What Being a Writer Has Done for Me
First, I better tell you what it hasn’t done for me. I am not rich or famous. However, I think some of pluses are worth far more than either of those.
Because of being a writer I’ve made many friends I
would never have had the opportunity to meet any other way. Some of these
friends are other writers, of course. I’ve met them at writing conferences and
mystery conventions. Mike Orenduff is one. Because he and his wife live on the
other side of the country, without attending writing conferences my chances of
meeting them both were pretty slim. I might not have read his Pot Thief books
if it hadn’t been for the conferences. I’ve also met some of my other favorite
writers this way too and often this was my introduction to their books.
I’ve also made friends with readers, some of whom
have become fans, and many I met at the various mystery cons I’ve attended. Of
course I have some fans I’ve never met except via email or on Facebook, but it
sure is nice when you can sit down and have a conversation with someone who
loves your books and wants to know what’s going to happen to the characters
next. Or even what happened with probably the biggest fan of my Tempe Crabtree
mystery series, she asked to be a character in my next book. Raging
Water is the one she’s in. I didn’t use her name, just her house,
though I moved it to a new location, her two dogs and I did use their names,
and a lot of her personality.
I’ve been all sorts of places I would never have
gone if it weren’t for the fact that a conference or convention was being held
there. Places like New Orleans, Madison and Milwaukee Wisconsin, Chicago in the
middle of a huge snowstorm, El Paso, San Antonio, Plano and Austin Texas, Reno,
Virginia Beach and Arlington VA, Oklahoma City, OK, Orlando and Tampa FL, Maui,
Hawaii, Anchorage, Kwithlik, Bethel, and Wasilla, Alaska, and many beach,
desert and mountain and big cities in California,
My trips to Alaska included adventures I’d not
expected. In order to get to a school to speak to students in the village of
Kwithlik, I was driven in a big Suburban several miles on a frozen river—and
back again, of course. While in
Anchorage the first time I made friends with two Native sisters and the second
time I went I stayed with one in Wasilla and had a great time with her and her
family. I spent the day in a middle talking to lots and lots of kids about
writing mysteries.
Best of all, I’m doing what I’ve always loved,
writing and talking about books.
Raging
Water Blurb:
Deputy Tempe Crabtree’s investigation of the murder of two close friends is
complicated when relentless rain turns Bear Creek into a raging river. Homes
are inundated and a mud slide blocks the only road out of Bear Creek stranding
many—including the murderer.
Contest:
The person who leaves comments on the most blogs will have his/her name used
for a character in my next book—can choose if you want it in a Deputy Tempe
Crabtree mystery or a Rocky Bluff P.D. crime novel.
Bio:
Marilyn Meredith is the author of over thirty
published novels, including the award winning Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery
series, the latest Raging Water from Mundania Press. Writing as
F. M. Meredith, her latest Rocky Bluff P.D. crime novel us No Bells, the forth from Oak
Tree Press. Marilyn is a member of EPIC, three chapters of Sisters in Crime , Mystery Writers of America, and on
the board of the Public Safety Writers of America. Visit her at http://fictionforyou.com and follow her blog at http://marilymeredith.blogspot.com/
Marilyn
borrows a lot from where she lives in the Southern Sierra for the town of Bear
Creek and the surrounding area.
Thanks, Mike, for hosting me today. I always have to laugh when I read these posts that I've written so long ago. Believe it or not, I do proof read them, but errors always slip by. The last paragraph is supposed to say I spent the day in a middle school. Oh well, you get the idea.
ReplyDeleteSo glad that we met - through a conference! And I was happy to present Mile with one of his awards. I'm not rich either, but the richness it has added to my life is priceless.
ReplyDeleteShould have been MIKE. Too early in the morning!
DeleteGreat post, Marilyn. This is one friend who's hoping we meet in person one day.
ReplyDeleteAll my best,
Cheryl
Have fun on these last legs of your tour, Marilyn.
ReplyDeleteTraveling, conferences, authors...wonderful benefits and life experiences, and like Cheryl, I hope we meet in person one day, too, Marilyn!
ReplyDeleteMet you at a library presentation several years ago and have remained a fan. Both series are a must read for anyone who enjoys a mystery. Look forward to seeing you again. Another excellent blog.
ReplyDeleteOh Marilyn and Mike, what a great picture! This post made me think about all the wonderful people I've met on my writing-journey, and you are two of my favorites! Enjoyable post.
ReplyDeleteMadeline
Cheryl and Anne, I hope I have the opportunity to meet both of you in person one day.
ReplyDeleteJake, I'd love to return to your library.
Thanks for stopping by Madeline. We had fun fighting over that Epic award. I knew he wss going to get it from the get-go. They had everyone who was a finalist for that same award sitting at the same table.
Lorna, yep, I'm glad we met too, you and Larry have been a blessing to my life.
ReplyDeleteCheryl, I do hope we get to meet one day too.
And thank you, Maryann. I love doing these blog tours but toward the end I kind of run out of steam.
Marilyn, did we meet at Left Coast Crime this year? I can't remember everyone I ran into. You're right about making friends through the writers networks. Mystery writers are the most generous and supportive people. And hello Mike! Enjoyed your last book.
ReplyDeleteSally Carpenter
Marilyn, You're one of the most memorable people I've met at conferences, and that's a compliment. However, the first time I met you was at a presentation at the Laughlin, Nevada Library. Love the picture of you and Mike.
ReplyDeleteYes, Sally, we did meet at LCC this year, briefly, but we did say "hi."
ReplyDeleteMarja, I think the first time I met you was at Bouchercon in Las Vegs. Weren't you at the party in Pat Browning's suite? I thought sure that was where we met. And yes, I did meet you (again, I think) at the Laughlin Library.
I was at the 2011 EPIC conference, sharing finalist honors with Mike when he won. I, too, was introduced to the Pot Thief. I did meet Lorna, and others, but I can't remember who all. Marilyn, we have sort of a Wasilla connection. A friend who grew up in Alaska spends his summers there with his wife.
ReplyDeleteThat EPIC conference is the only one I've gone to ourside of my home state of Pennsylvania, but you are right about meeting electronic friends from everywhere. Great to put faces to names.