SHOPPING FOR IDEAS?

Shoppers, tired of malls packed with teenagers, peruse mail order catalogues for clothes, household items, and gifts. In spring, gardeners stop looking at seed catalogs and wander through nurseries. Where do writers shop for ideas?

My inspirations for fiction is real science.

Old habits are hard to break. So even though I’m no longer an active scientist, I continue to scan articles in science journals. When I read how a few mutations (changes) could turn a bird flu virus into one that can infect humans, I knew that I had the basis for a medical thriller. Then I read John Barry’s account of the 1918 flu pandemic The Great Influenza. The statistics were staggering – more than 50 million people died of flu during 1918-20. Coming Flu, a medical thriller, reflects my answer to the question: What if a new, unstoppable flu virus hit a community like mine?

You’re probably thinking I’m pretty strange.

The inspiration for my second novel Murder: A New Way to Lose Weight is less academic. Like everyone, I see many endorsements of weight loss regimes and products on TV. The sizes of some of the servings of food in these promotions make even small salad plates look large. I’ve tasted some of those advertised “delicious” shakes; they made me nauseous. It appears promoters of new diets will say anything to promote their diets and products. In my medical mystery Murder: A New Way to Lose Weight, readers get to see how desperate diet doctors can be. Could they become murderers?

I like to travel, especially to locations a bit off the beaten path. As I was sorting through cheap souvenirs and postcards from a trip to South America, I spied items from Bolivia, which are becoming the basis of my third novel. What are they? If I tell you, it’ll ruin the surprise

Where could you find ideas for your writing?

Several authors have created cozy mystery series, based on their hobbies (such as cooking and quilting) or their pets. Others find travel to exotic location is a source of ideas and tax write-offs. But you don’t have to travel far for ideas. Have you ever wandered down a street in an old section of your home town and wondered what happened behind those facades last year, ten years ago, or even a century ago?

To create funny characters, surf through blogs on the web. Find three competing bloggers and let the mayhem begin. Please don’t choose me.

The trick to successful shopping is to find ideas that fit you. 

 Bug thinks Pet Smart is a great place to shop. Come to think of it, you do hear some odd (one-sided) conversations between pets and their owners at pet stores. 

Janet

Amazon Sales link for Coming Flu: http://www.amazon.com/Coming-Flu-J-L-Greger/dp/1610090985

Amazon sales link for Murder: A New Way to Lose Weight: http://www.amazon.com/Murder-New-Way-LoseWeight/dp/1610090624/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1365534310&sr=1-1&keywords=Murder+A+New+Way+to+Lose+Weight)

My Family Is Driving Me Crazy

Today I’m pleased to be hosting Lesley Diehl, a retired professor of psychology and author of several murder mysteries: Dumpster Dying, Grilled, Chilled and Killed, A Deadly Draught, Poisoned Pairing, and Angel Sleuth. I asked her about two topics on which she is an expert: murder mysteries and the psychology of family relations. Now that’s a killer blog!

Family and Murder

In the programs I do for libraries, literary groups and others, I often comment on the downside of being a psychologist.  Many assume that if you chose to go into the mental health field it was because of family issues.  So I say in defense, “No one assumes that Mary became a mathematician because she couldn’t add a column of numbers.  Sadly, however, there is much truth to the assumption that many psychologists choose the field because of family history.  In my case, I can safely say it was because my mother was more than a little odd.  Okay, she was crazy I guess.  My father, however, was about as sane and normal as a guy can be.  Me?  I carry some of Mom’s kookiness, but I knew when I was about three that she wasn’t like other mothers and by my teenage years, I knew better than to blame myself.  Goes to show you how one normal parent can help.

My family background coupled with my training can’t help but influence my writing. I think its impact is not as direct as one would suspect. I don’t dwell on the mentally unstable adults and their impact on their children; rather I focus on the family broadly defined and weave that together with my background in developmental psychology specifically with the issue of individual identity. Identity seems to me to be the major developmental hurdle for all of us, and it is one we confront again and again, redefining who we are when confronted with challenges in our lives. 

Murder constitutes a perfect challenge to use as a way of viewing a protagonist’s change and growth. Like other developmentalists, I believe we leap forward in making ourselves emotionally, socially and intellectually stronger when confronted by life change events. Certainly finding a dead body can be construed as one of them!  And events requiring adjustment can shake the identity we’ve so carefully constructed, even positive happenings.

In the case of my protagonist Hera in the microbrewing series (i.e. Deadly Draught and Poisoned Pairing), she has defined herself as a microbrewer with a love for her art. But what about when she stumbles over the dead body of her closest competitor? And what happens when she falls back in love with her old college flame? Who is she now? I answer that in the book by forcing her to find the killer to save her business. She’s suddenly an amateur sleuth. And her passion for her old lover?  It opens her heart to the possibility of love again, of taking emotional chances.

