Camper Catastrophe By Mary Lu Scholl

1/4/2020

Multi-genre, multi-volume author, Mary Scholl introduces us to her latest cozy murder book, “Camper Catastrophe”:
Nothing is easy, nothing works out the way you expect. These are lessons learned by Patty Decker when she finds herself living in a travel trailer in a park in Florida. With a bit of a chip on her shoulder she winds up solving the mystery of her neighbor's murder. She liked him a lot better after he was dead...

I love to read and this story reinforced my love of reading quite a bit. Patty Decker is a wonderful, crotchety, old woman who has recently undergone more than one upheaval in her life.
I love the realistic attitude that Patty has, the first person POV writing is wonderful and brings me completely into the story. The author has a delightful knack for describing an elderly woman’s train of thought. The scene setting is perfect for me, the trailer park feels right at home and I have never lived in one.
The characters in the story were very vivid, even the recently deceased Albert, as a new ghost. I loved how forthright the deputy was, he brought a welcome balance into the situation. Even the cats and dogs had their parts to play in the story.
I award 4.9 stars to “Camper Catastrophe”!

You can buy this book:
https://smile.amazon.com/camper-catastrophe-mary-scholl
https://www.goodreads.com/-camper-catastrophe
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Camper-Catastrophe-Trailer-Travails-Book

You can follow the author:
https://twitter.com/MaryLScholl1
https://maryluscholl.blogspot.com
www.facebook.com/maryluschollauthor/

I have also reviewed the second book in the series: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/mobile-mayhem
My review of the third book in the series is here:
www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/birds-bees-and-rvs-by-mary-lu-scholl
My review of the fourth book is here:
www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/trailer-trauma-trailer-park-travails-book-4
My review of the second volume in the Nature Coast Calamities, “Big Foot and The Bentley”: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/big-foot-and-the-bentley
Tags: cozy, murder, mystery, Florida, pets, dog, cat, neighbors, fiction, action

Copyright © 2020 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction

75 Comments

Mary Lu

1/6/2020 11:35:50 am

Thank you, Mark! There is no higher praise than to have someone like my characters!

Mark

1/6/2020 12:28:57 pm

I think you did a great job of creating your characters.
First question.
Please, tell us more about yourself. Perhaps something a little bit beyond your bio.

Mary L Scholl

1/6/2020 01:17:18 pm

I'm very much Patty with a similar history. I like to think I'm a little less socially awkward. The pets in the story are mine.
I moved here, to Crystal River (Citrus County FL) to be near my daughter. SHE did not move away from me, however!

Mark

1/6/2020 02:25:09 pm

Glad to hear your daughter is still nearby. Two of our three adult children live close and have provided us with 5 grandchildren. I value living close to family.
New questions.
Are you a full-time or part-time writer?
Does your work, or past work if you are retired, have any influence on your writing?

Mary L Scholl

1/6/2020 02:50:37 pm

I keep retiring and it keeps not working. I retired after 27 years in the Postal Service, mostly in management. Retired for a week and couldn't stand it. I did retail, took care of DD adults, worked in landscaping. I wrote my first three novels during all that time.
Once I moved here two years ago to retire (and work for Citrus County Parks and Rec) I found myself in a mobile home park while building a house.
You can see how that worked out for me by reading my cozy series!

Mark

1/6/2020 03:17:11 pm

You have had a varied work life, so many of us boomers are walking that road. I spent almost 20 years in retail, then another 21 in construction. Years ago, I knew I had to find something to do when I retired, Word Refiner is the result. I loved to read and proofread, I ramped up my business several years before I retired.
New questions.
Why did you choose this genre, or do you feel the genre chose you?
Who designed the cover of your book? Feel free to drop a link if appropriate.
What do the elements on the cover represent?

Mary L Scholl

1/6/2020 03:53:39 pm

Genre? Good question. Romance is seriously not me. I love science fiction, mysteries, psych thrillers. In addition, though, one of my dad's secretaries launched a very successful career with food-cozies. I fell in love with the fast-paced stories, quick-plot development, and the importance of immediately relatable characters.
I've been told I'm very empathic, so maybe I have an edge in understanding peoples' motivations and reactions. I actually credit that with being married four times. You truly get to know a spouse. Children grow up, changing constantly as they grow, and move out just as they become real people. Parents aren't really people until you're almost grown; until then they are just extensions of your world, and young adults are so involved in their own lives...
No one knows you like your spouse, no one knows your spouse like you do.
Four, very different, men, have given me different perspectives.
Outliving three of them, two while we were married, has shown me what is truly important in life.
A sense of humor is important.

Mary L Scholl

1/6/2020 04:00:14 pm

My covers are special, so I've eschewed the advice to get professional help there. The cover on Camper Catastrophe is an actual photo of my real-life porch in the mobile home park (the story park is a conglomeration of three parks). My big-dog, "Buddy" in the book, is on the cover. I had to put him to sleep shortly after that picture, so he is immortalized there.
The covers on the next two books of the series are the work of two serious artists in my family, my daughter and my sister.
I draw stick figures.

Mark

1/6/2020 05:29:39 pm

I have never thought about how relationships can change a person in that particular way. I certainly agree with you, indepth interactions over a period of time permit getting to know one another quite well.
I am sorry you lost Buddy. I know that leaves a big hole in your heart.
There are different kinds of talent, I think it's nice when there is a variety of talent expressions in a family.
New questions.
Were the character names difficult to develop? How did you choose them?
Is this your newest book?
What other books and genres have you written?

Mary L Scholl

1/6/2020 05:55:10 pm

The character names are mostly the result of trying to avoid the names of friends and loved ones. I live in terror of someone I love thinking they 'see' themselves, to their detriment. Recently I said something, in the presence of someone, that I meant to be flattering. It hurt his feelings.

