Marilyn Meredith Writes the Rocky Bluff PD Mystery Series as F. M. Meredith
Marilyn is here to tell you about the latest: Not as We Knew It. It’s #16 in the series, but all the mysteries are solved by the end of the tale. Like all the stories in this series, it is how what’s going on in the small beach community of Rocky Bluff affects the officers and their families.
The challenges come one after another for the Rocky Bluff P.D. to handle―from a missing woman to a fatal house fire. Detective Doug Milligan is faced with new and unusual problems to solve, some on the job and others related to his family. With the department shorthanded because of the Covid virus, Chief Chandra Taylor must make some hard decisions in order to protect the town of Rocky Bluff.
I’ve written in one form or another since I was a child. Because I had five children and now share my home with three great-grandchildren, I’m used to distractions and have no problem return to whatever I’m working on.
George asked if an association membership has helped me or my writing. I can honestly say being a part of the Public Safety Writers Association has certainly given me a big boost in writing about folks in law enforcement, answers to many questions, and sometimes even a plot idea.
Many of my characters are based on real people or combinations of folks. No one has ever accused me of writing about him or her. One exception is a friend who wanted to be a character in my other series. I didn’t use her real name, but I did describe her and her personality, and she loved it. I’ve also held contests where the person who one had his or her name used in a book. That’s fun, too, and the character never is anything like the real person.
Though I usually know the main theme of the story I’m going to write, I don’t outline. I do keep notes as I go along, especially about new characters, so I don’t forget some important detail.
I’ve written and published over 40 books, mostly mysteries but some in other genres. My other series is the Deputy Tempe Crabtree mysteries, the latest being End of the Trail.
Rocky Bluff is a fictional small beach community along the Pacific coast, set between Ventura and Santa Barbara. It has some resemblance to another town but has its own characteristics. To me, it feels like a real place. When I’m writing about it, I can see it in my mind’s eye, and I can smell the ocean and feel the dampness of the fog. I feel the same way about the characters, and I’m compelled to write the next book, so I can find out what happens to them.
Having read Marilyn’s great books I can say she’s an excellent writer who knows just how much detail and description to put into a scene to make the reader feel he or she is right there. She’s an amazing writer who captures the essence of her characters so effectively that they seem like old friends you want to revisit with each new book.
I read several of Marilyn’s wonderful books. She is a great author, and a very nice person. Her characters are believable, the scenes vivid, and her stories will delight the reader. You can’t go wrong with her books!
Thank you, John, nice words to warm a writer’s heart.
Michael, I truly am humbled by your kind words.
Thank you, George, for hosting me today. I am a little late getting here, but will be letting people know where I am.
You’ve published TEN TIMES more books than I. I would be interested in how you have had the most success in marketing your books. Do you feel that sales are boosted by being a series?
I have felt that if people read one of your books, they will likely want to read the others; how true is that assumption?
Virgil, I do think having a series boosts sales, especially when you promote one in the series as free, or only .99 cents, then people tend to buy others in the series. That’s not why I keep writing new books in each series though. I do because I want to know what’s happening with the characters next.
I’m to blame for Marilyn’s being a bit late. For some reason, my blog schedule clock changed time zones. I had to go to my designer, who figured it out. Hopefully, it won’t happen again.
Virgil Alexander has been trying to leave a comment. When a person, usually a first-timer, posts and is not recognized, I have to approve. I try to check several times a day.
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Thank you, George for hosting me today. And thank you, Michael for your kind words.
Marilyn, you already know I love your series–nonetheless, it’s great hearing from you via George!
Madeline, you’re always so gracious. Sure hope one of these days we will be able to get-together again.
I so much enjoy reading Marilyn’s books. She’s a great talent who writes in pictures making it very easy for readers to jump right beside the characters to witness the action first hand. And for her to be able to write around any distractions only makes me admire her more.
Lida, thank you. I do try to put into words what my characters see and experience as though I am seeing their surroundings and experiencing what they are. Hope to see you sometime during this coming year.
Marilyn, I like your books, but I admire your generous spirit more. That’s what makes your books so enjoyable.
Marilyn, I like your books, but I admire your generous spirit more. That’s what makes your books so enjoyable. Keep up the good work.
Thank you, J. L., what a nice thing to say!
Fun to hear about your process and how you see your setting of Rocky Bluff. Yours are fun books and I’m adding this to my TBR list.
Thanks, Thonie. If you do read it I hope you’ll enjoy it.