Tuesday, April 25, 2017

The Inspiration for Unresolved

(My guest today is Marilyn Meredith, a prolific writer of good mysteries. The floor is yours, Marilyn.
)

Two of my friends won a contest on my last blog tour to be characters in my next Rocky Bluff P.D. mystery. Both wanted to be villains. What exactly to write to fit them in wasn’t easy, but was part of the planning for the plot.

Because Rocky Bluff P.D. has a low, low budget which doesn’t make it easy for the detectives working any case, I thought about bringing in the city council members who make the budget decisions. Who were they and why were they so stingy with the police department?

From there I created the council members and who each of them were. And as I was thinking about them, ideas began to bombard me. Which one should I kill off and why? Who would want to be rid of this person and why?

As the characters developed I decided to throw in a little romance for the new police chief, Chandra Taylor.

And of course, I had to bring my readers up to date on what was happening in the ongoing characters’ lives. Always a fun part to write in this series.

I’m not an outliner, but as I write new ideas occur to me and I do jot them down so I don’t forget.

This is more or less how this book came about.

F.M. Meredith aka Marilyn

Blurb for Unresolved:

Rocky Bluff P.D. is underpaid and understaffed and when two dead bodies turn up, the department is stretched to the limit. The mayor is the first body discovered, the second an older woman whose death is caused in a bizarre manner. Because no one liked the mayor, including his estranged wife and the members of the city council, the suspects are many, but each one has an alibi.

Copies may be purchased from Book and Table by emailing bookandtablevaldosta@gmail.com with a 10% discount and free shipping.

Books may be ordered from all the usual places as well.

Bio: F. M. Meredith lived for many years in a small beach community much like Rocky Bluff. She has many relatives and friends who are in law enforcement and share their experiences and expertise with her. She taught writing for Writers Digest Schools for 10 years, and was an instructor at the prestigious Maui Writers Retreat, and has taught at many writers’ conferences. Marilyn is a member of three chapters of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and serves on the board of the Public Safety Writers of America. She lives in the foothills of the Sierra. Visit her at http://fictionforyou.com and her blog at http://marilymeredith.blogspot.com/
Tomorrow, April 26, I’ll be visiting Linda Thorne, with the topic, My Writing Process




15 comments:

  1. I've never read a blurb I didn't like when the book was written by Marilyn Meredith. Looking forward to this one!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, Amy, thank you. I actually wrote two blurbs but liked that one best.

      Delete
  2. I didn't know you lived by the ocean! Interesting plot. Sounds like a winner.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. For over 20 years we lived in Oxnard only a mile from the beach. Loved it at the time.

      Delete
  3. Love the premise, Marilyn, and I always like a touch of romance. I'll have a friend in my next book who plays a villain. I really enjoyed writing that part. Looking forward to reading, Marilyn!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for taking the time to read this and commenting, Lida!

      Delete
  4. I love how you came up with your idea for the book. Can't wait to read it! On my TBR list.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Interesting post. Another good title. I'd never be able to keep pace with you on how quickly you get your books out. See you tomorrow on my blog.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Looking forward to connecting with you again, Linda. My books are short--makes it easier to do two a year.

    ReplyDelete