Camper Catastrophe was the first of its series. I think the stories can stand alone, but the characters and situations do carry from book to book. It is followed by Mobile Mayhem, Birds, Bees and RVs, Trailer Trauma, and coming in February - Modular Murder!

My first book was Heart of the Swamp, a romance on the steamy Gulf coast, Crystal River.
My second book was Hazardous Duty, and was a story of a rural carrier getting involved with one of her customers. She helps her deal with a domestic violence situation.
The last before my current series was a teen age girl, coming of age, lightly paranormal (esp). A Junction of Murder and Mayhem. It is set in western Colorado. Grand Junction was wild and beautiful, and home to a serial killer.
Either of these two last may develop into more books...

Mark

1/6/2020 06:25:36 pm

It's so easy to hurt a person's feelings when they are already having a bad day. Most people are pretty forgiving for an unintentional slight, as they perceive it.
That sounds like a nice lineup of books, in different genres, no less. You are a versatile writer. That is a great way to build an audience.
I noticed that at least one of your books on Amazon is large print also. Good idea.
New questions.
Have you entered any writing contests?
Have you won awards of any kind for your writing?
I noticed that your book is in Kindle Unlimited. How is that working out for you?
How many books have you put in KU?

Mary L Scholl

1/6/2020 07:18:10 pm

Thank you for your kind words regarding my eclectic writing!
I started publishing paperback versions, but expanded to include e:books. As a fledgling writer I am more interested in exposure than making a fortune, so I have embraced Kindle Unlimited with all of my books and am happy with the program. As a reader, I am more comfortable exploring different writers and genres using KU and I hope that benefits my books as well.
I also 'read' audible books voraciously, so it was a logical step to figure out ACX. Camper Catastrophe and the next book, Mobile Mayhem are available on Audible.com, narrated by Gretchen LeBuhn.
I must be slow; it didn't occur to me until about a month ago that my most prevalent readers might appreciate large print... Now all but Heart of the Swamp have been reformatted and released in large print.
Contests? I'm a coward. Entered one, once about twenty years ago and won. I figure if I never enter another one I can always say "I won the last one I entered" without mentioning out was the only one and two decades ago.
Ooops. Let that cat out of the bag...

Mark

1/6/2020 07:29:19 pm

Audio books are exploding all over the world. Many countries have English as the official language. Many of the residents look for English content to help them improve their grasp of the language. Nigeria has around 40 million online, most with only a smartphone; so audio books are perfect for them.
New questions.
Have you ever gone through the query process, seeking an agent or submitting directly to publishers or did you go straight to indie publishing or self-publishing, and why?
There are many unethical practices in publishing, which one is the most unbearable in your mind?

Mary L Scholl

1/6/2020 08:00:58 pm

I did have an agent back in the early eighties. Heart of the Swamp was actually 'on a desk' at Silhouette Books for six months before they turned it down.
Don't know if it was my job or the wait on the book, but I had ulcers back then.
I decided to avoid the risk and figure it out on my own.
I've heard unsavory tales about some publishers, but choose to believe that most of those issues are probably miscommunication (ironic, considering).
There's Good/Bad in every business... Shrug. I'm also a believer in Karma. Pick on me and God'll get you.

Mark

1/6/2020 09:20:45 pm

You certainly wouldn't be any happier in this decade. Amazon has turned the publishing world upside down! So many publishers are gone, folded up or gobbled up by someone bigger. They are all struggling to survive. They are taking fewer chances than ever before. Many of them also expect you to carry the load of promoting your book. Some won't even talk to you unless you have a hefty social media presence, a website and a mailing list in the thousands. Then, the author loses so much control over their book. It might not be published for a year, they might ask for all kinds of changes. An author I know was querying the latest book in her series, one agent wanted her to rewrite it as a stand-alone book. When she tried to contact the agent with some questions they never got back to her. I think most authors are better off doing it themselves, they get to keep all the profits that way, and the control.
New questions.
After rejecting traditional publishing, did you consider an independent or hybrid publisher?
How do you think your book compares to a book published by a major publisher?
Do you ever read a book more than once? If so, which one?

Mary L Scholl

1/7/2020 09:22:15 am

I actually used a vanity press on the first two, many years ago. I have to stress that they did EXACTLY what they promised. The problem was, at that time I didn't know what that meant. The page size was too big, the print miniscule. The cost per book was prohibitive, even at that.
For someone who just wants a few copies with their name on it...
After I published a few more on my own, I had them discontinue their offering and have re-released them on my own. Again, I have nothing bad to say about them.
How do I compare to major-publisher books? I think my content is comparable. The professional-cover thing is constantly drummed into me...but...
Would I benefit from an editor? I sent one to a professional editor once. He said I needed to shorten my words, I was 'trying to hard with my vocabulary' and 'no one talks like that.'
Yes, I do! That said, I think competent editing is a learned skill. I learn.
Do I read a book more than once? Oh my, yes! I have many favorites and, now, buy them to listen to while driving. I also re-read, but having a comforting, familiar book on in traffic is great.

Mark

1/7/2020 09:55:51 am

I would say you were pretty lucky with that vanity press. So many scammers pretend to be a vanity press as well as independent presses. The scammers not only take your money, they take your Intellectual Property rights and you lose all control of your work and any profit from it.
Your IP rights are the key to future earnings, you seem to understand that since you are publishing in other formats, like audio books. There are other ways to license your work also including movies, plays, graphic novels, merchandising, streaming services. The last might be one of the easiest as the streaming services are hungry for content.
New questions.
Do you have a favorite book by another author or just favorite authors?
Did you have a favorite book as a child?
Which of your books is your favorite, and why?

