Mystery We Write Blog Tour presents Mary Martinez

     

     Except for online, I've never had the opportunity of meeting Mary Martinez, so I'm very happy that she decided to allow me to interview her.

          However, let's learn a bit about Mary herself. Mary has lived her entire life in the Salt Lake City Valley, where she has raised a family of six children. One of her favorite things to do is spend time with her seven grandchildren. That's one thing she and I have in common, except I have ten grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

          Mary is a member of the Romance Writers of America. Though she loves romance, writing suspense is her favorite. Mary’s dream conference would be the opportunity to attend ThrillerFest.

Mary and her husband love traveling, their favorites are the Caribbean for relaxation and Italy for the wine. Their experiences have given her valuable insight for her stories. 

          Ahh, something else we have in common. I would love to attend ThrillerFest, too. But, now the interview:

Vivian: How did/does your history and home background affect your writing?

Mary: I’m not sure how to answer this question. I’m a little on the older side, let’s just say I’m not ready for the grave yet, but I do have grandkids. But I believe what has affected my writing most, is the fact I am older. The fact I have more life experience and maturity. Not that I believe young writers aren’t brilliant and talented. I believe for me, I needed to wait until the time was right. Did that make sense?

Vivian: Now, wait a minute, older is great. I'm older and have great-grandchildren and need to live at least thirty more years in order to write all the books running around in my head.

           Please fill us in on your hobbies, interests, or activities you participate in during your leisure time.  *laugh* If you  have any.

Mary: I love to travel, read, watch old movies. I love to cook new recipes and drink a great new wine. My husband and I are concert ‘ho’s’ and pretty much want to do them all. We have several concerts already lined up for the summer. Ranging from The Moody Blues, Chris Isaak, Buddy Guy, to Sheryl Crow. That’s just a few on the list to see.

          Do I have time? I make time. As much as I love to write, family and friends are very important to me.

Vivian: This sort of ties into the last question. You have so many projects going all the time: working on books, traveling, etc.; how do you manage?

Mary: I recently had to go back to a day job. If we’re slow I have my laptop so I can work on blogs, promotion or email in between calls. That clears up less things for me to do when I’m off work and can write. I have really had to adjust my writing schedule and give my permission on some day’s not to write since I went back to work. At first I stressed when I was too busy and couldn’t be at my computer writing or editing. Now I am in the process of organizing my life so I’m not stressed when I’m too busy.

Vivian: Do you have a particular writing process or technique that you use, if so, what?

Mary: I do not plot. I tried that once after a workshop and to this day those plotted chapters are away in a file. My characters wouldn’t even speak to me after that. I am a total pantser. I find out what happens as I go, just like the reader. Basically I spit it out until the end. Then I start at the beginning and fill it in, layering and patching up sagging middles, etc.

Vivian: How do you feel when you complete a book?

Mary: Conflicted. On the one hand, I’m thrilled it’s over, and I want to go out and reward myself. On the other hand I’m sad to have the journey and with my friends.

Vivian: How do any writing groups benefit you and your writing?

Mary: When I first started writing I didn’t even know they existed. I had no clue how to do anything. Utah RWA saved me and helped me more than I can say.

Vivian: What advice would you have for a new author?

Mary: First, join a writers group. They’re a community of like minds who will take you under their wing and steer you in the right direction. Going in the right direction is only the first step. You need to do your research. Find out what agent/editor wants your genre, and who is actively seeking new clients. Before you submit, check them out make sure they’re legitimate. I can’t stress this enough.

Vivian: What is your most recent book, and what inspired you to write it?

Mary: It’s Classic Murder: Mr. Romance

          I love old movies and I happened to be watching a Cary Grant movie, when the idea started as a small germ.  By the end of the movie, I had note pad out scribbling notes about the plot. And no this doesn’t make me a plotter. I have a paragraph or two that could be called a short synopsis or blurb when I start the story. Then I add as I go.

