tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69756606121819939952024-03-18T17:03:02.924-07:00Lindy's Lairjrlindermuthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09204855909246670628noreply@blogger.comBlogger208125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6975660612181993995.post-37577240093523649232022-01-31T06:28:00.000-08:002022-01-31T06:28:11.091-08:00Popular Lawman Returns<p> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Syl is back!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Sheriff Sylvester Tilghman, that is. Syl is the
third of his family to serve as sheriff of the small Pennsylvania town of
Arahpot in the waning days of the 19th century.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Syl first appeared in the cozy mysteries Fallen From
Grace and Sooner Than Gold, published by Oak Tree Press. After the death of
Billie Johnson, Oak Tree publisher, I regained the rights. I'm happy to say
Lawrence Knorr, my publisher at Sunbury Press, agreed to reissue them under the
Milford House imprint. Lawrence published The Bartered Body, third in the
series, in 2018.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We'd hoped the books would have been out sooner, but
the pandemic and other issues slowed the process.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Fallen From Grace and Sooner Than Gold are now
available from Sunbury Press and soon will be offered from Amazon and other
popular outlets as well.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As Fallen opens, Syl is a man focused on two
problems--finding a new deputy and convincing Lydia, his true love, to accept
his latest marriage proposal. The murder of a stranger in town suddenly makes
his life more complicated.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In Sooner he confronts a murder victim with too many
enemies, a band of gypsies hunting a man who stole one of their young women, a
female horse thief, and other problems.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The books were popular with readers in their first
inception and I believe, for those who haven't read them, lovers of cozy and
historical mysteries will enjoy them. Oh, and I might mention, By Strangers
Mourn'd, a fourth book in the series will be coming next.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For blurbs and more information, see https://www.sunburypress.com/collections/j-r-lindermuth</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHnHilxnoC2pFpHxeFvzkgDEaiRndAA7a7OssLhM2BsXrGN9WR0YKY0J5GrjUUtnh6u_DS998KFXt0Iq8sT140tGIshVUOhVzNqFpYNJYabzv-EBHCVpLSQpqD6Xnt1UF1SgXgvx86-rGUkW_gu2B6u4IK5qfHG086Ws4qSpeBwTwTLwhUcW5k7OhN3A=s1000" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="662" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgHnHilxnoC2pFpHxeFvzkgDEaiRndAA7a7OssLhM2BsXrGN9WR0YKY0J5GrjUUtnh6u_DS998KFXt0Iq8sT140tGIshVUOhVzNqFpYNJYabzv-EBHCVpLSQpqD6Xnt1UF1SgXgvx86-rGUkW_gu2B6u4IK5qfHG086Ws4qSpeBwTwTLwhUcW5k7OhN3A=s320" width="212" /></a></div><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p>jrlindermuthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09204855909246670628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6975660612181993995.post-51145468292213629702021-08-31T06:48:00.001-07:002021-08-31T06:48:17.591-07:00Finding Names for Characters<p> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">One of the many things writers fret about is names.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A primary character needs a name that fits, one
that's memorable and projects the right image. This is why the main character's
name is often changed during the first draft. It isn't always easy to come up
with a name that rings true to what we want to project about this particular
character.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Beyond that, most every character in a story needs a
name. It's how we're accustomed to identifying the people with whom we come in
contact in our daily lives as well as in the books we read or films we watch.
For minor characters, the issue is simple. Any bland selection of Christian
and/or surnames might do.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Some writers hold contests in which friends,
neighbors, and even strangers compete to have their names used in a story.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">An easy source of names used to be the telephone
book. In this digital age, those handy references are becoming scarce. Still,
if you have access to one, pop it open to any random page, run your finger down
a row and stop on a surname that strikes your fancy. Turn to another page and
do the same in search of a first name that goes with the surname. Why not just
use the Christian name of the surname you selected?</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yaIjADp4ky4/YS4zDkkXDyI/AAAAAAAAAzA/DQZhrZwIQNAtCsDZABRk3D65BRsEKjM4QCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Twelve%2BDays%2Bin%2Bthe%2BTerritory%2B%2BJRLindermuth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yaIjADp4ky4/YS4zDkkXDyI/AAAAAAAAAzA/DQZhrZwIQNAtCsDZABRk3D65BRsEKjM4QCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Twelve%2BDays%2Bin%2Bthe%2BTerritory%2B%2BJRLindermuth.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /> There's nothing to stop you
from doing so. But suppose this and the devious deeds of your invented
character offend the actual person whose name you've borrowed (who you don't
know but who might chance to read your tale). You could be facing trouble in
these litigious times.<o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Another useful source of names is television,
especially game show contestants. There's an infinite variety available. Again,
be wary of combining the name and behavior of those from whom you're borrowing.
These people might chance to read your book, too.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A safer resource I've used a few times is to
honor/dishonor an ancestor from the family tree by using their name. They
aren't likely to sue.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">One of my favorite sources of names is old
newspapers. There's an infinite variety to select from and you can come up with
some very memorable combinations. As I read these papers I make lists of any
names that strike my fancy. I may never use all of them. But you never know
when you might find just the right handle for a particular character.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In my latest novel, Twelve Days in the Territory, I
used a combination of ancestral names, some selected from old newspapers and
others that just popped up in my imagination. A few of the names I think will
stick with readers are Crawford McKinney, Jubilation Kincaid, and Lazarus Lee.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Finding names isn't the most important part of
writing a story. But it can be fun.<o:p></o:p></span></p>jrlindermuthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09204855909246670628noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6975660612181993995.post-82390691589470971322021-08-05T04:49:00.000-07:002021-08-05T04:49:20.842-07:00SOME HISTORICAL BITS IN THE TRASH HAREM<p> (I'm hosting my friend Marilyn Meredith today as she discusses her latest mystery. The floor is yours, Marilyn:)</p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Though this latest Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery is
set in modern times there are two bits of history that I incorporated into the
plot.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The oldest was about the Pechanga Indians, who do
play a minor part in this story. Like many of the native people of California,
they had many struggles because of the Spanish missionaries during the 1700s.
In the 1870s they were evicted from their homeland. Over the years, I’ve
included much of the horrible things that happened to the California Indians in
other Deputy Tempe Crabtree mysteries, most notably the Tolowa tribe of far northern</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9Us_pRRNMpg/YQqQ913FbYI/AAAAAAAAAys/Fe-POdJtdSYbH4yjmzci1WPv777FJFtdgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Marilyn%2Bin%2BVegas%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1872" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9Us_pRRNMpg/YQqQ913FbYI/AAAAAAAAAys/Fe-POdJtdSYbH4yjmzci1WPv777FJFtdgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Marilyn%2Bin%2BVegas%2B1.jpg" width="293" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lsSC64R7qjU/YQqRPbgI3kI/AAAAAAAAAy0/ye_UeuSXCPQhsMZilR1G5f4rQEDu53EMQCLcBGAsYHQ/s500/Trash%2BHarem%2Bfront%2Bcover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="333" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lsSC64R7qjU/YQqRPbgI3kI/AAAAAAAAAy0/ye_UeuSXCPQhsMZilR1G5f4rQEDu53EMQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Trash%2BHarem%2Bfront%2Bcover.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br /></div><br /> California which was nearly wiped out. But many other tribes were
forced from their homeland to settle in reservations. <o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Like the Pechanga Indians, times have changed for
many tribes because of casinos. The Pechanga casino, located in Temecula, is a
popular place. Besides gambling and many restaurants, it has a venue for
concerts and other events, and it even has a large campground. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Another historical thread in <b><i>The Trash Harem</i></b> revolves
around the author, Erle Stanley Gardner. Gardner’s primary home was located on
what had been the Pechanga’s land. The sprawling ranch had twenty-seven
buildings including cabins for his four full-time secretaries. Even his doctor
had a home there. When Gardner died, his estranged wife sold the ranch in 1970.
In 2001 it was sold again, this time to the Pechanga Indians. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Because I was a huge fan of Erle Stanley Gardner’s
books and an even bigger fan of the Perry Mason TV show, it was fun to revisit
both as I wrote <b><i>The Trash Harem.<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Marilyn Meredith<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Blurb:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Deputy Tempe Crabtree
has retired from her job in Bear Creek when friends, who once lived in Bear
Creek and attended Pastor Hutch’s church, ask her to visit them in Temecula.
The husband, Jonathan, is a suspect in what might be a murder case. The
retirement community includes many interesting characters, any of whom might
have had a better motive than Jonathan. There is also a connection to Earle
Stanley Gardner as well as the Pechanga Old Oak. What is a trash harem? You’ll
have to read the book to find out.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">To purchase <b><i>The Trash Harem<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Trash-Harem-Tempe-Crabtree-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B096KZDPH8/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=The+Trash+Harem+by+Marilyn+Meredith&qid=1622899167&s=books&sr=1-1"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">https://www.amazon.com/Trash-Harem-Tempe-Crabtree-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B096KZDPH8/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=The+Trash+Harem+by+Marilyn+Meredith&qid=1622899167&s=books&sr=1-1</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Marilyn Meredith’s Bio:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">She is the author of over 40 published books
including the Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery series, and writing as F. M.
Meredith, the Rocky Bluff P.D. series. She’s a member of two chapters of
Sisters in Crime and the Public Safety Writers Association.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Webpage: </span><a href="http://fictionforyou.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">http://fictionforyou.com/</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Blog: </span><a href="https://marilynmeredith.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">https://marilynmeredith.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Facebook: </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/marilyn.meredith"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">https://www.facebook.com/marilyn.meredith</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p>jrlindermuthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09204855909246670628noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6975660612181993995.post-63410558853529780332021-05-06T06:04:00.000-07:002021-05-06T06:04:13.550-07:00Twelve Days in the Territory<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bXTRj0w-18w/YJPpNlMjA7I/AAAAAAAAAxo/WDcxysTddTY2bukfcm4F7125aSD2kKcSwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Twelve%2BDays%2Bin%2Bthe%2BTerritory%2B%2BJRLindermuth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bXTRj0w-18w/YJPpNlMjA7I/AAAAAAAAAxo/WDcxysTddTY2bukfcm4F7125aSD2kKcSwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Twelve%2BDays%2Bin%2Bthe%2BTerritory%2B%2BJRLindermuth.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Indian Territory in 1887 is the setting for Twelve
Days in the Territory, my latest novel.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Outlaws take Martha Raker hostage and flee with her
into the territory after a botched robbery. Martha is the niece of Isaac
Gillette, the local sheriff, who is determined to track them down and bring her
home. Martha is also the sweetheart of Will Burrows, a school teacher, and he
is the only person willing to join the sheriff on his mission.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"Gillette wasn't
thrilled to find the school teacher as the only person willing to accompany him
on this dangerous enterprise. Still, it didn't entirely surprise him. Much as
it irked him to admit it, Will Burrows had as much reason to pursue the killers
as he did.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"But did the lad
have the sand to see the job through? Gillette didn't know. Aside from
observing the boy in Martha's company, he knew little about him. He'd never
seen Will with a gun, nor did he recall ever hearing of him in a fistfight or
even a shouting match with another person. Cole had personified the boy as a
sissy in a few remarks, but then Cole and Will had been in competition for
Martha's attention. And Cole had lost that battle; naturally he would be bitter
and not apt to portray his rival in a good light." <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Indian Territory was the government's dumping ground
for the tens of thousands of Native Americans uprooted from their homelands
coveted by settlers and greedy entrepreneurs. It didn't matter to officialdom
that many of these people forced into juxtaposition with one another were
mortal enemies. And, though the area was supposed to be a home for the tribes,
by 1887 the territory had also become a refuge for outlaws and renegades.