Mary L Scholl

1/7/2020 10:20:25 am

Wow! You ask good questions! Favorite authors include (but are not limited to) Beatrix Potter, Leon Iris, Tolkein, Stephen King, Johanna Fluke, Nora Roberts, Asimov, Frank Herbert, and, lately, Whistberry. There are more, but...
I grew up reading Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, the Jungle Books, Tarzan books, and whatever my parents put down within my reach - War of the Worlds, Dune, the Bell Jar, the Martian Chronicles. Then I hit middle school and my parents informed the library I was allowed to read anything I wanted to. The librarian had tried to place 'age appropriate' limits on my reading list...
My mom and my late dad have always been hugely supportive.
I love books that immerse you into worlds you don't know, logging in the NW USA, living on the Amazon, being stranded on Mars, being a woman detective in Botswana, guarding the President, that are SO MANY things I want to learn! I'm running out of time...

Mark

1/7/2020 12:47:06 pm

Thank you. It's obvious we have a lot in common. We both love to read! For much of my reading life I did not stray far from science fiction and fantasy. I read the greats, Asimov, Herbert, Heinlein, Poul and many others. While in high school, I read the Lord of the Rings trilogy three times and The Hobbit once. I discovered CS Lewis while in college. I have read a number of his books, including his sci-fi trilogy, Out of the Silent Planet.
I love being fully immersed in a story, the spelling errors I find in almost every book jar me out of the illusion the author has worked so hard to build.
New questions.
Does writing have a spiritual or healing component for you, does it energize you or make you feel tired?
Why is it important for writers to tap into the emotions of the characters?
Have you ever done NaNoWriMo?

Mary L Scholl

1/7/2020 02:24:37 pm

Writing can certainly be cathartic. I got particular satisfaction once when I fed a bad guy to an alligator!
I have to be emotionally invested in my MC; and I think it detracts from a story if I can't get that across.
Actually, I wrote the second book of this series, Mobile Mayhem, entirely as a NaNoWriMo project!

Mark

1/7/2020 03:23:59 pm

That must have been a fat and happy alligator!
You are right. If the author isn't invested in the characters, then the writing is likely to be flat.
A lot of NaNoWriMo projects don't get published, it seems. Congratulations!
New questions.
What kind of preparation do you do before NaNoWriMo starts?
Are you an under-writer or an over-writer?
When the first draft is done, do you need to add more to it to flesh it out or do you have to cut material because there is too much?
Are you talking about sentences, paragraphs or a chapter that didn't survive the final cut?

Mary L Scholl link

1/7/2020 04:22:11 pm

No prep, other than deciding the plot, which invariably changes.
Whenever a character takes me in an unexpected direction, I have to go back and fill in appropriate background or references. Mostly, when I do a final edit I look for words or sentences I can omit. I read a tip somewhere, I wish I could give credit where it's due but it didn't sink in until later, that you should read your manuscript out loud when you edit. I invariably delete things when I do that.
Rarely do I delete more than a sentence. I particularly hate it when I read a paragraph and think "I should have added this." So, I rewrite the paragraph and add it. When I read the next paragraph, I already had!

Mark

1/7/2020 05:45:35 pm

You are mostly a pantster when it comes to writing, or at least a hybrid, because the authors who are plotters do a lot to prepare for NaNo. They have chapter summaries, scene goals and important changes from crisis to crisis. Some develop biographies for the major characters, floor plans of prominent locations, maps of the necessary regions and relationship trees. Before the first of November rolls around.
Reading a manuscript aloud is a very good way to self-edit. I also recommend reading it backward, one paragraph at a time. Self-editing requires a particular mental rigor.
New questions.
Did you cut mostly descriptions, action or dialogue?
Have you ever used yourself or other acquaintances as a character for a starting point in a story?
Would they recognize you or themselves in the story?

Mary L Scholl link

1/7/2020 06:19:39 pm

Superfluous action, definitely. I find myself, especially in first person, wanting to account for every minute and/or move - totally not necessary.
I am in all my books one way or another. I go to great lengths NOT to include family or friends for fear of hurting a relationship. That only exception was putting two friends in A Junction of Murder and Mayhem, they were included as themselves and circumstantial to the story - with their foreknowledge and approval!

Mark

1/7/2020 07:28:58 pm

You are so right, Mary! It's important to NOT include every miniscule detail and movement of a character. It slows the story down so much and becomes quite boring. When an author tries to describe everything, it makes me want to scream! Walking to the car, I turn and open the door so I can slide in on the driver's side of the car. After avoiding the steering wheel, I buckle my seatbelt and insert the key into the ignition. Augh!
I think you make a wise choice. It's one thing to pull a certain characteristic or foible of a person and use it to flesh out a character in the book. To do that with a bunch of characteristics, including age, gender, likes and dislikes can stir up hard feelings if anything negative happens to that character. It can backfire in multiple ways if it's a family member.
New questions.
Which is more fun to write, the protagonist or the antagonist, and why?
What is one thing you hate about your protagonist and one thing you love about the antagonist?

Mary L Scholl link

1/8/2020 09:20:22 am

Funny you should ask that; I was thinking today about how to avoid the obvious antipathy I display towards my murderers. I've tried identifying with them, but them I don't want them to be guilty, so the murder turns into an accident. Another problem was one manuscript where I went to great lengths to make the victim very well-liked. I figured that would increase the tension. I had to go back and plant subtle, unsavory details in order to make more possible killers.
Definitely I'm better at creating likeable, or at least relatable, characters.
Does that mean if you like my murderer you're a latent killer?

Mark

1/8/2020 12:07:30 pm

That is an interesting problem. You like all your characters, it seems. Your characters were nice at the start, some of them began to act a little fishy as the story unfolded. Just as it should be.
I hope it doesn't mean that I am a latent killer. However, if a family member was threatened I would take whatever means necessary to stop the threat. Given the right circumstance, almost everyone would kill another person.
New questions.
What is your writing routine when you sit down to write?
Do you write in a straight line or do you write whatever the muse provides for you at a given moment?
Which is more important to a story pace or flow?
How do you control it?

