Mobile Mayhem: Book Two of Trailer Park Travails by Mary Lu Scholl

10/31/2020

Multi-volume author, Mary Lu Scholl, introduces us to the second book in the series, “Mobile Mayhem”:
Patty is a reluctant retiree in a Florida Mobile Home and RV Park. Socially awkward, she tries to reshape her new life with an ever-changing array of neighbors. Ever-changing, you say? Maybe if they would quit dying on her... Follow her as she solves another mysterious death...

I loved this story just as much as the first one. The author makes me laugh a lot. The story is very entertaining.
I love the way Mary writes; she channels an inner curmudgeon so well. Patty comes across so well, some of us never quite fit into the social milieu. Patty is the poster child for this affliction.
The dialogue is quite good, an appropriate amount of snark and lots of self-questioning. The action is excellent as well as the scene setting. The descriptions are measured and well placed.
Patty gets some ghostly help from a supernatural source, a neighbor that died right after she moved in.
I award 4.9 stars to “Mobile Mayhem”.

You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Mobile-Mayhem-Trailer-Park-Travails-ebook
https://www.goodreads.com/mobile-mayhem
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mobile-Mayhem-Trailer-Park-Travails-ebook

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

My review of the first book of the Trailer Park Travails series, “Camper Catastrophe”: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/camper-catastrophe-by-mary-lu-scholl
My review of the third book of the Trailer Park Travails series, "Birds, Bees, and RVs": Birds, Bees, and RVs by Mary Lu Scholl - Word Refiner
My review of the fourth book of the Trailer Park Travails series, "Trailer Trauma": www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/trailer-trauma-trailer-park-travails-book-4
My review of the ninth book of the Trailer Park Travails series, "Fatal Philandering": www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/fatal-philandering

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
My review of the fourth book in the Nature Coast Calamities, "Pu'ka and the Pirates": www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/puka-and-the-pirates

Tags: cozy, murder, mystery, Florida, pets, dog, cat, neighbors, fiction, action

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

79 Comments

Mary Lu Scholl

11/1/2020 03:07:31 pm

Thank you so much for your appreciation of Patty. Not everyone likes her; just ask the president of her tenant association. She is so much fun to write, being a cross between me, my mom, someone who shall remain nameless.
Dialog is such fun. I am eternally grateful to the writing teacher who pounded into my head to not tell the story, let the characters tell the story with inference, speculation and commentary.

Mark

11/1/2020 04:55:05 pm

You are very welcome, Mary. Patty has endeared herself to me to no end. She keeps almost all of her sass to herself and I understand that. That was great advice. It has served you well.
First questions.
How long have you been writing fiction?
Are you in the writing business for love of writing or for money?

Mary L Scholl

11/1/2020 07:44:58 pm

I have always written fiction. I was reading long before I started school, and writing was a natural extension. In one journalism course the instructor gave out two awards weekly. One was the blue ribbon for excellent journalism. The other was the yellow pencil award for the most interesting story. I consistently won the yellow pencil (adding facts and details as I saw fit) but NEVER the blue ribbon. The first book published I actually wrote 30 years ago. Since I discovered create space, and then KDP, I've never looked back.
I write for the love of story-telling.
Having said that, COVID 19 made my part time job go away - so selling has become more palatable than giving them away :)

Mark

11/1/2020 10:24:02 pm

That must have felt good to win all of those awards.
You are building a library of books, that will help sales. We will talk more about marketing and promoting books as we go along.
New questions.
What inspired you to write this series?
Why did you choose this genre, or do you feel the genre chose you?

Mary L Scholl

11/1/2020 11:45:49 pm

I moved to Florida in 2018 (for the second time, I lived here in the 80s) and bought a 25ft camper to live in while building a house. I moved it into a 55+ mobile home and RV park. Meanwhile, my mom moved here and into a large 55+ mobile home park several miles away. Hers had a tenant association... You can gather from that where my inspiration came from. I created a park similar to both of ours, with features to suit my purposes.
I was bored. I am Patty. That makes it easy to write from her point of view.
I was Secretary to an HOA for a while.
Between that, my mom's park, my park, and the internet, I plan to continue for long after selling my camper and moving into a "real" house.

Mark

11/2/2020 09:31:05 am

You certainly have lots of material to work with. Your observations of humanity and human nature are quite good.
I live in a townhouse and sit on the board of our HOA. I have been a board member for most of our 13 years living here. I have stories I could tell you.
New questions.
Who designed the cover of your book? Feel free to drop a link if appropriate. I noticed two covers on Goodreads. What happened to the cover that is not on Amazon?
What do the elements on the cover represent?

Mary L Scholl

11/2/2020 11:38:16 am

I'll bet the townhouse HOA faces many similar problems, and others unique to an even closer environment. Who solves the murders in your townhouse community?
I am surrounded on all sides by artists. My daughter, my sister, my brother, my grandmother... I'm lucky to draw stick figures. This cover is one element of a larger painting. I originally used the larger painting by my sister, Elizabeth Kesler. When I decided to add large print editions to all of the books in the series KDP suddenly took exception to it and I had to revise my use, enlarging and using just the one parrot.
I introduced that parrots in the first book and enlarged on their role in this one. Without giving away anything, their presence was instrumental in the murder.
Liz also writes and illustrates children's Christian stories that I produce for her on KDP.

Mark

11/2/2020 12:37:31 pm

We did have a death almost a year ago. It was one of the oldest residents. No foul play was hinted at.
I am not sure I am up to the task of solving a murder. However, there is a Patty-like character that is also on our board, she might be up to the task.
You and your sister have a nice arrangement, helping each other with books.
New questions.
Was it hard to come up with the title? What was the process?
Were the character names difficult to develop? How did you choose them?

