My Life As An Author

F. M. Meredith aka Marilyn Meredith is the author of over 35 published books. She enjoys writing about police officers and their families and how what happens on the job affects the family and vice versa. Having several members of her own family involved in law enforcement, as well as many friends, she’s witnessed some of this first-hand.

Webpage: http://fictionforyou.com/
Blog: http://marilynmeredith.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marilyn.meredith/

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Contest:

Once again I am offering the opportunity to have your name used as
a character in my next book if you comment on the most blogs
during this tour for Murder in the Worst Degree.
Tomorrow I’ll be visiting George Cramer at http://gdcramer.com

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My life as an author is probably similar to some and nothing like others.

I’ve never been on a book tour, though I have had some fun and exciting events in bookstores. Most of my writing career I’ve been published by small independent publishers and the greater part of the planning and executing of promoting my mysteries has been up to me.

On weekdays, I do spend a part of most days writing or doing promotion on the Internet. But I also do the laundry, errands, grocery shop and cook dinner. My husband is retired and expects me to spend some time with him—so once in a while we take in a movie and lunch out. I have a big family, four grown children, lots of grandchildren and great-grands. I love doing things with them too. Some weekends we go to Sisters in Crime meetings, or to a book fair, or maybe to visit a family member. We’re active in our church, and I’m still teaching a kids’ Sunday School class.

Over the years, because of being an author, I’ve done things I never even dreamed of doing. Hubby and I have attended Bouchercons, Left Coast Crimes and other mystery conventions and conferences all over the United States, places I’d never thought I’d ever visit. Along the way, we’ve made many friends in the mystery community. Attending any of these conferences is like going to a wonderful reunion where you not only catch-up with old friends, you have the opportunity to make new ones.

When I went to Alaska to Left Coast Crime I met two young Native women and we’ve remained friends all these years. When Bouchercon was held in Alaska, I went again and afterwards stayed with one of these women and met her whole family. I also spoke to all the classes in the middle school in Wasilla. On my earlier trip, I visited a school in a small village and had a “thrilling ride” in a Suburban on a frozen river to get there.

For many years I served as program chair for the Public Safety Writers Association’s conference and became friends with people in all different types of law enforcement from FBI, Secret Service, police from all over the country, dispatchers, fire personnel, and they’ve all provided me with valuable research.

All of these experiences have truly enriched my life and I have my career as a writer to thank.

And if I’d never written, I’d never have become acquainted with the characters who inhabit the beach community of Rocky Bluff and the officers who work for RBPD.

I’ve never become a big name author and frankly, I’ve never made much money—but yes, it’s been worth it.

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Blurb for the lastest RBPD mystery, Murder in the Worst Degree: The body
that washes up on the beach leads Detectives Milligan and Zachary on a
murder investigation that includes the victim’s family members, his
housekeeper, three long-time friends, and a mystery woman.