In my other work set in rural Florida (i.e. Dumpster Dying, Grilled and Chilled and Killed), I focus on family by examining what happens to both my protagonist and her friend when they keep family secrets. In this case I do so with humor, yet the message that change is necessary when confronted by murder and the truth influences both of their lives.

Only in my stand alone work, Angel Sleuth do I explore the impact of bad parenting upon the adult child, and, in this case, the mother is not so much mentally unhealthy as simply confused and in need of some identity work of her own.

In all my work, I enjoy writing about the family and identity and making murder the vehicle for my protagonist’s journey in the book. What issues do you like to explore in your protagonists’ lives to propel them toward change? A man, a parent, a child, emotional damage, money, career issues, marriage, children?

Learn more about Leslie at her website: www.lesleydiehl.com and her blog  http://anotherdraught.blogspot.com.

FIVE REASONS FOR READING Murder: A New Way to Lose Weight

I got my copy of my new medical mystery/suspense novel last Friday. Here’s why you want to read Murder: A New Way to Lose Weight. 

You’ll feel like an “insider” not a patient in a hospital.

In this novel, you get a behind the scenes view of a medical schools – the excitement of scientific research, the quirkiness of at least some faculty members, and the infighting for limited resources.

Linda Almquist, who seldom even smiled, laughed.

Richard Varegos had done it again. He had arranged books and a computer on the front counter of the hospital pavilion for a photo shoot. In the resulting glossy, full-color flyer, he sat at his make-believe teak desk in his supposedly marble-walled office. She read the flyer’s title: THE DIET DOCTOR HAS ANSWERS FOR YOUR WEIGHT PROBLEMS.

Was there no end to his ego?

Maybe this intro doesn’t build confidence in this diet doctor, but don’t you want to know what he does next? So do Linda and the police after the other diet doctor is found dead.

You’ll learn a little science and smile a lot.

The “diet doctors” in this mystery are investigating whether they can help obese subject lose more weight and keep it off by altering their gut flora. Sounds strange? It is an active area of research on weight control. Check out Science, volume 328, pages 179-80 or Science, volume 332, pages 32-3. 

You’ll feel the pain of all the red tape that investigators face when trying to do their research. Or you may feel relief that there are controls on their activities. I guess it depends on your politics.

And then there’s the murder. The possibilities are endless in a medical school.

“Motive?” Hitchings (the lead police investigator) scanned the crowd and motioned Omar (medical examiner) back to him. “Omar, do we even have a murder? Looks like natural causes.”

“Can’t tell,” replied Omar.

“But no bullet or stab wounds? So natural causes are likely.”

“You’re in a medical school.” Omar walked closer to Hitchings and spoke more softly. “Everyone in this building probably knows how to kill someone without using a gun or knife. A complete tox screen will take weeks. And this woman was only in her thirties, pretty young to die suddenly.”

The suspense might help you lose weight.

The protagonist Linda Almquist of this mystery did, as she raced down the long corridors of the medical school after clues and lost her appetite when threatened again and again. It’s amazing how much weight you can lose it you eat less and exercise more. Of course you won’t have the same incentives (I hope) that Linda did.

The reviewers’ comments are good.

You do want read this medical mystery... Scary shenanigans in the medical research field, so possible. You could lose more than INCHES

Virginia Reaves, freelance writer

Linda and Sara are back, this time involved in a plot with plenty of twists and turns and a good deal of wry humor. A fun read, great believable characters and a real sense of place. Marilyn Olsen, President of Public Safety Writers Association

Murder:  A New Way To Lose Weight starts with a memorable title, followed by a unique crime, and continues with quirky, colorful characters, and snappy dialog.  A satisfying follow-up to Greger’s debut novel. Rob Kresge, author of the spy novel Saving Lincoln

Bug is back.

My own Japanese Chinn dog Bug is the only “non-fictional” character in this novel and it prequel Coming Flu. For more information on my books, Bug, and me, please check out my website (www.jlgreger.com).

Thanks for stopping by.

JL Greger 

From Marie Curie to Gut Bacteria

Murder: A New Way to Lose Weight is now available on Amazon.

Three very different stops on my Diet of Murder Blog Tour this week. 

"Make a Woman Scientist Your Heroine" on the Discoverific blog (a blog where science meets storytelling). Katie Slivensky is my host. I chose this topic because in Murder: A New Way to Lose Weight the protagonist is woman physician and the first victim is a woman scientist.

"Beach Chat with JL Greger" on Life's a Beach blog (a blog that probes authors' psyches and secrets). Jayne Ormerod is my host. You get to meet the real Bug, the prototype for the Japanese Chin Bug in my novels. And you get to decide if there's any similarity between me and my heroine Linda Almquist in Murder: A New Way to Lose Weight. I was once an associate dean in a medical school like Linda; otherwise I don't think there are any similarities. She's shorter and nicer.