Mary Lu Scholl

11/2/2020 03:45:07 pm

Good questions! I like alliteration and prefer that the titles reflect the character of the book. For example all of these titles have something to do with mobile homes, trailers, campers or parts of a park. The one I'm releasing in about ten days is Corpse in the Clubhouse, and the one I've just started writing is "Salon, Space 27 or DIE JOB." So, I have a list of all the pertinent words I can come up with - but am sure I'll have to start a new series one of these days.
Names for characters is hard. I learned long ago that just because I think I'm portraying someone in what to me is a favorable light, they might not think so. While my characters are made up, if I used the names of people I know, it might end badly. I know a great number of people. I've had more than one career, and moved around a lot. I don't understand the reticence of some people about being portrayed, even inaccurately, in a book. I was on a tour in Ireland one time and my mother mentioned I wrote novels. People stopped talking to me.
I will admit to borrowing names from the families of my husbands...

Mark

11/2/2020 04:55:20 pm

I adore alliteration also and always. ;-)
I am sure you will figure out a hook or theme for a new series. Perhaps the RV life would lend more inspiration, hell on the highway...
Some people don't want their picture taken because they are afraid of losing part of their soul. Perhaps it is an Irish thing.
I was a supporting character in a cozy mystery not too long ago, Grizz was in the book also, under a different name as well. My character turned out to be helping the antagonist, but my character had a change of heart and was killed for it. A good death.
There are websites that have the popular baby names going back for many years, even decades, so it might be easier to pull from one of those lists in the future.
New questions.
Your book is available as an e-book, audio book and a paperback. Are you planning any other formats?
What other books and genres have you written?

Mary Lu Scholl

11/2/2020 05:11:37 pm

I like Hell on the Highway!
I'm not sure I'd want to be a victim in a book!
I'm not sure what other formats might be out there. If someone wanted to make a movie, I'd be tickled pink. TV series, even better!
I have three other books. My first effort was a romance - Heart of the Swamp. It is set in Florida.
My second was a drama with a Rural Carrier as the main character Coincidentally, with all the jobs I held in the Postal Service - I never held that one. (Managed a great number of them, however) It is set in Florida
The third was a paranormal horror story set in Grand Junction Colorado. It has twins, a parrot, a Halloween Haunted House, and is a coming of age story. My favorite outside of the current series.

Mark

11/2/2020 05:52:20 pm

Other formats, large print, boxed sets, deluxe boxed sets, graphic novels, screenplays for big or small screen, plays, also foreign sales as English and translated. There is also merchandising.
Graphic novels are growing in popularity. More and more authors are starting to use Kickstarter to fund the publishing of their books, graphic novels and audio books. Here is a copy and paste link to a wildly successful kickstarter venture: https://kriswrites.com/2020/07/22/business-musings-the-kickstarted-game-changer-part-two/
New questions.
What are the Amazon categories you chose for your book?
Have you entered any writing contests?
Have you won awards of any kind for your writing?

Mary Lu Scholl

11/2/2020 08:21:09 pm

Wow, all of a sudden I'm overwhelmed and psyched at the same time. I do have a box set of one, two and three nearly ready to go as PB. Plays or graphic novels never occurred to me. I did just start advertising in Australia - but that is still English...
I'll have to check out kickstarter.

The categories I list for this series are paranormal mystery and cozy mystery.

Awards are few and far between - a newsletter contest here, a bank magazine there... I don't often enter contests - kind of like the lottery; you have to play to win.

Audio books are an ongoing project... Birds, Bees and RVs is next...

Mark

11/2/2020 08:40:58 pm

I would be surprised if there weren't other categories you could list your books in.
Here is another copy and paste link: https://annerallen.com/2020/09/how-to-change-your-kindle-keywords-by-dave-chesson
You can learn a lot from Dave Chesson, starting here. He has been studying the Amazon categories and how to use them to your advantage for a long time. I subscribe to his blog and Anne Allen also.
Anne also has a list of safe writing contests at the bottom of each newsletter. There are scams to watch out for. The more benign scammers only want some of your money, the really bad ones want your money and your intellectual property rights as well.
New questions.
Every genre's fans have expectations about what they are going to want to read. Fans of cozy mysteries have a set of expectations that can differ greatly from the expectations of fans of hard-boiled murder mysteries. What are the expectations of a fan of cozy mysteries?
If you were going to launch into a different genre, which one interests you the most?

Mary L Scholl

11/3/2020 07:43:57 am

I'll have to check out the keyword hints!
I have to start yup front with declaring I read practically everything, with varying degrees of appreciation. I've gone through Western phases, science fiction for many years, fantasy, biographies and historical romance. Cozy mysteries are top at the moment for many reasons. They tend to be shorter (next best thing to instant gratification). Sex, violence, blood and guts are muted or mitigated by implication, recollection, dispassionate recounting. Personally I have an abhorrence of swearing. My dad always said it was a sign of a limited vocabulary. He was one of few people I have known who could tell someone to go fly a kite and have them smiling uncertainly as they leave. Having discounted all the above content, cozy mysteries are quick entertainment. I love finding a new venue in a series and learning about dog shows, logging, catering, gardening or cruising! Poison! Swords! Yoga! I love characters and quirks.
I really want my readers to fall entirely into a story and forget the world for a few hours. You said it best in a previous review when you said you felt right at home in my trailer park, even though you had never lived in one.
So many fun things have happened in my life I want to share ALL of them.
Paranormal drama appeals to me as maybe the next endeavor...

Mark

11/3/2020 09:59:36 am

I hope that helps, I have read several of Dave Chesson's blogs and He makes a lot of sense.
You make a good point about cozy mysteries on all counts. I quite agree with you. I love them also, they are my fourth or fifth favorite genre to read.
New questions.
I noticed that you didn’t put your book in Kindle Unlimited. Why is that?
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?

