Monday, March 21, 2011

Mitch Malone Mondays - Marilyn Meredith


Mitch Malone here and I'm going to try and clean up my act a bit. I don't have a lot of soft spots but I do for today's featured author, Marilyn Meredith, also known as F.M. Meredith. Marilyn gave a great cover quote for my first adventure, "A Case of Infatuation". Marilyn just released another Rocky Bluff PD Mystery. Marilyn, you accomplish so much with at least two books every year and you are kinda up there in years. To what do you attribute your stamina too?

Marilyn: This question made me laugh. Yep, I am in my late seventies (eek, that sounds old) but inside I feel the same as I always have. I’ve always liked to accomplish things, you even say that’s what drives me. I’m an early riser and that’s a good thing because that’s when my brain functions the best. By late afternoon I’m busy cooking dinner and once everyone’s eaten, I’m done with anything that takes a brain power.

You have some great characters in your books. Tell me how you came up with idea for Rocky Bluff PD?

Marilyn: My police officer son-in-law (who was killed in the line of duty 20 years ago) is the one who got me interested in writing about people in law enforcement and their families. The town of Rocky Bluff is partially based on the beach community we lived in for over 20 years though I moved it farther up the coast between Ventura and Santa Barbara. I wanted it to be a small town with a police department that doesn’t have much money and mostly relies on old-fashioned police work to solve crimes. And of course a lot of the focus in the books is on the personal lives of the police officers and what goes on in their family life.

I interview a lot of police officers and fraternizing between officers is often frowned upon. How do you handle the relationship between Stacey Wilbur and Doug when they work together?


Marilyn: In earlier books, Stacey vowed never to date a police officer. When she began working with Detective Doug Milligan her resolve melted away. In "Angel Lost" the coming wedding between Stacey and Doug is primary to the story. Because it is a small department, and Stacey being the only female officer for awhile, the issue of fraternization between officers has never come up. And as I like to remind people, Rocky Bluff P.D. is my department and I can do it anyway I want. (Smile.)

Gordon Butler is a character that I can relate to. Sometimes I have strings of incredibly bad luck. Is there any relief for me, err him?

Marilyn: Gordon Butler is one of my favorite people. Poor guy, he can’t seem to do much of anything right and adds a bit of comic relief to the more serious stuff that’s going on in Rocky Bluff. He’s a by-the-book officer which sometimes adds to his problems. He ends up being a bit of a hero in "Angel Lost." In 2012, the next book in the series will feature Gordon.

Do you have actual angels? Do the angels help the police solve crime?

The title, "Angel Lost", has two meanings which I can’t really tell you because it would give away too much. But there is only one angel who appears in a store window at night and though it’s important, whether or not it’s real is not for me to decide. After you read about the angel, let me know what you think. And no, the angel doesn’t help solve any crimes—but it is important.

Why do you say the book is written by F.M. Meredith instead of Marilyn since everyone knows you by that name?

Marilyn: When I wrote the first book in the series I thought that if I used my initials people wouldn’t know I was female. The majority of the first books were written from male point-of-view. When the first book came out the publisher put my picture on the back cover, so I might as well have just used my regular name.

Thank you, Mitch for taking the time to interview me, this has been fun.

I think my author had the same thought when doing her book, but I don’t want to say anything. Glad you could take the time from your busy blog schedule to be interviewed by yours truly. If you want to see more information about "Angel Lost" or the other books penned by Marilyn, check out her website at: http://fictionforyou.com

13 comments:

  1. It's always fun to be interviewed and even more so when it's a character from a book by someone you really like. Thank you Mitch and you too Wendy.

    Marilyn

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  2. I'm an early riser also, but used to be earlier when I had a job. Now seven o'clock is my usual time to get up and eat.

    I'm still in awe of all you do, even as an early riser.

    Morgan Mandel
    http://acmeauthorslink.blogspot.com

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  3. Mitch is a good interviewer, but then he should be. And Marilyn is an easy person to interview because she is just as interesting as her books.

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  4. Hey, Morgan, you do lots.

    Hi, Mike, are you still basking in the glory of your best mystery e-book award? I'm pulling for you for the Lefty.

    Marilyn

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  5. Thank you Marilyn for allowing Mitch his endless questions.
    I'm still working on that get it all done in the morning mission but it is such a work in progress.

    Morgan and Mike, thanks for stopping by.
    Wendy

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  6. I chose initials too for my pen name for your exact reason---nobody knows I am really a woman..But I don't think we can fool anyone. Congrats on your new book and your successful writing career.

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  7. Thanks for your good wishes, JQ. If I had it to do over I'd just be Marilyn Meredith because that's how everyone knows me.

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  8. We should listen to Marilyn, JQ...Thanks for stopping by!
    Wendy

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  9. Interesting and open interview! LOVED it!

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  10. I really like Mitch Malone's style. Tell him that if/when he interviews me, he won't have to clean up his style.

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  11. Good interview! Mitch does a great job. And, Marilyn, I enjoy learning new things about you through your interviews. I've ordered Angel Lost, and the more I read about it, the more I wish it would arrive. Can't wait.

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  12. Thanks so much for stopping by P.I., Jerry and Marja.

    Just a heads up on April 4 Gerald Weinberg is Mitch's victim but it doesn't quite work that way. Jerry gets him in the end with the last word. You don't want to miss it. Am still laughing!
    Wendy

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