It was time to start a new Rocky Bluff P.D. mystery, but no fresh ideas seemed to pop into my mind.

Most of my time the last month has been spent on promoting the latest in this series through a long blog tour. As it came to an end, I knew I had two winners who wanted to have a character in the next book named for them. But I was beginning to wonder if there would be a next book.

One of my critique group members suggested something. Then another, a sweet pediatrician, told me he had the perfect way for me to murder someone. And he was right, most unusual.

A Facebook friend and fellow sister in crime suggested a title and how to work it in.

I may not use any of these ideas or fit them in the way they were suggested, but guess what? The ideas have “primed the pump” as the old saying goes. For those of you youngsters who have no idea what that means, I’m writing the book because of the ideas I’ve been given.

A lot has gone on since last I posted here–I sent in my next Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery to the publisher, received the edits and accepted some, rejected a few, and sent it back. Should appear in August sometime.

On the personal side, my granddaughter, her husband and two little girls moved in with us. They are buying our house with the contingent that we get to remain here. It’s a big house–and we already have a great-grandson and his wife living upstairs. They’re staying too.

And here’s the big plus–we get to see these cuties every day.

One happy great-grandma and mystery writer.

Marilyn aka F. M. Meredith

I used to think I’d never run out of things to say, but faced with the need to write a blog, I find that I go blank. What shall I write about? How can I write about writing? Everybody writes about writing. How do people who write daily columns in the newspaper do it? How do they come up with an idea every day? It’s impossible.

I only have to do this monthly, I think. Just do one blog a month. Just one. How hard can that be? But I don’t have anything to say. What have I been doing lately? Not much. I made a mistake on the size of my new book, so the interior has to be redone. Unfortunately, that means a delay in the finished product. I’m going to be on a book panel in San Diego in June, and I’m afraid my book won’t be ready. Worry wakes me at 3 a.m.

I took a break from my third Florida mystery novel to write a short story for a bi-annual anthology from Sisters in Crime/LA. I worked hard on this one. I didn’t enter last time, but two previous stories didn’t make it. Sigh! I hope this one does better.

It’s a good thing I don’t try to make a living from writing. I never had time to write when I was working. Long days, long commute, make dinner, and clean up. The only thing to do then was go to bed.

I know that lots of people write and work, but I never had the time or the energy. I remember author Robert Olin Butler telling a group that he wrote his first novel every morning and evening on his daily commute on the Long Island Railroad. That’s dedication, as is getting up at five a.m. every morning to write before work. I tried that, but my mind doesn’t function well at that hour.

Now that I’m retired, I do have the time, but not always the inclination. Nor the energy. I read with awe Paty Jager’s post saying she planned to cut down from her 2015 output of four mystery novels, two western romance novels and one novella to ONLY two novels and a novella in the mystery series and two historical western romance novels in 2016. That boggles my mind. Paty’s a real pro.

I’m an amateur. It takes me two years to write one novel. It’s a good thing I don’t have to make a living at writing. I’d starve to death. Now I’m back to my third Florida novels after the break to write the short story. But I don’t know where it’s going. Why did I want to be a writer?

I reread the posts that my fellow ladies of mystery wrote and thought, “Why didn’t I think of that?” and “Why didn’t I write that?” Too late now. So I’m stuck with nothing to write. It’s a good thing don’t have to write a daily column. I’d be fired.

 

 

Beginning writers face the challenge of finding their voice. Finding that way of writing, that way of expressing, that is uniquely theirs.

I spent many years studying and practicing to find my voice (and I’m still working on it!).

Voice is important. There’s a reason writers are encouraged to focus on it early on, as they learn their craft, hone their skills.

There’s another, completely different kind of voice for which authors don’t get much training: the dreaded social media voice.

We all use social media one way or another in our daily lives. I love using Facebook to stay in touch with out of town friends and family. I find Twitter valuable for staying on top of breaking news or tracking trends in the publishing business (and yes, wine).

But using social media to build an audience for a mystery book? That’s been a new adventure for me. One I’ve thrown myself into whole heartedly, though perhaps with less skill than I would have liked.

Until a few months ago.

My husband and I love to travel. I use these trips to gather ideas about people, places and histories that I can use in my books. My husband takes pictures.

His passion, his creative outlet, is photography. As we travel, he captures images of people, places and things that evoke emotions, that draw you in to a foreign place… images that tell a story.

Thanks to the wonders of digital photography, we return from trips with 4,000, 5,000 even 6,000 photos. Phew! Remember the days when the cost of film and the cost of developing meant taking fewer pictures but making each one count?

So there we were, me writing up notes and ideas from our travels, my husband organizing thousands upon thousands of photos. And both of us thinking of ways to use social media to reach a new audience for my books.

Which is when we discovered Instagram.

Instagram has been a great tool for us. My husband has a blast going through all his photos and pulling out the best shots to share. I write up a little description, occasionally throw in a book cover or a quote.

We’re having fun, using our particular interests and skills.

I’m no social media expert. I’ve definitely struggled with it. But perhaps that’s because I simply hadn’t found my social media voice.

Learn more about me and my books at JaneGorman.com or find me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.