Meg Perry's Blog, page 9
September 20, 2019
One more snippet from Deserted to Death
More than a snippet, actually… this follows the one that was posted yesterday. [image error]
The next morning, at breakfast, I got a text from Jeff. Val doesn’t want us to come. I tend to agree, especially for Colin.
I understand. Did you tell Col why?
Yeah. He’s unhappy, but he gets it.
Okay. Some other time.
For sure. You all be careful.
You bet .
Pete was watching me. I said, “Val and Jeff have decided that now is not the time for Colin to visit.”
Kevin, wisely, remained silent. Pete’s face was dark, but he was externally calm. “So your nephews will never visit?”
I said, “Now who’s overreacting?”
Kristen said, “Once you figure out who’s behind this and neutralize them, I’m sure it’ll be fine.”
“Neutralize them?” The volume of Pete’s voice rose slightly. “Seriously? This is not a war.”
Kristen crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes. I thought, Uh oh. She said, “You’re being forced to fight to be accepted and respected in this town. What would you call it?”
Pete snorted. “This episode is an anomaly.”
“There are thirty-three churches here that are Baptist, Fundamentalist, Church of God, etcetera. Thirty-three. Not that anomalous, I bet.”
“You counted churches?”
“I sure did. I wanted to know what you were up against.”
I sidled over to stand by Kevin as we watched Pete and Kristen argue. I didn’t have to wonder who would prevail in a contest of wills between them. Pete’s volume increased by another notch. “Unbelievable. This is not even your business.”
“No? Being concerned for my family is not my business? Wanting my brothers-in-law to be safe is not my business?”
“There is nothing to worry about!”
“And you are in complete fucking denial!”
I held up my hands. “Whoa, whoa. Can we table the discussion?”
Kristen said, “Fine by me.”
Pete didn’t respond. He shoved past us and went out the back door.
Kristen said, “Sorry.”
I said, “Don’t apologize. I appreciate your concern. Pete will, too, as soon as he chills out.”
“I’m not wrong.”
I sighed. “No. I’m afraid you’re not.”
Kevin helped me clean the kitchen, then he and Kristen went to the front porch. I poured water from a jug into a bottle and went out back to find Pete. He was in the far southeast corner, opposite the greenhouse, chopping at a hardened section of ground with a mattock. I leaned against the wall and watched him. Finally he stopped, dripping with sweat, and glared at me. “What?”
“Nothing. What are you doing?”
“This is where the beehives will sit. I’m leveling this piece of ground.”
“Do bees need flat ground?”
“No idea. But our bees will have it.”
“Lucky bees.”
He blew out a breath and stared at the sky. “This is not how I wanted my summer to start.”
“Me either.” I handed him the water bottle.
He took a long drink. “Someone’s trying to frighten us. Or provoke a response.”
“I’m sure they are. But there’s a difference between us not responding, and us completely ignoring the threat.”
“What do you propose that we do?”
“Proceed with caution. Do everything we planned while watching our six.”
“We planned to have Jeff and Colin visit.”
I sighed. “Pete, you’re not a parent. Jeff and Val are protecting Colin. That’s what parents do.”
He kicked at a loose clump of dirt. “Not mine.”
“Let me rephrase. That’s what good parents do.”
“Steve will be disappointed.”
“Steve will understand.” Probably.
He looked around the property. “I love it here.”
“So do I. But aren’t you glad we have an eight-foot wall?”
He grimaced. “And it was your idea. I didn’t think we needed it.”
“My intent was to keep critters out of our vegetables, and allow us to walk into the back yard naked if we wanted to. I didn’t realize we’d need protection from anything but coyotes.”
“I refuse to build a moat.”
I laughed. “That would drain the well, for sure.”
“I’ve never argued with Kristen before.”
“I don’t recommend it.”
He snorted. “I can see why.”
I wielded a level to complete Pete’s bee preparation, then we went inside. Pete headed for the shower. I took a Coke to the front porch, where Kevin, Kristen, and Ammo were sprawled in various poses. Kristen craned her neck to look at me. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah. He broke up some hard-packed ground in the back. He’s in the shower now.”
Kevin said, “We didn’t mean to be the guests who came to argue.”
I waved that off. “All of it needed to be said.”
Kristen asked, “Why is Pete being so stubborn?”
I laughed. “Do you know him? He is stubborn. But I also suspect that he really wasn’t expecting to have to deal with in-our-faces homophobia.”
