Friday, November 19, 2010

Author Marilyn Meredith Visits

It’s always a pleasure to have award-winning author Marilyn Meredith guest blog here at Thoughts in Progress as she makes her way on her virtual book tour.

Marilyn’s latest release is INVISIBLE PATH, the 8th installment in the Deputy Tempe Crabtree series. You may remember Marilyn also writes the Rocky Bluff P.D. Mystery series too.

Here’s a brief synopsis of INVISIBLE PATH - While Tempe’s son, Blair is home from Christmas break, he and his roommate from college do a bit of snooping to find out about the para-military group who’ve been seen driving through town. When a young popular Indian is found dead near the recovery center on the reservation, Tempe is called in to help with the investigation. Another Native American but a newcomer to the rez, Jesus Running Bear, is the only suspect. A hidden pregnancy, a quest to find the Hairy Man, and a visit to the pseudo soldiers’ compound put Jesus and Tempe in jeopardy.

Today Marilyn has stopped by to tells us about her writing. Be sure to check out her blog, she has a contest going on.

I love visiting Mason Canyon and Thoughts in Progress. It reminds me of stopping by a friend’s house for a cup of coffee. Actually I’m drinking my favorite Chai tea while writing this. Because I’ve visited Mason’s blog before and she’s kindly visited mine and left comments, I feel like we’re friends.

Today I thought I’d talk about some of the dilemmas of being an author. Of course I don’t have the same kind of dilemmas as Mary Higgins Clark or James Patterson because I’m not nearly as well-known nor do I come close to selling even a fraction of the number of books they do.

While writing this blog I’m putting off working on my next Rocky Bluff P.D. crime novel. I’m about ¾ of the way through the first draft and I’m anxious to finish. Once I’ve done that, then I’ll go back and start the rewriting process which will involve reading it chapter by chapter to the critique group I meet with most Wednesdays.

They’ve nearly finished hearing all of the next Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery, the one that will come out next fall. Once they’ve finished with that one, then I’ll do some extensive editing before sending it off to my publishing company. (Sometime near the end of summer, an in-house editor will be assigned the book and it will be edited again.)

I’ve started the promotion for INVISIBLE PATH which is the Tempe book I’m letting people know about now. I’ve arranged for a book launch at a used bookstore in the nearest town and will soon have to make some posters and let the newspaper know in order to have some publicity.

One of my favorite kinds of promotion is a blog tour, that’s one of the reasons I’m here visiting Mason.


A new event I’m trying is a mystery cruise to ports in Mexico. For the three days we’re at sea, we’re having a mystery writing conference. No matter how it turns out, whether books are purchased or not, it’s going to be fun. (Marilyn had sent me her post prior to going on her cruise and then there was the crazy turn of events. If you've been watching the news on TV you've seen the cruise ship that's in distress and having to be tugged back to San Diego. That's the ship Marilyn was supposed to go on. Needless to say, her cruise was canceled, but she went to Las Vegas to visit with her sister instead.)

I also do other in-person events like book and craft fairs, visit book clubs, attend mystery conventions to meet more fans, speak to service and social groups, libraries, schools, really, anyone who would like me to come.

The only drawback to in-person events, they take a lot of time, time away from the computer and writing.

The hope, of course, for any kind of book promotion is that people will buy books. In my case, not only do I hope for this, once the book is purchased, I want the reader to enjoy it.

P.S. I also love to answer questions. You can ask me anything you want and I’ll come back and answer it for you.

INVISIBLE PATH can be purchased as a trade paperback or e-book from http://www.mundania.com or any of the usual online bookstores.

Marilyn, it’s always a delight having you stop by and visit with us here. I’m glad you weren’t already on your cruise when the ship developed trouble, but I can image that could lead to interesting tidbits in a book too.

Now a little bit more about Marilyn. She is the author of nearly thirty published novels, including the award winning Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery series, the latest INVISIBLE PATH  from Mundania Press. Under the name of F. M. Meredith she writes the Rocky Bluff P.D. crime series, AN AXE TO GRIND is the latest from Oak Tree Press.

Marilyn is a member of EPIC, Four chapters of Sisters in Crime, including the Internet chapter , Mystery Writers of America, and on the board of the Public Safety Writers of America. Visit  her at http://fictionforyou.com and her blog at http://marilymeredith.blogspot.com

Here’s a video of her book trailer, enjoy
!



To read an excerpt of INVISIBLE PATH click here. As writers, what are some of the dilemmas you've faced? How did you handle them? Share your thoughts with us today.

20 comments:

  1. Marilyn, welcome and thanks so much for guest blogging here again. Always enjoy your visits.

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  2. Mason - Thanks for hosting Marilyn.