Mary L Scholl

11/3/2020 01:24:24 pm

If it's not on KU, that's a glaring oversight in my part and I'll fix it in a few minutes! KU is awesome!
In the eighties I had an agent, and Heart of the Swamp was actually considered - for the better part of a year - by one of they larger publishing houses. I honestly don't remember which one. I worked so many hours back then I'm lucky I remember the decade.
When I finally retured in 2009 I went through a third party our vanity publisher. In their defense, they published my first two books and did exactly what they promised. The problem was, I was so new that I didn't know what to want. When I realized I was the source of my own dissatisfaction, I embarked on fixing it. I found Create Space. Being able to correct a typo or change a line with no expense but time is such an advantage. A friend I met through a writer group has her books traditionally published. I didn't realize what she would have to do to make and kind of corrections, so I helpfully gave her a list of twenty-some errors in the first one I read. Let's just be charitable and I don't do that anymore. (She felt that the word count divided by errors, regardless of what they were, came out to an 'industry acceptable' percentage.)
So why did I go indie? I'm a control freak - ask any of my former employees in my quasi-governmental position...

Mark

11/3/2020 02:25:29 pm

Your journey resembles that of a lot of independent and self-publishers. We have all heard the horror stories of dozens of submissions, sometimes well over one hundred and few if any replies. A few lucky ones get a request for a chapter or the whole book. Some of those never hear from the agent again. Some get requests for rewrites. A few of those wait for months while the agent tries to sell the book. Many of those attempts are unsuccessful. If an agent asks for any money up front, run for the hills, because an honest agent doesn't get paid until a publishing contract is signed.
I think going indie is the smart move these days. An indie author retains control of their book. An indie author retains all of the royalties from sales. There is nothing wrong about wanting to be in control of your intellectual property and your future.
New questions.
Do you think independent publishers can produce a book as good as mainstream publishers?
What are the three most important considerations for an independent author to be certain of when signing a contract with an independent or hybrid publisher?

Mary L Scholl

11/3/2020 03:58:00 pm

I really do think an indie publisher can do as well as a mainstream publisher. There is a learning curve, though. Also you have to have the confidence to learn marketing - I'm just starting after all these years - and be prepared to spend what you need (time and money) if you can't spell, can't type, don't have a clear vision for a cover.
If you decide you want to un-publish the book, for whatever reason, what is their policy?
If they produce the cover, is it part of their package, or is the artwork subsequently yours?

Things to be clear on with the third-party publisher. What the book is going to look like, physically. Larger pages with tiny type are cheaper to produce (not as many pages) but don't fit in with other books. Ask the procedure for making content changes. Is the final edit yours, or theirs? Are the mistakes theirs to correct?

Mark

11/3/2020 04:17:17 pm

Life is full of learning curves. It would be so much easier if we were born knowing all we need to know. Alas, that is not the case and would eliminate a lot of funny stories.
Those are good points. If you can't do something for yourself and don't want to take the time to educate yourself and gain the necessary skills, then you will need to pay someone else to do that job. If you don't do either, your book will be substandard in more than one way.
Writing the first draft of a book is a solitary pursuit. Only you can get the story out of your head and onto 'paper'. After that, most authors are well served by enlarging the circle and creating a group to help put out a great book. Most authors benefit from beta readers, critique partners, editors, proofreaders, cover makers, formatters and more. That is all before publishing, more are necessary after the book is published, usually.
Those are great questions that need answers. There are many more I am sure. Probably the most important question is, did a lawyer go over the contract?
We have all heard, time and again, the devil is in the details. What is in writing is the only thing that counts, glorious and manifold verbal promises not withstanding.
New questions.
Are you self-publishing now?
Have you started your own imprint? Here is a good article about that idea: https://www.janefriedman.com/why-self-publishing-authors-should-consider-establishing-their-own-imprint

Mary L Scholl

11/3/2020 04:51:20 pm

I am self-publishing, yes. I do have a cadre of readers for advice and input...
My own imprint? I'll have to look into that...
I did recently try to set up an independent web page, and set up a mailing service. I failed miserably and am trying to learn too many things at once. So, that's tabled while I learn narration, Amazon ads, and set up box sets...
Deep breath, here.

Mark

11/3/2020 05:37:48 pm

There certainly is a lot to learn in writing craft, website SEO, promotion and marketing. We either pay to have it done or learn to do it ourselves. These are all important things, and many of them take time away from writing. It is important to prioritize and allot time for different activities.
I know that is easier said than done. I gave up on the SEO stuff, with so many paid advertisements for proofreaders, I figured I would never rate to land on the first page of results. I decided my time is better spent in other pursuits.
Take a deep breath, you are doing well.
New questions.
Is using Twitter and other social media part of your marketing strategy?
Did you use ads on Amazon or other platforms such as Facebook or Bookbub?

Mary L Scholl

11/3/2020 08:34:40 pm

I made a concerted effort to connect with thousands of followers on Twitter, and hundreds more on Facebook,but have not developed the knack of a consistent flow. I happily retweet and share other's posts...
I just recently started using Amazon ads and an developing lists of keywords for manual targeting. That sort of endeavor makes more sense to me. Good reads and Facebook are on my radar, but I'm an old dog and new tricks have to happen slowly...

Mark

11/4/2020 12:27:21 am

Any social media requires a fair amount of activity. It takes time to cultivate relationships just like in the real world. Now, with all of the covid restrictions it is almost the real world.
One of the biggest problems some authors have is trying to solve all of the social media issues at the same time. It usually results in failure and frustration. It takes steady effort in tiny bites. I think you are taking the right approach.
New questions.
Do you have a newsletter you send out to fans? Why or why not?
If you do have a newsletter, which mailing service do you use? Is it the same one you started with or not? Why?

