Miranda Phillips Walker's Posts - CrimeSpace2024-03-29T09:15:22ZMiranda Phillips Walkerhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/MirandaPhillipsWalkerhttp://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/60994247?profile=RESIZE_48X48&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1http://crimespace.ning.com/profiles/blog/feed?user=1exlaa03loj43&xn_auth=noGhosts in the ER ---New Collecection of 5 Short Stories!tag:crimespace.ning.com,2013-02-06:537324:BlogPost:3671142013-02-06T01:12:15.000ZMiranda Phillips Walkerhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/MirandaPhillipsWalker
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<div id="__tbSetup"></div>Price drop down to .99 on The Well Meaning Killer on Kindles e-bookstag:crimespace.ning.com,2012-02-24:537324:BlogPost:3325512012-02-24T14:48:36.000ZMiranda Phillips Walkerhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/MirandaPhillipsWalker
<p><span class="font-size-7" style="font-family: helvetica; color: #0000ff;">FBI Agent Megan McKenna & Detective Phil Jenkins race against the clock to catch a serial killer across the Baltimore countryside, with a back story of white collar crime & nasty lawyers. On Sale now on Kindle, price drop from $16.95 to 0.99c</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-7" style="font-family: helvetica; color: #0000ff;">FBI Agent Megan McKenna & Detective Phil Jenkins race against the clock to catch a serial killer across the Baltimore countryside, with a back story of white collar crime & nasty lawyers. On Sale now on Kindle, price drop from $16.95 to 0.99c</span></p>Nany Lynn Jarvis- Must Read Mysteriestag:crimespace.ning.com,2011-08-19:537324:BlogPost:3107802011-08-19T19:44:02.000ZMiranda Phillips Walkerhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/MirandaPhillipsWalker
<p>Just had to say if you get a chance, pull up a chair, pour a cup of tea and dive into Nancy Lynn Jarvis's Cool Cozy Mysteries. They are witty and funny, Jarvis makes great uses her background in real estate and behavioral science. A very recommended read. My fav is Backyard Bones.</p>
<p>Just had to say if you get a chance, pull up a chair, pour a cup of tea and dive into Nancy Lynn Jarvis's Cool Cozy Mysteries. They are witty and funny, Jarvis makes great uses her background in real estate and behavioral science. A very recommended read. My fav is Backyard Bones.</p>BABY, IT'S COLD OUTSIDE!tag:crimespace.ning.com,2011-04-09:537324:BlogPost:2829682011-04-09T15:28:51.000ZMiranda Phillips Walkerhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/MirandaPhillipsWalker
<p><span class="font-size-5"> Please excuse the double entendre, but we couldn't help it. These kinds of things don't come around every day you know. The fact that it's been SNOWING off and on here in Southern Oregon the last couple of days, and that a week ago today on April Fool's Day we got a surprise phone call from author Miranda Phillips Walker asking if she could come back home. Here's the backstory: Krill Press was founded in the fall of 2008 and our first title, "Absinthe Of Malice" by…</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-5"> Please excuse the double entendre, but we couldn't help it. These kinds of things don't come around every day you know. The fact that it's been SNOWING off and on here in Southern Oregon the last couple of days, and that a week ago today on April Fool's Day we got a surprise phone call from author Miranda Phillips Walker asking if she could come back home. Here's the backstory: Krill Press was founded in the fall of 2008 and our first title, "Absinthe Of Malice" by Pat Browning was published on December 1, 2008 and went on to be an Amazon Kindle Bestseller. Miranda Walker's "The Well Meaning Killer" was our third title, published on June 10, 2009. This awesome first novel about female FBI agent Megan McKenna, on the hunt for a serial killer in the Baltimore area, was in print and eBook for only a year before Miranda decided not to renew her contract with Krill and try her hand at going it alone. We wished her well (while kicking ourselves in the ass at the same time for only giving her a one year contract in the first place!) and kept our fingers crossed that she would be successful because that is, after all, the real philosophy behind Krill Press: to give great, undiscovered authors their first professional exposure to the publishing world and, hopefully, begin to establish a readership. With the help of her husband, prolific fiction author Robert W. Walker (and no, he didn't write her book for her!), Miranda changed her book's title to "Absolution" and published it as an eBook only. We're not sure, exactly, what's Miranda's experience has been with that venture and frankly it's none of our business. Suffice it to say that we feel LUCKY to get "The Well Meaning Killer" back and know that our readers are going to feel the same way. We have a 2 year contract in the mail to Miranda, who lives in Charleston, WV., so be watching for the return of "The Well Meaning Killer" in Trade Paperback, Kindle, and NOOK (and with brand new gorgeous covert art!) sometime in the next couple of weeks.</span></p>Times, they are a changing. "The Well Meaning Killer" has a New Title and soon a new home on Kindle Books @ Amazon.comtag:crimespace.ning.com,2010-07-04:537324:BlogPost:2405242010-07-04T00:27:58.000ZMiranda Phillips Walkerhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/MirandaPhillipsWalker
