Mystery of the Month: Ignore the Pain

Sara Almquist couldn’t say no when invited to be the epidemiologist on a public health mission to Bolivia. Soon she finds dangers lurk around every corner of the Witches’ Market and churches of La Paz as someone from her past pursues her. Unfortunately, she can’t decide which of her colleagues to trust as she learns more than she ever wanted to know about coca production, the god Tio of the silver mines of Potosí, and Bolivian politicians.

Review Blurbs: Hooray, Greger has brought Sara Almquist back in Ignore the Pain and thrust her into one danger after another in La Paz, Bolivia. Bold writing, wonderful descriptions of people and places, and heart-pounding adventure. --F. M. Meredith, author of Dangerous Impulses JL Greger creates the most intriguing characters and infuses them with purpose and quick minds. A must read! --Walter Luce, Real Estate Developer

Amazon sell links:

Ignore the Pain:  http://www.amazon.com/Ignore-Pain-J-L-Greger/dp/1610091310/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1385498311&sr=1-1&keywords=Ignore+the+Pain

Janet and Bug

Bio: J.L. Greger is no longer a biology professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison; instead she’s putting tidbits of science into her novels. She and Bug, her Japanese Chin dog, live in the southwest. Bug is the only non-fictional character in her novels. She is the author of Coming Flu, Murder: A New Way to Lose Weight and Ignore the Pain.

Keeping It Clean

I learned some valuable lessons about reading and writing when I was growing up. From the time I learned to read, I constantly had my nose in a book. Judy Bolton and Nancy Drew mysteries were my favorites. Good, clean stories with intriguing plots and characters I came to know and to love. More than anything I wanted to write mysteries like Margaret Sutton and Carolyn Keene when I grew up.

My father nourished my love of reading by bringing books home to me from time to time. Dad wasn’t much of a fiction reader but he knew how much I enjoyed a good mystery so, for a change of pace, one day when I was ten or eleven years old, he brought me a copy of “I, the Jury,” a Mickey Spillane novel. I picked it up and started to read, amazed and secretly pleased that Dad had given me such an “adult” book. A day or so later, I had left my book on the coffee table, book marker in place, and Dad happened to pick it up and read a page. His eyes got wide and he immediately confiscated the book. No more Mickey Spillane for me! 

Back then, I was disappointed when Dad took my book away but, as an adult, I’ve come to realize that what intrigued me as a child (probably because it was “forbidden”) bores me now. When I read a mystery/suspense novel with several paragraphs or pages of descriptive sexual acts, I find myself skimming over those parts to get back to the story. 

I’m not a prude and I have no problem with a sex scene and/or “colorful” language if it’s necessary to the plot and, of course, it's perfectly acceptable and even expected in certain types of novels. A steamy romance wouldn't be very steamy without, well, some steam. By the same token, in a book about a street gang, I can't imagine one of the members saying, "Gosh, darn it!" when he's angry. That’s unrealistic and I think fiction should be realistic, believable. But, in my Malone mystery series, I chose not to use certain words and to leave what happens behind bedroom doors (or anywhere else, for that matter) to the reader’s imagination. Because, it’s my belief that you can have a good story and still keep it clean.

Getting to know Tempe Crabtree

Welcome to the second post in my "Getting to know your character" series. We have with us today Deputy Tempe Crabtree, the main character in  Marilyn Meredith's fantastic mystery series and another one of my favorite "people." Let's get to know her.

