FRUSTRATIONS THAT GET IN THE WAY OF WRITING

Since I'm the one in charge of this blog for the San Joaquin Sisters in Crime chapter, I thought I'd use it for one of the stops on my blog tour for my latest book, Not as it Seems. It will serve in two ways, besides a blog stop, it may introduce others to our chapter's blog.

The frustrations I’m going to write about aren’t the normal ones of everyday life.  I’m a wife, mother and grandmother so have all the duties, fun and joy that go along with these titles. Though I’d like to be, I’m not the kind of writer who gets up in the morning, starts writing, takes a break for lunch andcontinues to write through the afternoon. That’s impossible for me.

For one thing, I do the laundry, grocery shopping, most of the cooking, take care of the bills, and have lots of visitors. I also have some other regular duties: doing newsletters for two different organization, teaching Sunday School, writing posts for my own blog and three others that I’m on, and attending various meetings. Once in a while I get a paying job which, for obvious reasons, I take care of immediately.

The frustrations I’m discussing here are sometimes related to fun things that took me away from my desk.

If I’m even gone one day, chores pile up. When I’m gone for several days, all sorts of things need my attention—the kind of things that I need to have my home computer in order to take care of them. No writing can be done while I’m doing that kind of work.

My biggest frustration lately has been the need to change my email address. This came about because I received messages from people letting me know I’d sent inappropriate messages to them. Yes, it looked like they came from my email—but were signed my different names. At the advice of my provider I changed my password. That didn’t help. I still got more complaints.

Next step, change my email address. I’ve done it, but it didn’t take me long to realize I also needed to change it on groups I’m on, my two publishers, and places like Amazon and other places that I received notifications from.  I’ve done as many as I can think of, but I’m sure there are more that haven’t as yet crossed my mind.

No doubt I’ll miss something because of this. But tell me, what joy can people get from doing sending out stupid emails under someone else's address? And I also wondered why those who received these dumb emails just didn’t delete them.

I suspect this kind of thing happens to everyone, but it seems that my time for writing constantly gets infringed upon in one way or another. Right now because of my new book, Not as it Seems, I’m also working on the promotion—like this blog tour. I do enjoy it, but again, it’s taking time away from the book I’m writing.

For those who are interested, Not as it Seems  is the latest in the Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery series.

--Marilyn Meredith

Not as It Seems Blurb:

Tempe and Hutch travel to Morro Bay for son Blair’s wedding, but when the maid-of-honor disappears, Tempe tries to find her. The search is complicated by ghosts and Native spirits.

Character Naming Contest:

Once again, I’ll name a character after the person who leaves a comment on the most blogs.

Tomorrow I’ll be stopping by Wild About Fiction http://wildaboutfiction.blogspot.com and I wrote about keeping a series fresh.

Bonnie Hearn Hill and me at a S.J. SinC Meeting

Marilyn's Bio:

Marilyn Meredith now lives in the foothills of the Southern Sierra, about 1000 feet lower than Tempe’s Bear Creek, but much resembles the fictional town and surroundings. She has nearly 40 books published, mostly mysteries. Besides writing, she loves to give presentations to writers’ groups. She’s on the board of the Public Safety Writers Association, and a member of Mystery Writers of America and three chapters of Sisters in Crime, including the Central Coast chapter.

The Dead Bird Boss's Wrap Up by Kris Lynn

In 2010 I joined the San Joaquin Valley Sisters in Crime mainly because fellow critique partners told me to enter the Dead Bird Contest associated with ‘the Sisters”. I did and won the Baby Bird. This year I agreed to be the 2015 Dead Bird Boss and it was a great experience. It afforded me the opportunity to connect with members of our chapter of Sisters in Crime and to work with those who have taken on this role before. A lot of bonding all the way around. I was told that as “the Boss” I had a lot of latitude to run the contest so I did make a few changes, specifically requiring online submissions only. 

To help the transition from paper submittal by mail or hand-delivery to the new digital process, I created The Society of the Coveted Dead Bird website with directions and encouragement. The site is more than a place to find out about the contest rules, theme and how to submit a story. It is the start of a portal for all lovers of mystery – readers and writers – to find out about the world of short mystery writing. More info on this as time goes on.

The Dead Bird Awards Presentation went off very well. All except the 2^nd Place winner were present. The trophies were adorable. I designed certificates for the winners and one for all who entered the contest so the Society could honor them as well. Kudos for all who take the time to write a mystery and then send it in. I know it takes a lot of courage.