          Here’s a bit more about Classic Murder: Mr. Romance

Blurb, excerpt and trailer: http://www.marymartinez.com/mrromance.html

ISBN: 978-1610343350

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1610343352/bookstrand-20

Barnes & Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Classic-Murder/Mary-Martinez/e/9781610343350/

Web Site: www.marymartinez.com

Garden Blog: http://marysbooksblogger.blogspot.com/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/marylmartinez

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/mlmartinez33

          Thank you Vivian, this has been fun!

          Thank you, Mary, for joining me today.

       Mary has four books out and one novella. For more information, you can visit her web site: http://www.marymartinez.com

Blog: http://marysbooksblogger.blogspot.com

Join her newsletter: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Marys_Books_and_Such/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/marylmartinez

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/mlmartinez33

Final two stops for Prairie Dog Cowboy, Saturday & Sunday

Before I post the stops for today and for Saturday, I wanted to share two more of the illustrations drawn by Jordan M. Vinyard.

On the left is Katie and Buddy. On the right is Mary, Caleb, Craig, and Cody Hyman.

The illustrations scattered throughout the novel helps make the book more interesting for all readers, and especially reluctant readers. Children of all ages, 2 - 200, enjoy looking at pictures, too. *laugh* I know I do, especially if they are well crafted.

Saturday's stop is at Holly Jahangiri's blog Do I Have to Spell It Out.

Sunday I will wrap up the tour here.

Yes, it's almost over.

Don't forget, at the end of the tour four people's names will be drawn from comments left at the stops of the tour, and each will receive a 4RV canvas bag. I'll announce the four winners Monday or Tuesday.


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Jean Henry Mead's character Kerrie

Jean will give away signed copies of her book to three (3) lucky people who leave comments on blogs in this blog tour. But, unless you leave a comment or comments, you won’t have a change to be one of the three.


Jean Henry Mead writes the Logan and Cafferty senior sleuth mystery series as well as historical fiction. A Village Shattered is her eleventh book and third novel. A former award-winning photojournalist, magazine and newspaper reporter/editor, her articles have been published domestically as well as abroad.

A Village Shattered is the first in the series and features two widows living in a retirement village where their friends and club members are murdered alphabetically. Dana Logan, a mystery novel buff, and her friend, Sarah Cafferty, a private investigator's widow, decide to solve the murders when they learn their own names are on the list. An inexperienced sheriff botches the investigation, and Dana's beautiful daughter Kerrie arrives to complicate the plot.

I decided to interview Kerrie for this stop on Jean's virtual book tour. Thank you for agreeing to be here, Kerrie. Let me get my list of questions. Ahh, here they are.

VZ: Why do you think Jean brought you into this novel, A Village Shattered?

Kerrie: Jean is a seat-of-the-pants writer who rarely knows what’s she’s going to write when she sits down at the computer every morning. Characters just seem to pop into her head whenever the plot needs them. She didn’t even know who I was when I rang the doorbell and my mom said, “Kerrie, what are you doing here?” I guess she thought I might liven up the plot, or complicate it. And she was right. Jean didn’t realize I was a news reporter, like she was in real life, until the big fire happened at the retirement village. It was logical—to me anyway-- that was the only way I could find out who was responsible for setting the blaze. Even then, the fire chief didn’t want to talk to me.

VZ: How do you think your relationship with your mother, Dana Logan, adds to the tension in Shattered?

Kerrie: I had a chip on my shoulder when I arrived because I had just broken up with my fiancé, and Mom and I had never been close, so I didn’t take her warnings seriously about the serial killer. I just wanted to have some fun and get involved in another relationship. I was pretty self centered, I’m afraid, and it nearly cost me my life.

VZ: What lessons do you think your mother learns during the course of the book?

