Marilyn Meredith aka F. M. Introduces Herself

May 25, 2015May 25, 2015 ~ marilynm ~ 15 Comments

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

Meet Carole Sojka

May 21, 2015May 21, 2015 ~ patyjag ~ 6 Comments

Mysterious Ladies are mysterious in many different ways. Today I’m going to tell you something about the life that led to my becoming one.

I grew up in New York City, went to Queens College there, and met my husband on a blind date. Do those still exist? Boris was exciting to me: newly discharged from the Navy, about to enter college, he read almost as much as I did, and had a taste for adventure and travel. He’d been stationed in San Diego and had lived off-duty with a friend who was a Formula One race car driver. That was the source of one of his first pronouncements: “When I get my engineering degree, I’m going back to California.” So I knew the future—and it sounded like fun. So after we married and he graduated, we moved to California—first to San Francisco, later to Southern California.

Together we spent two years in Somalia with the Peace Corps followed by six months traveling through North Africa and Europe. The Peace Corps was a great adventure for us at a time of hope in many newly independent African countries. I taught English as a second language to students who already spoke three or four languages, while I spoke only English and some “kitchen Italian” I learned from Hassan, our houseboy.

Our house in a beautiful town on the Indian Ocean had so many holes between the floor boards that Hassan cleaned by pouring buckets of water over the floor. We made friends with the town officials: the Harbor Master; the headmasters of the two local schools; the Police Chief, a large man with two wives and several stainless steel teeth; Italian teachers; and the District Commissioner, from whom everyone concealed their drinking of alcohol, forbidden to them as Muslims.

Somali children, knowing their market, dragged wild animals through town, sure we would buy them just to end their suffering. We had baboons, including Gina who thought I was her mother, and later became my rival for male attention; blue-skinned monkeys named Daniel and Nutmeg; and a beloved cheetah. One day I even bought a leopard, thinking it was a serval. Fortunately, the leopard escaped, and no leopard-related injuries were reported after he vanished.

Then we returned home to real life: adopting a baby boy we named Mark and earning a master’s degree in judicial administration that led to a career as the administrator in a public law office. We also rediscovered our love of traveling and over the years have visited thirty or more countries on every continent except the Antarctic—no museums there, I’m told.

I had avoided fiction writing ever since I overheard unkind criticism of an early short story, but I regained my courage, joined a writing group, found a terrific group leader and wrote a lot of short stories, becoming inured to rejection. I most liked writing mysteries of the kind I like to read: traditional whodunits with multiple suspects.

My first novel, A REASON TO KILL, was published in October 2014, and my second SO MANY REASONS TO DIE, just came out in April. Both are set in Florida—don’t ask—and feature a pair of detectives in a small town on Florida’s Treasure Coast.

I’m on the Board of Sisters in Crime/LA, the largest chapter of Sisters in Crime/National, a great group and very supportive of new writers. In June we’ll hold our every-two-year-CALIFORNIA CRIME WRITERS CONFERENCE, which is sold out. It should be a blast!

Everyone has a story

May 18, 2015May 18, 2015 ~ janegorman ~ 8 Comments

Every person has a story. Some are more interesting than others. Some are more interesting than they first appear.

My personal story has an international twist. I was born in Canada to a Polish mother and English father. When my sister and I were still young, we were moved to the U.S., first California then New Jersey. I had the benefit of traveling often as a child, as my brave and determined parents dragged their kids along on travels to visit relatives or see new parts of the world.

When I wasn’t visiting other places in person (or even when I was), I visited them through books. I read voraciously, not only mysteries (though they were always my favorite), but anything I could get my hands on.

I suppose it was no surprise that my interests turned to anthropology, the study of other cultures, a field I would spend a decade in.

As an anthropologist, I conducted fieldwork in Warsaw, talking to university students about their stories, the narratives they used to explain their lives, their choices, their futures. Stories about their parents and grandparents. Stories about history they’d never experienced but would never forget. Stories that sometimes brought me to tears, sometimes to laughter, and always to respect those doing the telling.