Mary L Scholl

11/4/2020 07:04:50 am

No newsletter. I have a plan to build an e:mail list (beyond the 6 people I have) but it is in its first stages. Hopefully by the end of the month. The mailing service was one of my learning opportunities I have tabled until I actually HAVE people to mail to.
I'm developing a cookbook by Patty (the Four Food Groups: Bribery, Comfort, Leftovers and Deserts) to give away in return for e:mail addresses. I'll advert

Mary L Scholl

11/4/2020 07:14:20 am

Advertise on Facebook, Twitter. (My finger brushed the "post" button)

Mark

11/4/2020 10:28:44 am

If you haven't already, consider subscribing to several newsletters in your genre and perhaps a few in other genres.
You can start some of your research in the search block just below, put 'mailing' into the search block and several blogs and links to blogs will be available to you. I think these are excellent blogs about the subject.
The cookbook is a good idea. I have seen a few cozy mysteries include a recipe or two in each book.
New questions.
What kind of marketing has worked the best and the least for you for your books?
Speaking of marketing, why did you pick me to help promote your book?

Mary L Scholl

11/4/2020 11:37:14 am

Good advice; hadn't thought about subscribing to others for ideas! I will check out the search block as well... Actually none of my marketing ideas have had significant results.

Your promotion had a positive effect last January. I sold a number of books at a trailer park Christmas sale last year. (That's where my 6 fans came from) My Amazon ads haven't really run long enough to judge. A year or so ago I had a book signing at a library that went nowhere. I've been on local TV in Colorado, that had a small effect.

Amazingly, I posted two versions of the latest book cover on Facebook on a whim. Within a few minutes and then by the end of the next day I was inundated with opinions! Not only was I astounded at the response, but with one exception (1. As in only one) they chose the cover I had not planned on using. One! It still astounds me!

I picked you because of your sense of humor. Now, it's because I like you, trust you, and you still have a sense of humor!

Mark

11/4/2020 12:20:12 pm

I am glad I was able to help sell a few books for you.
I hope you have your website listed in your books. I also hope you asked for their email address, so you could keep them informed about future books and events. That is how so many authors build their mailing list (fan club).
Whenever you sell a book consider giving the buyer a bookmark with your other books and website on it, give them, not one, but two and tell them to give the other to a friend that they think might enjoy your books also.
You discovered a bit of magic with the comments about the cover on FB. Fans love to participate in polls and voting for covers is a favorite. Another good contest is to write a fan into a book as a minor character as thanks for helping to spread your book news on different social media websites. You will need to be on those websites so they can tag you in their posts.
I have had this sense of humor for a long time, I don't plan on getting rid of it anytime soon. Thanks.
New questions.
Do you have a favorite book by another author or just favorite authors?
Did you have a favorite book as a child?

Mary L Scholl

11/4/2020 02:02:22 pm

Oh, so many books, so little time!
Old Mother West Wind
Nancy Drew
Hardy Boys
The Tarzan books
Little Women...
The Dune trilogy
Tolkein
And Piers Anthony!
That pretty much carries me from 4 or 5 to late teens!
I like the idea of writing a character in...

Mark

11/4/2020 02:24:46 pm

Some great books there!
I loved Dune, and The Lord of The Rings was my introduction to fantasy and is now a close second to science fiction as my favorite genre. Dune has gone from a trilogy to eight or nine volumes. Herbert's son finished the last two volumes, if I recall properly.
New questions.
Which of your books is your favorite, and why?
Does writing have a spiritual or healing component for you, does it energize you or make you feel tired at the end of a good writing session?

Mary L Scholl

11/4/2020 04:42:57 pm

I just finished Corpse in the Clubhouse. I think I like it best so far. Partly because of the cover query on Facebook. Partly because I had so much fun painting all over the street in front of my house in order to take a picture forthe cover. Also, it is current, work that pandemic and the guys being bored with sports shut down last spring...

Not in the series, I like Hazardous Duty and A Junction of Murder and Mayhem.

I love to write... A good session keeps me in the story even after I'm done, thinking about out for hours later. It keeps me on track with life. This is real, this is not.

I didn't know there are more Dunes. I still have odd thoughts from the first three every so often.

"Once you give orders on a thing you will always have to give orders on it."
The Gomjabber
"He gives water to the dead"

Mark

11/4/2020 05:24:44 pm

You mentioned Tolkien as a favorite author, you probably know that he was a close friend of C. S. Lewis, a prolific author best known for the Chronicles of Narnia. Lewis wrote a little-known, sci-fi trilogy that starts with 'Out of the Silent Planet'. He patterned the protagonist after his friend, JRRT. I enjoyed the books quite a bit.
New questions.
Why is it important for writers to tap into the emotions of the characters?
How does a writer ensure the reader will connect with the characters?

Mary L Scholl

11/4/2020 08:33:27 pm

I'll have to look up "Out of the Silent Planet!"

This answer took me a while. Why is it important to engage an emotional response? Somehow "it just is" isn't going to make your best answers list. Maybe you can explain...

As to how; no one is perfect. There have to be flaws. If even one flaw resonates, that's enough to reel in a reader to see if they can find more similarities. The reader looks for how the character solves issues (I can do that) or how that character fails (I do better than that) or what the next challenge is.

Without flaws to bring you together, you wind up with Dirk Pitt, and drama becomes middle-aged-man fantasy. Nothing wrong with that, I like Clive Cussler and have contemplated a female version - Samantha Dent. But it's hard to connect with perfection... Poke a few holes in the character's character.

Mark

11/4/2020 09:21:41 pm

We are emotional creatures by design and make. From our first breath to our last, emotions are what motivate and move us day to day. I like that, that wasn't fair, how beautiful, justice has been done, I love you. Some people try to reduce emotions to electro-chemical responses, but that fails in many ways.
We are imperfect and perfection is something we cannot easily relate to. We want the good guy/girl to win, overcome seemingly insurmountable odds. That helps us to keep on keeping on when the journey or task seems to be without end or resolution.
You nailed it. Characters need to be human and flawed, just like us.
I am glad I could give you a little mental exercise.
New questions.
What was your goal in writing this book? Did you achieve it?
Has your life turned out differently than expected or planned?
Have you ever done NaNoWriMo?