Mary L Scholl link

1/8/2020 03:15:17 pm

Straight line kind of girl. Everything in order, including my writing. My spices are alphabetical. My books are divided by fiction and reference, then alphabetical. My DVDs are alphabetical.
The flow is important to me. Pace is easier to manipulate with shorter chapters, shorter paragraphs, less ancillary activity or description, toward the climax or end.

Mark

1/8/2020 06:13:03 pm

I like having things arranged also. Alphabetizing appeals a lot to me, when organizing things.
Writing things in sequence makes sense to me also. However, writing out of sequence can be a good way to break writer's block.
One of my guest bloggers, Rick Hall, wrote a good post about non-linear writing. I found it interesting.
New questions.
Did your writing process change much from your early books to your current book or did it stay the same?
Now that your book is published, is there anything about it you would like to change?
How do you think your book relates to the world we live in today?

Mary L Scholl link

1/8/2020 06:43:41 pm

I'll have to look up Rick Hall. Heaven knows there are days you just can't get the ink in your veins flowing...
I've learned to develop other characters more, so that they are relatable, and they can better define your MC by their interaction. Because of that, I have started using a spreadsheet to keep straight motives and descriptions as I introduce more characters.
Editing... My mom reads it and circles typos. I read it and circle typos. Then I read it out loud. Your suggestion to read it backwards is awesome and inspired! It will definitely cut down on eye-skip, reading over things because you KNOW what it SHOULD say.
One of the huge benefits of self-publish is if I don't like something, catch another error, wasn't to changethe color of someone's hair, I can. Just change the manuscript, upload it over again. Review it and push the 'live' button! I'm not coining to tell you how often I've used that...
As far as the story relating to today's world...
I try very hard to make my characters real. I seriously doubt any one, small, mobile home park is going to have this many suspicious deaths as close together as in my series. Does the Sheriff's office cut Patty a lot of slack? Yes. But, like one of my other reviews commented, the mysteries in my stories are somewhat beside the point. They are catalysts for getting to know my characters better.

Mark

1/8/2020 07:18:43 pm

There are many advantages to self-publishing. Some publishers will charge extra for corrections. One of my clients gets to upload corrections only once a year. There is so much an author loses when signing a contract with a publisher or agent. I have heard of books not getting published for a year after the contract.
Making characters that a reader can relate to is a great point, and so important. That is one of the big things to make or break a book.
New questions.
What is the one thing you hope readers will remember from your book?
What else are you writing these days?
Are you writing anything for yourself or only for readers?

Mary L Scholl link

1/9/2020 09:54:03 am

I hope that the situations Patty gets involved in highlight that friendships are important, bullying is not just a teenage issue, and life over 55 is much like life at any age. Drama is drama, at twelve or at sixty...
I'm editing Modular Murder right now...
Mostly I've been publishing for other people recently. I've done coffee table style art books for the many talented artists in my family. My sister puts together a collection of paintings and weaves a Christan-themed short story around them and I take it from there; four since August with two more in my computer. Keeps me pretty busy.
Until the house is done and we've moved, thinking is off the table...

Mark

1/9/2020 11:09:59 am

You are right! Bullying can happen at any time. It's a scourge of being human.
Glad you are working on the next book. When do you think it might be published?
The art books sound cool. Is there a place where people can buy them? A website perhaps?
New questions.
Do you have a classical author or poet, you admire?
What popular modern authors have influenced you?

Mary L Scholl link

1/9/2020 02:48:39 pm

I'm hoping to release Modular Murder in February...
The art books for my family, including coloring books my daughter did, are available on my Amazon pages.
The ones I'm doing for my sister are under Elizabeth Kesler books on Amazon.
Mark Twain, Kurt Vonnegut Jr, George Orwell, Isaac Asimov, Tolkein, Dumas, Poe, Stephen King... Sorry, mixed modern and classical together, there.

Mark

1/9/2020 03:21:31 pm

I am sure your fans will be pleased with the new book.
What a great group of writers and influences. I have read books from half of those. Twain, Orwell, Asimov, Tolkien and a little bit of Poe.
Asimov and Tolkien are at the top of the list for me.
New questions.
What software do you use to write and publish your books, and why do you use those?
How do you keep track of all the characters and events in your books?

Mary L Scholl link

1/9/2020 04:01:35 pm

I strongly recommend a collection of short stories, Welcome to the Monkey House, by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. I read it nearly 40 years ago and still recall quotes from several of the stories on a regular basis. He had an amazing insight to human character.
I would like to impress you with comparisons between several software applications...
However, I learned on Microsoft Word and have only upgraded when dragged kicking and screaming to the new versions. I even, recently, decided to learn the 'publishing' part of the software on my new laptop. Somehow I wasn't authorized or something... I'll try again this summer...
KDP has been so user friendly, and so supportive whenever I have a meltdown and call them, I would have to have a VERY good reason to even try another site.
I keep track of characters on a spreadsheet! Excel is awesome!

Mark

1/9/2020 04:43:12 pm

That book by KV sounds good. I will keep my eye open for it.
Many writers use MS Word, it is widespread. There are other software packages out there, one that pops up more than others is Scrivener. I have heard it has a rather steep learning curve, but those that get over that hill love it! It is supposed to be excellent for keeping track of characters, scenes, chapters and research for all of the above.
New questions.
Have you ever had the experience of the story swerving in a different direction than planned, as if a character was driving it?
I know there are many ways to build the outline. Do you do it all on the computer or do you get analog at some point with post-its or note cards?

Mary L Scholl link

1/9/2020 06:26:56 pm

In one book, I killed the wrong person. In another, the wrong person was the killer, it just worked out better.
Outline? A novel idea! I have had to make an outline upon occasion, but usually just write until I decide who to kill and how...
I would probably be a better writer with better planning... As it is, I have to go back and rewrite when a character makes an odd turn.
Still, Excel keeps me straight.

