A Halloween Mystery

It was the week before Halloween, shortly after I'd moved into a new apartment. I went for a walk in the neighborhood and spotted an old Victorian. I've always loved old houses so I stopped, gazing up at it. And I wondered what those walls would say if they could talk.

Intrigued, I wanted to find out more about the house and the area so I went to the Cincinnati Historical Society and immersed myself in research. The more I learned, the more certain I was that I wanted to write a mystery novel that took place there. 

I continued to take walks in the neighborhood, always with my camera. Little by little, I began to come up with plot ideas and the characters who would live in my fictional version of the house.

So, that's how I came to write Mixed Messages, my first Malone mystery. Proof that you never know where an idea for a book (or a series) will come from.

Amazon author's page:

http://tinyurl.com/8sd2cz4

 

Don't argue with a woman who reads

Here's an email my aunt recently forwarded to me. I hope it puts a smile on your face.

One morning a husband returns to the cabin after several hours of fishing and decides to take a nap. Although not familiar with the lake, the wife decides to take the boat out, since it is such a beautiful day.

She motors out a short distance, anchors, and reads her book.

Along comes a Game Warden in his boat.

He pulls up alongside the woman and says, "Good morning, Ma'am, what are you doing?"

"Reading a book," she replies, (thinking, "Isn't that obvious?") 

"You're in a Restricted Fishing Area," he informs her.

"I'm sorry, officer, but I'm not fishing, I'm reading."

"Yes, but you have all the equipment. I'll have to write you up a ticket. "

"For reading a book," she replies.

"You're in a Restricted Fishing Area," he informs her again.

"But officer, I'm not fishing, I'm reading."

"Yes, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment. I'll have to write you up a ticket and you'll have to pay a fine."

"If you do that, I'll have to charge you with sexual assault," says the woman.

"But I haven't even touched you," says the Game Warden.

"That's true, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment."

"Have a nice day ma'am," and he immediately departed.

MORAL: Never argue with a woman who reads. It's likely she can also think.

The Moment

Mystery author, Marja McGraw

There’s nothing more exciting than the day an author has a new book released. Okay, maybe there are a few things that are more exciting, but we’re talking about books, and the release date is The Moment for me. In my case I’m doubly excited because I’ve had two books released in a period of a few months, starting with “Choosing One Moment – A Time Travel Mystery”, and ending with “Having a Great Crime – Wish You Were Here, A Sandi Webster Mystery.”

The location for both mysteries is Washington State, my new home. The first book takes place in a fictional town, and the second is in a real and beautiful small town (where it rains a lot). Having moved from Arizona to Washington, I’m having to change my way of thinking and my habits.

One of the hardest tasks, at least for me, is coming up with a brief description for the back cover of the book. Today I’m presenting you with those descriptions, and I hope you find them enticing.

“Choosing One Moment – A Time Travel Mystery”

Mystery writer Carrie McFerrin has inherited an old family house and all of its contents from her Great Aunt Genny.

While taking inventory of the attic contents, she comes across an old wooden crank telephone. Thinking the old telephone would look perfect in her vintage kitchen, she hangs it on the wall by the back door, and an old, yellowed piece of paper asking for help falls to the floor.

The impossible happens when the disconnected old phone rings – three rings, a pause, and three more rings.

Carrie picks up the receiver, wondering what’s going on, and her life suddenly changes – forever.

Nothing will ever be the same.

“Having a Great Crime – Wish You Were Here, A Sandi Webster Mystery”

1936 – In the small farming community of Battle Ground, Washington, a scream is heard and actress Bonnie Singleton is found dead. With no evidence or suspects, the crime goes down in history as an unsolved murder. The only one who knows the truth is Bonnie Singleton, and her voice has been silenced.

That is, until many years later when Sandi Webster-Goldberg and her husband, Pete, go on a belated honeymoon to a new Bed and Breakfast in the small community.

Plenty of surprises await the couple when the proprietor of the B&B asks for their help. She doesn’t want her business to be known as the local haunted house.

Have Sandi and Pete ever been able to turn down a challenge? The request to find the truth has been made and once again they’re reluctantly on a cold case.

Writing is a job, and I’ve had more fun doing this job than any other. Now comes the hard part; marketing and promoting. I’m not a “born salesman,” but I’m learning, which in this case is an ongoing process.

I’ll just say this – for now. If you’re looking for two books that will keep you guessing and entertain you, these are two of them.

Pat, Thank you for allowing me to crow a little today.

Are we having fun yet? You bet!

You can check out:

My blog - http://marjamcgraw.blogspot.com/

My website - http://www.marjamcgraw.com/

Buy books: https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_8?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=marja+mcgraw&sprefix=marja+mc%2Cmobile-apps%2C450