Kerrie: Mom felt guilty that she didn’t manage to spend more time with me while I was growing up. Not her fault, really, because she had to work two jobs to support us after my father died. But there was this wall between us because I was so independent and rebellious as a teen. Mom shed a lot of tears over me. I think she realized that she should have made more of an effort to sit and listen to my problems while I was growing up, and try to nurture a closer relationship. That didn’t happen until we tried to solve the murders together and were involved in some awfully scary situations, like stealing a patrol car and getting lost in the fog.

VZ: What lessons did you learn?

Kerrie: I learned that I shouldn’t use people. I lost the man I loved because I used him to get myself out of trouble when I stayed out past the sheriff’s curfew. It hurt him badly and he never got over it. I also learned how important family relationships are as well as how much my journalism career meant to me.

VZ: How did your relationship with your mother change during the course of the novel, or did it?

Kerrie: It changed considerably. We were strangers when I arrived on her doorstep, unaware of the murders and danger in the village. Over the course of the story, we became very close because we faced danger together and were nearly killed ourselves. I’ll never forget the night I talked Mom and Sarah into going with me to a male stripper club. Mom had too much to drink and Sarah tried to stuff a dollar bill into one of the dancer’s G-strings. It was hilarious. Of course, I didn’t know the killer had followed us there.

VZ: What one or two failings or short-comings on your part do you believe created more problems for others?

Kerrie: My immaturity and self centeredness caused plenty of problems, and it certainly worried Mom and Sarah. I should have realized how much they would worry about me when I suddenly took off. A stupid thing to do.

VZ: Do you see yourself included in future Logan and Cafferty mysteries?

Kerrie: Yes, I’m in the next novel, Diary of Murder, which will be out next spring. Mom, Sarah and I are the Three Musketeers, you know. They’re quite capable of solving crimes without me, but having me along provides some interesting plot complications that wouldn’t happen otherwise. I may even crop up in the third book, Died Laughing. You just never know what kinds of problems the author is going to drop us into. I read the first chapter of the third book in the series and know that mom may become a grandmother. I wish Jean would let me know for sure so I can shop for baby clothes.

VZ: What future do you see for your mother and the sheriff, or for you and Jim Dalton?

Kerrie: Mom’s a very attractive woman for someone her age, and I’m not convinced that she’s in love with Sheriff Grayson. We’ll have to wait and see. As far as my love interest, Jim Dalton, is concerned, I’m still hoping we can patch things up. But that deputy, Nancy Murray, is trying her best to get her claws into him, so there may be in a cat fight before the book is over.

VZ: What would you like to add, let readers know about you, the novel, your mother?

Kerrie: Hmmm, probably that Mom and Sarah won’t be able to stop stumbling over bodies in the rest of the series. Jean put them in a motor home in the middle of a Rocky Mountain blizzard in the next novel, and they wind up in Wyoming investigating the death of my aunt Georgi. Her husband says it was suicide. Don’t believe it!


Thank you for joining us, Kerrie. Tell Jean I enjoyed her book very much.

Jean Henry Mead’s blog
Order A Village Shattered.


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Tomorrow -- Interview with A Village Shattered's Kerrie

I read A Village Shattered and wanted to interview Jean Henry Mead's character Kerrie. With Jean's cooperation, I did just that, and the interview will be posted tomorrow as part of the virtual tour for the book.

Come join us. If you leave a comment, you'll have a chance to be one of the three winners of a signed copy of A Village Shattered. The winners will be chosen from all those who leave comments from all stops on the blog tour.

Hope everyone enjoys one of my interviews as much as I liked writing it.





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Look where you can find me

I'm involved in Virtual Book Tours, and the first week of posts from guests on host blogs begins tomorrow, November 15. I'll host Suzanne Lieurance, as explained in previous post, and I'm a guest on Anna Prezio's blog. In fact she has already posted material about Prairie Dog Cowboy and Midnight Hours.

Come join the fun.


cross posted on Vivian's Site



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Midnight Tour comes to an end

A week has passed since Holly Jahangiri posted the beginning entries for the Midnight Tour.

A total of eight hosts provided something like fourteen posts, or more, about Midnight Hours.