Mary L Scholl

11/5/2020 06:48:03 am

My goal in writing this series was to stay sane while building a house. I also wanted to immortalize and share the funny twists of humanity I was observing in my suddenly smaller world. Have I? I think so.

My life has completely upended so many times, married and divorced twice, married two more times and widowed both times. Retired. Two vastly different jobs after that. Moved - again. City to rural... Then the pandemic. I love entertaining :(

I have done the November writing thing. Mobile Mayhem was the result! Started another one this week but am already lagging.

Change has ceased to surprise me. I am very adaptable. But I don't like it anymore

Mark

11/5/2020 10:30:41 am

I do believe you met and exceeded those goals.
There are so many ways our lives can be sent to topsy-turvy. We like to think we are self-organized and self-controlling, and we are to a certain extent, but not everyone wants to admit that our lives are thoroughly intertwined with others. We are impacted by the choices of others, the closer they are the greater potential for impact much of the time.
I know what you mean about change, I have learned to adapt, but I have not learned to always like it.
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 flesh it out or do you have to cut material because there is too much?

Mary L Scholl

11/5/2020 10:42:05 am

A brief outline starts my project, with a list of humorous topics our situations I want to include. Sometimes I start with an idea of who the dead body will be, but frequently change my mind later. I have trouble killing someone I like. In one book, I wrote several versions before deciding on the victim. Then I had to go back and create a background that made him less likeable so I could justify killing him off!

I tend to underwrite, I think. At least I'm always going back to clarify something by adding a conversation or creating a scene to explain something esoteric.

As short-read cozies, I've never had to cut anything. A beta reader may have a question and I'll have to full in something I skipped over because I KNEW it.

Mark

11/5/2020 11:21:07 am

You answered a different question about whether you are a pantser, plotter or hybrid. You seem like a hybrid to me.
I have heard of plotters who may spend several weeks getting ready for NaNoWriMo. They may well be tackling much more than 50k words, they do a lot of research, outline each chapter, if not each scene in each chapter. They may develop character sheets and even psychological profiles for the major characters.
The pantsers do little to know planning, sometimes they get stuck in details, they forget that 50k words is a first draft and is supposed to be a steaming pile of garbage. you can only edit something after it is out of your head.
I am sure you thank your beta readers, they are so good at pointing out the things that writers miss or forget to put on paper.
New questions.
What type of material do you find you are adding to most often, action, description or dialogue?
Do you prefer dialogue tags or action beats in your books?

Mary L Scholl

11/5/2020 11:57:18 am

My first go-to in filling in information is dialogue. Next it's observation on the part of a character.
...Patty did a double-take, Maryanne's mask was the same material as her dress. "Where did you get that, "Masks and More for the Stylishly at Risk?" Catherine raised her eyebrows when Patty peeked under the table to see if Maryanne had shortened her helpline to get extra material for get mask...

I don't think I do action particularly well, but try to include at least one scene at the climax...

I do appreciate my readers! I have started reading my manuscript out loud and was surprised at how many things I catch that way. I think it listening is slows than reading, so it slows down my brain and I pay better attention to cadence, repetition, uncomfortable dialogue. That's just my take on it, of course. I tried recording my books to CD for one of my mom's friends and am now not nearly as interested in narrating my own audio books as I was...

Mark

11/5/2020 12:39:50 pm

Dialogue is a great way to move a story forward, as long as it is reasonably natural and doesn't feel forced.
Those are good areas to fill in for a story, description should be last to avoid the dreaded info dump.
Reading a manuscript aloud is a time-honored method of self-editing. A difficult task at best. Another good method is to change to a dramatically different font and change to another font color. All of these changes disrupt the patterns the brain is accustomed to, thus making the job of self-editing easier.
Narrating a book is not an easy task to do well. It is a particular skillset that requires some acting ability or acting experience. I had the opportunity to interview a narrator during the author interview. Here is the copy-and-paste link: https://www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/heir-to-a-prophecy-by-mercedes-rochelle-narrated-by-kevin-e-green.
New questions.
What do you do to flesh out the characters for your stories? How do you give them depth?
Do you base your characters on people you know or have met, or is it easier to just invent them completely?

Mary L Scholl

11/5/2020 01:33:16 pm

I live in terror of insulting someone accidentally. What I might consider a character asset, someone else may abhor. For that reason I try to, if I pick someone I know to be a character, change their gender or age in order to hide them. That, way, using someone I know helps with backstory and depth.

I wanted to use a picture of my sister for the cover of Trailer Trauma because she's a very pretty blonde woman who sings karaoke. Then she heard me refer to the character as a has-been floozy. Oooookay. I found a picture from a website who doesn't care what I say about her!

Mark

11/5/2020 02:27:20 pm

Insulting a friend or family member is something to be concerned about. Especially around the holidays, the turkey might not be the only bird feeling cooked.
I was used as a secondary character in a book not too long ago. I was a secret bad guy, helping the antagonist. At the last minute, my character changed his mind and he paid for that with his life. It was a good death.
New questions.
Have you ever used yourself as a character for a starting point in a story? Would a friend or family member recognize you in the story?
There is a journey that a hero/protagonist must complete in a story. how do you frame the quest or challenge for your protagonist in this book?

Mary Lu Scholl

11/5/2020 02:47:48 pm

I am my main character, Patty. Hopefully I'm a little more socially acceptable. However, anyone who knows me and reads the books will know immediately that she is me.

Patty has a simple quest - get through the day to tomorrow without scaring small children, alienating anyone she will want to talk to ever again. If she can solve a mystery, write a book and impress someone she cares about, so much the better!