Cattle trails and railroads were crossing in response to eastern market demands
and rich mineral, timber and land resources were drawing the attention which
would soon lead to land rushes opening expanses of the territory to non-Indian
settlers.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Indian Territory covered some 74,000 square miles.
Gillette and Will have a big area to cover. Complicating their mission,
Gillette has no jurisdiction in the territory; he's an intruder despite his
badge. There were Indian courts and tribal police, but they had no authority
over cases involving non-Indians. Normally, deputy marshals would have been
dispatched from Fort Smith in pursuit of the outlaws holding Martha. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Gillette isn't inclined to wait for someone else to
do the job, and neither is Will.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Martha is certain her uncle and Will are on their
trail. Meanwhile, she's also doing something about her situation. She's leaving
a trail for Will and her uncle to follow, she's paying close attention to the
conversations of her captors, and she's taking advantages of opportunities for
escape.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You can grab a copy of the book in print or
electronic format here https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0929FBTKP/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p1_i6<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>jrlindermuthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09204855909246670628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6975660612181993995.post-1526073965154735742020-05-17T10:35:00.001-07:002020-05-17T10:35:44.294-07:00Things Could Be Worse<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #000020; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We live in a time of
adversity. Some might call it the worst of times. Yet, some have said the same
of other times. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #000020; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">That's,
coincidentally, true of the Spanish flu of 1918. My great-uncle and namesake
was at Camp Funston in Kansas where some historians believe it originated. My
relative was one of the fortunate who survived that pandemic which claimed an
estimated 50 million lives around the globe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #000020; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The true extent of
damage, both in lives and economics, for COVID-19 remains to be seen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #000020; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We are, though, more
fortunate in many ways than our ancestors who suffered through the Spanish flu.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #000020; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Internet, for
instance, provides the latest information and updates it in a timely fashion.
The news didn't travel as fast in 1918. On the downside, conspiracy theories
and quack prescriptions spread equally as fast as facts these days, adding to
confusion and heightening fears.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #000020; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Again, thanks to the
Internet, China was able to dispense the DNA of the virus to other nations in a
remarkably short time, giving researchers a leg up on understanding the virus
and, hopefully, speeding up the process of developing a vaccine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #000020; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There's also the fact
many advances have been made in medicine since 1918, advances which assure
better treatment of patients and ability to save lives. In 1918, we didn't even
know what a virus was, let alone how to deal with one. Physicians knew the
disease spread through respiratory drops but they didn't have microscopes
powerful enough to view a virus. You couldn't test for something you didn't
know existed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #000020; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Because they did know
how it spread, they did determine the value of social distancing, which has
proven equally effective in the current pandemic. Unfortunately, then as now,
some people are slow learners and fail to heed the best advice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #000020; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Then, as now, some in
high offices put the economy or their own self-interest above the welfare of
the public and downplayed the dangers, pushing to ease restrictions and social
distancing. That did not bode well then, and it won't in the present. This is a
dangerous disease and it won't go away just because we want it to.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />jrlindermuthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09204855909246670628noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6975660612181993995.post-59729352944443212662020-01-06T08:08:00.000-08:002020-01-06T08:08:03.573-08:00FAVORITE READS OF 2019<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I read 63 books in 2019, as always a mix of fiction
and non-fiction.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Not all were published in the past year. When they
came out isn't a criterion for selection. Like wine, some books improve with
age. Here's my assessment of the 10 best in no particular order.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">BEAR NO MALICE by Clarissa Harwood. Sometimes genre
is a matter of interpretation. Some readers might view this first novel as a
romance. It can just as easily be seen as a mystery or a historical novel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What really matters is story. The reader is
treated with insight into the politics of the Anglican church, the art world of
the period and the stifling conformity of the Edwardian era--an intriguing mix
of historical fiction, romance and mystery. Highly recommended.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">NEW IBERIA BLUES by James Lee Burke. We've had a
long wait for another Dave Robicheaux novel. Burke never disappoints. The
violence in the novel may put off a more squeamish reader. But, trust me, the
reward for overlooking that is some of the most lyrical prose and meditations
on virtue you'll find in contemporary fiction. Intimations of the mortality of
Dave and Clete signal this may be the final episode in the series. I sincerely
hope not.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING by Delia Owens. This is a
novel about survival and Kya, the protagonist, is adept at survival in the face
of enormous odds. Abandoned by her mother, her siblings and, finally, her
father, she is left alone to adapt and survive on North Carolina's Outer Banks
in the period between the 1950s and 1970s. This is a debut novel by a scientist
known for her nature writing. Her prose is poetic and beautiful and the
insights into the workings of nature are informative and moving. The plot had
me hooked from the start.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">THE LOST MAN by Jane Harper. This is a page-turner
with lots of surprises and a conclusion to shock even the most hardened crime
reader. Jane Harper has crafted an enthralling tale of suspense, relationships,
vivid characters and a landscape so real you can taste the dust and sense the
lonely emptiness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">GERONIMO'S BONES by Darrell Bryant. The story may
not be true, but it's truthful. Chaco, a young Apache man born in the wrong
century, struggles against harsh odds to adapt to the life fate has given him.
This is a novel with engaging and colorful characters, adventure, humor and
tragedy. It isn't often a first novel resonates so well. I look forward to
reading more of Darrel Bryant's work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON by David Grann. This
non-fiction book targets a series of murders in the 1920s in which oil-rich
Osage Indians were victimized and robbed--another chapter in the genocide of
the native peoples. I've long been a fan of Grann and here he excels as a
storyteller and reveals a little known chapter in history.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">UNSHELTERED by Barbara Kingsolver. Two families in
two different time periods inhabit a house in a unique New Jersey community.
Their lives are changed in dramatic ways. Kingsolver introduces a real life
pioneer woman naturalist who deserves to be better known. The contemporary
characters were interesting, but I was more drawn to those in the earlier
historic period.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">THE FURIOUS HOURS by Casey Cep. The book Harper Lee
couldn't write and possible reasons why--in addition to fascination insights on
a murder for profit scheme, an ambitious lawyer, the South and Southerners and
sundry other topics of interest. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">THE FEATHER THIEF by Kirk Wallace Johnson. This
unusual but true story has all the elements of a thriller and takes the reader
into a bizarre world of obsession and greed pitted against science and beauty.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">LADY IN THE LAKE by Laura Lippman. This stunning
standalone novel set in 1960s Baltimore, portrays Maddie, a bored housewife who
decides on the spur of the moment to leave her husband and become a crime
reporter. Lippman's inspiration was the story was too real life disappearances
in that time period in the city. The result is a compelling story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />jrlindermuthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09204855909246670628noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6975660612181993995.post-68574755742345207112019-10-22T04:55:00.000-07:002019-10-22T04:55:30.419-07:00A Little Help From a Friend<br />
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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(We all need a little help from time to time. I'm hosting my friend Marilyn (aka F.M.) Meredith, and she's talking about her new mystery and how friends help in the writing process. The floor is yours Marilyn:)</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Pq2xi8Jz0Bs/XZ8tgLTcM0I/AAAAAAAAAtI/tiN5BW9utz8UqOBxeF-cuOVM0ttlfIcTgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Marilyn%2Bin%2BVegas%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1463" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Pq2xi8Jz0Bs/XZ8tgLTcM0I/AAAAAAAAAtI/tiN5BW9utz8UqOBxeF-cuOVM0ttlfIcTgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Marilyn%2Bin%2BVegas%2B1.jpg" width="292" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X8uChAcfJbE/XZ8to_IzAfI/AAAAAAAAAtM/nN-C6iEbao456aowhD0M17p2SnifC9xbgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Bones%2Bin%2Bthe%2BAttic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1008" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X8uChAcfJbE/XZ8to_IzAfI/AAAAAAAAAtM/nN-C6iEbao456aowhD0M17p2SnifC9xbgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Bones%2Bin%2Bthe%2BAttic.jpg" width="201" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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To be honest, I get
a lot of help from friends when I’m writing a book, from my critique group who
initially hear the whole story chapter by chapter, and my editor who is also a
friend.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">
Because I write
about law enforcement and crimes, and have no past experience of my own, I rely
on my police contacts to help me out with a lot of elements in a story. In this
particular book, I needed to learn about old skeletons, and also about cadaver
dogs. </div>
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<br /></div>
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About both topics,
I had help from Dr. Rao who is in my critique group, he shared a book by an
expert in identifying buried bones.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Two members of
Public Safety Writers of America, Gloria Casale and Ron Corbin gave me lots of
information about how dead bodies might look under the circumstances in the
story.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I put out a query
about cadaver dogs on Facebook and heard from a friend who is a former police
officer who put me in touch with a woman named Vynn Stuart who worked for a
sheriff’s office for 20 years as a Special Deputy K-9 Handler. We emailed back
and forth as she answered my many questions. Once I’d finished the section that
I needed her help with, I sent it to her and she made some corrections.</div>
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<br /></div>
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A fun part of all
this is she gave me the name for the character, part of her name, and wanted
the description to be as she looks. Of course, I did exactly what she asked.
