marilynm

To tell the truth, I never really had one, but if I did I have there is one thing I could cross off:

Riding in an ambulance.

Coming home from a wonderful vacation visiting my eldest daughter and her kids and grand kids, we stopped off at a Taco Bell to visit the bathroom and I tripped over those yellow bumps by a handicapped parking spot. I took a header, split my temple open, hurt my hand and knee, and ribs. I bled so much, a nurse who stopped by to help insisted on calling 911–and so I got my ambulance ride.

I also got to experience a very busy and well-run emergency room.

Both events are filed away for future mysteries.

Through the years, I’ve had other experiences that could easily have been on a bucket list and I’ve either been able to use them in a mystery or filed away for a later one.

Attending a Pow Wow gave me a great idea for a mystery and I used it in the first Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery, Deadly Omen.

A visit to a sacred rock shelter to view pictographs including one of the legendary Hairy Man, the Tule River Indians version of Big Foot. Yes, the Hairy Man has appeared in three of my mysteries: Dispel the Mist, The Invisible Path, and the latest, River Spirits.

Going on a police ride-along, is another good bucket list item.

I’ve done three. First time was with my policeman son-in-law. No seat belts back then, so at times the ride was a bit scary. He also had me follow while he chased a burglar. Second time was with a brand new officer in a small department–he wasn’t pleased to have me along. Third time was with a female officer who let me go with her on every call except a family dispute. In the wee hours of the morning, she bared her soul about the problems of being the only female in the department, and being a single mom. I’ve used a lot of what I learned from her in both of my mystery series.

I’ve ridden in a helicopter, all sizes of airplances–including a 6 seater.

While attending different writers conferences, and conventions, I’ve visited many of our states including Alaska and Hawaii.

Going to MWA’s Edgar week in New York, followed by a train trip to DC and attending Malice Domestique was a thrilling time. One of the highlights in New York was chatting with Mary Higgins Clark whom I’d met many years before at a tiny mystery conference.

So, what would I add to this writing bucket list?

Truthfully, I can’t think of a thing. I’m truly grateful for all my life’s experiences and have drawn on them many times for my writing.

My question now is to all the rest of you, if you have a bucket list share some of what’s on it, writing related or not.

Marilyn

I must admit my photograph isn’t all that mysterious–but neither am I.

Having been around for a long, long time, I have had so many experiences, interacted with lots of fascinating people, and heard so many stories, I have a lot to draw on for the two mystery series that I write. The first one is the Tempe Crabtree series set in the Southern Sierra and starring a female resident deputy who is also a Native American. My husband and I now live in a similar place.

Using the name F.M. Meredith, I write the Rocky Bluff P.D. series which is set in a fictional Southern California beach community between Ventura and Santa Barbara. For many years we lived in a beach community much like Rocky Bluff.

My interest in writing about people in law enforcement and their families came about quite naturally–beside having many family members in the profession, for many years we lived in a neighborhood with many police officers and their families. I also enjoyed reading police procedurals along with many other kinds of mysteries.

As I writer, I’ve paid my dues: I’ve racked up a great number of rejections, both before I was first published, and plenty along the way. I’ve attended writing conferences, mystery cons, read books on writing, and joined a critique group–one I still belong to and consider my first editor.

For ten years I taught for Writers Digest School, had other writing classes in various venues including the famous Maui Writers Retreat. I’m a member of three Sisters in Crime chapters, Mystery Writers of America, and on the board of the Public Safety Writers Association.

My latest RBPD mystery is Violent Departures.

College student, Veronica Randall, disappears from her car in her own driveway, everyone in the Rocky Bluff P.D. is looking for her. Detective Milligan and family move into a house that may be haunted. Officer Butler is assigned to train a new hire and faces several major challenges.

Looking forward to meeting some new readers and watching this blog grow.

Marilyn