Likewise, in the first three novels I have published, I am the main character, recognisably so, at different stages of my life. Teenager, young widow...

Is it cheating to know your main character so well? It certainly makes it easier to be consistent!

Mark

11/5/2020 03:19:32 pm

I love Patty, she is so down to earth. She is always weighing how much effort she wants to put into a social interaction. That inner dialogue is delightful.
No, it's not cheating. Writers are instructed to write what they know, you are merely fulfilling that dictum. Don't stop now.
New questions.
What do you use to cause problems for the hero in this book?
Villain, antagonist, every story and hero needs a villain. Who is the main villain in this book?

Mary L Scholl

11/5/2020 04:49:36 pm

Most of her problems are brought on by the world being so chaotic in comparison to her preferred version of life. If EVERYONE just thought like she does, life would be so much simpler! Unfortunately, she's in the minority, so to get along she has to deny her basic inclinations to interact with others.

I think I may be doing things a little differently. I really am am optomist and want to think the best of people, want to see things from their point of view. When you see things from the protagonist's point of view, are they, very often, truly bad people? Most of my 'villains' are just friends and neighbors with inner struggles...

Mark

11/5/2020 05:25:20 pm

Maybe your villain is not well defined and evil to the core. In real life, most villains aren't like that. They are people who are the hero in the story they are writing. All of the other people are getting in their way and causing them trouble and frustration.
The best villains are just like that. They think they are the good guy.
Every person wants to be loved for who they are and what they do. It's a good lesson in reality and a little bit of patience, until the bodies start piling up. Then no more Mr. Nice Guy!
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

11/5/2020 08:53:42 pm

After lengthy consideration, I have decided I prefer to write from protaginist's point of view. Lots of times, though, my protagonist is the least popular person in the room. I guess I just don't think I have a handle on the perspective of the antagonist. In this book, it was a person with less than normal capabilities. She was loyal, though, to her husband in the face of familial disapproval.
Patty is overtly critical. Her go-to response is to slam the door shut.

Mark

11/5/2020 09:35:02 pm

Your protagonist has lots of issues to work through, like so many of us; maybe that is why we love her so much.
Your antagonist was suffering from some serious dementia. Good on you for shedding a little light on this affliction that is devastating for an entire family.
Patty has little patience for fools, which is almost everyone who doesn't agree with her.
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?

Mary L Scholl

11/6/2020 03:29:19 am

Water, privacy, outside if possible, laptop...
Straight line. I can't do random chapters or scenes and have them fit together. My brain just isn't wired that way. The closest to not in a straight line is multiple projects. (Used Kindle Create for the first time yesterday while working on the cookbook and watching a video on Amazin ads)

Mark

11/6/2020 09:57:26 am

You don't require much to write. I am going to guess the privacy translates into quiet and being undisturbed.
I work in quiet, especially when proofreading. I keep water at my desk.
Different writers write in different ways. Many are like you, working from 'in the beginning' straight through to 'the end'. Others write whatever comes to mind first. Personally, I think I would like to write the last chapter first to give me a clear target to aim for with the rest of the story.
Rick Hall has contributed several excellent posts to the Guest Blog page, elsewhere on my website. One of his posts is about non-linear writing, I found it quite interesting.
New questions.
Do you ever experience writer’s block and what do you do if you get stuck?
Is there a particular place or type of writing that brings the block on?

Mary L Scholl

11/6/2020 10:05:05 am

I really hate choosing a "Bad guy." Most often this is where I get stuck. I just have to stop and start different versions before one just takes off and writes itself. If I can't follow through on a chapter, it's wrong. Back up and try a different line.
My daughter recently told me she read that not everyone hears voices in their heads...

Mark

11/6/2020 10:53:20 am

At least you understand why and how writer's block strikes, so the solution is pretty evident. Many other authors are not so lucky.
You daughter might be right, but it is also a possibility that not all authors are willing to admit to hearing voices in their head. On the other hand, a lot of authors freely admit to hearing and listening to the voices. They even explain that their stories are better if they do listen to the voices.
New questions.
Which is more important to a story pace or flow? How do you control it?
Did your writing process change much from your early writing to your current book or did it stay the same?

Mary L Scholl

11/6/2020 11:14:54 am

I've learned to help it flow. I think pacing has to change with what is happening. That's the second question as well. When I first started writing I would formulate a plot, write key scenes to explain where it was going, and then it was over.
No patience.
Expected the reader to fill in the details or connect the dots just like I wanted.
Expected them to reach the same conclusion and be happy with it.
Now I enjoy using backstory and conversation to move the story the direction I want it to go - as it happens.

Mark

11/6/2020 11:51:23 am

Pacing is important is one of the ways to introduce variety into the story. Action scenes have to move fast, depending upon the kind of action. Some new writers make the mistake of describing every step of a series of common actions, such as getting ready and going to work. That interrupts the flow and is a very quick way to bore the readers. Unless something is crucial to the plot, it can be dealt with in one or two sentences.
A little backstory and lots of conversation are great ways to keep the story moving.
New questions.
How do you think your book relates to the world we live in today?
What is the one thing you hope readers will remember from your book?

Mary Lu Scholl

11/6/2020 12:05:14 pm

I think it relates exactly to today's world in the lives of many seniors.

If they remember nothing else, I hope they take away that everyone has a history and could be innocent or guilty of anything. We are all equal and deserve tolerance and kindness.

That sounded defensive, I must be having a "Patty" Day...

Mark

11/6/2020 04:11:59 pm

I think you are right. Everyone does deserve kindness and tolerance, until they prove themselves unworthy. Then you do it from a distance, rather than up close.
Everyone has a history, that is an excellent point. We are far more than any one moment in time. Grace needs to be given, if a person does have time to learn the story of another. Which is often the case in this supercharged, fast-paced world we live in now.
New questions.
Do you have a classical author or poet, you admire?
What popular modern authors have influenced you?