Kevin said, “It’s not only stubbornness. This harassment is crashing into his vision of what living here would be like.”
“Yes. He’s constructed this idealistic vision of our future in Alamogordo.”
“He thought he could leave the troubles of his past behind. That moving here would be a fresh start for him.”
“Christine pointed out to him in December that this town could be a sister city to Barstow. He didn’t like that. But now he’s seeing that she was right, and he doesn’t want to accept it.”
Kevin said softly, “You have to brace yourself for more homophobia.”
“Oh, believe me. I’m expecting more.”
Kristen asked, “What will Pete do then?”
I shook my head, gazing into the distance. “I don’t know.”
September 18, 2019
A snippet from Deserted to Death
Enough about Greg and Justin for a few days. 
September 17, 2019
Character interview: Greg Marcotte
Yesterday, we got to know Justin Harris from Twelve Seconds a tad better. Now it’s Greg’s turn.
Greg Marcotte
Name: Gregory James Marcotte
Nickname? Greg
Age: Forty-one
Height: 6’2”
Birth Place: Asheville, North Carolina[image error]
Hair: Blond
Eyes: Blue
Astrology sign: Leo
Health: Perfect.
Current Occupation: Special Agent, Air Force Office of Special Investigations. Formerly a homicide detective and SWAT sniper with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg (NC) Police Department.
Marital status: Single but dating
Romantic Interest: Justin Harris
Dominant Character Trait: Forthrightness
Secondary Character Trait: Precision
Your two worst character flaws: Stubbornness with a perfectionist streak
Friends: Mostly the people that I work with.
Enemies: They’re all in jail.
Family: My parents and siblings are all college professors. My dad teaches psychology at Warren Wilson College; my mom teaches Appalachian Studies there. My sister teaches biology at UNC-Asheville and my brother teaches music at Appalachian State.
Tattoos: Nope
Rent or Own: Own
Relationship with God: Lapsed
Politics: I’m a law-and-order socialist.
Overall outlook on life: Shit happens.
Piercings: Nope
Voice: Deep. Justin says it’s melodious. I have a Southern accent.
Right-or left-handed: Right
Level of Attractiveness: TV cop
Clothing: Polos and khakis
Sense of humor: Yep.
Interests and favorites: Boating, fishing, hiking, target practice. Live baseball, majors or minors. Being outdoors in general.
Food, drink: The basics in each ethnic tradition. Nothing raw.
Music: Classic rock.
Books: True crime, current events
Movies: Anything but rom-coms
Dislikes: Being shot at.
Color: Blue
Vehicle: Ford F-150 pickup
Sexual Orientation: Gay
Kinks: Nothing worth mentioning
Most fears: That we’ll get into another stupid war
Most desires: To settle down with the right guy
What do you believe in? You know Kevin Costner’s speech in Bull Durham? That.
September 16, 2019
Character interview: Justin Harris
[image error]Now that you’ve read Twelve Seconds, here’s a chance to get to know our characters a little better. First up: Justin. (h/t for the questions to Josh Lanyon, who’s used this for some of her characters.)
Justin Harris
Name: Justin Andrew Harris
Nickname? I don’t have one
Age: Thirty-eight
Height: Six feet even
Birth Place: Cocoa Beach, Florida
Hair: Dark blond
Eyes: Hazel
Astrology sign: Aries
Health: I’m a few pounds overweight. Otherwise, fine.
Current Occupation: Space reporter, Hughes-Simmons News Syndicate
Marital status: Single but dating
Romantic Interest: Greg Marcotte
Dominant Character Trait: Curiosity
Secondary Character Trait: Tenacity
Your two worst character flaws: I’m told that I’m overly hard on myself. And I stress eat.
Friends: Mostly the guys that I work with.
Enemies: My stepfather.
Family: I’m an only child. My dad died five years ago. My mom remarried two years ago.
Tattoos: Nope
Rent or Own: Rent
Relationship with God: Dubious
Politics: Progressive
Overall outlook on life: Hopeful
Piercings: Nope
Voice: Low tenor? High baritone? You tell me.
Right-or left-handed: Right
Level of Attractiveness: So many freckles…crooked nose…
Clothing: Jeans and t-shirts
Sense of humor: Pretty good, I guess
Interests and favorites: Space. Rockets. Technology. The beach. My cats.
Food, drink: I’ll try anything once.