<br style="font-weight: bold;"></br><font size="5"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Times they are a changing in the publishing world, and I guess you could say I've jumped ship so to speak. Hopefully by the end of July 2010, Absolution, (aka "The Well Meaning Killer") will find a new home on Kindle Books @ amazon.com</span><br style="font-weight: bold;"></br><br></br><span style="font-weight: bold;">The next novel in the FBI Mystery Series will continue to have Megan McKenna and Max raise eyebrows as she…</span></font>
<br style="font-weight: bold;"/><font size="5"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Times they are a changing in the publishing world, and I guess you could say I've jumped ship so to speak. Hopefully by the end of July 2010, Absolution, (aka "The Well Meaning Killer") will find a new home on Kindle Books @ amazon.com</span><br style="font-weight: bold;"/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold;">The next novel in the FBI Mystery Series will continue to have Megan McKenna and Max raise eyebrows as she comes to the aid of Anthony Garzeno, a hot blooded Italian Chief of police in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina. A bitter sweet reunion they'll both have to suffer through in order to hunt down a crazed scumbag in this quiet little coastal town.</span><br style="font-weight: bold;"/><br style="font-weight: bold;"/><span style="font-weight: bold;">A big thanks to Krill Press, for being such a wonderful place to have your first book published and allowing this little bird to leave the nest. Thanks, Ken.</span><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/></font>How I Gave My Migraines the Boot @ smashwords.com for $1.99tag:crimespace.ning.com,2010-04-26:537324:BlogPost:2336182010-04-26T06:59:50.000ZMiranda Phillips Walkerhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/MirandaPhillipsWalker
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<p style="text-align: left;">Medical and Alternative treatments discussed <br/></p>
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<p style="text-align: left;">Medical and Alternative treatments discussed <br/></p>Dark Tales of Terror Signing Hunington, WV 4-6pm 4/3/10 Media Coverage! at Borderstag:crimespace.ning.com,2010-04-01:537324:BlogPost:2314082010-04-01T21:22:42.000ZMiranda Phillips Walkerhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/MirandaPhillipsWalker
<font size="5">Please Join Miranda Phillips Walker, Robert Walker and other WV Authors on Saturday 4/3/10 at Borders, Huntington, WV 4-6PM a slew of authors in the WV writers based anthology Dark Tales of Terror, edited by award-winning, native West Virginian, Michael Knost will gather to sign books & reign in all the pastels of Easter and keep folks focused on The Dark Side of Easter....hehehehehe. It's really about the goose bumps....not the eggs.</font>
<font size="5">Please Join Miranda Phillips Walker, Robert Walker and other WV Authors on Saturday 4/3/10 at Borders, Huntington, WV 4-6PM a slew of authors in the WV writers based anthology Dark Tales of Terror, edited by award-winning, native West Virginian, Michael Knost will gather to sign books & reign in all the pastels of Easter and keep folks focused on The Dark Side of Easter....hehehehehe. It's really about the goose bumps....not the eggs.</font>Miranda Phillips Walker gets jiggy with the Spirit World!tag:crimespace.ning.com,2010-03-14:537324:BlogPost:2298852010-03-14T00:51:11.000ZMiranda Phillips Walkerhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/MirandaPhillipsWalker
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Coming Soon, Check out mine and Robert W. Walker's Short Story Contribution.</span><br/><br/><br/><br/><p style="text-align: left;"><img width="721" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70749928?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" alt=""/></p>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Coming Soon, Check out mine and Robert W. Walker's Short Story Contribution.</span><br/><br/><br/><br/><p style="text-align: left;"><img width="721" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70749928?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" alt=""/></p>
<br/>WV Book Festival @Charleston Civic Center October 10-11thtag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-10-08:537324:BlogPost:2159452009-10-08T21:18:05.000ZMiranda Phillips Walkerhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/MirandaPhillipsWalker
Looking forward to seeing everyone at the WV Book Festival. Come on down Saturday-Sunday October 10-11th at the Charleston Civic Center. Panel discussions, book signings, Agents/Publishing, and chat with local authors.<br />
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Join me and Robert Walker at <b>2:30 on Sunday</b> as we discuss how to get your book ready for an agent/publishing house, methods on finding agents and publishers, a look into the publishing world, book promotion, and much more. We will have a book signing after the…
