Don’t count the ones where you’ve misplaced something and can’t find it, or something you can’t remember. I want to hear about any kind of mystery you’ve encountered–the kind that could end up in a mystery story.

Years ago, and I mean lots of years because I think I was 9 or 10 at the time, a young man a block away committed suicide by hanging himself in his garage. At the time, the mystery to me was why he’d done it. I really knew nothing about him, although when I heard adults talking about him, no one else seemed to know the reason either. I remember standing in front of the garage and wondering what caused him to do it.

When I was even younger, one of the church ladies and a friend of my mom, killed her husband with an ax by chopping his head open. No one knew exactly whey, though I overheard one of the other ladies say, “He was so boring, if I’d been married to him, I’d have done the same.” That’s really all I know, except for the fact the murderous wife was put into a mental hospital.

Also when I was in grammar school (6th grade),  a new family moved in with three girls, one was my age and she had an older sister and a younger one. Now, looking back, I know they were poor as can be. The house they lived in was tiny, the girls slept in a screened-in porch, and the one who was my age wore dresses that were far too short for her. I romanticized this family. I thought the girls were beautiful, they had wispy blonde hair. I loved going to their house and wondered what it might be like to sleep on that porch. I was never invited, and they didn’t stay in the neighborhood long. I’m sure there is a mystery attached to what little I recall.

Fast forwarding, there have been two murders where I live now. The first was motivated by greed–the murderer dumb as could be. He killed his landlord and stole all the rent money from him he’d collected and left the dead man in his truck on the side of the road. The murderer might have been smart enough to not leave fingerprints, but when he started buying expensive fancy belt buckles and boots in town, it wasn’t long before he was caught.

Second murder was motivated by passion and greed. A woman who owned a mountain lodge was murdered, and her lover shot in the head while they slept. There were no witnesses or clues. A few months later, it all came out when the paid-for-hire murderer tried to get more money for the one who hired him–the woman’s estranged husband. He shot the murderer. Yes, the husband was arrested and is now serving time.

What about you? What real mysteries have you experienced or happened near you?

Marilyn

Some of you have probably already taken down you Christmas decorations, others will wait until after the New Year, and then there are those who leave everything up for a long, long time.

We kept our decorations simple this year, and once our New Year’s Day celebration is done–we have relatives over who like seafood for gumbo and play our wild family game of Estimation–we’ll put everything away.

What will I be doing next? Hopefully getting my next Rocky Bluff P.D. edited, though I’m not sure if it’ll be published right away. My publisher is recovering from a serious illness–but I’m going to finish. Next will be planning a Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery. I have some vague ideas wandering around in my brain, but nothing down on paper as yet.

I’ve a couple of events planned and signed up for one writing conference–my favorite–Public Safety Writers Association’s annual conference. It’s not until July, but I like it because it’s small and I get to spend time with some of my favorite mystery writers and a whole lot of people in various types of law enforcement, and other public safety fields.

If you’re interested, check out Public Safety Writers Association, and there is an early bird registration fee.

As the new year progresses, I’m hoping to be asked to appear/speak in other venues, find other book and craft fairs to attend, and perhaps set up a book signing or two.

Of course, as the saying goes about the best laid plans–one never knows what the future holds.

What are you plans for the coming year?

And while I’m here–I’ll wish all of you fellow ladies of mystery a most Happy New Year, and the same for all of our readers. May you all have plenty of mystery in your lives.

Marilyn

But sometimes it is, when you forget that you’re supposed to write a post. Which is exactly what I did. I’m supposed to have something new up on the 4th Monday of the month and I forgot. I’ll try to make up for it now.

The good thing about old age–at least in my case–I’ve had the opportunity to see much of my writing in print.And on the personal side, I’m still here to enjoy my children, grand kids, great-grands, and great-great grands. Another great grand is due in January, and a great-great in the spring.

I have many, many great memories, and many of them are connected to writing. When I was younger and enjoyed airplane travel, hubby I attended many mystery cons all over the U.S. We visited many states we’d never had gone to otherwise. We fell in love with Omaha, Nebraska, enjoyed Milwaukee and Madison Wisconsin, had a blast in Chicago during a big snow storm, and so many more great places.

One big highlight was being asked to be an instructor at the Maui Writers Retreat, which meant a wonderful trip to Hawaii. Hubby went along, and while I worked, he enjoyed the sights.

We made so many writer and reader friends along the way, and when we’d go from one place to another, it was like a reunion.