She wants her grandkids to be able to recognize her in the book. I hope when
she receives a copy of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Bones in the Attic</i></b> she’s not disappointed.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">
Marilyn aka F.M. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Blurb: The
discovery of a skeleton, a welfare check on a senior citizen, and a wildfire
challenge the Rocky Bluff P.D.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: black;">Buy link: </span><a href="https://tinyurl.com/yxpd8mxy"><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">https://tinyurl.com/yxpd8mxy</span></a><span style="background: white; color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a>Bio:
Marilyn Meredith, who writes the RBPD mystery series as F.M. Meredith, is the
author of over 40 published books. She once lived in a small beach town much
like Rocky Bluff and has many relatives and friends in law enforcement. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Webpage: <a href="http://fictionforyou.com/">http://fictionforyou.com/</a></div>
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Blog: <a href="https://marilynmeredith.blogspot.com/">https://marilynmeredith.blogspot.com/</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: 0in;">
Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/marilyn.meredith"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.facebook.com/marilyn.meredith</span></a></div>
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Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/marilynmeredith/">https://twitter.com/marilynmeredith/</a></div>
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And she’s a regular
on these blogs:</div>
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2<sup>nd</sup> and
4<sup>th</sup> Tuesday: <a href="https://makeminemystery.blogspot.com/">https://makeminemystery.blogspot.com/</a></div>
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4<sup>th</sup>
Monday of the month: <a href="https://ladiesofmystery.com/">https://ladiesofmystery.com/</a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br />jrlindermuthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09204855909246670628noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6975660612181993995.post-71997602565400570922019-08-24T08:35:00.001-07:002019-08-24T08:35:40.306-07:00Read an Excerpt From The Bartered Body<br />
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Tuesday, February 7,
1899</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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Chapter 1.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“She’s
gone,” Virgil Follmer said.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“What?
Who?”</div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Virgil’s
head shot forward, his face going red as he rose up on the toes of his boots in
an effort to appear taller than he actually is. “Dammit, Tilghman,” he bellowed,
“open your ears. Don’t make me repeat myself. Time’s a-wastin’.”</div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Virgil’s
our town undertaker and generally the most docile, quiet man you’d ever want to
meet. So, seeing him get this excited, I knew something terrible must have
happened. “Calm down,” I told him. “I’m not a mind-reader. You’ll have to
explain if you want my help. Now—who’s missing?’</div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Why Mrs.
Arbuckle, of course. Somebody’s stole her body. Zimmerman’s gonna have a fit.”</div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The late
Mrs. Arbuckle was Nathan Zimmerman’s mother-in-law. Zimmerman is burgess of
Arahpot, which makes him my boss. This news imposed a bit more urgency on my
response. “I’ll get my hat and coat and be right with you,” I told Virgil. </div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I’d just
returned home and was heating up a pot of soup Doc Mariner’s wife had sent over
when Follmer commenced pounding on my door.</div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He waited
impatiently by the door while I took the pot off the stove and got my garments.
“If you’d subscribe for phone service a body wouldn’t have to go runnin’ half
way across town to fetch you,” Virgil snarled.</div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I’m the
third of my family to hold the job of sheriff here in <st1:city w:st="on">Arahpot</st1:city>,
<st1:country-region w:st="on">Jordan</st1:country-region> County, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">Pennsylvania</st1:state></st1:place>, and I take
my responsibilities seriously. But I have enough people yammering at me during
the day at the office and prefer not to make it so convenient for them once I’m
home for the evening. Of course I didn’t explain this to Virgil. Instead, as we
strode down the hill toward town, I asked, “Didn’t you stop at the office?
Cyrus should be there.”</div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Virgil
huffed. “If I’d wanted your deputy, I’da gone there. Thought this was important
enough for your attention.”</div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I couldn’t
dispute his remark.</div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Slush from
the last snow made walking precarious and we had to concentrate on where we
stepped to avoid slipping. It didn’t prevent Virgil from continuing to harp on
the subject of the telephone.</div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I’m sure
Miss Longlow would have seized the opportunity for the telephone contract if
she’d known about it in time,” he said.</div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I couldn’t
argue the point. Lydia is one of the most astute business women I know and she
certainly would have added the telephone to her various enterprises if McLean
Ruppenthal hadn’t got the jump on her with prior knowledge—one of the benefits
of being on the borough council, I suppose. He got the telephone franchise and
has his sister Cora operating the switchboard. That makes him privy to many of
the secrets in town—another advantage I’m certain he hasn’t overlooked.</div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Still, this
wasn’t the subject on my mind at the moment. “Never mind all that for now,” I
said. “Why don’t you fill me in on what happened before we get to your place
and I have to face Zimmerman.”</div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Virgil gave
me a look like a startled deer. “God, I haven’t told <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">him</i> yet. I wanted to talk to you first.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Well, you
haven’t told me a thing so far—other than that the old lady’s body is missing.
How’d it happen?” I drew my collar closer round my neck against the damp chill
of the evening, wishing I’d have thought to bring the nice warm scarf <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Lydia</st1:country-region></st1:place>
has knit for me.</div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Follmer
heaved a sigh and skipped his short legs in an effort to catch up to my longer
pace. “I wish to heaven I knew how it happened. We had her all laid out nice in
the coffin, set to deliver her for the viewing. Before goin’ out for supper I
stepped in to make sure all was in readiness. The casket was empty. Syl, I know
that old lady didn’t get up and walk out of my place on her own.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“That don’t
make a bit of sense, Virgil. Why would someone steal a body?”</div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I don’t
know. But they sure as heck did.” </div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>‘I take it
Floyd helped with the layin’ out,” I said, referring to Virgil’s assistant.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Course he
did.”</div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Maybe he
moved the body and you looked in the wrong coffin.”</div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He peered
at me as though my remark was the most idiotic he’d ever heard. “Why would he
do that? I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">know</i> which casket I put
her in.”</div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I shrugged.
“Just a thought.”</div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></div>
(Want more? The Bartered Body is available from <a href="https://www.sunburypressstore.com/The-Bartered-Body-9781620067567.htm">https://www.sunburypressstore.com/The-Bartered-Body-9781620067567.htm</a>, or <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07C96SBBT/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i9">https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07C96SBBT/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i9</a> and from many other booksellers)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U0yg6J0hhWc/XWFZPmUPTsI/AAAAAAAAAsc/WTblajs3sWMsmfosR4yzXvroonbr03NwACLcBGAs/s1600/The%2BBartered%2BBody.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1060" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U0yg6J0hhWc/XWFZPmUPTsI/AAAAAAAAAsc/WTblajs3sWMsmfosR4yzXvroonbr03NwACLcBGAs/s320/The%2BBartered%2BBody.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
jrlindermuthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09204855909246670628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6975660612181993995.post-60588225102987388582019-02-07T07:11:00.002-08:002019-02-07T07:11:35.310-08:00Excerpt From a Favorite Novel<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">All writers have favorites among their books. One of
mine is Watch The Hour. It's a tale of conflict between miners and mine owners
in the 1870s in Pennsylvania's anthracite coal region.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I'm offering here a short excerpt from the book.
McHugh, Haley and Farrell, miners accused of ties to the Molly Maguires, have
escaped from jail and jumped a train, hoping to elude pursuers:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The conductor approached and McHugh slunk deeper
into the seat. He felt Haley stir beside him and Billy Farrell gave a little
sigh.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"You're tickets, gents," the conductor
said as he stood over them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"We already gave 'em," Haley said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"That's right," McHugh added. "We
paid when we got on."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Up front, the engineer blasted on his whistle and
the train swayed and rocked a bit as it rounded a curve somewhere along the
line to Arahpot. McHugh felt the sweat beading on his forehead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He'd told Haley it wouldn't work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The conductor exhaled sharply as he stood braced on
his big feet before them. "Gentlemen," he said, "I'm the
conductor, and you have not paid me for your fare."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"Maybe it was the other one," Billy told
him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"There ain't no other one. There's just me, and
you boys didn't pay me."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">McHugh jumped up and seized the man by the collar.
Billy stood up and took the man's arm on the other side. "Look,"
McHugh told him, "we don't want no trouble. We just need to catch a ride
with you for a ways."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"Damned if I'll let you get away with
that," the man shouted<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">That was when Haley grabbed the pistol out of
McHugh's waistband and shoved it in the conductor's face. He snapped the
trigger twice but the gun didn't go off. Frustrated, Haley smacked the man
across the cheek with the revolver's barrel. The conductor's head bounced back,
but he was a strong man and he struggled to free himself from McHugh and the
boy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A drummer across the aisle jumped up. When Haley
turned and pointed the gun at him, the man ran out of the car, screaming for
help.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"Oh, hell, we're in for it now, boys,"
Haley said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The words were no sooner out of his mouth than two
of the crew came into the car and strode toward them. Haley raised the gun and
fired at them. This time it went off. Three times.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Bam! Bam! Bam!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The first shot passed through the coat of the
brakeman. The second bullet narrowly missed the fireman and smashed a window
behind him. The third tore off the man's earlobe and he stopped in his tracks,
squealing with pain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">McHugh and Farrell released the conductor and made
for the opposite end of the car, Freed, the conductor dove for Haley. Haley
smashed him in the face with the butt of the revolver and the man fell in a
heap at his feet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"Come on, Humpty," McHugh yelled.
"Let's get out of here." He and Billy went out the door and jumped
off the train. Haley followed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01E9D5648/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i7<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YMqOI620aRE/XFxKmF8Vg6I/AAAAAAAAAqc/hYWkZUVdZ7klu51fFfYSOnyU311yHRuawCLcBGAs/s1600/WTHcover2gif.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YMqOI620aRE/XFxKmF8Vg6I/AAAAAAAAAqc/hYWkZUVdZ7klu51fFfYSOnyU311yHRuawCLcBGAs/s320/WTHcover2gif.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
jrlindermuthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09204855909246670628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6975660612181993995.post-3585331773149053202019-01-08T05:31:00.000-08:002019-01-08T05:31:20.347-08:00Fact And Fiction On The Flu(My guest today is J. L. Greger, scientist/novelist, who shares some interesting information and an introduction to her latest book. The floor is yours, my friend:)<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M7o4UF9Bkts/XDNm5Ms4PWI/AAAAAAAAAqQ/qz71FwHnc7UYa2BlfBoR0RwPbijpZhZGgCLcBGAs/s1600/reduced%2Bflu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1075" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M7o4UF9Bkts/XDNm5Ms4PWI/AAAAAAAAAqQ/qz71FwHnc7UYa2BlfBoR0RwPbijpZhZGgCLcBGAs/s320/reduced%2Bflu.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The flu epidemic of 1918-19 </span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">is the largest pandemic ever. One-third
of the world population was infected and 20 to 50 million people died. Although
it is sometimes called the Spanish Flu, it probably first developed in or near
a military base in Kansas. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">This epidemic inspired not only many scientists
but also many authors of fiction.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">First, the
science</span></u><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">. In 2005,
scientists reconstructed this H1N1-type flu virus that caused the 1918
epidemic. They believe a</span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">t least
a portion of the human population has some residual immunity to this or similar
viruses. That means the virus that caused the 1918 epidemic probably could not
cause another epidemic. <u>BUT</u> new mutations of avian or swine flu viruses
could create a new flu virus transmittable among humans. In that situation,
humans might have no residual immunity to the virus and another pandemic could
occur.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Now the
fiction</span></u><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">. Epidemics
are the basis of many famous novels and movies. Consider: The Stand by S. King,
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Plague </i>by A. Camus, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Arrowsmith</i> by S. Lewis, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">World without End</i> by K. Follett.
