In the middle of November, I blogged about my impending retirement and included a list of things I planned to do.  Scroll down.   It’s one of the first entries I posted on the service.  

It isn’t a bucket list—I don’t need one of those yet—its more of a Pay List.  I’m paying myself to do what I want.  I am giving a bucket list some thought, however.  More on that later.

A couple of years ago, I took a fancy to orchids.  It started with a very old vanda that came with the house.  The previous owners left it hanging in a tree, where it stayed without more than a “look at the pretty flower” when it bloomed every so often.  I’m not totally uncaring, I did move it inside during storms to prevent flying objects.  Along came Wilma, and the tree joined the ranks of the dearly departed flying objects, as did our front yard tree.  (It was ugly, I didn’t care.)

When the new front yard bulnesia finally spread its limbs, I moved the vanda into it.  I even gave it a bit of fertilizer a time or two.  Gradually, I acquired a few more orchids as gifts, and finally the tree would hold no more.  Last March, Steve build an Orchid Arbor for me in the back of the house—I suspect orchid enthusiasts would call it a shade house.  I bought books, found the Green Barn Orchid Supply, acquired more inexpensive orchids, and purchased equipment and fancy products to care for my girls.  I also discovered Brad’s Greenhouse on YouTube where he dispenses words of orchid wisdom along with video suited for the novice.  Each bud and bloom brings me cause for celebration and each dropping flower causes mourning.  Ah yes, I grabbed an aerial root and sailed off the edge.

I joined the local orchid society.  Overall, the people are friendly and welcoming, and the content of the presentations is interesting.  I expected mostly older folks, but that isn’t the case.  There are several regular attendees who are approaching rather than exiting middle age.  

At the last meeting, I chatted with a lady about my progress.  She identified a couple of varieties for me at the display table.  I told her many of my orchids are in bloom and look healthy.  I also mentioned that I am a novice and bought most of my orchids at places like home depot and the outdoor market.  Her comment:  “You’ve only had them a year.  They’ll all die.”  Bare in mind she did not ask one diagnostic question to see if I cared for the plants properly.

I’m crushed, not by the fact that she may be right.  I will, no doubt kill a couple.  No, I’m crushed by the cruelty of the statement.  I rushed home and scrutinized each and every plant for signs of trouble.

Adding to my dismay, the orchid I won in the raffle—donated by an expert—was full of snail eggs and black fungus spots.  I’ve been having a self-researched lesson on disease and pest treatments.

GEB

This is the full text of my Awesome Gang interview.  I don't know if they'll use all of it, but I decided to share.



Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.

I was born in North Dakota and migrated to Florida via New York City many years ago.   I completed my education in Florida colleges and universities and embarked on a varied career in clinical, administrative, and academic nursing.

My stories of mystery and suspense feature strong, creative, clever nurses who use all of their skills to help others, confront danger, and stay alive.

Writing pulled at me as a teenager, resulting in pages of sappy poetry. In the mid-nineties, I bought a how-to book about writing a mystery and committed the story burning in my head to paper.  It was incredibly bad—a fact that my well-read friends shared with me.  After the pain subsided (authors own their words and criticism, while necessary, is painful), I put it in THE DRAWER, joined Mystery Writers of America, and actively pursued the craft.

I've written nine manuscripts, eight of which are finished.  The ninth one is still in the critique process with my awesome critique group.

My second effort is in THE DRAWER, where it will remain.  The third one isn't as bad, but by the time I had the skills to edit it, the backstory was dated.  It is in THE DRAWER.

The first title I published was Illegally Dead.  Pendulum Press, Inc. accepted it as an eBook in 2004.  At the time, I had no idea that the editor/publisher was contemplating closing the site.  She was gracious enough to return my rights along with all the materials she had contributed.  I self-published Illegally Dead on Amazon in 2010 and created the CreateSpace paper version 15 months later, firmly logging myself into the ranks of the self-published—which may or may not be a good thing depending on who you ask.