Mark

1/9/2020 06:51:19 pm

That sounds pretty funny! There was another character that was supposed to die! I love it. I am never quite sure what to make of these unexpected changes, but many authors have reported it happening.
I imagine that some planning would make it easier.
New questions.
Do you have defined space for writing at home, or are you a coffee-shop writer?
Do you listen to music or have the TV on when writing, or do you need quiet?

Mary L Scholl link

1/9/2020 07:08:40 pm

For most of the time spent writing this series, I lived in a 25 ft camper trailer in a mobile home park. If you look up 'abysmal' in the dictionary, it cites the internet signal at that park. I found a nearby gas station on what passes for a hill in Florida. It had countertops, seats and outlets with a roof - outside. So, no, it wasn't quiet. There was hubbub all around. I loved it.
When I move into my new house, I will have desk and a window... And Pandora for my mood music in place of sirens. We'll have to see how it goes!

Mark

1/9/2020 07:32:19 pm

That must be one of the noisiest places to ever write a book. I understand how it can be done. I rode a lot of busses during my high school and college years and learned to read on the bus. It developed my ability to concentrate.
I can handle any amount of noise when I am reading. However, proofreading demands that I have a lot of quiet. I am not sure why.
New questions.
Action, dialogue, or narration; which is easiest to write?
Of the five senses which is the easiest to write and which is the hardest?
Have you ever participated in theater in some way?

Mary L Scholl link

1/9/2020 07:55:13 pm

I like dialog. The right dialog can clearly define the characters, the scene, and the action. Sometimes it can even put a while scene in context with just inflection or references.
Sight is easiest for me. My last husband claimed I had selective hearing. I have practically no sense of smell (sometimes a blessing) and that affects my taste... So, sight it is.
Theater? I have trouble enough just being me... I could pain scenery as long as I was just filling lines!

Mark

1/9/2020 08:51:47 pm

You are right about dialogue. It is a prime mover for the story and character development, especially if dialogue tags are replaced with action beats.
We are very similar in the theater department. I am quite good at coloring in the lines, finally.
New questions.
What kind of marketing has worked the best and the least for you for this book or any of the other books?
Speaking of marketing, why did you pick me to help promote your book?

Mary L Scholl link

1/9/2020 09:27:01 pm

Marketing? I'm supposed to sell these? I give them away (not a great financial move so far) I've put up posters. I've done book signings. I'm on KU. Considering the many festivals Florida espouses... I like my reviews, but my target demographic doesn't go online to leave reviews very often. I thought the large print would go well (shows what good it does me to think) I'm studying and learning the art of category listings... But that takes a while. You change them, wait for KDPs approval and then wait to see if it makes a difference; repeat.
I picked you for a couple of deeply considered reasons. I love your posts with tattoo fails and your adamance that you can find errors in so many manuscripts (a challenge). Also, Griz. Now, I appreciate your wit, perspicasity and friendly manner...

Mark

1/9/2020 10:27:10 pm

Almost every author walks the same path, the book is so hard to write well, the publishing thing is even harder! Then they hit marketing and it throws so many for a loop! Because marketing requires interacting with people, just the opposite of writing that first draft, which is a very solitary experience. After the first draft or two, then others need to be brought in, critique partners, beta readers, an editor, a formatter, cover maker, then a proofreader. Now you can easily have at least a dozen people before publishing the story.
Even if an author gets a publisher, and the publisher takes care of the editing, cover and such; most of them do little more than list your book on their website. Some publishers won't even look at you unless you have an established fan base and a mailing list of several thousand to prove it. The publishers see that mailing list as almost guaranteed sales. The author is still stuck doing most of the marketing. The author has to take off the creative hat and put on a business hat, if they hope to get much traction for their book.
With a million books published each year on Amazon, those are very choppy waters to try and navigate through to find sales.
The tattoo fails are amazing to me also, I am glad you enjoy them. My average of finding only one book a year without any spelling errors has held true for a long time now. Pretty remarkable considering that I promote at least one book a week, every week, except Christmas.
Thank you for choosing me to help promote your book. I realize that I am one small part of a marketing plan. There are some good guest blogs on my website about marketing, McConnell's post on how to get your first 1000 readers is quite good. There are also a number of links to blogs on my Highly Regarded Blogs page.
New questions.
Have you ever thought of adding music to your books, like what the characters listen to or they went to a concert as a plot point?
I have seen some authors use music to flesh out the characters, they create a playlist for them. They publish the playlist in the back of the book. Others use titles or lyrics for chapters.

Mary L Scholl link

1/10/2020 08:19:39 am

I'll have to look up McConnell! Even after our discussion about music, it never occurred to me to use music. I know you're talking about using it for definition, detail, etc.
I can also see a new series: Murder by the Measure, Noteworthy Nastiness, Tuneful Trauma, Melodious Mayhem, a Crushing Crescendo!
Seriously, though, just a line from a song can replace a whole page of description to the right audience. Good thought!

Mark

1/10/2020 11:25:52 am

Music has amazing properties to trigger memories and feelings, right up there with the sense of smell. Music can also transcend language differences at times.
New questions.
Do you have a favorite song?
How do you know when a book is finished?
Did anything in the book come as a surprise while you were writing?

Mary L Scholl link

1/10/2020 12:00:49 pm

My favorite music is big band music (I hasten to add that was before my time). Then, blues or 70's rock (mostly because of the memories, there). My favorite songs tend to be gospel, Amazing Grace, for example. If Don is reading over my shoulder, he's probably rolling over in his grave. I do like country music, but having lost him...
My books are easy to end. The bad guy is eaten by an alligator, or dies in some other demeaning and painful way. Or, goes to jail, if I have sympathy for him.
I was surprised at how easily Patty's dialogue and character came for me. I never really thought of myself as antisocial. My best friend in Colorado did tell me before I moved that if I turned into a hermit she was going to have to come shake me up. Apparently, she thought it was like pulling teeth tho get me out of my house. I consider it character building that I provided her with a challenge.