Generally, the medical details are incorrect in these novels, and the epidemics
resemble a mix of cholera, plague, and flu. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Authors have used
the epidemics so frequently in fiction because epidemics are urgent situations which
bring out the best and worst in their characters. Probably, the most
interesting use of the 1918 flu epidemic was in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Downton Abbey</i>. It was a way to eliminate lady’s Mary’s rival for
the attention of Matthew Crawley. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The most
realistic view of an epidemic occurred in the 2011 movie <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Contagion</i>. However, this movie didn’t allow viewers to develop much
sympathy for victims. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Flu Is Coming </i></b>realistically
portrays what would happen if a new virulent flu virus struck but allows
readers to have empathy not only with patients and medical personnel treating
patients but also scientists and police trying to control the spread of the
flu. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Prescription</span></u><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">. Try it, ,you’ll like learning a bit
of science on drug development while you’re frightened by the quarantine and
what it unleashes among residents of a small community.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Blog: In <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Flu Is Coming</i></b>, a new type of flu — the Philippine flu — kills nearly
half of the <span style="background: white; color: #222222;">residents in an
upscale, gated community in less than a week. A quarantine makes those who
survive virtual prisoners in their homes.</span> <span style="background: white; color: #222222;">The Centers for Disease Control recruit Sara Almquist, a
resident of the community, to apply her skills as an epidemiologist to find
ways to limit the spread of the epidemic. As she pries into her neighbors’
lives, she finds promising scientific clues but unfortunately learns too much
about several of them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-themecolor: text1;">The paperback version of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Flu Is Coming</i></b> is available at: </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Flu-Coming-Science-Traveler/dp/0578423251"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">https://www.amazon.com/Flu-Coming-Science-Traveler/dp/0578423251</span></b></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">. The Kindle version at: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">https://www.amazon.com/Flu-Coming-Science-Traveler-Book-ebook/dp/B07KX3J37W</span></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Bio</span></u><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">: <span style="color: black;">J.L.
Greger is a scientist and research administrator turned novelist. </span>She
likes to include tidbits of science in her award-winning thriller/mystery
novels:<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Murder: A Way to Lose</b></i><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Riddled with Clues</i></b>, and others. <span style="color: black;">To learn more, visit <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">http://</b></span></span><a href="http://www.jlgreger.com/" target="_blank"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #336699; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">www.jlgreger.com</span></b></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />jrlindermuthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09204855909246670628noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6975660612181993995.post-44640167718283841482018-12-29T08:18:00.003-08:002018-12-29T08:18:46.522-08:00Ten Recommended Reads<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As is my custom, as the year winds down I like to
assess the books I've read and make some recommendations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Since I'm a voracious reader of both fiction and
non-fiction (reads and re-reads nearing a hundred and the year isn't quite
over), I'm limiting to just 10 books in the mystery genre this time around.
Note, they weren't all published in 2017 either. Here they are, in no
particular order:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A RECKONING IN THE BACK COUNTRY by Terry Shames. The
vicious murder of a doctor from out of the area poses a perplexing mystery in
this seventh in the Samuel Craddock series. I don't know why, but this was my
first experience with this series. It won't be the last.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">SEE ALSO PROOF by Larry D. Sweazy. This Marjorie
Tremaine mystery takes the reader on a harrowing journey back to the
1960s--which weren't as wonderful as some would have you believe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">ROBICHEAUX by James Lee Burke. It's been far too
long since the last visit with Dave and the gang. Burke has given us other
novels in between, but Robicheaux remains my favorite of his creations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">THE LINE by Martin Limon. This page-turner with Army
Criminal Investigation Division agents Sueno and Bascom takes the reader on a
nail-biting jaunt to the DMZ where a South Korean soldier has been murdered and
their investigation threatens to set off an international incident.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A KNIFE IN THE FOG by Bradley Harper. <span style="background: white; color: #111111;">I'm not a fan of writers appropriating
the character(s) of others for their own stories. But rather than
"borrowing" Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Harper has employed Conan Doyle, his
creator; Dr. Joseph Bell, Doyle's mentor, and Margaret Harkness, a remarkable
woman, whom I'd never heard of before, for a brilliant and plausible joust with
Jack the Ripper, whose bloody exploits continue to fascinate and remain as
shrouded in mystery as the foggy streets of 19th century London.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #111111; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">THE WITCH ELM by Tana
French. I've enjoyed her Dublin Murder Squad series but this stand-alone with
an unreliable narrator may be my favorite of her works. Psychological suspense
at its best.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #111111; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">FIVE DAYS, FIVE DEAD
by Carole Crigger. I've been a fan of Crigger's China Bohannon since reading
the first in the series. This fun romp in the Wild West is a good introduction
if you haven't yet read any of the previous novels.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #111111; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">THE STRANGER HOUSE by
Reginald Hill. This standalone by the late, lamented author of the superb
Dalziel/Pascoe series isn't new (published in 2009) but it's erudite, witty and
highly entertaining.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #111111; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">BODY AND SOUL by John
Harvey. This is the final episode in Harvey's Frank Elder series and, based on
his own comment, his last novel. As always, it's sharp and gripping.
Personally, I hope there are more novels to be written by Harvey. If not, there
are still a good many I haven't read.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #111111; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">SMOKE AND ASHES by
Abir Mukherjee. This is the third outing for Captain Sam Wyndham and his
sidekick Sergeant "Surrender-Not" Banerjee and I hope there are many
more. Sam's addiction put his career in jeopardy as he tries to solve several
ritualistic murders and Banerjee grapples with family and personal issues
amidst the turmoil of Gandhi's Indian independence movement.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />jrlindermuthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09204855909246670628noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6975660612181993995.post-49370451298184279942018-11-06T04:59:00.000-08:002018-11-06T05:00:55.637-08:00Writing Habits(My guest today is Marilyn Meredith aka F. M. Meredith who is going to share with us some thoughts on writing and a bit about her latest mystery, Tangled Webs.)<br />
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It’s always
interesting to learn how different writers write, if and how they schedule
their writing time, where they like to write, music they like to listen to,
what they drink while writing.</div>
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<br /></div>
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One of my favorite
writers does the majority of his writing in a diner, others I know head to the
local coffee shop, or the library. For me, having to go someplace to write
would not work—plus, I know I’d be distracted in a public place. Watching
people is too much fun.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Mainly I write at
my desktop computer in my office in my home. No photo, it’s generally on the
messy side. Because I have a big family, big and little people drop in
unannounced. I have no problem at all getting back to work after they leave. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Some writers I know
set aside a particular number of hours a day to write, much like working at a
regular job. Others write at night after all is quiet. I prefer writing in the
early morning hours while most in the house are still in bed—but I keep on
going until I know I’m done for the day. However, there are times when the muse
strikes me at odd hours and I’ll return to the computer.</div>
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And no, I don’t
write every day—some days I’m busy with other business connected with writing,
or just life.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I tried using music
to set the mood for whatever I was writing, but gave it up. It was far too
distracting. However, I always begin my day and the writing process with a cup
of Chai latte. </div>
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<br /></div>
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One last little
tidbit, I know some writers stay in their PJs all day. Not me, I get dressed
first thing after I rise. Remember, I wrote that people drop in unannounced?
I’ve had family arrive before 6 a.m. for one reason or another.</div>
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<br /></div>
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So, you other
writers out there, what are your writing habits?</div>
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<br /></div>
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Marilyn</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zbDgJkGkBFk/W7tR5GsZVoI/AAAAAAAAAps/XFYstzt3nAsNOojsjkIzTPITzpQUMgS8ACLcBGAs/s1600/Marilyn%2Bin%2BVegas%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1463" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zbDgJkGkBFk/W7tR5GsZVoI/AAAAAAAAAps/XFYstzt3nAsNOojsjkIzTPITzpQUMgS8ACLcBGAs/s320/Marilyn%2Bin%2BVegas%2B1.jpg" width="292" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wh4WWYuHiNY/W7tSGfKAhlI/AAAAAAAAApw/oKSK_bX7RdsdDlV9LTdfBNc4NDCEf1-zQCLcBGAs/s1600/tangled%2Bweb%2Bfront%2Bcover%2Bjpeg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1008" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wh4WWYuHiNY/W7tSGfKAhlI/AAAAAAAAApw/oKSK_bX7RdsdDlV9LTdfBNc4NDCEf1-zQCLcBGAs/s320/tangled%2Bweb%2Bfront%2Bcover%2Bjpeg.jpg" width="201" /></a></div>
writes
the Rocky Bluff PD series as F. M. Meredith<br />
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Blurb:
Too many people are telling lies: The husband of the murder victim and his
secretary, the victim’s boss and co-workers in the day care center, her
stalker, and Detective Milligan’s daughter. </div>
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Link: <a href="https://tinyurl.com/yabj9z9f"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">https://tinyurl.com/yabj9z9f</span></a></div>
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Bio: F.