    Marilyn - You outline so clearly the dilemmas that writers face when it comes to balancing everything. There's promotion, writing, editing and revising, planning for the next book... You're obviously doing it very well, and I admire that. I wish you well with Invisible Path. And I really like your idea of a writing cruise. How intriguing!!

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  3. Thank you Mason and Marilyn.

    There are so many demands on a writer's time. When I started down this path, I thought all I had to do was sit at the computer and type. That turned out to be the easy part. Quite a surprise to learn writers are expected to excel not only at writing, but salesmanship, public speaking, social networking, research, etc.

    Marilyn, you are an inspiration.

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  4. VR is right. Writers have a closet full of hats, and you wear all yours well, Marilyn. Sorry about the fate of the cruise, but you did get an unexpected visit with your sister. That's great.

    Thanks for hosting her, Mason.

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  5. It's interesting how you're blogging, touring, promoting, editing, and writing, all at the same time. Do you keep a master itinerary on hand, to keep everything prioritized as you move along?

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  6. I'm feeling envious! I need a chai tea and a Mexican cruise right now! :) Sounds like you're doing a wonderful job promoting...best wishes for your new release.

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  7. Well, an author that drinks chai tea and writes mysteries is right up my alley. Marilyn, I'll be hopping over to your blog to learn more. Mason, thanks for another great introduction. I find the coolest new (to me) authors this way.

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  8. It is only 10 of 7 here so was surprised to see so many comments already. I love Mason's blog and always feel I'm visiting a friend when I come here.

    Hey, Kaye, nice to see you!

    Margot, the mystery cruise is supposed to be rescheduled for November so you can go with us if you want.

    VR, like you I'd much rather just be writing, but all the rest is necessary.

    Carol, it isn't easy wearing all those hats. And, yes, I had a great time with my sister, we pretended we were on a cruise.

    Joanne, I write all the dates on my calendar and have a small notebook that I keep day to day notes about what I need to do. I'd never remember everything otherwise.

    Hi, Elizabeth, I'm drinking my Chai tea right now.

    Thanks all of you for leaving comments.

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  9. Thanks for hosting Marilyn today. It's great to see so many comments. You have a wonderful readership.

    I've been reading Marilyn's books since Judgment Fire came out a few years ago. I loved this new one. I hope your readers will check it out.

    Wishing you all a blessed Thanksgiving.

    Cheryl

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  10. Marilyn, I know you've talked before on your blog about the delay factor with book events. That there's not always an immediate up-tick in sales, but that you have to trust that you're planting seeds for later.

    How do you handle that? Is it no big deal to you, or does it get frustrating sometimes?

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  11. Marilyn: Thanks for all the publicity you do. I never would have found this blog. Mason, thanks for hosting Marilyn. I love the music selections along the side of the page. Never enough music in the world!
    Have a great day and you can't beat one of Marilyn's books to curl up with.
    Wendy
    W.S. Gager
    www.WsGager.com

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  12. Hi Marilyn,

    Great to see you here. I was thrilled to discover Mason's site and was delighted to be her guest yesterday.

    Thanks for all you share with us!

    Monti
    NotesAlongTheWay

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  13. C. N., I just keep plugging along and what happens along te way happens. I've been at this long enough to know that none of it is easy. I just enjoy each thing and if it results in people buying and enjoying my books, that's terrific. Just to let you in on a little secret, I'm addicted to writing. In order to keep doing it, I feel like I have to promote too.


    Hi, Wendy, thanks for stopping by and the kind words.

    Always nice to see you too, Monti.

    Mairlyn

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  14. Nice to meet you. I wish you all the best in your book tour. Thank you Mason for hosting this lovely lady.
    Nancy
    N. R. Williams, fantasy author

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  15. Thanks for stopping by N. R. and Janna--and also for your kind comments.

    Marilyn






















































































































































































































































































































































    Thank you, N. R. and Janna for stopping by and your lovely comments.

    Marilyn

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  16. Hi Sia and Marilyn .. as I read the introduction to your new Tempe novel - it was as I imagined it - which the video snippet endorsed!

    Interesting to read your approach .. and this was a good read - thank you to you both .. and I'm glad you weren't on the San Diego ship .. and hope you had a good visit with your sister?!

    Thanks .. I'm sure I'll read Invisible Path sometime - especially with the Indian information in it ..

    Have good weekends .. Hilary

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  17. Your Brisco is in my thoughts and prayers. I hope he has a full recovery, poor baby. I HATE when animals are hurting because you just don't know what to do for them since they can't tell you what hurts. :(

    I lost the HTML code you sent me to add a link to my blog on comments too. :( LoL

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  18. Marilyn sets such a good example on diligently writing and revising while still doing the necessary promotion chores. Thanks for hosting this excellent guest, Mason.

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I'd love to hear your thoughts on today's post. Thanks for dropping by.