Named as a Character in a Book for the Second Time

 By Linda Thorne

 

The first time this happened, I was named as a character in Marilyn Meredith’s book, Not As It Seems. She does book tours for each book she publishes and often offers a choice of prizes to whomever leaves a comment on the most blogs. I won the prize on an earlier book tour and chose to be named as a character in a later book. When that book was published she stopped by my blog on her tour with a post called, The Character Named Linda Thorne.

This was a fun blog post (September 17, 2015). We got a surprise visit from Hank Phillippi Ryan who dropped in and commented on the complexities of using real people’s names as characters. Another commenter told us she’d never want to be named after a dead body or an evil person. Marilyn’s response was that she’d never kill off a character named after a real person or make them too awful unless, of course, they didn’t mind. I ended up in Not As It Seems as a not-so-nice, tall, redheaded woman. For me, it made the book more fun to read.

Last February, a few members of the Middle Tennessee Sisters in Crime organization met with Carolyn Haines in Mobile, Alabama. She'd joined us in Nashville a few years earlier, but was unable to make another trip in 2016, so we went to her. We had dinner with her one night, got to speak at the Mobile Writers Guild she belongs to, and have lunch with her college students. Carolyn had been teaching creative writing at the University of South Alabama for a very long time. At some point during all this, Carolyn Haines said she was going to name a character after me. I was all for it.

So I am a crotchety insurance sales woman in Sticks and Bones coming out May 17th. I can’t wait. It's part of her Sarah Booth Delaney mystery series. I saw it online and will pre-order it.
Buy Link: Buy Sticks and Stones 

Author Carolyn Haines

She told me that she has one friend, Aleta, who has been a dead whore twice in her books. In The House of Memory (I think also available for pre-order) coming out in June, she has four friends who are dead, lobotomized whores. She joked about not being so good to her friends, but hey, I know they all agreed and are happy to be included, dead or alive.

Buy link for the House of Memory: House of Memory

I have loved each and every one of Carolyn Haines Sarah Booth Delaney bone series mystery books. The newest coming out is in mid March and can be pre-ordered now. It is Guru Bones. I guarantee you'll love it. Here's the buy link: Buy link for Guru Bones - A Sarah Booth Delaney mystery

Being named for a character in an author's book is a different experience -- a fun one for me.

More on Titles by Marilyn Meredith

Thought I'd piggy-back on Linda Thorne's post about titles.

When I first started my Deputy Tempe Crabtree mysteries, I thought I'd keep the titles to 2 words: Deadly Trail, Deadly Omen,Unequally Yoked, then I went to one word, Intervention, followed by Wingbeat.

I began to realize that it was more important to use a title that somehow fit the books. Sometimes I know what the title will be before I begin. At others, I don't have a clue until I'm all done.

Because the Tempe books often center on or have some native legend or mystique in them, I've used part of a quote from an American Indian for a title. That's where I got the title for the next on due out in August--Seldom Traveled.

A couple of books I've had to ask my critique group for suggestions for titles, and received just the perfect one.

Someone gave me the title, Murder in the Worst Degree. I thought it was great, wrote the next book in the Rocky Bluff series planning to use the title, but it wasn't until the last two chapters did I realize how it fit the story.

My latest in that series, A Crushing Death was easy because it is the way someone dies. And the idea for the murder came from a fellow mystery writer.

The book I'm working on now, I have no clue about what the title should be--yet.

Marilyn

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.

My Love Affair with Morro Bay and Surroundings

One of the reviews for Not as it Seems, despite 5 stars, hinted at the fact that I might have gone overboard describing attractions and restaurants in Morro Bay.I think the above photo of Morro Rock may give you a bit of an idea why I love to visit the area.

Probably the reviewer was right. I mentioned several restaurants and the food eaten by Deputy Tempe Crabtree and her preacher husband Hutch.

Sunsets are spectacular on the ocean. Of course this is Morro Rock, and I've seen such sunsets from several restaurants there.

Another sunset down the road from a hotel in Pismo Beach.

And here's my favorite place to eat breakfast in Morro Bay, The Coffee Pot.

I'm afraid I couldn't help but write about all the places I know Tempe and Hutch would've visited. Yes, she's trying to discover a murderer, but this is also supposed to be a vacation. Tempe tries hard to focus on all the wonderful places they visit--but her mind is always on the clues.

http://www.amazon.com/Not-As-Seems-Marilyn-Meredith/dp/1606594486/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1443103450&sr=1-1&keywords=not+as+it+seems+by+marilyn+meredith

Marilyn

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.

Feeling Birthing Pains by Marilyn Meredith

What? Birthing pains at your age?

Of course I'm not refering to giving birth in the usual sense, but my latest Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery, Not as it Seems,  is about to make it's appearance.

I've been planning the promotion for quite some time--a blog tour and some book fairs are scheduled.

Every chapter of the book was heard by my critique group. I sent it off to the publisher, the editor sent it to me with her edits, I fixed what needed to be fixed and sent it back. Got it to check over again and I found more mistakes.

The galley proof arrived--and guess what? More fixes needed.

The cover was sent to me for approval and it looks great!

Now, when the book comes out will I (or readers) discover more mistakes?

I wrote about places I've only visited, did I get all that information right?

Will people like the story?

I'm sure you authors out there know exactly what I'm going through.

Until I actually see the book and get some reader feedback, I'll continue experiencing the birthing pains.

Marilyn