These days, I still do events, but only those that are closer to home.

And yes, I’m still writing mysteries–that’s something I can do without leaving home.

I’m working on a new Rocky Bluff P.D. mystery, and nearly finished. After that I will start the rewriting.

My latest Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery is getting great reviews. Here’s the latest:

On October 24, 1951, this Los Angeles girl married the handsome young man she met on a blind date in the spring of that year. And no, I don’t remember exactly when, but I do know where–on the sidewalk between my house and a friend’s who lived about two plus miles away. She and her two sisters, and three other service men, and Hap and I caught a street car to go to Chinatown. And that’s how it all began.

A lot has happened during that time–and no, it wasn’t always easy. He spent 20 years in the Seabees, and I mainly stayed home–as we became the parents of 5 children.  He went to exotic places–I lived with him in Norfolk and Little Creek VA, Cambridge MD., but mostly in Oxnard CA.

Our family grew, I had many jobs with PTA including president 4 times, two different schools, had a Camp Fire group for 10 years, worked as a telephone operator, 10 years as a teacher in a school for child development, and  in a couple of day cares and pre-schools.Hubby retired from the Navy and worked for Sears for 15 years and retired again.

We moved to Springville CA where we are now and together opened a licensed residential facility for women with developmental disabilities and we did that for 23 years. I also taught classes on various subjects to administrators in this industry.

All the time I was writing too–finally got published, and kept on writing and as you all know, am still at it. Hubby has been supportive through it all, and when we were younger we traveled all over the country to various mystery conferences and conventions–and made many  good friends.

We experienced hard times, and wonderful times– and despite being old, it’s even better now. Our philosophy as with most things, is never give up. We learned along the way to put our trust in God.

And of course, these days, besides writing, and enjoying family, especially the grand and greatgrands, I’m still promoting my books. If you haven’t yet had a chance, I hope you’ll try the latest Deputy Tempe Crabtee mystery, Seldom Traveled, available as a print and e-book in various places including:  http://mundania .com and Amazon

Yes, we celebrated–but it was very low key.

Marilyn Meredith

Anyone who is a Facebook friend of mine knows I was on a blog tour for Seldom Traveled most of the month. Thank goodness it is finally over, and the winners of my contest chosen.

Having a new book to promote is exciting, but even more exciting is we had a great-great granddaughter born this month. Little Avyanna was a surprise to everyone including the mom who’d been told she had an infected spleen. What a wonderful shock–the baby is beautiful.

We were invited to lunch by one of my biggest fans. She’d recently moved back to the area and we were treated to a delicious lunch and a tour of her new home. She’s appeared in three of my Tempe books as Miqui Sherwood–I captured her personality and her appearance as she asked me to put her in one of my Tempe Crabtree mysteries. She is in the latest, Seldom Traveled.

Our eldest daughter and hubby came to visit for three days and we had a great time which included several meals out and the movie, Sully.

I did an interview on the radio: http://blogtalkradio.com/webbweaverbooks/ http://www.bookpleasures.com/websitepublisher/articles/8126/1/In-Conversation-With-Marilyn-Meredith-Author-of-Over-40-Books/Page1.html#.V-K-HYgrKM9

I spoke to the Tulare Kings Writers about creating memorable characters and traveled to Oakhurst to participate in the Central Sierra Book Festival and gave a short talk on how to keep series characters fresh.

On the 29th, I’ll be at the Central Coast Book Festival from 3-8 in front of the mission at San Luis Obispo.

Last but not least, and I’m mentioning it now because it’s before my next blog post, I’m having a feebie promotion for an earlier book in the series: Spirit Shapes on Kindle from October 16-October 22.

https://www.amazon.com/Spirit-Shapes-Tempe-Crabtree-Mystery-ebook/dp/B00FEJDA04/ref=sr_1_1_twi_kin_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1473949324&sr=1-1&keywords=Spirit+Shapes+by+Marilyn+Meredith#nav-subnav

ASIN: B00FEJDA04

Ghost hunters stumble upon a murdered teen in a haunted house. Deputy Tempe Crabtree’s investigation pulls her into a whirlwind of restless spirits, good and evil, intertwined with the past and the present, and demons and angels at war.

Oh, and there were other things too: I did some consulting work that actually paid, taught my 5th grade Sunday School class, went to church, cooked dinners, did the laundry, played with my great-grands, attended a church potluck, and other such ordinary things.

And that was my September, how was yours?

Marilyn