Mary Lu Scholl

11/7/2020 07:14:32 am

Maya Angelou, she had a rough start and still brought beauty to the world.

I can't really say what had influenced me the most. Joanna Fluke introduced me to cozy mysteries. The more "serious" authors keep me reading voraciously. Baldacci, Roberts, Patterson, Jackson. While I know I am not on part, I do know you can't read as much as I do and not absorb something from them.

Mark

11/7/2020 09:19:26 am

Poetry is an interesting form. I find I like rhymes and verse that follows a pattern, such as haiku. I have read several books of poetry and found I was moved in unexpected ways. My own verses from my college days don't do anything for me, perhaps it is related to the phenomena that you cannot tickle yourself.
Reading a lot has to have an impact. Even if you don't write in the same genre or way that an admired writer does, some of that is bound to rub off onto you.
New questions.
Are there any authors that influenced you into becoming a writer?
If you could meet your favorite author, what would you ask them?

Mary Lu Scholl

11/7/2020 11:51:10 am

I'm not impressed with my own poetry, either.
There was never a time I wasn't going to be a writer. Joanna Fluke used to work for my dad. I didn't know that until I was in my fifties. Maybe actually knowing someone who went on to success spurred me forward.

What would I ask? "Can I use your mailing list?"

Mark

11/7/2020 04:12:10 pm

You were bit by the writing bug at an early age. A lot of writers have told me the same thing. Some have been motivated to take up the quill because they read something so atrocious that they knew they could do better. Some writers didn't start until after retirement.
Very nice about Joanna Fluke. I didn't know anything about her until I just looked her up. She is a prolific writer. I love that she grew up in a baking family business.
That is a very practical question.
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 Lu Scholl link

11/7/2020 08:26:21 pm

I have to laugh about your comment about writing because someone else was so bad. The reason I went into Postal management was because I didn't like the way my managers ran things.
For me, writing is an evolving process. I like Microsoft Word. When I finally figured out acceptable formatting, KDP came out with templates. Whew. I struggled with reformatting for Large Print and for Kindle versions. Now there's a file that converts my manuscript to an e:book. I also downloaded a couple of different programs to record for audiobooks (have decided against that, now.) I'm learning Amazon ads. There are software applications to assist in that as well that I'm learning. I spent a number of hours last week looking into an e:mail management program (mailer lite) (only to decide I was putting my cart in front my horses.)
About the time I get some kind of handle on a writing tool, it evolves or changes. I know there are other options than KDP, but I understand and trust them. They have been so helpful and cooperative when I call them...

I do have to look back every so often to remember who went to jail, who's speaking to whom, and who died. Especially if there's a significant time gap between publishing one and starting the next one.

Mark

11/7/2020 08:34:08 pm

Microsoft Word is probably the most popular writing program. It has a huge, installed-user base all over the world.
Formatting templates would certainly make things easier for writers.
Narrating audio books is a specialty. It is not easy to do it well, like most things.
Maybe you should do like some other pantser authors do, they outline the book after it is written to make it easier to find things in the future.
New questions.
You have decided to not self-narrate your books. Are you going to pursue getting a professional to do narrate for you? I think I already gave you the link to the interview with the narrator elsewhere on my website.
Have you ever had the experience of the story swerving in a different direction than planned, as if a character was driving it?

Mary Lu Scholl

11/8/2020 08:37:31 am

First, the narrator question. I have a very capable and cooperative narrator I chose through ACX. Gretchen LeBuhn. She had actually done this book and the first; and their are live on Audible. They only reason I was considering doing it myself was that no one else is ever going to get every inflection right like you meant it, or even pronounce everything the way you meant it. So I tried it myself, recording the first three books to CDs for a friend of my mother's who is very low-tech and had severe macular degeneration. While I liked some of what I did better, it was extremely time consuming and I didn't even try to upload the files to ACX to see if they would be approved. I didn't have extraneous noise, but decible consistency was difficult to maintain.
Plus, I liked some of Gretchen's interpretations better. I haven't yet offered book 3 to her, but will soon.

I like the idea of an outline after the fact. That would definitely cut down on my use of "find" in previous manuscripts. I'm going to work on my cookbook again today, but will most likely do that for a break after a couple of hours.

Yes, my characters definitely drive the story. I just make up convenient back-story and they take it from there. Real-life conversations I incorporate and adapt to their personalities sometimes change the victim, and frequently decide who the "bad guy" friends out to be. The discussion with the receptionist at the nursing home was one I had with the attendant at a local bowling alley.
The result of the conversation with the older woman at the same location actually changed my idea for the end!

Mark

11/8/2020 09:01:33 am

Audio books are exploding worldwide. There are quite a few countries where English is the official language. Many of the citizens of those countries can only access the internet with a smartphone. So an audio book is the ideal form of consumption. There are a large number of countries where English is taught as a second language. For these many millions of people, an audio book not only provides entertainment, but also a chance to polish their listening and speaking skills.
Many authors have shared similar stories about the characters wanting to tell the story their way.
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?

Mary Lu Scholl

11/8/2020 09:14:33 am

To move the story along and make sure the interpretation of the reader is what you want, narration. To get the reader involved and stirring appropriate emotion, dialogue. Dialogue is easiest for me.
Did I mention I was a Toastmaster for several years? My favorite was extemporaneus speaking, for the challenge. I won more competitions with humorous storytelling, however.
I think sight is the easiest, with smell the hardest (probably because of allergies!)