This year all the stories were good. I enjoyed every one of them! The race was indeed close. 

The contest’s theme was “Death of the Party” and here is the guest list to the deadly affair:

1^st Place - JoAnne Lucas for “Of Oaks and Obligations”  A fancy dinner party with lots of champagne, and a pretender to the throne who shouldn’t pretend – if he wanted to stay alive, that is.

2^nd Place - Chelle Martin for “Last Dance”  A Barn Dance with murder-minded hoedowners.

3^rd Place - Terrance Mc Arthur for “Golden Potato”  The after effects of a filling and chilling Thanksgiving Dinner.

Best Hook - Linda Boettcher for “The Writer”  On the way to the party someone messes with the Writer’s novel, and someone is dead.

Baby Bird - Kaitlin Campos for “Red Velvet Drowning”  A birthday party pre-empted by a post-funeral celebration of life.
 

JoAnne Lucas, Kaitlin Campos, Mary Taylor, Terrance McAruthur

September SJ Sinc Meeting

Our speaker will be author June Gillam.

June Gillam enjoys exploring social issues through the criminal actions of folks who suffer personally from the impact of forces too large for individuals to control. Her Hillary Broome series takes on possible effects of superstores on small market owners, conceivable impacts of patriarchy on women in family businesses, and next, House of Eire will explore the effect of developers on the economies of small countries.

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent thriller- wry, dark, and timely, April 10, 2013

By 

Daniel Goldstein Studio -This review is from: House of Cuts: A Hillary Broome Novel (Hillary Broome Novels) (Paperback)

June Gillam's suspense thriller

"House of Cuts" will have you on the edge of your seat experiencing a whole gamut of emotions!

 I picked this up recently and was delighted to find not only a great story in the classic vein of thrillers with well-drawn female protagonists, but a novel that manages to address larger issues of the Zeitgeist, reflecting them through the anxieties, phobias and even manias of its characters.

Gillam brings small town California to vivid life.

The corporate transformation of the local economy becomes a theme that echos out of the personal experiences of every-day people struggling to hold on to their sense of community.

 Hillary Broome and the killer become strange, distorted mirrors for one another as well as the society they share.

The past haunts the present through metaphor and MURDER, and

Gillam deftly weaves her background stories into a larger narrative that works as both a classic thriller and a wry commentary on the unraveling of Norman Rockwell America in the new millennium!

I'm looking forward with great anticipation to the next Hillary Broome novel and to more of Gillam's fast-paced, elegantly written prose and vividly rendered characters.

NEXT SAN JOAQUIN SISTERS IN CRIME MEETING

Scene of the Crime

Yosemite Falls Restaurant      On Ashlan, West side of 99     EARLY START at 10:00 am

SATURDAY Sept 5, 2015. – Please come early by 9:45 am so we can start on time.

Members $15 Visitors $20

**NOTE: We will be served a choice of Sourdough Cheeseburger, French Dip Sandwich, or Chicken Cobb Salad.

RESERVATION PROCEDURE

RSVP by Wednesday before the meeting

If you can, we highly encourage you email your reservation instead of phoning it in, Thanks.

Please EMAIL TO reservationsforsisters@outlook.com.

NOTE:  please put your lunch choice on subject line

Do not log on to the website, simply send email to the above address.

IF YOU CAN NOT EMAIL Please call 559-431-0360 

AND LEAVE VOICEMAIL

with your name & choice of lunch.

Dial carefully, there is no greeting announcing SJ SinC.

September Program

COVETED DEAD BIRD SHORT STORY AWARDS

&

AUTHOR JUNE GILLAM

            June Gillam teaches writing and literature at San Joaquin Delta Community College. She has studied the writing process for years and holds a PhD in Learning and Change in Human Systems from California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco.

            June belongs to several writing groups, Capitol Crimes, the Sacramento chapter of Sisters in Crime, and Gold Country Writers (GCW) in Auburn, California. She facilitates weekly meetings at Trinity Cathedral in Sacramento, which follow the guidelines of Pat Schneider’s Amherst Artists and Writers.

Working as an editor for a monthly magazine, for academic publications, and other similar jobs over the years has honed her editorial skills, as well. She has her own very small publishing company, Gorilla Girl Ink, which has released three of her books. She looks forward to publishing other writers’ works after she retires from teaching.