M. Meredith who is also known as Marilyn once lived in a beach town much like
Rocky Bluff. She has many friends and relatives in law enforcement. She’s a
member of MWA, 3 chapters of Sisters in Crime and serves on the PSWA Board.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Webpage: <a href="http://fictionforyou.com/">http://fictionforyou.com</a></div>
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Blog: <a href="https://marilynmeredith.blogspot.com/">https://marilynmeredith.blogspot.com</a></div>
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Facebook: Marilyn
Meredith</div>
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Twitter:
@marilynmeredith</div>
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<br /></div>
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Tomorrow I’m
heading to Thonie Hevron’s blog: https;//Thonie hevron.wordpress.com/ and
letting everyone know what I’m thankful for as a writer.</div>
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<br />jrlindermuthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09204855909246670628noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6975660612181993995.post-9137748696980536572018-10-09T05:36:00.001-07:002018-10-09T05:36:09.657-07:00Reader Survey, Part 2<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Writers--unless they're like J. D. Salinger who in
his latter days was only interested in the process--seek readers. Traditional
wisdom says the best way to do that is to give readers what they want.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So, how do we discover what readers want?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In my opinion, the best way is to listen to what
they say. One source of information is surveys such as one <span style="background: white; color: #333333;">conducted by M. K. Tod, an author and
blogger at https://awriterofhistory.com/ She's been conducting these surveys
since 2012 and they provide a wealth of insight into the minds of readers from
around the globe.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Last<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>week I commented on the 2018 survey findings
on issues of interest to readers. Naturally much of that should have been of
interest to writers, too. We learned 75 percent of the participants still
prefer print books over electronic format. They told us they mostly read
fiction for entertainment and their most popular genres are mystery/thrillers,
romance and historical fiction.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Granted, this was not
a huge survey. But more than half the 2,418 respondents said they read more
than 30 books a year. That's a significant number.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This week I'm
focusing on matters of more concern to writers, specifically how to give
readers what they want.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">One topic I found
most interesting was how readers determine what to read next. The most
important factor, they related, is subject matter and genre. The least
important--the publisher or imprint. Though we've been told time and again
covers are an extremely important factor in sales, that wasn't borne out in
this survey. Cover was somewhat a factor (slightly more important to women than
to men), but not an overriding concern for most. Identity of the author varied
with age groups. Fifty-four percent for those over 70 but only 29 percent for
those under 30.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We've also had the
importance of reviews drummed into us constantly. Yet (and I wasn't totally surprised)
reviews weren't the top factor in this survey. These readers (and I believe
most) rely predominately on the recommendation of friends. That's not to say
reviews aren't important. Favorite review sites were second in preference,
closely followed by sites such as Goodreads and simply browsing in a bookstore.
Except for Amazon, advertising/promotion seldom rose above 20 percent for the
respondents.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Another factor
writers should keep in mind, women read more than men. Sixty percent of the
women responding to this survey said they read more than 30 books a year.
You're free to write whatever you like. But, if your books don't appeal to
women, you're missing a large part of the market. And, they love fiction.
Eighty-eight percent of the women expressed a preference for fiction in their
book reading.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Some of the factors
women cited as important in their reading were authenticity, characters who are
both heroic and human, a fast-paced plot, and feeling immersed in the novel's
world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Giveaways have long
been a big marketing ploy. Yet only 30 percent of the respondents (male and
female) found those of interest. They were more interested in reading a
magazine or newspaper article about a book (60 percent), following an author on
Facebook or Twitter, reading an author's blog or newsletter, or meeting an
author in person.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As to how they
purchase or acquire their books, 70 percent of the respondents said they buy on
line. Libraries also remain a strong source, particularly for women.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For a more in depth
look at the survey, use the link above to M. K. Tod's site.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />jrlindermuthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09204855909246670628noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6975660612181993995.post-10787657705320911182018-10-01T05:22:00.001-07:002018-10-01T05:22:36.123-07:00A Survey of Readers<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iQwMiIkfSd0/W7IRfSQ4-4I/AAAAAAAAApU/iw_LTH75u7855xv3Bs00abfVUJWrK_tcACLcBGAs/s1600/The%2BBartered%2BBody.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1060" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iQwMiIkfSd0/W7IRfSQ4-4I/AAAAAAAAApU/iw_LTH75u7855xv3Bs00abfVUJWrK_tcACLcBGAs/s320/The%2BBartered%2BBody.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This summer I was one of more than 2,000 persons who
again participated in a survey of readers conducted by M. K. Tod, an author and
blogger at https://awriterofhistory.com/ She's been conducting these surveys
since 2012.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The results provide a few surprises which may be of
interest to other writers/readers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">First, I should note, participants came from around
the globe, were of varying ages and more than half read more than 30 books in a
year. Not surprisingly, a majority of the participants were female. Women do
tend to read more than men.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It pleased me to learn 75 percent of the
participants prefer print books, frequently or exclusively using that format. I
have nothing against electronic formats. I do find them convenient, especially
for travel, and do utilize my Kindle on a fairly regular basis. But, despite
all the hype, I don't believe they are monopolizing the reading world. At
least, not yet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Entertainment was cited as the primary reason for
reading fiction, and readers like to feel immersed in the story. Seventy-one
percent of men vs. 88 percent of women read fiction more than 50 percent of the
time. As to genre, the favored categories in order were: mystery/thrillers,
romance, historical fiction, women's fiction, and literary. Yay, mysteries!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Again, not surprisingly, genre interest varies with
age. For mystery, interest increases with age, while interest in fantasy,
science fiction and horror seems to decrease with age. Here are two other
factors I found fascinating: interest in the romance genre peaks between the
ages of 30 and 50. Literary fiction is less popular in the U.S. than in other
parts of the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Since some of my stories are classed as historical
fiction, I was pleased to see the 19th century as the second most favored
period.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As to non-fiction, the most popular genres were
history, biography and memoirs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The majority of those surveyed (78 percent) said
they read whenever opportunity permits. Bedtime reading, followed by
vacation-time, were other high percentages. More men than women read on the way
to or from work. Most people read solo, though the more books a person reads in
a year, the more likely they are to join a book club.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">(I'll be doing a follow up on this blog, focusing
more on topics of specific interest to writers).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />jrlindermuthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09204855909246670628noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6975660612181993995.post-88347092947119522892018-08-30T06:45:00.002-07:002018-08-30T06:45:50.290-07:00Not The Only Game In Town<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2_X1PJijC9c/W4f02oYw3-I/AAAAAAAAAo4/BUY3ouVvoeU4vxOIrLy7cEk9mAi2ViVlQCLcBGAs/s1600/Blakes%2BRule%2B-Lindermuth%2BWeb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2_X1PJijC9c/W4f02oYw3-I/AAAAAAAAAo4/BUY3ouVvoeU4vxOIrLy7cEk9mAi2ViVlQCLcBGAs/s320/Blakes%2BRule%2B-Lindermuth%2BWeb.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-piTkIv5VP9k/W4f097dwv4I/AAAAAAAAAo8/0GklwF_rgkEzeMeU4i_ycvcDOVgjc6QqQCLcBGAs/s1600/thieldetectives.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="423" data-original-width="700" height="193" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-piTkIv5VP9k/W4f097dwv4I/AAAAAAAAAo8/0GklwF_rgkEzeMeU4i_ycvcDOVgjc6QqQCLcBGAs/s320/thieldetectives.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Mention 19th century U.S. detective agencies, and
Pinkerton is generally the first to be called to mind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This isn't surprising since the agency established
by Allan Pinkerton in 1850 is widely known because of its role in protecting
President Lincoln during the Civil War, smashing the Molly Maguires in the
Pennsylvania coal region, and tracking down western outlaws like Jesse James. By
the 1890s, the Pinkerton Detective Agency had more operatives than the U.S.
Army had soldiers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But, Pinkerton wasn't the only detective agency
operating in the wild west in the 1890s.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">One of Pinkerton's major competitors was the Thiel
Detective Service Agency. The firm was founded by George H. Thiel, a former
Civil War spy and Pinkerton employee. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I decided to give my character Sam Blake a job with
the firm after research turned up the firm's work in Colorado in the period of
Blake's Rule. One of Thiel's first employees was John F. Farley, a former U.S.
Cavalry trooper, who became manager of the Denver office. He hires Blake in the
novel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A major task of the Thiel agency was infiltrating
labor organizations and breaking up strikes, work that had agents reviled by
many as mercenaries and musclemen. This reputation causes an initial conflict
between Blake and Sheriff Fremont before they become allies in Blake's Rule.
Here's a blurb for the novel:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Blake’s rule has always been to do what’s right…not what’s easy.</span></i></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Range
detective Sam Blake is after cattle rustlers—but when a beautiful woman is
accused of murdering her employer, he has to step in and see justice done.
Miriam had her reasons for the brutal killing, and though she’s not talking,
Blake understands there’s more to this crime than meets the eye.</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When
the local sheriff, James Fremont, asks Blake to spirit Miriam and her two
children out of town before a lynch mob comes for her, he agrees. But Cyrus
Diebler, the influential rancher who is intent on seeing her pay for her crime,
is not about to be stopped. He will go to whatever lengths he must to see her
dead, though it means putting his own family in harm’s way.</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As
Blake and Miriam stay one step ahead of the relentless Diebler and his deadly
henchmen, a relationship begins to build between them. When Blake learns the
real story behind the murder, and the dark secrets of Diebler’s motivation to
see Miriam dead, he vows he will protect her and her children at all costs—even
if it means his own life.</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Blake's Rule is available from Amazon, Barnes &
Noble and other major booksellers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />jrlindermuthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09204855909246670628noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6975660612181993995.post-24663175063495620162018-08-14T04:57:00.000-07:002018-08-14T04:57:11.781-07:00On Writing Multiple Series(Amy Reade is my guest today. The floor is yours, my friend:)<br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Last week I was in a pickle (not
literally, of course). I’m working on three series right now and moving
seamlessly from one to another was not happening. When I worked on the first
project, I would be fine. But when it came time to shift gears for the second
project and then the third, I found I had no energy, no ideas left in the well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
know plenty of writers who write more than one series. And if they can do it,
so can I.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It’s
hard work writing one book, let alone two or three at the same time. I’ve
imposed deadlines on myself to stay on track and on pace, but deadlines only
work when you have ideas and can immerse yourself in a book to get those ideas
down in edit-able form. Hence, I’m meeting the deadlines on the first book; not
so much on the second and third.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
knew I had to figure out a way to make three series work, and I think I’ve hit
on a three-part solution.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>First,
I limit myself to working on two books per day. On Day One, I work on the first
and second books. On Day Two, I work on the second and third books. And on Day
Three (you guessed it), I work on the third and first books. Then I start the
cycle again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I
know there are some writers who think it’s necessary to work on the same book
day after day in order to stay in the flow of the story, but this is what’s
working for me right now. If there comes a time when it’s not working, I’ll
have to come up with a different solution (and another blog post about it).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Second,
I have found it helpful to take a break between projects every day. And I’m
talking about a physical break—one where I get up and move around, do something
vigorous. It may be taking my dog for a walk or getting on the spin bike or
cleaning a bathroom. It can be anything, as long as it isn’t just eating lunch
or (gasp) taking a nap. There’s truth to the rumor that getting the blood
moving also gets the brain moving.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>And
third, each project I’m working on is at a different stage of the writing-editing-publishing
process. My first project is deep in the rewrite stages. My second project is
in the soggy middle. My third project is at the very beginning of the rewrites.
