Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Unbelievable

Reporting on my cruise and something I found out that I found hard to believe.

Hubby and I went on the ill-fated mystery cruise. I say ill-fated because it was scheduled for last year and had a large group signed up. It would be like a conference with panels and speakers, open to the public and a last day meet the author. The week before we were supposed to go, the ship we were going on caught fire at sea and had to be towed in. Big news--the cruisers were without fresh food, hot water, and electricity.

There was no way the ship could be fixed in time for our cruise so it was cancelled. The mystery cruise was re-scheduled for this year, most of the people signed up again. The price was definitely right. About half way into the year one person decided not to go and said the cruise was cancelled. It wasn't, but that was enough for many to back-out and there were no longer enough people for our events to be listed in the ship's daily calendar.

The price was really good and hubby and I decided to go anyway as did a few others. We had about 10 mystery authors, four members of a group called Citizens Against Homicide, and a some folks just taking advantage of the good price for the cruise. We did get together three times. Once to get to know who we all were, and one of the authors gave a presentation on short story writing.

The Citizens Against Homicide gave a two hour presentation another day. They help people who have lost someone to homicide. I'll write more about the group at another time.

The unbelievable came about when I gave a presentation about blog tours. I had this idea in my head that we mystery authors on the cruise ought to plan a blog tour. I began talking about blogging and a hand went up. No names, but this was an author I'd never met, but I had heard her name. This was the question, "What on earth is a blog?"

I thought she was kidding. She wasn't. And she wasn't alone, except for one other author, none of them not only didn't blog, they'd never heard of blogging, had no clue what I was talking about. I explained along with the help of the other author who did blog. Unfortunately, this particular day the seas were rough and it was impossible to stand up to talk. I did my best from a chair. Finally I offered to send everyone hand-outs I've done for other groups on blogging and blog tours. The day after I got home, I did just that. I hope everyone got them--but I haven't heard a word back from anyone.

So, for those of us who blog regularly, this was a shocking surprise to me.

While I was gone, I had a new blog posting everyday--they were writing tips I'd posted at previous times, but at least I had something new everyday for those who follow my blog.

Is anyone as surprised by this as I am?

Marilyn

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Marilyn, I am shocked. I've met so many wonderful authors and readers via blogging.

Here's another strange story. I know of a multi-published author (22 books) who is just now getting a website. How's that for strange? No Facebook. No Twitter. No social media of any kind. AND she's only in her 40s so age is not a factor!

writing jobs at home said...

Nice post. I like it!

Anonymous said...

Hi Marilyn,

I'm surprised! But more importantly, I want to join your blog group!!!!

I've worked for years on cruise ships, and that led me to my cruise ship mystery series. My mysteries 'Grave Passage' and 'Mediterranean Grave' recount the adventures of Henry Grave, an octogenarian detective who investigates crimes on cruise ships.

Can I join your new group?

William Doonan
www.williamdoonan.com

Ricky Bush said...

One would have to live in a cave in the mountains of Afghanistan to not know about blogging. Even then, there are probably some of those cave dwellers blogging at this moment.

Marilyn Meredith a.k.a. F. M. Meredith said...

Not sure what you mean about my blog group, William--I don't have one per se as this bunch didn't know enough for us to set one up, and I haven't heard a word from any of them.

I'd love to have you write a post for my blog, just email me at mmeredith@ocsnet.net

After my next Rocky Bluff P.D. books comes out, I'll be doing a blog tour for it, want to be a part of that?

Marilyn

Morgan Mandel said...

Yes, I'm very surprised as well. Even TV and radio personalities are blogging these days. I don't know how these people never heard of such a thing.

Morgan Mandel
http://morganmandel.blogspot.com
http://www.morganmandel.com