Patricia: Tell us, Tempe, where did you grow up and where do you live now? 
Tempe: I’ve grew up in Bear Creek with my parents and Native American grandmother. After I married, I moved away for a few years, had a son, lost my husband, and moved back to Bear Creek.
Patricia: What’s your occupation and how did you come to choose it? (If you’re not a police officer, detective or private investigator, how do you manage to become involved in so many crimes? Same question, if you’re retired.)
Tempe: I’m the resident Deputy Sheriff of Bear Creek. After I lost my husband, I knew I had to do something to support myself and my son. I went to the police academy, graduated and was hired by the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department. As a deputy, it isn’t up to me to solve major crimes, however, I’m often called upon to help when the crime happens in the mountain area of Bear Creek, or on the reservation since I’m Native American. Once in a while I’ve done some investigating on my own because deep in my heart I knew the wrong person had been accused of a crime.
Patricia: Tell us about one of your most memorable “adventures.” What drew you into the mystery?
Tempe: Probably this last one, where the dead body of a missing teen was found in a haunted house.  I was the first one called to investigate, and upon entering the house I was rushed by a torrent of spirits, good and evil. Because of the ghosts, I did a lot of research into the history of the house and what went on in it over the years.
Patricia: What are your favorite things to do when you’re not working?
Tempe: Ha, ha. Though I have hours and days I’m assigned to work, because I am so accessible, it seems I’m always being called to work. When I do have time off I like to spend it with my husband, Hutch. We enjoy going to movies, eating out,  and just hanging out together.
Patricia: What are your favorite TV shows and/or movies? What kind of music do you enjoy listening to?
Tempe: Oh, my, I must confess I seldom watch any TV. As for movies, I prefer the lighter ones, romances, comedies. When I watch a movie with a mystery, my mind starts trying to solve the case. I’m sure I’d do that too if I watched any of the mystery or crime shows on TV. That’s too much like work.
Patricia: Are you married or involved in a serious relationship? Tell us about that.
Tempe: My husband is Hutch Hutchinson, the pastor of the local church. We’ve been married a long while. He came into my life when my son was a teenager. (My son is now a firefighter, something he always wanted to do.) Hutch and I love each other, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have rough spots at times. One of our biggest problem is when I use a Native American ritual to help solve a crime. For instance, calling back the dead. To be fair to Hutch, being a Christian minister, he fears for my soul.
Patricia: How would you describe yourself, physically and personality wise? How do you think others see you?
Tempe: I’m an Indian, taller than most, have long nearly black hair that I often wear in a single braid, My husband’s thinks I’m beautiful, bless him. I keep up my physical strength mainly by jogging. I’m loyal to my friends and never judge anyone unfairly. I’ll fight for anyone I think has been accused unfairly. I suspect everyone sees me differently. When I’m working, those who aren’t always law-abiding see me as law enforcement, and probably don’t like me all that well. The majority of the citizens in Bear Creek think of me as someone to turn to in time of trouble, no matter how big or small. The Indians on the reservation aren’t nearly as accepting of me as I wish they were. Because I’ve never lived on the reservation, I am considered an outside despite the fact I’m an Indian too. One detective I work with has finally accepted me as an equal, and calls on me often for help with murder investigations. His partner still has some doubts about me because I’m a woman and an Indian.
Patricia: What’s your favorite color and why?
Tempe: Blue, any shade, because it reminds me of the sky that changes all the time.
Patricia: Do you like to travel? If so, what are some of your favorite places to go and/or what was your favorite vacation? Have any of your travels involved solving a mystery?
Tempe: Hutch and I would love to travel more. I’ve done a bit while investigating. Once I traveled to Crescent City in order to interview family and friends of a murder victim. After that, Hutch and I continued the investigation in Santa Barbara.  We did a little bit of sightseeing, but not much, as we were on the trail of a murderer. We live in one of the most beautiful places in California, the mountains of the Southern Sierra. There is a growth of Giant Sequoias we can easily visit. Maybe someday, after I retire, both Hutch and I can take a real vacation and see more of this world we live in.

Patricia: What are your plans for the future? 

Tempe: Continuing on as the resident deputy here in Bear Creek. My major job is keeping the citizens safe from bad guys to domestic and wild animals, settling disputes, arresting drunk and other unsafe drivers, and when called upon, investigating major crimes. I’ve heard that a film company plans to come into the area to make a movie. I certainly hope that isn’t going to cause too many problems, but as the saying goes, I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.

 Bio: Marilyn Meredith is the author of over thirty published novels, including the award winning Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery series. She borrows a lot from where she lives in the Southern Sierra for the town of Bear Creek and the surrounding area, including the nearby Tule River Indian Reservation. She does like to remind everyone that she is writing fiction. Marilyn is a member of EPIC, three chapters of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and on the board of the Public Safety Writers of America. Visit her at http://fictionforyou.com and follow her blog at http://marilynmeredith.blogspot.com/

Links to purchase Marilyn’s books can be found at: http://fictionforyou.com/

The Winter Blahs

“What a gloomy day this has turned into,” David said aloud, flipping on the windshield wipers and turning on the headlights. The sky was gray and a light drizzle had begun to fall. The weather’s crappy and I feel crappy. I guess I am one of those people, he thought, recalling the television special he’d recently seen about Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD. The weather is definitely affecting my mood and not in a good way. Although it was only three o’clock in the afternoon, he decided to call it a day. I’ve got an appointment tonight. That’s good enough; it’ll have to be.

Clearly, David, the main character’s husband in my Malone mystery series, is feeling down in the dumps and lacks motivation. Do you feel like that when the weather is dreary? Recently, I’ve talked with a lot of people who do. They’re having a rough time of it this winter. Most refer to the way they’re feeling as having a case of the “winter blahs.” Some complain of physical ailments and almost everyone says that stress is taking a huge toll on their mental state and their physical health.

While it’s true that we all have problems and challenges in life and, of course, they’re not limited to the winter months, bad weather does make problems seem bigger than they are and it makes a lot of things more difficult to do. It’s hard to plan anything when you never know what news the weatherman will bring you. And, gazing out your window at a frozen, bleak landscape isn’t energizing or motivating. At least not for a lot of people.

I can't say I like winter. I don't like having to wear a coat, hat, gloves and boots. Nor do I like to shovel snow. And I detest (and get very nervous) driving on icy roads. Winter often frustrates and annoys me but it doesn't depress me. And, when I can stay in and spend my time writing, I actually enjoy it because, when it's nice outside, I want to be there, not at my computer. But I can’t help wondering how many people, like David, suffer from SAD. According to the Mayo Clinic, there’s a simple solution to their problem. Here’s what the experts have to say on the subject:

“Seasonal affective disorder (also called SAD) is a type of depression that occurs at the same time every year. If you're like most people with seasonal affective disorder, your symptoms start in the fall and may continue into the winter months, sapping your energy and making you feel moody.

“Treatment for seasonal affective disorder includes light therapy (phototherapy). Don't brush off that yearly feeling as simply a case of the "winter blues" or a seasonal funk that you have to tough out on your own. Take steps to keep your mood and motivation steady throughout the year.”

So, if you’re feeling like David, turn on lots of lights, snuggle up with a good book and take comfort in the fact that Spring is just around the corner.