From the stats sent me from six hosts (am expecting more information from others later), something like 23,598 visitors stopped by to look at the stops. Two hosts don't have stats concerning the amount of traffic before or during the blog stop. However, most who visited did not leave comments. True, some blogs require a person to register to be able to leave comments (something to be addressed for future blog tours), but some people just like to look and read without saying anything. From the six hosts who sent information so far, seventy people commented, not counting the host, author, or characters. Some left more than one comment, too, but extra comments are not included.

Three hosts of the six said hosting the tour helped bring traffic to their blogs. One said the visits were about the same, except one day had a record number of visits and the number of comments were larger. One is used to having over 20,000 hits a day, the day of the Midnight Tour stop was about the same; and one wasn't sure if the tour helped raise the numbers or something else did or a combination (added that the combination was probably what raised the traffic level).

One host said my name was spread all over the web as a result of the tour, so that means success to me.

As far as the contest for the gift certificate, all who left comments would have an entry for each blog where they left a comment IF they sent an email to president@4rvpublishingllc.com with the answer to the question, "When does Midnight meet Martin on the online game site?" However, only seven people have sent the email. Also anyone buying a copy of the book from the 4RV Store or directly from me received fifteen entries on top of any accumulated from comments. Again an email with the answer had to be sent. One email per person with an entry or entries was all that was required.

The drawing for the winning entry will be November 5, and people can comment today to have an entry and can buy a book by 11:55 PM EST November 4.

The different hosts offered a wide variety of blog posts, interesting and entertaining. I had so much fun.

I learned from this tour, and I'll share what I learned with others, as soon as I organize everything.

Thank you, everyone who hosted and all who visited. You are the ones who made the tour successful.

The Contest Rules:

Prize: $25 gift certificate from Amazon.com

Rules:
1. Each person who comments on a blog stop
receives one entry. For example, if a person
leaves a comment on four blog stops, he has four
entries. (one entry per blog tour stop)

2. A purchase of Midnight Hours from the 4RV
Bookstore or from the author receives fifteen
(15) entries.

Books must be bought directly from the author
or from the publisher.

A person may have entries from a purchase and
from leaving comments.

3. The final step in the contest: Each person
with entries must send an email to
president@4rvpublishingllc.com with the
answer to the following question:

What time does Midnight appear on the game
site to chat with Martin?

November 5, a random drawing will be held
using a program online to choose a winner. I will
notify the winner by email and will post the
result on my blogs at Vivian's Site and Brain
Cells & Bubble Wrap.


cross posted on Vivian's Site and Vivian's Mysteries

Next to last day of Midnight Tour

Today, Midnight will visit Crystalee Calderwood, the author of Angeline Jellybean which will come out in a few weeks.

Now that combination is rather unusual: the villain of the night and a little girl who like jellybeans.

Sunday, the last stop on the tour will be on this blog, cross posted on Vivian's Site and Vivian's Mysteries for readers' convenience.

Yes, the tour is almost over. I'm going to miss Midnight. *sigh*

Midnight Tour continues

Wednesday will have two blog stops: Elysabeth Eldering's blog and the second stop with Joyce Anthony.

I hope several people stop by and leave comments. Remember about the contest for the $25 gift certificate; leave a comment and/or buy a copy of the book and send an email to president@4rvpublishingllc.com with the correct answer to the question, "What times does Midnight meet Martin on the online game site."

A comment on each blog equals an entry for each blog stop. Purchasing a copy of Midnight Hours from the 4RV Bookstore or directly from the author equals another 15 entries, IF the entries have been validated with the needed email answer.

The blog tour lasts only four more days after Wednesday.

Come join us for the fun. Midnight herself has shown up a few times.

Cross posted on Vivian's Site

Midnight Tour continues and sad farewell

First, all authors and readers say a sad farewell to one of the giants in the business: Tony Hillerman. At the age of 83, Tony left the world behind and went to a better place. I'll miss him and his writing, as I'm sure everyone will. My condolences and prayers are with his family and many friends.