Once I’m ready to send the first book off to the editor, I’ll have just one
book in the rewrite stage and I’ll start something new. I find that it helps
not to be actively drafting three books at the same time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a>Do you work on more than one project at a time? How do you
keep yourself sane and the creative juices flowing? I hope you’ll share your
ideas with us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Author bio:</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Amy M. Reade is the <i>USA Today</i> bestselling author of The
Malice Series, consisting of <i>The House on
Candlewick Lane, Highland Peril, </i>and <i>Murder
in Thistlecross</i>, all of which are set in the United Kingdom<i>. </i>She has also written a cozy mystery, <i>The Worst Noel,</i> and three standalone
novels of gothic suspense: <i>Secrets of
Hallstead House, The Ghosts of Peppernell Manor, </i>and <i>House of the Hanging Jade.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Amy is a recovering
attorney living in Southern New Jersey. She is active in community
organizations and loves reading, cooking, and traveling when she’s not writing.
She is currently working on a second cozy mystery and a historical mystery set
in Cape May County, New Jersey.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Social
Media Links<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Website<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a>:
</span><a href="http://www.amymreade.com/"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">www.amymreade.com</span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Pinterest: </span><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/amreade"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">www.pinterest.com/amreade</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Instagram: </span><a href="http://www.instagram.com/amymreade"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">www.instagram.com/amymreade</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Amazon Author Page: </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Amy-M.-Reade/e/B00LX6ASF2/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">https://www.amazon.com/Amy-M.-Reade/e/B00LX6ASF2/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Goodreads Page: </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8189243.Amy_M_Reade"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8189243.Amy_M_Reade</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WXMBDDVZRmg/W3GJnYvFTKI/AAAAAAAAAoY/3AV4mw81WRoleXvDxThhwSA-0l6l7il9wCLcBGAs/s1600/Amy%2BM.%2BReade%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WXMBDDVZRmg/W3GJnYvFTKI/AAAAAAAAAoY/3AV4mw81WRoleXvDxThhwSA-0l6l7il9wCLcBGAs/s320/Amy%2BM.%2BReade%2B%25281%2529.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />jrlindermuthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09204855909246670628noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6975660612181993995.post-2793509081451089582018-07-11T07:17:00.000-07:002018-07-11T07:17:17.129-07:00Complicating a Character's Life<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X4ajHQXNZb0/W0YREny_1zI/AAAAAAAAAn0/w1zShCvHdTs1cA3NfKYrv9UKnnucLnh9gCLcBGAs/s1600/The%2BBartered%2BBody.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1060" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X4ajHQXNZb0/W0YREny_1zI/AAAAAAAAAn0/w1zShCvHdTs1cA3NfKYrv9UKnnucLnh9gCLcBGAs/s320/The%2BBartered%2BBody.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In my mysteries, I like to give my protagonist big
problems in addition to the central crime with which he's dealing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Life comes with complications, so why should a
mystery be any different?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In The Bartered Body, Sheriff Sylvester Tilghman is
confronted with the theft of a body from a local funeral parlor. Not just any
body, but that of the mother-in-law of Nathan Zimmerman, burgess of Arahpot and
Syl's boss.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When Syl isn't dealing with crime his major concern
is trying to convince Lydia Longlow, the strong woman he loves, to relinquish
some of her independence and marry him. He's persevered with this and other
problems in the two previous novels of the series (Fallen From Grace and Sooner
Than Gold). In the past Syl's dealt with such issues as poisonings and
stabbings, scary predictions by a gypsy fortuneteller, horse thieves, a
political enemy, and even a few culprits taking pot shots at him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The theft of an old woman's body is a new and
complex problem, perhaps the most perplexing he's faced yet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But, as I said, I like to complicate life for my
characters. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">While working on the weekly history column I write
for my local newspaper I stumbled upon the Great Arctic Outbreak of February
1899, and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew it was an element made
for this novel. This storm impacted the whole of the United States, including
Pennsylvania where my story is set. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The impact of the storm was felt as far south as
Florida, where temperatures dropped below zero in Tallahassee on Feb. 13. The
cold was so intense cattle froze in the fields in many places. Telegraph
lines--still the major means of communication between communities--were downed,
rail traffic was halted by drifting snow, and cities and towns were completely
cut off from one another for days. Orchards and crops were destroyed. It's been
estimated more than 100 people died as a result of the St. Valentine's Day
Blizzard of 1899.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Now, that's what I call a complication.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For good measure, I tossed in a few other problems
for Syl--the arrival in town of a former flame who threatens his relationship
with Lydia; clashes with his old enemy, former burgess McLean Ruppenthal,
and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a string of puzzling armed
robberies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Bartered Body is available in print and
electronic formats.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Grab a copy here: https://www.sunburypressstore.com/The-Bartered-Body-9781620067567.htm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It's also available from Amazon, B&N and other
fine booksellers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />jrlindermuthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09204855909246670628noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6975660612181993995.post-9986687856791530382018-05-01T05:54:00.002-07:002018-05-01T05:58:32.281-07:00Gin Mill Grill--A Sandi Webster Mystery<br />
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I'm hosting Marja McGraw on my blog this week. Marja has a
new Sandi Webster mystery to tell us about. The floor is yours, Marja.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
John, Thank you for having me as a guest today. I enjoy your
posts and I’m delighted to be a part of your blog.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fbJ2W4m_5us/WuhjeR6cQpI/AAAAAAAAAm8/KdBx4JJadA05AY4AHQbND_wqPuuZyhBzgCLcBGAs/s1600/Gin%2BMill%2BGrill_edited-6%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fbJ2W4m_5us/WuhjeR6cQpI/AAAAAAAAAm8/KdBx4JJadA05AY4AHQbND_wqPuuZyhBzgCLcBGAs/s320/Gin%2BMill%2BGrill_edited-6%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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You might wonder how I came up with a storyline that involves
speakeasies and gin mills. I was stuck for an idea and sat down with a large
book filled with the front pages of newspapers. I can’t say the headlines
grabbed my attention, but farther down the page you can find all kinds of
stories.</div>
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<br /></div>
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We like to say that things were simpler in the old days, and
that people were more innocent than we are now. That’s not necessarily true.</div>
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Through researching old newspapers I’ve found some
sensational stories that involved things you’d think might happen today, but
not back in the thirties or forties. People are people, and they do unexpected
things for surprising reasons.</div>
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I’m getting off track. When I started reading some of the
stories, the ones farther down the page, I ran across one regarding the murder
of a man and the disappearance of his brother. Needless to say, the authorities
thought of the disappearing brother as their prime suspect. To the best of
their knowledge, he’d been in the house at the time of the murder and somehow
managed to escape.</div>
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<br /></div>
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That’s all I needed. This brief story got the best of my
imagination and the storyteller in me was off and running. I wanted an
interesting time and location involved in the story and what might be better
than a speakeasy during Prohibition? I needed a resolution to the disappearing
brother, and I found one. I also needed someone who might even care about the
brothers in current time, and I found just the woman. I also needed suspects,
but considering the era it took a bit more work to come up with some characters
who might still be living after so many years.</div>
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<br /></div>
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As the story unfolded, I wanted to include a really scary
guy, and I came up with one I think might give you the shivers. His nickname
was Water Boy and I think you’ll love letting him give you the chills.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Sandi Webster-Goldberg and her husband, Pete, have a
reputation for solving cold cases and it didn’t take long for a woman to walk
through their office door with an old case.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I think one of the reasons I enjoy occasionally having Sandi
and Pete solve a cold case is because the victim is “off stage,” so to speak.
They don’t have to face a recent murder and I don’t have to let gore sneak into
my books. When the pair solve a current case, it’s a bit trickier.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Overview:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sandi and Pete have
earned a reputation for solving old cases, and they’re approached by a woman
who’d like a 1930s crime solved. A man was brutally murdered and his brother
immediately disappeared. The authorities believed the brother was their best
suspect, but they weren’t able to track him down. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Case closed – or was
it?<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">With the discovery of
a private room in the house where the crime was committed, Sandi and Pete must
change their thought processes and start running down other suspects and
looking at other locations, including an old speakeasy.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Why would someone in
the current day try to put a halt to the investigation? After all, the murder
took place in the 1930s.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Circumstances are
often not as they seem, and this case is no exception.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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Gin Mill Grill is available at: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_1_8?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=marja+mcgraw&sprefix=marja+mc%2Caps%2C212&crid=C6YT7N80DLW6">https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_1_8?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=marja+mcgraw&sprefix=marja+mc%2Caps%2C212&crid=C6YT7N80DLW6</a></div>
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Blog: <a href="http://marjamcgraw.blogspot.com/">http://marjamcgraw.blogspot.com/</a></div>
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Website: <a href="https://www.marjamcgraw.com/">https://www.marjamcgraw.com/</a></div>
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<br />jrlindermuthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09204855909246670628noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6975660612181993995.post-5678808843687546532018-03-27T05:44:00.001-07:002018-03-27T05:44:42.178-07:00Syl's Back<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Nineteenth Century Coal Region Sheriff Sylvester
Tilghman has been one of my most popular characters with readers.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i-4vc1KX80Q/Wro8rcBmkCI/AAAAAAAAAmU/qlyaA86mZEUqcJvU0ZYnHsWzcQ2bBQQQQCLcBGAs/s1600/The%2BBartered%2BBody.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1060" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i-4vc1KX80Q/Wro8rcBmkCI/AAAAAAAAAmU/qlyaA86mZEUqcJvU0ZYnHsWzcQ2bBQQQQCLcBGAs/s320/The%2BBartered%2BBody.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Tilghman was introduced in Fallen From Grace. His
adventures continued in Sooner Than Gold. And now I'm thrilled to report The
Bartered Body, third in the series, has been released by Milford House, fiction
imprint of Sunbury Press<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The third of his family to serve as a lawman in the
fictional Arahpot, Jordan County, Pennsylvania, Sylvester has persevered in his
duties and continued his quest to marry the ambitious and independent Lydia
Longlow. Now, this time around, he faces one of his most difficult challenges
as a law enforcement officer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Here's the blurb:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Why would thieves steal the body of a dead woman?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">That’s the most challenging question yet to be faced
by Sylvester Tilghman, the third of his family to serve as sheriff of Arahpot,
Jordan County, Pennsylvania, in the waning days of the 19<sup>th</sup> century.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And it’s not just any body but that of Mrs.