            June Gillam enjoys exploring social issues through the criminal actions of folks who suffer personally from the impact of forces too large for individuals to control. Her Hillary Broome series takes on possible effects of superstores on small market owners, conceivable impacts of patriarchy on women in family businesses, and next, House of Eire will explore the effect of developers on the economies of small countries.

San Joaquin chapter of Sisters in Crime meets the first Saturday of the month at Yosemite Falls Restaurant (which is located at Ashlan & Freeway 99.)  10:00 AM.  Price includes lecture & lunch.

For further information see   Blog: http://willkillforastory.blogspot.com

SJ Sisters in Crime Meeting, Speaker, Author June Gillam

Our September speaker, June Gillam. Her topic will be Setting and using the Central Valley for cime stories. (The Dead Bird awards will also be presented.)

The latest review of Hillary Broome novels in Amazon:

Women Cannot Run the Show? We'll See Grandpa!, August 21, 2014

By 

reteach "reteach"

This review is from: House of Dads: A Hillary Broome Novel (Hillary Broome Novels) (Volume 2) (Paperback)
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When I won this Goodreads giveaway the author was kind enough to send me the first book in the series, The House of Cuts. I read that one first and reviewed it, favorably. This time round is no exception--the heroine, Hillary Broome, is a likeable 30 something journalist whose father has died and whose mother deserted them when she was a young girl. She has had a couple of failed relationships, made a huge error in judgment while a journalism student at Columbia ( the possible revelation of which by one of those past boyfriends keeps her up at night) and has returned home to the California valley in which she grew up. She is working for an old classmate at a small local newspaper and teaching part time at the local community college.

In the first installment, while reporting on a big box grocery chain in the area she becomes embroiled in the gruesome deeds of a meticulous butcher of a serial killer and meets the lead detective on the case. He, Ed Killian, has lost a child to a hit and run and his wife has taken his other daughter and moved to the East coast, where she divorced him and severed all relationship. He is trying to give up cigars and to convince his rather obese partner, Walt, to eat less and more healthfully. By the end of that book, Ed and Hillary are engaged, Hillary has become friends with the elderly widow of one of the victims and Walt is still a glutton.

In this new book, House of Dads, Hillary has become closer to her father's family--the Broomes of Broome Construction. They are major developers of tract houses and are riding the bubble of easy mortgages and massive development. The head of the company has died and his son, Ted is in line to assume control. The Irish founder of the firm had three sons--Hillary's two uncles and her father, whom he'd disowned as being undeserving since he had no interest in the company. As a result, Hillary is not terribly close to her cousins though she is in attendance, with Ed, at her uncle's funeral. It is during the after funeral reception that Ted keels over and dies. Although, grandfather Pat had long ago decreed that only men can be in charge of the business, there are no male heirs available, so the job falls to Ted's sister, Violet.

So begins the mystery of what caused Ted's death, how Violet will withstand her mother's threat of adopting a son to prevent Violet's control, Violet's rush to become pregnant--with luck, carrying a boy--Hillary's apprehension at possibly marrying Ed too fast, her anxiety at having a family to which to belong. The strands of the tale weave and run and in the end all comes clear, Ed and Hillary marry in a delightful side romp, and the reader is left with the happy anticipation of the next adventure which will take place on Ed and Hillary's honeymoon in Ireland.

June Gillam is the author of the Hillary Broome novels. Here's a review of House of Dads. 

The latest review of Hillary Broome novels in Amazon:

Women Cannot Run the Show? We'll See Grandpa!, 

By 

reteach "reteach"

This review is from: House of Dads: A Hillary Broome Novel (Hillary Broome Novels) (Volume 2) (Paperback)
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When I won this Goodreads giveaway the author was kind enough to send me the first book in the series, The House of Cuts. I read that one first and reviewed it, favorably. This time round is no exception--the heroine, Hillary Broome, is a likeable 30 something journalist whose father has died and whose mother deserted them when she was a young girl. She has had a couple of failed relationships, made a huge error in judgment while a journalism student at Columbia ( the possible revelation of which by one of those past boyfriends keeps her up at night) and has returned home to the California valley in which she grew up. She is working for an old classmate at a small local newspaper and teaching part time at the local community college.