Mark

1/10/2020 01:37:30 pm

I remember enjoying a lot of the music of the 60s and 70s also. I never went to concerts, I just enjoyed the music on records and the radio.
You have choices about how to write the ending of a book, that must be nice.
Writing is a solitary adventure, at least the first draft. I spend most of my time at home reading and proofreading, sometimes I don't leave the house for a day or two.
New questions.
How long does the research process take before you start to write a book or do you do the research as you write the book?
How long did it take you to write the first draft?
How many drafts did you go through to have a ready-to-publish manuscript?

Mary L Scholl link

1/10/2020 03:52:29 pm

Research is a good topic. If the CIA ever researches my browsing history, I'm in trouble. I've had to look up how much pressure it takes to fracture the hyoid bone. How long do eyes retain their color after death? Then there was the poison question in Camper Catastrophe... 'They' really do use it to treat cancer outside of the US, at those dosages!
Mostly I look things up as I go. Invariably I find more than I needed to know, and take fascinating tangents - and isn't learning and sharing the purpose of life? Not sure what the benefit if sharing the toxicity of cyanide is...
Honestly, though, I still remember one of the first incongruities I caught in a book. I was young enough that until then, I really thought I could believe anything if I read it in a book. If there are errors in my book - someone please tell me!
Camper Catastrophe took me four months. One draft and a ton of edits...

Mark

1/10/2020 05:23:55 pm

A lot of us will be in trouble, if a national security agency ever looks through our search history, no doubt about that. I didn't know eyes last the color upon death. That is very odd. I believed what you wrote about cyanide as a medicine in your book. I was not very surprised.
As a kid, I would look up a word in our giant, 20-pound dictionary, I could get lost for an hour easy, in that thing. Even longer if I was in the encyclopedia.
New questions.
Going back in time, did you do any kind of creative writing, even back in grade school?
How early was it that you realized how powerful words can be?

Mary L Scholl link

1/10/2020 05:50:01 pm

I can certainly understand being lost in an encyclopedia. Both my parents were (are) avid readers. I learned early that reading was the answer to anything I wanted to know. Literally. My parents' go to response was "look it up." My earliest frustration was "how do you look up something in the dictionary if you don't know how to spell it?"
None the less, when I was in the second grade and my teacher, Mrs. Baker, had papers to grade or a meetng to go to in the office or something, she would hand me a book and tell me to read to the class. They listened!
I've always been involved in writing classes, journalism, creative, yearbook, I was involved in Toastmasters for quite a a while and wrote and delivered speeches. That was fun.
Comes right down to it, I thoroughly believe in the power of the pen.
My words may not change the world, but if I write enough, I may write something that changes how someone else thinks, and THEY may change the world.
Naturally, I hope the change is for the better...

Mark

1/10/2020 09:19:57 pm

I think that is one of the best answers I have had to the question about how early did you learn about the power of words!
I do remember the frustration of trying to look up a word I didn't know the spelling of.
My parents were readers also. My mother instilled the love of books in me at an early age. I learned to read from a retired school teacher who lived behind us before I ever went to school. She introduced me to Dick and Jane.
New questions.
A lot of new authors struggle with finding beta readers. Because, after the first draft is done, fresh eyes and feedback become very important.
Do you have alpha-readers and/or beta-readers to help you smooth out a lot of wrinkles before publishing?
If you don’t, why?

Mary L Scholl link

1/11/2020 04:15:03 am

Ahhh! Dick and Jane, haven't thought about them in a long time! Spot, too! I remember being surprised that the other kids couldn't read!

Of course, out still surprises me to find adults who don't/can't read.

I do have two beta readers, Rylee Black (also writes a cozy series with a ghost - its funny how we found each other - she lived across the street from me in Colorado) and the wife of JZ O'Brien (apocalyptic - we were friends and worked together - she and her husband are brilliant people). Both are willing to tell me what doesn't work, which is very important.

I also have very many supportive and literate friends and family members who just read them and laugh. If they don't laugh, I did it wrong.

Mark

1/11/2020 01:49:43 pm

I find a lot of adults who don't read. I have clients in many parts of the world, but I like to ask locally about people who write. Few know authors, and not quite as few read books.
You have a good crew, two beta readers and a bunch of others providing feedback. I am guessing you provide beta reading for them also. Do your two writing friends have twitter accounts? I would love to follow them.
New questions.
At what stage in your writing process do you bring in the readers?
Do you give them an e-version like a PDF or a hard copy you printed?
What kind of questions did you ask them to get the feedback you wanted or do you let them provide feedback without particular questions?

Mary L Scholl link

1/11/2020 04:18:36 pm

The first time I sent a book to my first beta reader friend to read (before this series) I was just expecting commentary. In her inimitable fashion I not only got the opinions and advice I was looking for, but an in depth edit! Since then, I don't send them to her until I've done a considerable amount of editing first. I see that as respectful of her time, grateful though I was. When I started exchanging books with my second reader, I did the same. Both of them are sent manuscript form copies by e:mail. They were friends before I (we) started publishing. Family gets a proof copy after I've reviewed it and marked changes.

As for what I'm looking for in a beta reader, things like the sun going down at 4:30pm in Phoenix in July (actually read that in a book I read recently)
Another author said it was easier to climb into an upstairs window years later because the branch that had been so low to the ground was now nearly level with the window, because the tree had grown. Yeah, No. It doesn't work that way.
Please if I wrote anything ignorant, TELL me!
Another helpful example was the dog in Camper Catastrophe was called Buddy. Actually, his name was Tivis and we called him TV for short. I got told that was confusing and for the story I should change his name.
I really, really miss my dog; by whatever name.

