A former Spanish teacher, Marilyn Levinson writes mysteries, novels of suspense, and books for kids. Her books have received many accolades. As Allison Brook, she writes the Haunted Library series. Death Overdue, the first in the series, was an Agatha nominee for Best Contemporary Novel in 2018. Other mysteries include the Golden Age of Mystery Book Club series, the Twin Lakes series, and Giving Up the Ghost. Her suspense, Come Home to Death, was released in April 2024, and her suspense, Dangerous Relations, will be republished in 2025.
Marilyn’s juvenile novel, Rufus and Magic Run Amok, was an International Reading Association-Children’s Book Council Children’s Choice and has recently come out in a new edition, followed by Rufus and the Witch’s Drudge, the second book in the Rufus series. And Don’t Bring Jeremy was a nominee for six state awards. Her YA horror, The Devil’s Pawn, came out in a new edition in January 2024.
Marilyn lives on Long Island, where many of her books take place. She loves traveling, reading, doing crossword puzzles and Sudoku, chatting on FaceTime with her grandkids, and playing with her kittens, Romeo and Juliet.
Elevator Pitch for Booked On Murder, 
which came out August 6th: Carrie Singleton is ready to kiss the single life goodbye. Her wedding to Dylan Avery is just a few weeks away, and a happy ending is about to be hers. But when a body is found on the lawn of their wedding venue, happily-ever-after is looking deadlier than ever.
Do you write in more than one genre? I write mysteries, novels of suspense, and novels for kids.
What is the most challenging part of your writing process? I find it difficult to get started every day. For some reason, even after years of being an author, I still find writing a daunting challenge. But I’m fine once I get started.
What are you currently working on? Right now, I’m working on two novels. One is the first mystery in my Dickens Island series, which is two-thirds written. The other is the third book in my Rufus and Magic Run Amok series. The book is entitled Rufus and the Dark Side of Magic. Fifth-grader Rufus, who is a witch, is in danger of falling under the influence of his evil uncle Hector.
How do you come up with character names? I think about them. Sound them out. Check out their meanings. Make sure I like how their first and last names sound together.
Do you have subplots? If so, how do you weave them into the novel’s arc? I always have subplots in my mysteries. In many of the books in my Haunted Library series, I have two plot lines that merge together.
What kind of research do you do? Sometimes, I find myself doing research when I’ve written no more than half a sentence. There are so many details that go into my books that require research. Many are everyday facts, but I like to get them right. For example, a wedding ceremony. And what to serve at the wedding reception. Or it may be more complicated, like a police procedural after the skeletal remains of a body are discovered.
Where do you place your settings—real or fictional locations? I set my books in fictional locations. But they may be based on actual locations, and my fictional settings are always surrounded by real locales.
Looking to the future, what’s in store for you? I have one more Rufus book to write, and I hope to continue writing books in my Dickens Island series.
Do you have any advice for new writers? Keep on writing; join a supportive, knowledgeable critique group; join organizations that support the genre you’re writing in. Try not to get discouraged.
How do readers contact you? They can do so through my website, http://www.marilynlevinson.com, where they can also sign up for my newsletter. I am also on Facebook every day.
Facebook groups:
Cozy Mystery Party
Cozy Mystery Village
Dorothy L
Writers Who Kill
Roche’s Ravenous Readers
Cozies, Conversations, and More
Kings River Life Mysteryrat’s Maze
Save Our Cozies
Cozy Mysteries 24/7
Buy links:
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3uuPRDZ
PRH: (all buy links): https://bit.ly/PRHBookedonMurder
Social Links:
Website: http://www.marilynlevinson.com, where you can sign up for my newsletter
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marilyn.levinson.10?ref=ts&fref=ts
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/161602.Marilyn_Levinson
X: https://twitter.com/MarilynLevinson
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/marilyn-levinson
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marilynlevinsonauthor/
George,
Thank you for having me here as your guest!
It sounds like you’ve got this writing thing down to a science. Your books sound fascinating. Have you ever considered doing one in Spanish and English? I was teaching a class years ago at a junior college and there was a woman from Mexico in it trying improve her English. I had a book by a friend, also Hispanic, that had alternating pages of English and Spanish. I gave it to the woman. With your bilingual ability, maybe this is something you should consider. Best of luck to you.
Thanks, Michael. I never considered what you’ve suggested.
FYI Marilyn and I went to High School together. Funny how we both ended up as mystery writers. She is amazing, so productive and her books are terrific. Go Orange and Blue.
Hi Ellen,
Yes, we sure have a lot in common. Thanks for your kind words. I wish all this had come to me 20 years sooner. But we take what we receive.:)