there is drama in my books, there’s also some humor. My characters, for the most part, have heart. They’re just ordinary people who sometimes find themselves involved in extraordinary circumstances. Although one of my characters goes to church every week, the books aren’t religious. Oh, well, there were a couple of books that included some Church Ladies who wanted to help solve crimes, but they still aren’t religious stories. And the ladies were fun and funny.

No, I don’t keep my Christianity and writing exclusive from each other. I’m simply not a writer of religious stories. Might be fun though.

So back to Christmas and O Holy Night. I confess, as if you couldn’t tell already, I’m a Christian and I love the Lord with all my heart. And I celebrate each and every day. I pray for people. I try to do the right thing, but often fail miserably. Am I perfect? Absolutely not! I make more mistakes than you can shake a stick at, but I am forgiven, thanks to the birth of one small boy.

In addition to the song, I have a favorite decoration. It’s a figurine of Santa Clause, hat in hand, kneeling by a cradle and showing his love for the baby Jesus.

So when you tell your children about St. Nicolas, be sure you tell them about the real meaning of Christmas first. Tell them about the child who came to teach us, to love us, and to care for us.

Talk to them about caring for each other. In these difficult times, it’s warmed my heart to hear about people paying for other people’s layaway items without asking for recognition. They just wanted to help someone who was having a difficult time. I watch when people drop money in the bucket outside of stores, and as others pull names from a Christmas tree in the store to buy a gift for a child they don’t know. Toys for Tots? Excellent! Food delivered for Christmas dinner? Someone – many someones – helped out again.

Until next time, unpolitically correct Me wishes you a Very Merry Christmas, and please, remember the real reason for the season. He loves you, and so do I.

CLICK HERE to visit Marja McGraw’s website

CLICK HERE for a quick trip to Amazon.com

Need a last minute Christmas gift? Try a book.