Mark

1/11/2020 04:42:56 pm

That was above and beyond the call of duty, she appreciated your consideration after that, no doubt. Abusing your beta readers is a good way to lose them.
One of the ways to discern a new writer is the amount of extraneous detail they jam into a manuscript. Readers are so familiar with everyday activities that it is really boring to cover them in any detail usually, unless it's important to the plot. We do not need to know the 15 motions to leave the house and get into a car and drive away.
Changing the dog's name was good advice. I bet you do miss him quite a bit.
My dog died at Christmas. Grizz is gone. My heart is broken also. I miss him so bad, I cannot let go of him yet, so I am going to keep using his picture on Twitter.
New questions.
What is the most important thing you learned from publishing your latest book?
What are three things, that you wish you knew before you wrote your first book?
Do you have a hero, real or fictional?

Mary L Scholl link

1/11/2020 05:03:13 pm

I am so very sorry about Grizz. You can see from his pictures, though, he had a great life and was well loved.

I think I'm learning you can kill a good thing with repetition. Modular Murder will be the last of this series.

I'm Still learning marketing. It would have been much more convenient to know all about THAT, first!

Right now, you're my hero! More people have seen my name and book in the last week than in all of my sixty...something...years!

Mark

1/11/2020 06:06:47 pm

Thank you for the condolences. You well know how hard it is to lose someone who can take up so much room in your heart. We had many good years. He had the biggest dog on our street cowed. He had a big heart.
Marketing is the biggest nut for authors to break.
I am honored. Let's hope you sell some books also, that would be wonderful. All I promise is exposure.
New questions.
What is the most valuable piece of advice you have ever received from another writer?
What has been the biggest surprise in your writing journey?
You have published a number of books. You are writing more. Are you writing anything strictly for your own pleasure, not necessarily planning to publish it?

Mary L Scholl link

1/12/2020 09:06:44 am

Best advice? Don't stop. Write from the heart and it will be read from the heart.
I might add that if you're going to write erotica, and your mother reads, use a pseudonym.
The biggest surprise has been peoples' reactions to me. A woman I met yesterday was enthralled. On the other hand, I was in a ten day tour in Ireland and my mom mentioned I was a writer, of novels. No one would talk to me after that. Confused me for a long time until I saw. T-Shirt that said "be careful or you'll be in my next book."
Now I have that on my business cards...
Never actually considered writing something and NOT doing anything with it. I'll have to think hard about that one. But, if I couldn't say it 'out loud' now, would it be more appropriate later? If it would hurt feelings, should it be said? But, sometimes uncomfortable things NEED to be said. Am I confident enough as a human to consider my controversial opinion tho be worth sharing? What if I'm wrong?

Mark

1/12/2020 09:25:37 am

There are many reasons to use a pen name, that is a good one.
That is a funny thing to put on your business card. I love it!
Timing can be very important. There are those who say that a writer should write what sells. If everybody followed that dictum, the reading would get boring for the lack of something new.
Uncomfortable things do need to be brought into the light, else, so many wrongs remain in the darkness and thrive. A writer needs strength of conviction to survive all the haters and the process of publishing.
Many never get past the first draft, because editing is hard. I know a young man who has an entire book plotted out in his head, not one word is on paper. Fear of rejection holds many back from publishing, sometimes even writing it down.
New questions.
What are common traps for beginning writers?
Do you think a strong ego is an asset or liability for a writer and why?
Can you describe the demographic of your ideal reader?
Who is the person most likely to buy your book?

Mary L Scholl link

1/12/2020 10:21:54 am

The missed-out-on book is sad. Who knows what it may have become?
The biggest trap for me, that took thelongest to get over, was re-reading. Every time I opened the manuscript, I would back track and re-read. Frequently, that ate up all my writing time with little result. I finally started saving the chapters separately so it was extra effort to go back farther than that chapter. I'm better now, but it took a lot of effort.

I'd like to know your opinion on ego... You know so many of us.
Ego is good because it gives confidence and conviction that takes the wishy-washy pout of your writing. On the other hand, it makes it hard to accept critique and can inhibit learning and growth. So, a wishy-washy answer, there.

I want a reader who cries on command, laughs when he's supposed to and nods in complete agreement with me. So, two of my four husbands.

I would like to think that Patty is appreciated by both men and women. Probably someone close to my age, rather than younger, would appreciate the quirks of her mental state (counting steps, refusing to acknowledge hearing issues, rationalization) better.

Voracious readers who are exhausting their go-to authors of short, fun reads that incorporate ghosts and mild drama may pick my books out of an enlightened Amazon or Twitter list...
I really hope they like her enough to read through. Camper Catastrophe may be a starting point, but I like to think the following stories are equally as entertaining.

Mark

1/12/2020 10:40:33 am

You gave a great answer to the ego question. There needs to be a balance, as you said, enough self-confidence is required to continue in the face of many difficulties that can come in the path of a writer. A proper amount of humility is necessary to objectively realize that your first novel is most unlikely to the next big thing; though that is not completely impossible. A writer who is querying a manuscript may receive a hundred or more rejections, that takes a lot of grit to continue. Then it might be time to consider the self-publishing alternative.
New questions.
Do you have anything you consider to be your writing lucky charm?
What is the biggest obstacle you face in writing?
What is your writing Kryptonite and how has it affected you?

Mary L Scholl link

1/12/2020 04:04:43 pm

This took me quite a while to think about. Being Irish, you would think I would have a lucky charm of some kind, but, I have to say "no".

My biggest distraction is uncertainty. When I have a clear goal, I can focus. Between projects, I have to make up my mind what's next.