I left anthropology when I was pulled into the world of international diplomacy. Now, talk about stories! Some more true than others, I assure you. But perhaps that’s a story for another day…

Visiting the Pyramids at Giza — Visiting the pyramids at Giza

It was thrilling. Exciting. Exhausting. I’m still grateful I was fortunate enough to have that opportunity.

Eventually, real life intervened, as it tends to do. I returned home, to my adopted home of Philadelphia (a city I long ago learned to love).

I met and fell in love with an amazing man who, for reasons still unclear to me, decided to marry me. He and my brilliant step-sons continue to support and guide me in all my endeavors. I’d spent my life up to then digging into other people’s stories. With their support, it was time to turn the tables and start creating stories of my own. Some based loosely on real events, some spun from whole cloth.

My current series (available September 2015) features a Philadelphia cop who gets drawn into murder investigations far from home – and on one occasion far too close to home. From Warsaw to Washington and back home to Philadelphia, Adam Kaminski digs into the secrets behind murders and the secrets of his own family legacy. In future books, Adam will find himself in Galway, Cornwall and the south of France. Once again, I have to pinch myself to believe I have this opportunity, to write my own stories and have other people read and enjoy them. Something that gives me such joy and such satisfaction.

Why do I write mysteries, you ask? Because every person has a story. I want to explore the motivations that might drive an ordinary person to do extraordinary things. What makes one woman a hero, willing to sacrifice herself to help others? And what terrible fears and hatreds drive another to kill?

Plus, trying to figure out whodunit is fun!

So have some fun of your own. Follow along as the Ladies of Mystery spin our tales. And share some stories of your own if you’re so inclined. We all have a story, and I’d love to hear yours!

http://www.janegorman.com

Hello! by Janis Patterson

May 14, 2015May 12, 2015 ~ patyjag ~ 11 Comments

I’m so glad to see you here – this new group blog is so exciting and I am so honored to be a part of it. Now – we have been asked to use our first post as an introduction, so here we go – which sort of terrifies me, since I’m really rather a boring person.

I’m a seventh generation Texan who grew up in a wordsmithing family – primarily advertising and newspapers. I sold my first novel (to the old Dell Candlelight series) in 1979. In 1980 I was one of the original 40 or so women who met to see if an organization of romance writers was feasible – an organization that was later officially named RWA. I’m still a founder/charter member. Currently I’m also a member of The Author’s Guild, NINC, Sisters in Crime and MWA (where I help run the local chapter and sit on the SW regional board.) I also belong to several individual RWA chapters.

I bore very easily, so I write in a lot of different genres – as Janis Susan May I write romance, horror and a couple of other things. As Janis Susan Patterson I write for children. As JSM Patterson I do scholarly and non-fiction work. As Janis Patterson I write cozy mysteries. And there are three very good reasons I use Janis Patterson for mysteries – first, I wanted a definite brand, something that was different from my other names. Second, it is my legal married name, and using it honors my wonderful husband, who supports me in every way possible. Third, with any luck at all it will get me shelved next to James Patterson!

I married for the first time very late in life – 54 – after a life of very varied experiences. My husband is the most wonderful man in the world and I am so blessed to have him. Incidentally, he is also a number of years younger than I. Before we married I did a lot of things – among them talent agent for film and tv, editor in chief of two multi-magazine publishing groups, singer, document checker in a cruise agency, comparative analyst for a real estate firm specializing in apartment complex sales, Supervisor of Accessioning for a bio-genetic DNA testing lab… I did tell you I bored easily, didn’t I?

One thing that is never boring is my fascination with Ancient Egypt. I was one of 8 who founded the North Texas Chapter of the American Research Center in Egypt (a scholarly support organization almost 70 years old) which is arguably the largest chapter in the country. I also founded, published and edited the Newsletter (now retitled Menhedj) which for the 9 years of my reign (word chosen deliberately) was the only monthly publication for ARCE in the world. From the second year it was archived as a scholarly publication in museums and universities around the country.

My husband and I met in that chapter, and several years later he proposed in the moonlit garden of the Mena Hotel in Giza, which sits across the road from the Pyramids. Yes, those Pyramids. We were married 6 months later and have lived happily ever after. We have been back to Egypt several times since, our most recent trip being just two months ago. To aid in researching a new book we were invited to stay at a dig house and have complete access to an entire archaeological dig – and believe me, civilians are NEVER invited to stay at dig houses. It was one of the most wonderful times of my life.

