I am working about three to four hours about four days a week on my new book, The Cinderella and Podcast Murders, An Agatha, Raymond Sherlock and Me Mystery. In the past I did more hours and more days. I’ve slowed down a bit!

I’m fortunate I can spend time writing books. I also manage marketing for my books as well as for clients who hire me to market their books. I’ve been doing that for many years, using my experience as owner of a marketing and public relations agency for over 20 years. Book marketing has changed a lot over the past dozen years and I caution authors to beware of scams and costly offerings that give little in return.

I do enjoy some guilty pleasures like lunch out with friends, belonging to a mystery book club, time with family…and eating chocolate when I take a writing break. Which is often!

I’ve been giving writing classes for many years and presently I donate time giving memoir writing classes at the local Jewish Community Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Well, sometimes it feels like a therapy group, but we do have fun at times.

I’ve written several articles related to my new book and submitted them to various organization newsletters who have agreed to publish them. I think they tell a lot about who I am.

One I think you might enjoy is about the impact I realize famous author voices and writing have had on me. My previous series, “The Senior Sleuths,” was very much influenced by the black and white noir films of “The Thin Man.”

Following is a shorten version of the article:

HEARING VOICES OF PAST FAMOUS DETECTIVES…
…THEIR IMPACT AND INFLUENCE ON MYSTERY WRITERS

“the stuff that dreams are made of…”

With that famous line at the end of The Maltese Falcon, Bogey exposed a world to noir films and fictional detective stories. The gumshoes of the past, along with their dames and hoodlums, entranced America with the shadowy and dark side of humanity. Many mystery writers, including myself, have been impacted and influenced by these past crime-solvers. They knew a thing or two about dreams…and murder. We have long admired them. But why?

There are many reasons for loving these detective stories: We become armchair detectives sharing in the suspense with a bit of vicarious pleasure. Our imagination wants to find the killer before the detective, and we are arrogantly thrilled when we do. And we love the romances we know can only end badly. Perhaps that’s just human nature.

Edgar Allan Poe unlocked the door to detective fiction when he wrote the first modern detective story in1841, Murders in the Rue Morgue; and it was Arthur Conan Doyle who swung the door wide open writing 50 books featuring the Consulting Detective, Sherlock Holmes and his cohort, Dr. Watson. Versions of Sherlock Holmes have been seen on screen over 250 times, some in old black and white films featuring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce who were marvelous. Later, a couple of my favorites include Jeremy Brett as Holmes and the recent, modern version with Benedict Cumberbatch.

And, of course, there is Agatha Christie who has written 66 novels and there are many movies of her stories. Two her famous crime-solvers revered by so many mystery readers are the strange looking and intense thinking Hercule Poirot. Also loved is the sweet acting ways of Miss Marple finding clues, enjoying a bit of gossip and, in the process, uncovering secret plots swirling around her.

In cozies, like I write, the amateur sleuth finds the murders have many twists and turns; there are a few foreshadowing comments; and there are several red herrings to distract readers. The amateur sleuth sifts through clues, tossing the useless information out. The hunt is on to find the truth . . . for the reader and for me.

I am very much influenced by the voices of famous mystery writers. Perhaps you are too! From my new book, An Agatha, Raymond, Sherlock and Me Mystery: Murder at the Zoo, Artemesia Publishing, 2023:

She had read nearly every book of every famous mystery writer and had seen movies made from them many times and was often absorbed and obsessed by the stories and the characters. It was not the first time she had shouted to one or more of the voices in her head. Sometimes they seemed so real to her. When she was a young girl, Miranda Scott read dozens of mystery books by authors such as Agatha Christie and Raymond Chandler, and she loved characters like Sherlock Holmes. Then she began hearing their voices in her head suggesting what she should and should not do.

Murder at the Zoo, An Agatha, Raymond, Sherlock, & Me Mystery Book #1
Genre: Cozy
Release: March 2023
Format: Print and Digital
Purchase Link

A clever, intriguing, and gripping new cozy mystery filled with exciting twists and turns, bizarre murders and fascinating characters, including several dead authors who seem to speak to Veterinarian, Miranda Scott.

A fan since childhood of Agatha Christie, Raymond Chandler, and Sherlock Holmes their voices seem to live in her head frequently telling her what to do… and not do. Especially when it comes to solving mysteries. After a body is tossed into the lions’ habitat at the zoo where she is the senior veterinarian, Miranda and Detective Bryan Anderson find themselves investigating several murders and dealing with a group of bad guys threatening Miranda, while gangster friends of her father try to protect her. Miranda and Bryan alternate between flirting and fighting off romantic feelings. Murder, deceit, revenge, her dramatic mother, gangster father and godfather all get in the way of a fine romance!

About the author
Marcia Rosen (aka M. Glenda Rosen), award winning author of eleven books including The Senior Sleuths and Dying To Be Beautiful Mystery Series and The Gourmet Gangster: Mysteries and Menus (Menus by her son Jory Rosen). She is also author of The Woman’s Business Therapist and award winning My Memoir Workbook. For 25 years she was owner of a successful national marketing and public relations agency.

She is a member of Sisters in Crime National and New Mexico (Croak & Dagger), Southwest Writers, New Mexico Book Association, Women Writing the West, Public Safety Writer’s Association, and National Association of Independent Writers and Editors—for which she is also a board member.

All comments are welcomed.