Something New for Me--Using a Real Setting

Not as it Seems, the latest in my Deputy Tempe series is located in a real place, Morro Bay and it's surroundings. Tempe and her husband, Hutch, even eat in real restaurants.

In fact this photo was taken out a window at a real restaurant that's in the story.

When I write about Tempe in her home surroundings, it's a fictional place that is quite similar to the place I live in the Southern Sierra--but not quite. For one thing, I've moved the town higher in the mountains and the restaurants and other places of business are fictious. The reason I did that, business don't seem to stay very long.

Morro Bay is a place that my husband I like to visit. I even belong to the Central Coast Chapter of Sisters in Crime which gives me good excuses to visit the area from time to time.

I'll be headed over there to particpate in the Central Coast Author and Book Fair on Sunday, September 20 from 10 to 4 at the Seacrest Oceanfront Hotel in Pismo Beach.

Though not in an official capacity, Tempe investigates a murder and the investigation takes her to Pismo, Los Osos, San Luis Obispo, Nipomo, Avila Beach, and Arroyo Grande. Now, that the book is out, we'll see if I got everything right or not.

It's much easier to write about an imaginary place--at least it is for me.

You can check out Not as it Seems on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Seems-Tempe-Crabtree-Mystery-Book-ebook/dp/B014JREF0K/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1440892828&sr=1-1&keywords=Not+as+it+Seems+by+Marilyn+Meredith

and on Barnes and Noble:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/not-as-it-seems-marilyn-meredith/1122583033?ean=2940151209311

Marilyn

And if you do buy the book and read it, it would be great if you'd put a review up on either Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

Following New Directions--Or Where My Research is Taking Me

While I'm busy planning promotion for my next Rocky Bluff P.D. mystery, Violent Departures, I'm writing a new Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery.

To keep the series fresh, Tempe is going to solve a crime in a new place--Morro Bay. I picked Morro Bay because it's spot we've often visited.

Morro Rock is the tip of a no-longer producing valcano and has some history, folk-lore, and spirituality with the two local Indian tribes. Since Tempe is an Indian, there is a strong connection there--one I can include in the plot.

Three characters in the book are Ethiopian--as far as ethnicity is concerned--though American citizens. This made it necessary to do some reserach about Ethiopia. Besides the Internet, I connected with a fellow Central Coast Sister in Crime member who served with the Peace Corp in Ehtiopia. Perfect.

I'm only on Chapter 5--but the ideas keep flowing--all I need more of is time.

Writing two very different series at the same time isn't easy--but I have to admit that I do enjoy it.

Marilyn

What I've Learned About Myself and Promotion

I've just returned from a five days away from home attending Epicon in New Orleans and then turned around the next weekend to head to Apple Valley CA (a driveable 3 1/2 hours)for a talk for a writers' club.

The trek to New Orleans was brutal with three plane changes and one to another airline. Traipsing through the terminals lugging two carry-ons, having to find a bus that went to another terminal for the airline change wore hubby and me out. The conference itself was great as was the sightseeing in New Orleans, but I was exhausted for days afterwards and not really recovered when it was time to take off again.

Because of my new book, An Axe to Grind, I've been promoting non-stop. I always do a mix of on-line promotion and in-person events.

I'm on a blog tour all month which means visiting the blog stops and leaving a message, answering quesions left in comments, and promoting each blog on Facebook and other social networking places.

When I got home from New Orleans I made arrangements for my physical book launch in the little town I live in and the nearest city. Fortunately, our local newspaper is always gracious about helping me promote my books and my events. On my way out of town to Apple Valley I made a stop at the newspaper to get my photo taken holding my book.

This coming weekend I'm headed to Oxnard CA where I'll have a booth at the Celebration of the Whales on Sunday, March 21st, from 9 to 5. This one is a bit of physical labor as we must put up our own tent and table and chairs. I've done this one before and it was good. Plus, we can stay with our daughter and hubby and have a chance to visit with them and our other daughter who lives nearby.

The weekend after that we're headed back to Morro Bay for a group author signing with the Central Coast Sisters in Crime on Sunday, March 28 from 1-3 at the Coalesce Bookstore.

When I read about these famous authors who drive or fly all over the country for booksignings in bookstores I know they are all much younger than I am. I could never handle that pace. I need to get home in between events and rest in comfortable surroundings.

Next time I'll tell how some of these promotions have worked out.

How about you? Have you learned anything from your promotions?