I published Imperfect Contract in 2012 and Imperfect Daddy in 2013.  These are the first two titles in my Imperfect Series featuring Sophia Burgess and Ray Stone.   the lord, a standalone, went live in January, 2014.

Next up is She Learned to Die, which is a standalone, academic mystery—at least it is set in a college of nursing.  It is in its final editing stages, then I'll begin the conversions for CreateSpace and Kindle.  I'll decide about a publication date after the cover is complete.  It will be later this year.

 What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?

the lord (no caps are intended) in a story about Miki Murphy's struggle to save her friends and herself from a disturbed killer who stalks his victims in the recesses of the hospital.  Miki is the night shift nursing supervisor and is on-duty when the killings occur.  The killer, who thinks of himself as the lord, has a list, and Miki is on it.

To me, our culture seems obsessed with the notion that someone is to blame when anything goes wrong.  Then that someone needs to be confronted and pay in some fashion for the wrong.  When you read the warning labels on just about everything, you can see the depth of the issue.  Before the blood dries on the bandage or the body cools in the grave, and the injured party or their family consults a lawyer.  Personal responsibility is forgotten, as is the concept the sometimes "stuff" happens.

The media reports horrific events that seem to be the result of the same kind of thinking.  A kid is ignored or insulted in school, so he gets a gun and blows other children away.  Someone is fired from their job and then returns to the workplace to get even with the boss and former co-workers.  You get the point.

I thought:  What if something bad happens?  What is a disturbed or angry person is effected by the event?  What if he then decides healthcare workers are responsible and deserve to pay the price?  It's a dark story, so I decided to set much of it on the night shift.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
 
I have a plastic desk attached to my treadmill.   Sometimes I walk while I write or edit.  I've discovered I can go about 1.8 mph and still type.  Sometimes I step off for a few moments to work on a particular edit.

The practice has nothing to do with writing and everything to do with staying healthy and moving.

What authors, or books have influenced you?

The first mystery writer I met was Barbara Parker.  Though she has since died, she is still the epitome of what a writer should be in my humble opinion.

When I was struggling to find my way in writing, I met her at the Mystery Writers of America booth at the Miami Book Fair.  She sold me an autographed copy of one of her books, gave me an MWA brochure, and invited me to the meetings.

I read all of Barbara's books in the order written.  The character development over time made a huge impression on me.  I learned that mysteries are not about crime so much as about life, community, and people.  The mystery is the vehicle the real story is wrapped in.

Barbara was especially welcoming to new writers, giving of her time and talents to help us evolve.

Other authors who continue to unselfishly help other writers and who have influenced me both by their writing and their mentoring include Elaine Viets, Nancy Cohen, PJ Parrish, Chris Kling, Randy Rawls, Neil Plakcy, Dirk Wyle, Deborah Sharp, and Jeremiah Healy.

What are you working on now?

I'm currently working on three separate projects.  The She Learned to Die manuscript is complete pending final minor edits.  Then I'll need to write the forward and cover copy, do the conversions for CreateSpace and Kindle, and get with Victoria Landis, who does all my fabulous covers.

Until it Bleeds: A Tony Conte Mystery is a sequel to Illegally Dead.  Currently, my critique group is commenting on one chapter every two weeks.  We are about two-thirds of the way through that manuscript.  Then I'll need to let it set for awhile, then read and edit again, before sending it on for final edits, etc.

Imperfect Obsession, the third title in the Imperfect Series: Sophia Burgess and Ray Stone Mysteries, is forming in my head.  I've set up a storyboard—preliminary to outlining—and have added a few notes.  I've got the overall concept, and now need to work on the details.

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?

I so wish I could answer that.  I have a website and a blog, which I'm keeping up as faithfully as possible.

To market the lord I'm trying one web-based service at a time, some paid, some free.  I'll be scheduling Kindle Countdown events as well.