"The Microbes Made Me Eat It" on the Lake House Mysteries blog (the blog author includes bits of science in her novels too). My host uses the alias of IC Enger. I chose that topic because the two "diet doctors" in Murder: A New Way to Lose Weight are studying whether they can help obese patients lose weight and keep it off by altering their gut bacteria. No I'm not trying to be funny; this is a real research topic. Well, maybe I did choose this research topic because it's interesting(?) and actually promising.

Guess where I'll be next week.

JL and Bug

Don't forget Coming Flu (the prequel to Murder: A New Way to Lose Weight) is also available on Amazon.

A DIET OF MURDER BLOG TOUR

 

 Oak Tree Press is publishing my new mystery/suspense novel Murder: A New Way to Lose Weight in April. To get everyone in the mood I’m having “A Diet of Murder Blog Tour.”

Here are the first five stops:

March 29: A Diet of murder. This guest blog gives organizational advice from Murder: A New Way to Lose Weight. It’s at Stephen Brayton’s Crimespace (http://stephenbrayton.wordpress.com/2013/03/29/a-diet-of-murder/http://stephenbrayton.wordpress.com/2013/03/29/a-diet-of-murder/)

March 30: Let this novel help you lose weight. This guest blog is about the science in Murder: A New Way to Lose Weight. It’s posted at Marilyn’s Musings (www.marilynmeredith.blogspot.comwww.marilynmeredith.blogspot.com)

March 31: Setting priorities. This guest blog is an appraisal of my publicity efforts for Coming Flu. It’s posted at Oak Tree Press Blog (www.otpblog.blogspot.com)

April 2: Lose Weight with Murder: A New Way to Lose Weight. There are five reasons for reading this novel. See them in Lauren Carr’s blog (http://wp.me/p2p3pE-5L)

April 3: A big portion of Murder: A New Way to Lose Weight This guest blog contains practical diet advice. (I taught nutrition classes for more than 25 years at universities.) It’s posted at Killer Craft & Craft Killers (http://www.anastasiapollack.blogspot.com/)

           More stops are coming. Bug says it’s time for a walk. He’s tired of watching me at the computer.

           JL Greger

www.jlgreger.com

What Bugs Guest Blogger: MARILYN MEREDITH?

I'm delighted to introduce my guest Marilyn (alias FM) Meredith. I think you'll quickly see she's
a wonderful writer and a caring person. On Friday, we'll be back to blogging about science and writing.

What Bugs Me
Janet asked me to write about a big issue that bugs me and how I’ve incorporated the issue into my novels.

I had to think about this a bit, but it dawned on me that what had bugged me is the foundation of why I wrote the Rocky Bluff P.D. crime series.

In movies, TV and books that have police officers as characters, with few exceptions, too many are either dumb, on the take, alcoholics, perhaps even evil, and womanizers with shaky, if any, family ties. Even the female officers seemed to be seriously flawed, have an addiction, or never be able to sustain a healthy relationship with anyone. (One big exception is Blue Bloods, a fairly TV new series.) But when I started writing the RBPD series, this is how most cops were depicted.

I’ve had several law enforcement officers in my family and am friends with even more. What I’ve seen is that most of them are like the rest of us: they do their jobs to the best of their abilities, have interesting personality quirks, love their wives and families and have problems like all the rest of us.

What I wanted to depict in my mysteries were characters who were more like the men and women in law enforcement that I know. Yes, I’ve known some stinkers and I’ve written about them in a highly fictionalized manner.  I’ve also incorporated the publicity hound, the only female on the force—different gals—and that changes in my latest, Dangerous Impulses—the cop who uses his job as an advantage, the fellow who has a psychological problem that needs treatment, the police widow, the by-the-book cop, and the officers who are facing all sorts of family problems. Of course, I’ve thrown in a few not so likeable characters here and there.

Trying to avoid stereotypes, I believe I’ve created officers who the reader will enjoy following and cheering on, as they confront crime and their own personal issues. The books are primarily mysteries, but the readers always knows what’s going on in the officers’ families—some issues are bigger than others.

From reviews, I know that one of my readers’ favorite characters is Gordon Butler.  He’s had quite a time of it. His wife was stolen by his training officer, he’s wrecked brand new police cars, and he yearns for a romantic interest. Though he is definitely a rule follower, things don’t seem to work out for him. While he was looking for a place to rent, one of my fans said she thought about letting him sleep in her extra bedroom.

I’ve been fortunate in being a member of the Public Safety Writers Association where I’m friends with many law enforcement officers. I’ve had help from them with plot ideas, and I’ve also been able to observe them and know how diverse they are in personality and looks.