Music: Folk rock
Books: Space and science, both non-fiction and otherwise.
Movies: Sci-fi, but not superheroes
Dislikes: Politicians, Florida land developers, snakes
Color: Green
Vehicle: Ford Focus
Sexual Orientation: Gay
Kinks: Not particularly
Most fears: That humanity will give up trying to reach the stars
Most desires: To see humans get to Mars
What do you believe in? Science.
September 15, 2019
It’s alive!!
Twelve Seconds, that is. Space Coast Mystery #1, featuring space reporter Justin Harris and Air Force Special Agent Greg Marcotte, is available here. It’s only on Kindle right now, as I’m testing out the efficacy of Kindle Unlimited, but eventually it’ll be available through Smashwords and the other outlets, too.
Enjoy! If you’ve already read the story in the anthology and are waiting for book 2, it’ll be out next spring. (I must tell you, though, this version has added content in the form of backstory for all of the characters.)
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September 10, 2019
Cover reveal: Twelve Seconds!
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Coming soon! As in the next few days! This is the cover for Twelve Seconds, my novella from the Footsteps in the Dark anthology. If you didn’t buy the anthology, here’s your chance to read the first of a new series, the Space Coast Mysteries. If you did buy the anthology, then you’ll just have to wait for book two.
July 18, 2019
An excerpt from Deserted to Death
Is it hot where you are? It’s hot here, but then it’s summer in Florida. We expect that sort of thing. If you’re hot where it’s not supposed to be hot, you have my full sympathy.
So… let’s take a trip to the desert! It’s a dry heat, don’tcha know.
June 7, 2019
So I should probably explain…
Obsessed to Death is the first of a four book arc that will end the Jamie Brodie series. There are a few threads that will be left hanging in both this book and the next, Deserted to Death. Most of them will be tied up in the next to last book, Drugged to Death. Then the final book, Resigned to Death, will finish it off.
I haven’t really done that before so you might be surprised by it. I do have a plan. I promise. 
Obsessed to Death is here!
It’s release day! Finally!! Obsessed to Death is now live at all of your favorite retailers and e-tailers. Here’s my favorite, in case you’re conflicted: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/942036
Thank you all so much for reading! I hope you enjoy.
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Jamie Brodie Mystery #18
June 5, 2019
An excerpt from Obsessed to Death
Two more days! Here’s a snippet to whet your appetite.
We drove home and let Ammo out, then walked down Wilshire to Santa Monica Seafood for dinner. Pete chatted about the garden as we strolled. At one point, when he paused for a breath, I asked, “How will you keep all four beds watered?”
He blinked at me. “Like we planned. From rain barrels and our gray water system.”
“What if it doesn’t rain?”
“There’s a monsoon season. It’ll rain.”
“Yeah, but what if it doesn’t? Long-term climate forecasts aren’t smiling on the Southwest.”
He sighed. “I guess we’ll prioritize. Some vegetables hog more water than others, so we can cut those out if we need to. And I’ll buy drought-tolerant seed varieties whenever possible.”
“Okay.”
He glanced over at me. “Plan B is still Scotland, right?”
“Sure.”
He was quiet for a moment then said, “You know what I think?”
“Nope.”
“Seems to me that as we get closer to the permanent move, you’re losing your enthusiasm for it.”
I took a second to decide how to answer. “I’m not losing my enthusiasm for the house and garden plan. But certain realities are beginning to rear their heads. For one thing, what the hell am I gonna do there? Yes, I’ll be helping you sometimes, but what about the rest of my days? There’s no university, and the libraries are… basic, for lack of a better word. I don’t have the patience to teach anyone to read, or for any of the other volunteer positions that are likely to be available… There aren’t any options.”
“You could teach online.”
“Only if it’s UCLA. And they only offer online history classes in the summer. Maybe that’ll change.”
“You’re such an academic snob.”
“I’m not gonna teach for an unfamiliar school when I don’t have to. And as you keep reminding me, I don’t have to.”
“Okay… what else is bothering you?”
I hadn’t formed the coherent thought until it suddenly burst out of me. “I’m giving up Kevin so you can have Steve.”
Pete opened his mouth, then closed it. Then he said, “Oh.”
I’d rattled him. I’d rattled myself. I said slowly, “Which… is gonna happen. So.”
Obsessed to Death at Amazon
Obsessed to Death at Smashwords
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Jamie Brodie Mystery #18