Arbuckle, Nathan Zimmerman’s late mother-in-law. Zimmerman is burgess of
Arahpot and Tilghman’s boss, which puts more than a little pressure on the
sheriff to solve the crime in a hurry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Syl’s investigation is complicated by the arrival in
town of a former flame who threatens his relationship with his sweetheart Lydia
Longlow; clashes with his old enemy, former burgess McLean Ruppenthal; a string
of armed robberies, and a record snowstorm that shuts down train traffic, cuts
off telegraph service and freezes cattle in the fields.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It will take all of Syl’s skills and the help of his
deputy and friends to untangle the various threads and bring the criminals to
justice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Bartered Body is available in print and
electronic format from the publisher, https://www.sunburypressstore.com/The-Bartered-Body-9781620067567.htm
as well as Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other booksellers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If you're looking for a fun read and haven't yet met
Syl and his friends I hope you'll add The Bartered Body to your TBR list.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />jrlindermuthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09204855909246670628noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6975660612181993995.post-51578324063323193742018-01-31T07:25:00.001-08:002018-01-31T07:25:44.536-08:00On Attracting Readers<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">What makes a reader pick up a book?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For writers, this is always an intriguing question.
I've been monitoring a survey on the subject, and it resulted in a few
surprises.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">With the millions of books published every day,
writers have to resort to every element available in order to stand out and be
discovered by readers. We're told we've got to become a 'brand' so those
coveted readers will recognize us and seek out our work from among all those
available. Branding means getting your name out in the marketplace. You've got
to promote yourself as well as your books. This endless drive to promote can
become overwhelming, distract from your real job (writing), and become
downright annoying to potential customers if you don't do it right.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Many of the writers I know are obsessed with a
desire to acquire reviews because they've been told this is the key to
discovery. Amazon, for example, gives marketing assistance to books with 50 or
more reviews. Some marketing programs won't accept a book unless it has a designated
number of reviews.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Surprisingly, reviews were not specified as a
particular attraction for readers responding to this survey.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">What a majority did emphasize as elements inspiring
them to pick up and buy a book were: An attention-grabbing title; an intriguing
blurb, and an eye-catching cover. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Another big concern was price. They seemed to agree
$2.99-3.99 for electronic and $15-20 for print were fair prices.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I was a bit surprised they put title first, since
most often the advice from "experts" emphasizes cover art.
Personally, I do think cover design is among the most important considerations.
Yet, there is the admonition not to judge a book by its cover, and I am drawn
to the mystery of titles. Think of all the great novels you would know by their
titles rather than the covers adorning their pages.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In regard to blurbs, a majority said they should be
just long enough to give a hint of what the story's about (but not give away
everything), should not include reviews and definitely should not compare the book
or writer to another.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A number of the persons responding to the survey
said they also like to read a few pages of the book to test the quality of the
writing before making a decision to buy. The "look inside" feature
for electronic versions got a big thumbs up. Reflecting the trend to shorter
attention spans, a number of the responders said they would select a shorter
book over a longer one every time--provided it had the desired other
attributes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Getting back to the subject of reviews, some
discounted them as merely one person's opinion while others said they have been
put off by manipulation of the system and inaccurate or misleading comments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">True, this was not a huge survey. But I think it
provides some interesting food for thought.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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jrlindermuthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09204855909246670628noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6975660612181993995.post-84911896471064654602017-12-28T10:44:00.000-08:002017-12-28T10:44:56.270-08:00Recommended Reads<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As the year winds down, I like to assess the books
I've read and make some recommendations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">To date in 2017, I read (re-read in some cases) 61
books--a mix of fiction and non-fiction. Among acclaimed writers new to me with
whom I got acquainted through several books were Ann Cleeves and Louise Penny. The
month isn't quite up, so I may complete a few more reads.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Here then, in no particular order, are books I'm
recommending to friends:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Fool's
River</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> by Timothy Hallinan. This is the eighth in his Poke
Rafferty series. </span><span style="background: white; color: #111111; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">His obvious
love for the Thai people shines on every page. Hallinan creates living,
breathing characters and plots to keep one guessing and flipping pages. He
depicts life in Thailand as one who is familiar with both the respectable
tourist scene and the seediest districts of Bangkok. His characters are
pragmatic people who have learned to live with corruption. There's violence,
but also empathy, pithy dialogue and quirky humor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="background: white; color: #111111; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Wanted: Dead</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #111111; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> by Wayne D. Dundee. Bounty hunter Bodie Kendrick is on the
job again.</span><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
<span style="background: white;">Only this time around (in the fifth book of the
series), Bodie isn't intent on bringing bad guys to justice. Instead it's his
job is to protect Tyrone Avery, a man fresh out of jail and with a $50,000
price on his head. If you have yet to read a Bodie Kendrick story, you owe it
to yourself to grab one now. And this is as good a place to start as any. Trust
me, you'll want to read the rest, too.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">The Hemingway Files</span></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> by H. K. Bush. </span><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It's a brilliant first
novel with intriguing characters and situations, suspense and romance. If you
love a book that will pull you in and continue to haunt you afterward, you'll
want to read this novel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<b><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Yellow Bird</span></b><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: A Webb Sawyer Mystery by Douglas Quinn.</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> As always, Quinn has crafted a fast-moving,
entertaining plot with colorful characters, a realistic North Carolina setting,
a bit of humor and plenty of twists to keep the reader guessing. I think this
is the fifth in his popular Sawyer series. Concern for an aging relative is
Webb's route to troubling crime in this episode.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">The Peacemaker</span></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> by Andrew McBride. Up for an exciting western?
Andrew McBride has crafted a gripping adventure tale with sympathetic
characters and a secure sense of time and place. Well researched. Recommended
to all who enjoy a good tale.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">The Coroner's Daughter</span></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> by Andrew Hughes. Another absorbing Victorian
drama by the author of the brilliant The Convictions of John Delahunt. Hughes
presents a canvas with likeable, realistic characters; a glimpse into early
19th century Dublin, a gripping plot that kept me turning pages and a
satisfying conclusion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">A Rising Man</span></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> by Abir Mukherjee. A Kiplingesque mystery with an intriguing
plot, lots of twists, sympathetic characters and convincing intrigue. This is
the first in a series featuring Captain Sam Wyndham of Her Majesty's Imperial
Police Force and his second, Sgt. Banerjee, commonly known as Surrender-Not.
I've already read the second in the series, A Necessary Evil, and look forward
to more of their adventures.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Trouble In Nuala</span></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #111111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> by Harriet Steel. Set in the British Colonial
period of the 1930s in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), this first in a new series
introduces Inspector Shanti de Silva, recently transferred from busy Colombo to
the sleepy hill-town of Nuala, and Jane, his English wife, a former governess. I
found this a quick, entertaining read with a well-paced narrative, a pragmatic
protagonist, an interesting variety of characters, a dash of humor and a
balanced look at the political and cultural differences between the Sinhalese,
the Tamils and their British overlords.</span><span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/review/delete-review/ref=cm_cr_srp_d_vote_del?ie=UTF8&asin=1538440695&reviewID=R20RPE0WO9LZZM"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: #111111; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 8.5pt; padding: 0in; text-decoration-line: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></a></span></div>
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jrlindermuthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09204855909246670628noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6975660612181993995.post-64238437428612521212017-12-19T05:51:00.000-08:002017-12-20T05:43:04.802-08:00No 'Peace On Earth' Until The End Of The Novel(J. L. Greger, my guest today, is known for mysteries/thrillers with a scientific slant. Read on to see what she thinks makes for a good read.)<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nQR-f8nsiO0/WjfVkkfh4nI/AAAAAAAAAls/ecH2bYZpsysOtrqvDXWOshvh9Ew5rmbkQCLcBGAs/s1600/getPart%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1033" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nQR-f8nsiO0/WjfVkkfh4nI/AAAAAAAAAls/ecH2bYZpsysOtrqvDXWOshvh9Ew5rmbkQCLcBGAs/s320/getPart%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="206" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">“Peace on Earth” is a
frequent holiday blessing. However, readers don’t want “peace on earth” until
the end of a novel. This is another way of saying that <b>novels depend on tension.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">In essence, the plot of
a novel is a series of events during which a characters or characters resolve a
problem or overcome adversity. A mystery at its simplest level is the discovery
or a crime (usually a murder) and the determination of who did it and how. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Many authors
accordingly believe their books need a victim, a protagonist, one villain, one
investigator (sometimes the protagonist), and a few colorful sidekicks. They
argue that books which include a number of additional characters are confusing.
Perhaps these authors are correct. Their books are fast reads and often sell
well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">But I think formualistic
mysteries (or really any type of novel) are not satisfying for several reasons.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 11.0pt;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">The end is too
predictable. I like mysteries in which I’m not sure of the finale until the
end. I also don’t like books with only one clear-cut villain. The “red
herrings” need to be well developed and plausible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 11.0pt;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">The formualistic
stories are not realistic. Life isn’t that straight-forward. We all face
continual distractions. Although we respect the beauty of linear thinking, most
of us make numerous missteps daily because of misleading or ultimately
unrelated information. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 11.0pt;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Most problems aren’t
solved by a single person in virtual isolation. Detectives work in teams and consult
with crime labs, lawyers, and experts in various fields. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">In other words, <b>confusion is a part of most of our lives
and should be part of novels</b>. That’s one reason for subplots in novels.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">I think the <b>best books can be read at several levels</b>.
Teachers in high school and college literature classes drilled most of us on
symbolism in novels, especially <i>Moby Dick</i>.
