Book Cover Junkie Interviews Mystery Author Marilyn Meredith

Marilyn Meredith is the author of over forty published novels, including the award-winning Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery series. She is a member of Sisters in Crime and on the board of the Public Safety Writers Association. She’s taught writing in many venues and appeared on numerous panels at mystery cons. Her home is in the foothills of the Southern Sierra, a place much like the fictional Bear Creek of the Tempe Crabtree mysteries. When not writing, Marilyn enjoys spending time with her large family.

Website | http://fictionforyou.com 

Twitter | http://www.twitter.com/marilynmeredith 

Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/marilynmeredith

Interview:

 

Tell us about your book! What inspired you to write it?

Marilyn: I knew this book would be the last in the Tempe Crabtree series so I wanted to include some of the

characters who’d made appearances in some of the other books. I also wanted to send Tempe and her husband off on a new adventure, one readers would have to imagine for themselves. Scary events happen to Tempe and her husband, Hutch, changing their lives abruptly.

How did you choose the title for your book? Did it come to you right away, before you started writing it, or did it come later?

Marilyn: I wanted the word “farewell” to be in the title, but couldn’t come up with something that resonated with me. My editor fooled around with it a bit, but her husband, who also has designed several of my covers, came up with the perfect title, A Final Farewell.

Tell us about the cover design process. Did you have a basic idea of what your book cover would be like? 

Marilyn: Larry Collins who designed the cover had the best idea. Since this was the last book in the series, he used the feather that had been on every book in the series, and enlarged it for the cover. Perfect! 

Who is your cover designer and how did you find him/her?

Marilyn: Over the years I’ve had two different cover designers, who’ve come up with some wonderfully unique covers. When Lorna Collins became my editor and did the hard work of the actual publishing on Amazon, her husband took over designing the book covers. He did great creating designs following the themes of earlier covers.

What has been the readers’ response to your cover?

Marilyn: I have very supportive readers and so far everyone has had a positive response to the cover for A Final Farewell.

What tips would you give to authors who are looking for a cover designer?

Marilyn: Find someone who is easy to work with and will listen to your ideas about what the cover should look like.

Anything else you’d like to say about your book?

Marilyn: It has been difficult to say goodbye to the characters who inhabit this series, so difficult I’ve actually had two other Tempe Crabtree mysteries I thought would be the last. 

A Final Farewell is available in paper and for Kindle.