The Mystery is How am I Going to do it All?

Ever wonder if all that you have planned can possibly happen? I'm at that stage right now.

Because I have a new Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery out, A Cold Death, I've been doing all sorts of things online and in person to promote it. My blog tour is over, and yes, I think it helped, at least the ranking on Kindle because lower numbers during that time period. And I've run another online promotion too. I won't know how well that has worked until I receive a royalty statement from the publisher.

I've had book signings at Barnes and Noble and a wonderful chocolate store. I'll be one of many authors at the Great Valley Book Festival in Manteca this Saturday. Always a fun day.

But--and it's a big one--I also have a re-issue of a very old cookbook--Cooking for a Big Family and a Crowd  as well as a romance with a supernatural touch, Lingering Spirit, and my very first mystery The Astral Gift.

All of this has come about because of a wonderful friend, who decided all the books that had been with my former publisher should be republished. She is also working on two historical family sagas of mine. And of course this means that I have to do a lot of re-editing, but I can assure you I'm not complaining about that.

In the meantime, the Rocky Bluff P.D. mystery I'm working on now is being neglected. What I've decided is that maybe I won't have two books come out next year as usual. There is only so much time.

So authors--have you ever felt like I do at the moment? A bit overwhelmed by all that you need to be doing?

And readers, I hope this give you a bit of an insight about what some of us go through in order to get new books out there. We all hope that the books we write will please readers.

Marilyn

Me at Stafford's Chocolates

Starting a New Rocky Bluff P.D. Mystery

As I write this, I have four paragraphs on paper. I've come up with two new characters--the murder victim, one suspect, and a new police officer.

However, I have lots of ideas for what will happen with my ongoing characters in their lives--thanks to my writers' group. I asked them to brainstorm with me and since they know all the regular characters because they've listened to all the previous books, they came up with some great ideas.

What they suggested gave me an idea for the title and the overall theme of this particular book.

I feel good about where I'm going and I'm well on my way.

At the same time, I've sent the next Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery off to the publisher, A Cold Death, and the editor has it in her hands, and the cover artist my idea for the cover. The publisher is shooting for an August release. We'll see.

Now I must get busy and write a chapter so I have something to read to  my critique group.

I'll have this week and a couple of days of next week to write--then I'm off to Las Vegas to the Public Safety Writers Association's annual conference. It's the only one I'm going to because we can easily drive there--or I should say my daughter can easily drive us there.

I'm one of the instructors for the pre-conference workshop, and I'll be a moderator for one panel and on another. I know so many people who attend this conference, both writers and law enforcement folks, it's like going to a family reunion.

And I have three library visits this month. I've really been enjoying these library visits.

How is your summer coming along--writing, reading, or otherwise?

Marilyn

Talking about the Importance of Setting at the Paso Robles Library