It's a tough uphill battle for the "little names".  I'll keep plugging away at it.

Do you have any advice for new authors?

Three things:

1.    Put your butt in the chair and write every day.

2.   While you're figuring out the marketing piece on one book, be working on the next.

3.   Have a good, critical critique group.  Works toward constructive criticism and leave the accolades for the reviews.

AND,

Don't quit your day job. 

What is the best advice you have ever heard?

Three things:

1.    Put your butt in the chair and write every day.

2.   While you're figuring out the marketing piece on one book, be working on the next.

3.   Have a good, critical critique group.  Works toward constructive criticism and leave the accolades for the reviews.

AND,

Don't quit your day job. 

What are you reading now?

I read in several genres.  Today I'm reading Cold Storage, Alaska by John Straley.

Next will be Private L.A. by James Patterson.  (We went to a signing, and my husband and I each got a signed book.  See my blog for the details.)

When the mystery/suspense feels like it is darkening my mood, I switch it up with what I told my son were silly romances—I prefer the historic variety.  I also like contemporary/main stream fiction.

What's next for you as a writer?

My intention is to keep writing, editing, publishing, and marketing.  I plan to focus on my Imperfect Series and, maybe, do another standalone or two.

There is an ad on television that says, essentially, retirement is when you pay yourself to do what you want.  I want to write.

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?

The Outlander by Diana Gabaldon.  I'd take the whole series if I could.

Then I'd pick the newest title by P.J. Parrish, Lee Child, Robert Craise, Janet Evanovich, and William Kent Krueger.  I love following series characters.

That's way more than I'm allowed.  Can I take my iPad and a really long cord for the charger?

 GEB

For those of you who have followed my blog for a while, you know I originally called it Stuph & Junk.  That was in honor of my father, a weekly newspaper publisher & editor, who had a weekly column with that title.   Most of the columns consisted of short paragraphs of whatever interested him or was of local social or political interest at the time.

The problem is, of course, that the terminology doesn't transcend 40 years or so.  I posted a review of a book.  The author's agent complimented me on the review (hey, it was positive for her client) but slammed me on the blog's title.  Implying I had insulted the author by the title of the blog.  Who knew?  I guess Junk doesn't mean the same Stuph anymore.

-GEB-

Check this out!  I was honored to be asked to speak for the American Association of University Women.  Murder on the Beach selects authors for their meetings.  It feels special to me because I've never been asked to be a luncheon author-speaker before.  I even sold a few books.  It was a beautiful day.  And I was in fine company.  Previous speakers included Elaine Viets and the beloved Barbara Parker.

The other speaker was Eliot Kleinberg.  He's a reporter for the Palm Beach Post and a history buff, having published nine books on Florida history and one historical novel.

I didn't know, for example, that German U-boats sunk cargo ships off the Florida coast during World War II.  He is an interesting speaker and was the first male guest EVER for the organization.

-GEB-

I've started to contemplate my next novel.  I'm not quite ready to put my butt in the chair and write the first chapter, and I suppose that's because the plot isn't clear in my mind.  First the mind, then the butt.

I'm one of the writers who outlines a bit, trying to include colors to indicate point-of-view characters, high points, and clues.  This time I decided to make a storyboard to help with the planning.  I've used the technique before, filling the vacant space with colored sticky notes covered with outline points and special meaning.  (At some point, I'll type it all into a file and continue in that manner.  I do like to have a complete outline when I'm done.)  

As you can see, I haven't made much progress.  Which isn't exactly true.  Since I'm continuing with The Imperfect Series--it will be number 3, I updated my notebook, bringing continuing characters up to the present, and I hit the web for some rather heavy research.  The working title will be Imperfect Obsession.  I'll post another picture of the board when I get it filled up.

I attended SleuthFest 2014 a couple of weeks ago.  It inspired me to begin again.   Wish me well.

GEB