In the first installment, while reporting on a big box grocery chain in the area she becomes embroiled in the gruesome deeds of a meticulous butcher of a serial killer and meets the lead detective on the case. He, Ed Killian, has lost a child to a hit and run and his wife has taken his other daughter and moved to the East coast, where she divorced him and severed all relationship. He is trying to give up cigars and to convince his rather obese partner, Walt, to eat less and more healthfully. By the end of that book, Ed and Hillary are engaged, Hillary has become friends with the elderly widow of one of the victims and Walt is still a glutton.

In this new book, House of Dads, Hillary has become closer to her father's family--the Broomes of Broome Construction. They are major developers of tract houses and are riding the bubble of easy mortgages and massive development. The head of the company has died and his son, Ted is in line to assume control. The Irish founder of the firm had three sons--Hillary's two uncles and her father, whom he'd disowned as being undeserving since he had no interest in the company. As a result, Hillary is not terribly close to her cousins though she is in attendance, with Ed, at her uncle's funeral. It is during the after funeral reception that Ted keels over and dies. Although, grandfather Pat had long ago decreed that only men can be in charge of the business, there are no male heirs available, so the job falls to Ted's sister, Violet.

So begins the mystery of what caused Ted's death, how Violet will withstand her mother's threat of adopting a son to prevent Violet's control, Violet's rush to become pregnant--with luck, carrying a boy--Hillary's apprehension at possibly marrying Ed too fast, her anxiety at having a family to which to belong. The strands of the tale weave and run and in the end all comes clear, Ed and Hillary marry in a delightful side romp, and the reader is left with the happy anticipation of the next adventure which will take place on Ed and Hillary's honeymoon in Ireland.

TRICK US OR TREAT US TO A SHORT STORY!

What a great way to be rewarded for writing a Halloween-themed story!

Consider this contest all your mystery story writers out there:

Kings River Life Ezine is running a 1,000 to 3,000 word Halloween-themed short story contest with the deadline Sept. 27. Lorie Ham is looking for original, unpubbed works. Entry fee is $10 and the grand prize is a $65 Amazon gift card. Winning story and runner-ups will be published in the ezine. The rest of the stories will also be considered for publication. So, grab your pens, pencils, magic wands and computers and conjure up a story! More details at:

http://kingsriverlife.com/all-things-mystery/krl-mysteryhalloween-short-story-contest/

Anyone is eligible to enter, so get busy.

CORA AND SUNNY DO SAN FRANCISCO by Sunny Frazier

 On June 26, when Fresno was topping 107 degrees, Cora Ramos and I headed out to the American Library Association Convention for a weekend in 69 degree San Francisco weather. Cora has received the invite online. The offer? Agree to man the SinC booth for 1 hour and the $400 convention was our playground for the day.

It was touch-and-go as to whether we would make it when I caught bronchitis and Cora dealt with several deaths in the family. However, we both realized what we needed was a road trip. We are pros at traveling together: she drives and I talk non-stop.

After much searching on the Internet, Cora found the Utah Hotel for only $200 a night—a bargain since it was right downtown and near the Moscone Convention Center. It was very Victorian and we had to “share” a bathroom and shower with everyone on our floor. Quaint, but honestly, I never saw another person. I did expect to run into a ghost or two on the narrow corridors, but no such luck.

I loved the venue of the convention. It was spread across two huge buildings, but crossing the street didn't involve traffic. Everything was laid out with numbers on each aisle and booth numbers on the floor. I snagged a coupon book and filled out info for all sorts of drawings. I learned to ask at the booths “Are you giving away any free books?” I got 6 for my 9 yr old godson and 9 for myself.

Gloria Steinem

The highlight of the day was attending Gloria Steinem's talk. She was the feminist influence in our younger years and has remained an inspiration to this very day. She announced that she's finally gotten around to writing her memoirs and it will be on sale in late October.

We did our stint at the booth. While we couldn't sell our books, we had a ball giving away copies to librarians who stopped by. They are the ones who might recommend our mysteries to their library  book buyers. I enjoyed the convention so much that I'm considering volunteering for the Chicago convention in 2017.

The only snag was that San Francisco picked THAT weekend to have their Gay Pride parade. Only one day after the Supreme Court ruling, the Bay Area population was in the mood to party. Apparently there are no indecent exposure laws in the city; I saw things I will never erase from my brain. We got caught in traffic and it took two hours to go 5 miles, mostly in circles. History was made on many levels that weekend, and we were a part of it.