After leaving the dig house, we rented a flat in Luxor for a little relaxing vacation time – well, The Husband vacationed. I worked every day. Sometimes a lot and sometimes just a little while, but I never missed a day. I am going to buy a tablet though; hiking my 17 inch laptop to Egypt and back nearly killed me. Our flat faced the Gurnah Hills (where the Valley of the Kings is) and every morning I would get up early, fix a good cup of tea and sit on the balcony to watch the light from the rising sun dribble down the rough rock hills while the morning’s flight of tourist hot air balloons rose. Sigh. I really didn’t want to come back.

But – writing on the new book brings Egypt back to me. It is a straightforward mystery called A KILLING AT EL KAB, and is about the murder of a really unpleasant archaeologist and a missing treasure. I’m about a third in and it should be ready for release in late fall.

One more thing – they asked that we send a ‘mysterious’ picture of ourselves for the blog. I only have the one picture, so I sent it, but it is very mysterious. I think so, at least – it is a mystery that it makes me look so good. I really don’t look much like that!

Anyway, that’s about all there is I can think of. I’m so glad you’re here, and on my next rotation I promise to talk about something truly writerly. See you then –

Secret Handshake

May 10, 2015May 7, 2015 ~ patyjag ~ 11 Comments

By Paty Jager

Hello! I’m excited to be part of this mystery author blog. Years ago when I first tried my hand at writing mystery novels I felt like a secret handshake was needed to become a mystery author.

I grew up in the NE corner of Oregon. The summer and winter home of the Chief Joseph band of the Nez Perce Indians. I’m not sure if wandering the Wallowa Mountains on my horse or the fact I saw a ghost of a Nez Perce warrior while on one of those rides is what brings my writer mind to that band every time I try to come up with a new and unique story. I have a historical paranormal romance trilogy about the Nez Perce and my current mystery series has a half Nez Perce potter as the amateur sleuth. Her deceased grandmother comes to her in dreams, helping her discover clues to the murderers.

I’ve always loved reading and wrote stories for my family, friends, and my own entertainment.

When our two oldest children were in grade school and the youngest was still at home, I took writing classes at the local college. One of the instructors insisted we needed to believe in ourselves and our ability to write. I took that message to heart. One day at a school assembly with a storyteller, I decided to write an article about him and submit it to the local newspaper. I took notes and interviewed him, then ran home and typed up my article. I called the newspaper and asked for the editor. I told him I had an article about the story teller. He said, “I have a reporter and photographer going to such and such school tomorrow.” I said, “You only need to send the photographer, I have the story written.” Boy did I grow a pair that day! LOL. He laughed. “Okay, bring your story in by two and I’ll take a look at it.” Two was only twenty minutes away, and I lived ten minutes from town. I hopped in the car with my story and raced to the newspaper office. I asked for the editor. He came out of his office with a smug expression. “Here’s the story I told you about,” I said and handed the paper to him. He read it. Looked at me. And read it again. “This is a good story,” he said. “We’ll use this one and send a photographer.” I walked out of that newspaper office on air. A few days later the editor called me with a job. They wanted me to be a freelance human interest reporter. I worked for that newspaper for two years and then another local paper for two years. During that time I started writing a mystery novel.

But I had trouble finding mystery writers who would help me learn the craft of writing mystery. I felt like I didn’t know the secret handshake to get my feet in the door and find the help I was desperately seeking. I bought books and did my best, but when I sent off my first manuscript, having no one to consult, I was a sucker and followed every thing the agent told me to do and ended up with a crappy story and having paid him money. I had a bad experience with writing mystery and started writing historical western romance. I found the Romance Writers of America, and they helped me learn the craft of writing and the business of writing.

In 2006, while working as a 4-H program assistant for the extension service, I published my first historical western romance novel. I now have twenty published novels. Most are historical and contemporary western romance, three are action adventure with romantic elements, and now my Shandra Higheagle mystery series. I’ve won three awards for my romance and action adventure books. And now that I’m writing mystery, I’m ecstatic to be back where I started– writing the books I love. I finally discovered the secret handshake.