Merry Christmas to all--and I'm Starting a New Book

 This is a different Christmas for many. In my case, I'm missing the usual celebrations from Christmas Parades to our writers' group annual Christmas dinner. However, our family Christmas will be much the same as usual with the addition of a three guests--also relatives.

Despite what all is going on or not I've started planning a new Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery. In the last book, Tempe had decided to retire. When I wrote it, I thought it might be the last in the series. However, a trip to visit my eldest daughter gave me a great idea, so once again I'm in the planning stages.

No, I don't write an outline, however this is what I usually do when I'm beginning a new book:

First comes the setting. In this case, it will be a new place for Tempe. I've ordered a couple of books about the history of the town she'll be in, as sometimes historical facts give me ideas for the plot or side-plots.

Next, come the characters. Who is going to get murdered and why? I need a name, personality traits, physical description,  and of course all the people who might want to see this person's demise and for various reasons. Which means developing more characters.

Oh, yes, I must not forget how the person was killed. Was there a weapon to be found? The crime scene, any clues?

I'm not very far along in the planning process, but I'm excited that I get to be with Tempe and her husband, Hutch, once again.

Have a great holiday no matter how you celebrate.

Marilyn

A Great Christmas Memory

This has nothing to do with mysteries, but I felt like sharing a Christmas memory in the spirit of the season.

Years ago I belonged to a sorority that mainly focused on fun, which was all right, but I had a sense that we ought to be doing some good too.

At that time I taught at a preschool for children with developmental disabilities. One day I heard one of the therapists tell about a family that wouldn't have any Christmas at all. The father was out of work and they had no money for gifts. I found out that there were three kids, learned the names and sizes, and was given their address.

When I told my sorority sisters about the family, they all wanted to help. Together, we purchased and wrapped gifts for the whole family including the parents. We bought a small Christmas tree and decorations for it, along with all the ingredients for a holiday meal.

Two of my fellow sorority sisters and I loaded my station wagon with everything and headed for the address, which was an upstairs apartment in a low-income housing project. We parked, and a young man working on a car asked if we needed some help. We told him what address we were looking for, and he said, "That's where I live."

I said, "Good, maybe you can give us a hand taking all this stuff upstairs."

He appeared puzzled, but agreed and we got everything into the apartment. Believe me, it was a lot.

His wife and the kids had bewildered looks on their faces.

We said, "Merry Christmas."

The man said, "Wait. Who did this come from?"

I said, "You have heard of Santa Claus, haven't you?" And we left, giggling all the way down the stairs."

I've never had so much fun. It was a great way to spread Christmas joy.

Anyone else have a great Christmas memory to share?

Marilyn

 Merry Christmas

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The Holiday Spirit

Yes, I do have it, and right now I'll say, Merry Christmas everyone.

The best part of Christmas is spending time with family. I have a big one, so no matter where some are going a few will end up at our house on Christmas Eve for dinner and gifting.

I've done all the decorating I'm going to do. Hubby can't help me drag things out of the closet anymore, so I've kept the decorations at a minimum. We have a couple of table-top trees, three Nativity Scene, and around the fireplace my collection of stuffed animals, primarily moose.

Since we have little great-grandkids who come over often, my moose become popular play toys--and I love it.

A ceramic village adorns the mantle, and that's also where I display Christmas cards. So much fun to hear from friends and relatives we haven't seen for years.

We went to our first and only Christmas party at our church. This is not a sedate bunch. Everyone brought great food to share and a wrapped Christmas ornament. One by one people chose a package to unwrap and either kept what they got or stole someone else's that they liked better. Much laughter ensued.

And to insert something about mysteries, I attended a brand new chapter of Sisters in Crime in Bakersfield and shared what it takes to write nearly 40 books. What a welcoming group they were. They greeted me warmly, listened intently, asked great questions, and bought many books.

I'd like to hear you holiday plans whether it be for Christmas or some other celebration.

Marilyn aka F. M.

My two latest mysteries are Not as it Seems and Violent Departures.