Mark

11/8/2020 10:21:28 am

Some narration is very important. It can fill in any gaps leftover from action or dialogue.
I have heard a lot of good things about Toastmasters. I took a Dale Carnegie course in public speaking a few decades ago. I had a medium stammering issue and completing the course and winning the most-improved award meant a lot to me. It gave me a needed boost.
New questions.
Have you ever participated in theater in some way, acted, behind the scenes or written a play?
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. Some use music for inspiration for chapters and share that, or song titles or a few words of lyrics as chapter titles.
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?

Mary Lu Scholl

11/8/2020 10:49:35 am

No theater. Someone might get hurt in the stampede out of the hall...

I haven't ever thought about incorporating music. Strange, since it was such a big part of my life for nearly twenty years. My third, late, husband was a country musician (also classic rock.)
I have noticed that song titles or lyrics can set the mood for a chapter. I've had such a love/hate relationship with Tables of Contents since starting to self-publish that I haven't experimented much.
Challenges are meant to be faced head-on. This one will have to be soon.
You have given me so many good ideas, suggestions and leads to improve and supplement my endeavors I hope I provided entertainment value!

Mark

11/8/2020 01:28:21 pm

Music is a powerful influence on our lives. No question about that. Music can stimulate good and bad memories.
I am very glad I could bring new ideas for you to use and grow with. As long as we are above room temperature there is opportunity for improvement.
New questions.
Do you have a favorite song or band?
How did you know when your book was finished?

Mary Lu Scholl

11/8/2020 01:35:02 pm

Raise Me Up, Martin Hurken. Alternatively, Amazing Grace when my husband played it on his steel guitar. I also like Elvis' gospel albums. Statler Brothers.

All of which makes me sound very gospel...

My books are done when Patty figures out who did it, faces then down to her mortal peril and she's rescued by...?

Another book, I fed the bad guy to an alligator. That fixed that!

Mark

11/8/2020 05:03:12 pm

Amazing Grace has been covered by many artists, it's a great song! Elvis and the Statler Brothers were fabulous, also. Gospel takes me way back. I love it.
One full and happy alligator, with maybe a little heartburn, one vanquished bad guy. Sounds pretty close to a happily ever after to me. You provided a solid ending to the story. It is important to provide some kind of ending or resolution, even if there are lingering questions and malingering evil.
New questions.
We talked about characters guiding the story already. Did anything else in the book come as a surprise while you were writing?
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?

Mary Lu Scholl

11/8/2020 09:00:25 pm

The thing that surprises me most is my reluctance to completely condemn a character. One would think that bad guys are easy, they're in nearly all books, movies, programs and plays. Why then is it so hard to create a character with no redeeming qualities? All my murders in the series are crimes of passion, accident, fear... Is it a failing in me that I can't envision evil? Am I unreasonably optimistic or a Pollyanna?

I have to research as I go, because the Lord alone knows where he's taking me!

Mark

11/8/2020 09:14:50 pm

A character that is wholly evil would seem shallow and cheap, like a cardboard cutout of a real person.
Every person wants to think they are the hero in the story they are telling. I don't think most murderers just decide to kill another person one day. They usually have reasons that for them make sense. I think that is why we have different charges for when a person is killed and degrees of those charges. We try to make the punishment fit the crime, yet look how long it takes for someone under the death penalty to actually receive their due.
I think you are human. Almost all of us are reluctant to take a life, but if the circumstances are just right, then that reluctance can easily vanish. I know I wouldn't hesitate to defend a member of my family.
New questions.
Let's step back to the first book in this series for these two questions.
How much time passed from when you got the idea to write your book; then actually starting to write the book?
How long did it take you to write the first draft?

Mary Lu Scholl

11/8/2020 09:20:46 pm

I started right away because I didn't want to forget the details that I wanted to include. It took about 6 months for the first one. The next one took about four months. Most are about six.

Mark

11/9/2020 09:33:05 am

That is a good plan. Starting to write immediately makes a lot of sense to me. It would be easy to forget details, unless you did some serious plotting or a lot of note taking.
New questions.
How many drafts did you go through to have a ready-to-publish manuscript?
Do you get ideas for future books or stories while writing a book?

Mary Lu Scholl

11/9/2020 12:52:10 pm

I have the original, then edit and send e:copy to a couple of people. Than I incorporate any suggested changes, read out loud to myself. Then I upload and order a print copy, edit the hard copy. Re-upload and cross my fingers... And hit publish...
I do make lists of situations that occur to me or that I observe - all the time, including while I'm writing. There's just not always room for everything, some has to wait for the next book or a different character.

Mark

11/9/2020 01:31:12 pm

You have published quite a few books. So you have a system that works well for you.
Beta readers are very important, the more fresh eyes you can get on a WIP the better for the published book. Every author wants to turn in an error-free copy.
Last questions.
When does inspiration strike for you?
What do you do to preserve these ideas?

Mary Lu Scholl

11/9/2020 01:40:59 pm

Inspiration is all around us! My husbands, my employees, my family and friends. During normal life I try to meet new people regularly. New people, new points of view, new pasts to draw from.
I keep lists on my phone I resisted a smart phone for years. I had a mobile phone when my husband was so ill and I was still working, so he could reach me anytime. When he died in '97 I gave it up. It was well into the 21st century when I got another phone, and then a smart one. Now? I don't know how I lived without out it! Facts at my fingertips!

Mark

11/9/2020 03:30:41 pm

Meeting new people is a wonderful idea, I used to make up stories when I was people watching; it was good fun with the kids. Those connections can be so fulfilling, especially in these Covid times.
Keeping lists and information on the phone is such a lifesaver these days. If I didn't have a smart phone I would be carrying a little notebook around with me all the time. The phone goes a long way now for keeping me on track and organized.
I have a new promotion that starts tomorrow, that requires some preparation. I want to thank you for being a fabulous guest and for sharing so much of your writing and publishing journey with us. Until we meet again, keep on writing.

Mobile Mayhem: Book Two of Trailer Park Travails by Mary Lu Scholl

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