Although many of those discussions seemed overblown, I think at least one
character in a novel should have inner emotional turmoil. The swirls of
confusion (self-doubt, anger, or regret) which swirls about this character at
the start of the story should crescendo during the tale but be calmed by the
end of the story. However, logical character development makes it unlikely the
psychological profile of a character will change totally and the character’s
issues will dissipate totally.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Finally, although we
all wish each other “peace on earth,” most of us don’t want it in our novels
until the last page. <b>Some of us even
like one unsettling note at the end of a tale to make us think. </b>Think about
that the next time you wish someone “peace on earth.”<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">You can win a free copy of my latest mystery—<i>She Didn’t Know Her Place</i></span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">. GoodReads is doing a free giveaway of three
signed copies. <b>Enter before December 23</b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a> </span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">at: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36679089-she-didn-t-know-her-place</span><br />
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<u><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Blurb</span></u><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">: </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">In
<b><i>She
Didn’t Know Her Place</i></b></span><b><i><span style="background: #fdfdfd; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">,</span></i></b><span style="background: #fdfdfd; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"> Dana Richardson faces a dilemma in her
new job. The Natural Resource Center, which reports to her, is alleged to be
"doctoring" data to help industrial clients meet federal pollution
standards. Her boss Guy Beloit, the president of State U, doesn’t care. Really
no one, but Dana, cares. That's not true. Sally Stein cared and she died under
mysterious circumstances.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">The paperback and
Kindle versions are available at: </span><a href="http://www.amzn.com/1979733112"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">http://www.amzn.com/1979733112</span></b></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">.</span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">Bio</span></u><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">: J. L. Greger is a former professor
in the biological sciences and research administrator. She likes to include
tidbits of science in her thriller/mystery novels:<i> <b>Riddled with Clues</b> </i>(finalist
for a 2017 NM/Arizona book award)<i> </i>and<i> <b>Murder…A
New Way to Lose</b> Weight (</i>winner of 2016 Public Safety Writers
Association [PSWA] contest)<i>. </i>Her
collections of short stories focus on families: <b><i>The Good Old Days?</i></b> and <b><i>Other
People’s Mothers </i>(</b>finalist for a 2017 NM/Arizona Book Award). To learn
more, see her website: </span><a href="http://www.jlgreger.com/"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-themecolor: text1;">http://www.jlgreger.com</span></b></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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jrlindermuthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09204855909246670628noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6975660612181993995.post-19831007564791866562017-11-10T05:36:00.000-08:002017-11-10T05:36:44.607-08:00Writing What You Don't Know<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Beginning writers are often advised to write what
they know.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Personally, I've always considered that rather
limiting advice. Granted all of us have experiences which we might utilize in
our writing. But is your experience broad enough to justify a novel? And should
a good novel be autobiographical? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A good writer should have curiosity and imagination,
two traits which go beyond mere experience. Not that I'm opposed to experience.
I believe experience to be a great teacher--if you're willing to learn from it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But I prefer to believe a writer should write what
he wants to know.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As E. L. Doctorow put it, "Writing is an
exploration. You start from nothing and learn as you go."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This desire to learn has the power to stimulate your
imagination and take you places you've never experienced before, a voyage which
can transform your writing and give it a power it might otherwise lack. Your
enthusiasm for the subject should shine through and transfer to the potential
reader what you've learned about a subject.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For me, research is half the fun of writing and
provides opportunity to delve into many fascinating topics. But we need to
beware of lecturing to our readers. What you've learned about a particular
subject must conform to the story you're telling and contribute to the
advancement of the plot. It may please you to elaborate on a particular theme
and this is where you need to exercise care lest you stall your story and leave
your readers exasperated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Read Hemingway's story Big Two-Hearted River. One of
the things I initially liked about the story when I read it as a boy was all it
had to say about the pleasures of fishing. The story isn't about fishing. But
there's a lot of fishing in it, which gave me pleasure and also taught me a few
things both about fishing and writing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A powder mill is an essential element in my first
novel, Schlussel's Woman, and I read extensively on the process to understand
how powder is manufactured. But, in the novel, millworker Isaac Inch's
explanation of the process to the artist Titus Kuhns is kept to less than half
a dozen paragraphs spread over several pages. My intent was to provide the
reader with just enough to understand its importance to the plot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As with description, a writer should introduce what's been learned in
gradual, digestible supplements to his prose. It's the old premise of show, not
tell (though there are instances where tell is appropriate).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
jrlindermuthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09204855909246670628noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6975660612181993995.post-40623561731546169092017-10-28T13:27:00.002-07:002017-10-28T13:27:36.989-07:00History For The Curious<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It has been some time since I wrote a blog. So, to
get back in the groove, I thought I'd recommend some books (in no particular
order) for those curious about history.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">1491</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">:New
Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus by Charles C. Mann.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">If there are lessons to be learned from the past,
some of those discussed in this book have been forgotten or, conveniently,
swept under the proverbial rug. As its title suggests, this is a glimpse at new
revelations about the Americas before the arrival of Columbus. It offers
devastating new evidence to destroy the myth the first inhabitants were
ignorant savages who could only benefit from the civilizing influence of their
conquerors.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Humankind</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
by Alexander H. Harcourt.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A fascinating examination of how we (humans) became
who/what we are.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Harcourt, professor emeritus of anthropology at the
University of California, Davis, traces the journey of the human species out of
Africa and describes the biological and geographical forces which have shaped
the beast into what it is today in all its glorious variety.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In the process he never shirks from noting
differences of opinion or separating theory from established fact. His
explanations of how environment, biology and even culture have shaped the
differences between members of the same species across the world are lucid and
backed by the latest scientific thought. Evolution is an ongoing process and
more changes lie ahead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Millennium
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">by
Ian Mortimer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Despite resulting hardships, man has seldom chosen
to benefit from the lessons of history.Those harsh lessons have failed to sway
us from a tenacious belief technological advances will save us from the
problems of the past.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">British historian Ian Mortimer assesses what he
considers the most important changes in Western civilization in the last
thousand years, predicts a dystopian future if we don't end our reliance on
fossil fuels but hints at a more optimistic stance pending some hard changes in
our lifestyle. His conclusions on what changes and which historic characters
had the most influence in each century from the eleventh to the twentieth may
surprise, even shock, the reader, but he does so in an erudite, entertaining
and convincing style.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A
Pirate of Exquisite Mind</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> by Diana and Michael Preston.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A remarkable man died sometime in 1715 in London and
was buried in an unmarked grave.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This would be of little note were it not for the
fact he was one of the greatest explorers of all time, a pioneering navigator,
a naturalist, hydrographer, travel writer and--probably to his disadvantage--a
pirate. His maps were used by James Cook and Horatio Nelson, among others; his
work as a naturalist influenced von Humboldt and Darwin, and his writings
stirred the imagination of Defoe, Coleridge and Swift. William Dampier
circumnavigated the world three times and was the first Englishman to explore
Australia.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
World of Washington Irving</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> by Van Wyck Brooks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This is my favorite of the series of books Brooks
wrote on the literary history of the United States.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Irving, one of my early favorites, was the first
American writer to live by his pen. This book by Brooks focuses on the world in
which he lived and introduces some fascinating Pennsylvanians, including
Charles Brockden Brown, the first true American novelist; Benjamin Franklin,
Joseph Priestley, Charles Wilson Peale, Alexander Wilson and others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
Wright Brothers</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> by David McCullough.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Most recognize the Wright brothers as aviation
pioneers, but know little about them on a personal level.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Fact is, on a personal level, Wilbur and Orville
were generally reclusive, work-obsessed, idea-driven and with apparently little
time or interest in people outside their closely-knit family and a carefully
chosen group of friends with similar interests. In a word, they were nerds--who
would have struck a majority of their fellow creatures as odd in any time
period.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Defining
The World</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> by Henry Hitchings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">When Americans say "dictionary" they
usually mean Webster. In the UK, the Oxford English Dictionary would more
likely come to mind. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A few might realize that for more than a century the
term meant Johnson to our ancestors.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For most, dictionary is like the 10
Commandments--writ in stone, accepted without question and its origin rarely
considered. It may be hard for many to realize there was no such authoritative
reference before Samuel Johnson's Dictionary of the English Language was
published on April 15, 1755. It took Johnson eight years (five more than he'd
anticipated) to complete the work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Atlantic</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">:
Great Sea Battles, Historic Discoveries, Titanic Storms, and a Vast Ocean of a
Million Stories by Simon Winchester.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Winchester set out to write a book explaining all
there is to know about the Atlantic, which he considers to be our most
important ocean. An overwhelming task and one might doubt it's even possible.
He may not have succeeded in his initial goal but he comes as close as anyone
in writing a biography of our ocean.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">He explains how the ocean was born, how people
living on its shores reacted to it and how, most importantly, it has influenced
the development of the civilized world. To do this, he tells tales of man's
first attempts to go out on the water, pirates, naval battles, the development
of sea-going commerce and other topics. He also includes numerous anecdotes from
his personal experience with the ocean.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
jrlindermuthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09204855909246670628noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6975660612181993995.post-5135455107387192662017-08-02T05:08:00.001-07:002017-08-02T05:08:11.652-07:00Who's Afraid of Smutty Words?<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #F6F7F9; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I have serious
concerns about people who can accept murder and other violence (even if it's
off screen) yet are offended by mere words in a story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #F6F7F9; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #F6F7F9; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Let me preface this
by saying I'm not a proponent of profanity. I don't sprinkle my prose with
vulgarity in order to shock or thrill readers. On those rare occasions when I
do employ one of those words which offend some people, it's usually because
that particular one is the appropriate choice for that character or situation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #F6F7F9; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #F6F7F9; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Like it or not,
people do swear. Some more often than others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #F6F7F9; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #F6F7F9; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Many of the words
condemned as obscene or coarse come to us from Germanic, Latin or Greek roots
with rather benign, descriptive origins. For instance, that four-letter word
with sexual implications we hear so commonly today, even among children,
originally meant "to plow." The interesting thing is these taboo
words exist in all languages and cultures.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #F6F7F9; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #F6F7F9; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You don't have to
like those words. You don't even have to read them. If such a word offends your
sensibilities, skip over it. Just accept these words exist and people do voice
them, especially people who might be inclined to commit a crime.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #F6F7F9; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #F6F7F9; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Not that every
character in a book who uses vulgarity is a criminal. For some it's just their
nature. Lydia Brubaker, Chief Brubaker's daughter in my Sticks Hetrick mystery
series, swears frequently. Aside from that, Lydia's a nice, compassionate young
woman. Officer Flora Vastine, in the same series, is not given to profanity.
Other than a rare <i>hell </i>or <i>damn</i>, nasty words aren't part of Sticks's
vocabulary either. Incidentally, since the intent is the same, there isn't a
shade of difference between hell and heck or damn and darn. A euphemism can't
change the nature of the beast.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #F6F7F9; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #F6F7F9; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">For the most part
I've refrained from using so-called offensive language in my 19th century
stories for the simple reason it wasn't common to the culture as it is today.
And it was largely as a result of that repression obscene words came into more
widespread use in modern society.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #F6F7F9; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #F6F7F9; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> Some opponents suggest using profanity
indicates laziness on the part of the writer; i.e., he could have found a
better word. Or might have simply said, <i>he/she
swore</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #F6F7F9; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #F6F7F9; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Really?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #F6F7F9; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #F6F7F9; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Either is a cop
out. The writer chose that particular word because it was the most descriptive.
Simply saying the character swore does not reveal the depth of the character's
feeling. That's tell, not show. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #F6F7F9; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #F6F7F9; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">To deny a writer
the use of any word is, simply put, censorship.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
jrlindermuthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09204855909246670628noreply@blogger.com20