Kryptonite... Technology changing faster than I do. I drag my feet addressing new things... Until I make up my mind. Right now I'm trying to figure out the best way to make my sister's art books digital. I've tried a couple of things that just didn't look right...

Mark

1/12/2020 04:36:04 pm

We are a lot alike. No lucky charms for me, though I do have Irish in me also.
I would rather look before I leap almost always. When the path doesn't seem clear, I wait until it is or until waiting is no longer an option.
New questions.
Do you struggle with writer's block, if so, how do you overcome it?
If you branch out into a different genre, will you use a pen name, why or why not?
Are there any issues or reader expectations that are peculiar to cozy murders that might not apply to other genres?

Mary L Scholl link

1/13/2020 08:12:41 am

We're just more - prudent - than most. I have to admit, my dad got me a wall sign once, though, that had a girl hanging onto a branch looking down. "God, please save me one more time!" Which just goes to show that even if I looked first...

If I can't think my way out of a 'blocked' situation after a few days, I just start writing, nonsense, ideas, letters to people or to the newspaper. Once wrote an editorial about Skeet shooting was a bad idea because so many kinds of traps were so hard to find (endangered). Incredible how many people decided I needed educating.

I'll keep to my own name, but may use Mlu Scholl for a different genre so as not to disappoint a reader expecting the acerbic Patty.

I see cozies as dessert. Quick, fun. They lend themselves well to a series because they are over before the reader is tired of them.

Mark

1/13/2020 09:34:18 am

That is a cute sign. We tend not to learn the first time, in many cases.
That is a good solution for getting past the writer's block. I have heard from other writers they change their focus, by engaging in common activities such as baking, ironing, gardening, jogging, bike riding, or even showering. The key seems to be to disengage the upper mind to allow it time to ruminate on the problem. I used to get great ideas while raking the leaves in a previous house.
New questions.
What type of book is your favorite guilty pleasure to read or listen to for fun?
Have you ever read a book that changed the way you look at writing?
Do you think that a writer needs to read books, why or why not?

Mary L Scholl link

1/13/2020 09:48:28 am

My guilty pleasure is rereading. With so much out there to absorb, it seems like rereading is a waste of reading time.

I don't think any one book had changed my writing. They ALL contribute (either as example or bad example).

I would be a much poorer writer, a much poorer person, without reading.

Wishing you, and all my readers, a great new year!

Mark

1/13/2020 10:42:34 am

We would all be poorer in multiple ways without reading books. They lift us out of ourselves and introduce us to new thoughts.
New questions.
What hurdle did you face in writing this book and how did you overcome it?
Would you agree or disagree with the statement: suffering is a requirement to be a good writer, and why?
Do you ever brainstorm with non-writers and if so, is it effective?

Mary L Scholl link

1/13/2020 11:54:05 am

I was a little lonely. I was frustrated with having little or no control over - anything. I didn't want that to overwhelm Patty's character and make the story a rant. Just recently I've read a couple of angry rants that left a bad taste in my mouth. One was even an audible original a few months ago. I don't want anyone to be sorry they spent their valuable time with me.

I think suffering is only important if you want it in your story (and it's an integral part of most.) I think you have to experience something to be able to portray it well.

And then we have Asimov and Tolkein. So much for my opinion.

The best value I can get from a reader/non-writer is either tears or a laugh. Involuntary, appropriate, response is what I live for.

Mark

1/13/2020 01:32:29 pm

I think everyone experiences suffering of one kind or another. After all, we live in a broken, imperfect world.
Asimov, Tolkien and C. S. Lewis; Tolkien's good friend. Lewis was quite the prolific writer, in many genres including sci-fi. "Out of The Silent Planet" is the first in a trilogy. The protagonist is modeled after his friend, J. R. R. Tolkien.
New questions.
What was the best money you ever spent as a writer to enhance your career?
Do you subscribe to any magazines, newsletters, blogs or podcasts that enhance your writing career? Feel free to share as many as you would like.
What are your favorite reference books for grammar and writing?

Mary L Scholl link

1/13/2020 01:59:30 pm

So far, not counting my computer, you have been my best investment!

20booksto50K on Facebook has been very informative. Unfortunately, I'm not as patient as my computer and some sites take too long to load. CozyMysteryCrew is awesome. I also have recently joined Citrus Writers, a good mix of experienced, fiction and nonfiction,and beginning writers.

Other than the occasional use of a thesaurus (once, twice a year?) I use Google sometimes if I don't know a word. I have a couple of places that send me new words daily, but I get so overwhelmed that I have to admit a rarely remember new ones unless they just tickle my fancy.

Mark

1/13/2020 05:31:43 pm

My book promotion is pretty cheap. I am going to guess Citrus Writers is in Florida.
I search a lot of words when I am proofreading. I get entries from nine or ten dictionaries ranging from very credible to very casual. It gives me a chance to find a consensus or the lack thereof for a particular word in context. I also do a little fact checking as I go along.
Last questions.
Have you ever thought about speaking to a college or high school writing class?
What are your thoughts about mentoring beginning writers?
What are your thoughts on bad book reviews?

Mary L Scholl link

1/13/2020 09:23:31 pm

I'm pretty good at inspirational speaking, but I'm not sure how well I'd do mentoring high school or college level. Middle school is a thought. I'll have to think about it.

Bad book reviews... I don't write them. I haven't really had any scathing reviews; maybe not enough people have read my books yet?

You've given me a lot to think about! Thank you.

Mark

1/13/2020 09:38:24 pm

One of my eleven-year-old granddaughters is writing a book, fan fiction in the world of Harry Potter. I am impressed, it's pretty good, not just because she is my granddaughter also. I have been helping her with line edits. It has built our bond.
Mary, I want to thank you for being such a great guest. I have another promotion starting tomorrow, so I must say farewell, for now.

Camper Catastrophe By Mary Lu Scholl

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