Wishing you the Merriest Christmas Ever

This is the closest to a decorated Christmas tree I'm going to have this year. My husband doesn't like putting it up anymore. The last time we had it up and decorated, our cats thought it was a new play toy and knocked off all the glass decorations which shattered all over. Now we have an 18 month old great-grandson who visits often. His grandpa calls him "Bam Bam." When I decorated, I took that into consideration and only put out the stuff that is unbreakable.

I have a whole array of stuffed moose and he's quite welcome to play with them. He likes the one that sings, "Grandma got run over by a reindeer."

Decorating was so much easier this year with my two excuses: cats and great-grandson.

Plus, I've really been busy. Just came off an intensive blog tour for Raging Water which took a lot of time.

I just send off the 2nd edits for the next book in my Rocky Bluff P.D. series, Dangerous Impulses, and wrote the blurb for it.

The next in the Deputy Tempe Crabtree series is still being heard by my critique group and I'm writing the 2014 offering in the Rocky Bluff P.D. series.

Who has time for holidays?

Me, really I do. I just don't do quite as much as I used to. Went to a fun church Christmas party, and to see The Hobbit with hubby and a good friend--in fact the woman who is really Miqui Sherwood in Raging Water and she's loved every minute of it.

Our critique group is meeting for dinner at our favorite Thai restaurant.

And Christmas Eve three of our grandsons will join us, along with our son, and their lady loves and Bam Bam for dinner and opening of gifts.

Christmas day we plan to sneak off and go see a movie. Afterwards we'll visit daughter and son-in-law and their grandkids and see if they received the gifts they asked for.

So that's how we'll be celebrating.

Oh, and if you want to catch up on my Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery series, check it out at my publishers: http://mundania.com/


Marilyn

A FedEx Christmas

By Captain Mark W. Danielson

’Twas the week before Christmas and all through the hub,
the sorters were sorting, not one single flub.
They stuffed boxes in demis, all loaded with care,
in hopes that their pilots would soon fly them there.
The presents were nestled all snug in their cases,
while loaders slid them to all the right places.
Then my first officer walked with me to his side,
climbed the stairs to prepare for a long winter flight.
When out on the ramp I heard such a clatter,
I sprang from my seat to see what’s the matter.
Away to the door I flew like a flash,
looked out just in time to see the near crash.
The moon on the breast of new-fallen snow,
gave the luster of mid-day to the objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
a pilot from management not wearing flight gear.
With little old eyes, so nervous and quick,
I knew in a moment someone must have been sick.
More rapid than eagles, more pilots came.
But not enough pilots, he called us by name.
Now Dusty, now Scooter, now Gator and Oddie!
On Blazer, on Bear, on Trapper, and Hoggie!
To the top of your stairs, to the flight decks you all,
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
Regardless of obstacles, we took to the sky.
From snow-covered runways, those cargo planes flew,
with cabins full of toys, and St Nicholas, too.
And then with a twinkling, my wheels soon touched down.
A few more minutes and we’ll be on the ground.
Soon a flurry of loaders converged on the plane.
And fuelers and mechanics all doing the same.
While bundles of toys rode their way down,
several safety observers all stood around.
Workers’ cheeks were like roses,
their noses like cherries.
Many in Santa hats, nearly all seemed quite merry.
Some beards were all white and covered in snow,
but no one complained, only hours to go.
One had a broad face and a little round belly,
that shook when she laughed, like a bowlful of jelly.
She was chubby and plump, a right jolly old gal,
I smiled when I saw her, in spite of myself.
A wink of her eye and a twist of her hand,
her bus door opened, I had nothing to dread.
She spoke not a word, but took us straight to the door.
As soon as we’re off, she went back to get more.
In three hours we were back in our seats,
the process done over, we’re not done with our feat.
Hundreds of planes soon took to the air,
all sure to deliver their boxes with care.
Through our smart phones, the chief pilot said,
another sort down, now go find your beds.
Merry Christmas from all who deliver your presents.