Marilyn Meredith Author Bio:
Marilyn Meredith is the author of over 40 published books including two mystery series, the Deputy Tempe Crabtree mysteries and the Rocky Bluff P.D. mysteries, written under the name of F. M. Meredith. She’s a member of two chapters of Sisters in Crime, and the Public Safety Writers Association. She’s taught writing for Writers Digest School, and at many writers’ groups and conferences. She lives in a foothill community of the southern Sierra with her husbands. She’s a fourth generation Californian, ans has a really big family that includes seven great-great grandchildren.
What inspires you to write?
I'm compelled to write and have been ever since I was a child. Inspiration for different stories comes from many different sources: newspaper articles, something someone tells me, an idea for a title, something that comes out of the blue and is unexpected, and so many other ways.
Tell us about your writing process.
I've decided I'm a combination of an outliner and a pantser. Tough I do not write an outline, I do a lot of note writing in a tablet especially about the characters–what they look like, their personalities, how they fall in the story, usually identifying the murder victim and those who might want the person dead (motives). With either series, I already know a lot about the main characters who will be carried over in the book I'm writing. As I'm writing, I keep notes on what has happened each day. Once I skipped a day–fortunately my editor realized it and let me know. I don't want that to happen again.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
While I'm writing, the story sort of unwinds in my head, much like a movie I'm viewing. I see what's happening through the eyes of the point-of-view character so I'm seeing what she or he is seeing including colors, feelings–touch and how what she/he feels about the experience, smells, sounds, etc. What happens is I'm experience what the character is experiencing. Sometimes what happens is a big surprise to me.
Who are your favorite authors?
William Kent Kreuger is right at the top of the list. He writes a great mystery series, but my favorite is his stand alone, Ordinary Grace. I love the way James Lee Burke describes settings. I also have many friends who write and I enjoy all their books, Michael A. Black, Thonie Hevron, Lorna Collins, Paty Jager, Gloria Getman, and so many more.
What genres do you write?
Mystery, Horror, Christian horror, Historical Family Sagas, and I even wrote a Cookbook.
How did you choose the genre(s) you write?
Mysteries because that's what I like to read the most. My first published books were the historical family sagas based on both sides of my family tree. My Christian horror are really scary tales with a Christian element. The cook book is all the recipes I used when I owned and lived in a residential facility for six women who had developmental disabilities.
What three things are on your writing desk at any given moment?
My desk is always a mess, but there are two pairs of glasses, a coffee cup, and lots of paper–notes of things I'm working on or need to work on.
What hobbies do you have when you need a break from writing?
Because I have such a huge family my biggest break-always usually have something to do with family including many celebrations. I enjoy watching well-plotted shows on TV and I usually watch with my husband. I enjoy eating dinner out and my favorite restaurants include Thai, Japanese, and Italian food. /And of course, I love to read others books.
What formats are your books in?
eBook, Print, Audiobook
Author’s Social Media Links
Facebook
All information is provided by the author and is presented as it was submitted so you the reader get to hear the author’s own “voice” in their interview.
