Spring Break Adventure?

Everyone around me at the day job is taking this week off. Kids home from school, travel plans to warmer climates (although this year, Alaska was warmer than St. Louis on days) or just relaxing.

I’m not a spring breaker. Or at least not a consistent one. My son in fifth grade got measles the Friday before spring break. We didn’t have school trips out of the country when I was in high school. Most of my classmates spent spring break plowing the fields to get ready for spring planting.

But I did take a couple spring breaks just for me. When I turned 40, I realized my marriage wasn’t working. In fact it was on life support and I was the only one manning that breathing bag they use in movies and television shows when the electricity goes out. It took a long time before I admitted it to myself but once I did, I was resolute.

That spring break, I took a trip to California to see my sister. I’d invited my son (a teenager) along, but he wanted to stay close and hang out with his friends. So the 10 hour trip was on my own. And I loved it. Music blaring, I stopped at any road side attraction I wanted to see. No negotiating. No losing. I was my own boss for a week.

During this time, I visited a lot of little tourist spots along the coast. Solvang, Cambria, Hearst Castle, Santa Barbara, San Diego. I even drove the mountain roads where James Dean wrecked his new Porsche 550 Spyder in 1955. (Photo from Wikipedia)

The trip grounded me. And for the first time, in an awful long time, I felt hope.

When I left California, I had a ton of pictures and a new lease on life. I knew I was doing the right thing in my personal life. One of the pictures, an old run down house for sale, haunted me. I kept that picture on my wall for years. The idea for Guidebook to Murder grew from that picture. It’s ironic that many years after my spring adventure, the book will release April 17^th, 2014.

So what adventure are you having this fine spring break?

Lynn

In the gentle coastal town of South Cove, California, all Jill Gardner wants is to keep her store--Coffee, Books, and More--open and running. So why is she caught up in the business of murder?

When Jill's elderly friend, Miss Emily, calls in a fit of pique, she already knows the city council is trying to force Emily to sell her dilapidated old house. But Emily's gumption goes for naught when she dies unexpectedly and leaves the house to Jill--along with all of her problems. . .and her enemies. Convinced her friend was murdered, Jill is finding the list of suspects longer than the list of repairs needed on the house. But Jill is determined to uncover the culprit--especially if it gets her closer to South Cove's finest, Detective Greg King. Problem is, the killer knows she's on the case--and is determined to close the book on Jill permanently. . .

Talent or Determination?

As I’m writing this, the weather outside is in the single digits and I’m stuck at home due to snow covered roads. Bad news is I have a lot of work to do at the day job that’s not getting done. Good news is I have heat, food, and a lot to do in my other life as a writer. 

Like this blog.

I’m not sure I ever loved the snow. When I lived in Idaho after my divorce, I took time to learn to cross country ski. Thirty minutes out of Boise, there was a small ski lodge with both downhill and cross-country trails. I loved spending Saturday mornings on the mountain, lost in my own world fighting through the fear. All I could hear was my own heavy breathing as I trudged the trail, going a little farther with each trip.

Was I an expert? No. In fact, going down little hills on the trail scared me. Most times when I felt out of control, I forced myself to fall over, stopping my descent. You’d be surprised how hard snow can be after a few warm days of sun and a few nights of freeze. It might look soft, instead, it was rock hard.

However, I got up each time I fell and then I kept going. With each trip, I gained confidence and strength. I started to believe in my ability not only to ski, but to succeed in other areas of my life. 

I wasn't an athlete in school. I dabbled in junior high but never had the confidence to try out for a team after that thinking I wasn't good enough. I was right, I wasn't. Not because I didn't have the ability, but because I didn't try.

Work, persistence, and determination three things anyone needs to succeed. Probably even more than talent.  

Speaking of persistence, how are your goals progressing?

Lynn

Balancing, balancing, balancing

We've talked about this before, but since I've been doing so much of this lately I decided to approach the subject again.

I'm working on a new Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery and have written fifteen chapters.

While I'm doing that I've also been working on the program for the Public Safety Writers Association's conference, which is from June 10 to 17 in Las Vegas. We have so many wonderful speakers I'm really excited about it. The speakers have to pay to come to the conference and their expenses like anyone else so it's a real coup when they agree to come. Besides the speakers we also have an agent and three small press publishers who will give one-on-ones. Anyone who signs up before March 31 can be on a panel if they want to be on one.

Because of these great speakers, I've been promoting the conference like crazy, I don't want anyone to miss out. http://publicsafetywriter.com

And...while I'm doing that I am planning the promotion for my next Rocky Bluff P.D. crime novel, An Axe to Grind. I don't have copies of it yet, so can't set dates for my book launch as yet, but I do have events lined up already.

January has already been busy. Spent one weekend in Ventura with the PSWA Board doing business--and have a bit of fun and some great food. Love the Ventura, CA area--lived there for over twenty years. While we were there, got to see my two daughters and their hubbys who live close by.

We went to the coast this past weekend again, this time to Morro Bay. I belong to the Central Coast chapter of Sisters in Crime and joined with them to put on a writing workshop. Whenever you have an event away from home it means planning what you need to take with you and getting a hotel reservation somewhere that doesn't cost much. Fortunately, going to small coast communities off season is really the best time.

A blog tour is planned for March. So far haven't had any interviews or questionnaires to do for that, but when they start coming in, that'll take some juggling too.

On my personal blog, every Friday I'm interviewing members of PSWA, and I try to have something new every day. http://marilynmeredith.blogspot.com

Once a week I attend the writers critique group I've belonged to since 1981.

Believe it or not, I also have a life. My hubby expects a bit of time with me each day and we try to go to the movies and out to eat two or three times a month. I'm also the chief cook around here and always have extra folks joining us for dinner. I have four adult children (two live really close by) and lots of grandkids and great grandkids. I teach Sunday School, I'm the Church Clerk and participate in many church activities.

I'm sure I've missed something, but you get the idea, it's a lot to juggle.