One thing I always remind people, Rocky Bluff P.D. is a fictional police department that resides in my imagination, so I can do things the way I want. As one reviewer said, “Most crimes are solved the old-fashioned way interviewing anyone connected to what’s happened, lots of footwork, and the collection and sorting of clues.”

Now a bit about Dangerous Impulses

An attractive new-hire captivates Officer Gordon Butler, Officer Felix Zachary’s wife Wendy is befuddled by her new baby, Ryan and Barbara Strickland receive unsettling news about her pregnancy, while the bloody murder of a mother and her son and an unidentified drug that sickens teenaged partiers jolts the Rocky Bluff P.D.
Buy link: 

Contest

The person who comments on the most blog posts on this tour may have a character named after him or her in the next Rocky Bluff P.D. crime novel or choose a book from the previous titles in the Rocky Bluff P.D. series in either paper or for Kindle.

Rocky Bluff P.D. Series:

Though each book in the Rocky Bluff P.D. series is written as a stand-alone, I know there are people who like to read a series in order. From the beginning to the end:

Final Respects

Bad Tidings

Fringe Benefits

Smell of Death

No Sanctuary

An Axe to Grind

Angel Lost

No Bells

Dangerous Impulses

F. M. Meredith’s Bio

F.M. is also known as Marilyn Meredith, the author of the Deputy Tempe Crabtree series. She first became interested in writing about law enforcement when she lived in a neighborhood filled with police officers and their families. The interest was fanned when her daughter married a police officer and the tradition has continued with a grandson and grandson-in-law who are deputies. She’s also serves on the board of the Public Safety Writers Association, and has many friends in different law enforcement fields. For twenty plus years, she and her husband lived in a small beach community located in Southern California much like the fictional Rocky Bluff. She is a member of three chapters of Sisters in Crime, Epic, and Mystery Writers of America.

Webpage: http://fictionforyou.com/

Blog: http://marilynmeredith.blogspot.com/

And I’m on Facebook and Twitter as MarilynMeredith

GUEST BLOG: When the Past Comes Back with a Bang

Today, I'm taking a break from the weight control theme and welcoming a guest blogger Lauren Carr. Her new novel Blast from the Past was published in January of this year. Her mysteries get great reviews. Maybe it's because she includes Gnarly her dog in her books. You think? Maybe it's because they're action packed books.

Lauren Carr Speaks about Her Writing

Each has his past shut in him like the leaves of a book known to him by heart and his friends can only read the title.  ~Virginia Woolf

What are you most afraid of revealing to your friends? Most likely, it is the revelation of something from your past. Maybe it is something you did or the way you used to be in your immature youth. Maybe it has to do with the family that you have left behind and moved on away from.

The past plays a major part of the story in my latest Mac Faraday mystery, Blast from the Past.

On the surface, it is about Archie Monday, the late Robin Spencer’s assistant. In the opening, the reader learns that in her past, she had witnessed a horrible murder, which changed the course of her life. Leaving everything behind, she was put into the witness protection program.

There are other characters in Blast from the Past who are encountering elements from their pasts.

Retired homicide detective Mac Faraday became a multi-millionaire upon the death of his birth-mother, world famous mystery author Robin Spencer.  In his present, he has the resources to do anything he wants. However, when the mob comes to town and bodies start dropping, Mac’s past comes back like a lover he couldn’t leave behind. With pride, this millionaire free to sit back and order another drink, strapped on the gold badge of detective and his service weapon and went out to catch the murderer who dared to come to his town.

For Mac Faraday, the past is something that he embraces with pride. You will embrace it too when you read Blast from the Past.

Lauren's Bio

Lauren Carr fell in love with mysteries when her mother read Perry Mason to her at bedtime. The first installment in the Joshua Thornton mysteries, A Small Case of Murder was a finalist for the Independent Publisher Book Award.

Lauren is also the author of the Mac Faraday Mysteries, which takes place in Deep Creek Lake, Maryland. It’s Murder, My Son, Old Loves Die Hard, and Shades of Murder, have all been getting rave reviews from readers and reviewers. Blast from the Past is the fourth installment in the Mac Faraday Mystery series. The next installment in the Mac Faraday series will be released in October of this year.

Released September 2012, Dead on Ice introduces a new series entitled Lovers in Crime, which features prosecutor Joshua Thornton with homicide detective Cameron Gates. The second installment in the Lovers in Crime series will be out in 2013.

The owner of Acorn Book Services, Lauren is also a publishing manager, consultant, editor, cover and layout designer, and marketing agent for independent authors. 

Website: http://acornbookservices.com/

                 http://mysterylady.net/

Blog: Literary Wealth: http://literarywealth.wordpress.com/
Book video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5SOd40_Hfw

We'll be back with a blog "Don't Save Leftovers by Adding to Your Waist" on Friday.

JL and Bug