Now, the Midnight Tour: Today's hosts are Brain Porter, Brian L. Porter's Blog, and Lee Lofland, The Graveyard Shift.

Both men have good blogs, just be prepared to register if you leave a comment.

Even though the contest material isn't posted on either blog entry, those who comment can collect entries on both blogs today and by purchasing a copy of the book on the 4RV Store. Just remember to validate any entries, an email with the answer to the question, "When does Midnight meet Martin on the game site?" must be sent to president@4rvpublishingllc.com - one email per person is all that's needed.

Tomorrow's blog host will be Joyce Anthony .

The full schedule and contest rules can be found on Vivian's Mysteries.


Cross posted on Vivian's Site.

Midnight invades blogs

Midnight Hours blog tour starts today, and Midnight has already targeted Holly's site Do I Have to Spell It Out and an interview on the same site.

Midnight is dangerous and deadly. Don't believe me? Ask Lt. Martin Rogers. He was on her list of victims, of disabled men, her prey.

Visitors who comment on blog stops and/or buy a copy of the book AND answer a question have a chance at a $25 Amazon.com gift certificate. Read all about it on Holly's site.

The full schedule is on the previous post: Adjusted Midnight Tour Schedule.

Come join the fun -- if you dare.

Cross posted on Vivian's Site

Adjusted Midnight Tour schedule

Sometimes life plays tricks, sometimes dirty tricks, and our plans must change or adjust. This is the situation with the Midnight virtual tour which starts Monday. One of the hosts had to drop out because of something beyond her control, an injured husband. So the schedule is now adjusted, the tour will go on.

The changed Midnight Tour Schedule is as follows:

Oct. 26 Holly Jahangiri

Oct. 27 Brian L. Porter
Lee Lofland, The Graveyard Shift

Oct. 28 Joyce Anthony

Oct. 29 Elysabeth Eldering
Joyce Anthony

Oct. 30 Joyce Anthony
Jean Henry Mead

Oct. 31 Aidana WillowRaven
Joyce Anthony

Nov. 1 Crystalee Calderwood

Nov. 2 Vivian Zabel - Vivian's Site and Brain Cells & Bubble Wrap
Midnight Tour wrap up.


Cross posted on Vivian's Site

Trockle Trick-or-Treat Tour ends Monday

Where has the week gone? The Trockle Trick-or-Treat Tour just began, at least it seems as if it did, yet tomorrow Holly and Jordan will wrap up the tour.

Trockle and Stephen are stuffed with treats of all kinds, including Choco-Tacos. More people have met and fell in love with Trockle. Others have learned more about him and his mom.

The book is one that children seem to love, and, even if they don't admit it, so do adults like me.

Copies of the book can be ordered from the 4RV Publishing Store, and the contest for a personalized book with Trockle is still open. So, visit the last stop on the tour, and enter the contest, on Do I Have to Spell It Out Monday .

The bubble wrap found with the experience of this blog tour is the friendliness of everyone involved.

Coming to a blog near you - Midnight Tour

The Trockle Trick-or-Treat Tour has four more days. However, another virtual tour will start October 26.

Why am I bothering people with that so early? So that everyone will be ready to greet, or, uh, hide from, Midnight. Not many people enjoy knowing they might be on her list of victims. Poor Martin, she targeted him, and after he already survived a bullet in the back and faced a struggle to regain the use of his legs, he had to fight for his life.

But not all is gloom and doom for Martin. Through the search for Midnight, he meets Lisa.

But would they be given a chance for a future? Hmmm ... Not if Midnight succeeds.

I'll post the full schedule for the Midnight Tour a bit closer to time, but Lee Lofland's Graveyard Shift will be one stop. I visit his blog often because of all the great material I find there. *reminder to self: Be nice enough to leave comments more often to let him know how much his work is appreciated*

Midnight Hours has its own website, for those who want to know more.