Looking forward to seeing everyone at the WV Book Festival. Come on down Saturday-Sunday October 10-11th at the Charleston Civic Center. Panel discussions, book signings, Agents/Publishing, and chat with local authors.<br />
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Join me and Robert Walker at <b>2:30 on Sunday</b> as we discuss how to get your book ready for an agent/publishing house, methods on finding agents and publishers, a look into the publishing world, book promotion, and much more. We will have a book signing after the discussion.<br />
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The Well Meaning Killer and Dead On will be available through Borders at the Book festival. Look forward to seeing you there!!I See Dead People, Life of an ER Nursetag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-09-07:537324:BlogPost:2128982009-09-07T15:32:11.000ZMiranda Phillips Walkerhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/MirandaPhillipsWalker
They say truth is stranger than fiction, I can tell you coming from a nursing point of view this is very true. I am reminding of this at least three times a week while I'm working in the Emergency Room, If I used any of these examples I would have to water them down because most people would think I was really off my rocker if I told the truth. With the release of my new book "The Well Meaning Killer" I'm starting to roll in some reviews, and some reviewers are questioning Megan McKenna's…
They say truth is stranger than fiction, I can tell you coming from a nursing point of view this is very true. I am reminding of this at least three times a week while I'm working in the Emergency Room, If I used any of these examples I would have to water them down because most people would think I was really off my rocker if I told the truth. With the release of my new book "The Well Meaning Killer" I'm starting to roll in some reviews, and some reviewers are questioning Megan McKenna's injury turn around. This fun little post is part of a new nonfiction book I've been working on with amazing stories of patients I've seen cheat death.<br />
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Unless you've spent a few hours, and I mean no less than fifteen in the ER waiting to either be seen or discharged you would probably not believe this anyway. For example while on a travel assignment in a large trauma in Texas, we had this guy brought in by EMS that had an ax lodged in the top of his head. I not kidding, the guy was sitting up on the gurney talking and laughing about he was just chopping wood one minute then felt his head burning and bleeding the next. The ax was situated about one inch on the forehead back to the middle of the top of the head. Of course head injuries bleed alot, so blood was everywhere. The staff were taking bets on whether the guy would survive surgery or not with his brain intact, guess what the guy made a full recovery with no deficits! Amazing.<br />
Here's one similar to McKenna's injury, a young male I once had in Baltimore, Md came in to ER after his brother's pet boa constrictor had got out of the cage and had coiled itself around the teen. the boy had woke to severe pressure on his chest think he was having a heart attack from the drugs he'd done earlier that evening. he started yelling, waking up his parents and brother. Long story short the snake's constricting action was giving the boy respiratory problems (like not being able to breathe) so by the time he arrived in the ER he was unconscious but after a few days in the ICU he bounced back with no problems.<br />
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I have been a nurse for eighteen years, so I could go on for pages, but every day all nurses see for a lack of a better word, miracles everyday. Rmember to do your research, and also remember even when you do, there are people that will argue even the smallest detail. The devil is in the details, lol. Welcome all book reviews, because that means they have at least glanced at your book, have a great day and happy writing.Ready, Set, Action: Useful Websites for Mystery Writers!tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-07-23:537324:BlogPost:2080062009-07-23T03:24:49.000ZMiranda Phillips Walkerhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/MirandaPhillipsWalker
Here is a list of a few of my favorite websites I use when writing a mystery:<br />
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http://www.crime-scene-investigator.net/csi-response.html Includes Crime Scene Investigation resources, training, articles and links to forensic web pages.<br />
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http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/elsi/forensics.shtml Comprehensive resource covering forensic identification.<br />
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http://www.terryburns.net/COPS_CRIME.htm Articles related to crime scene investigations, physical evidence, death investigation, and…
Here is a list of a few of my favorite websites I use when writing a mystery:<br />
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http://www.crime-scene-investigator.net/csi-response.html Includes Crime Scene Investigation resources, training, articles and links to forensic web pages.<br />
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http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/elsi/forensics.shtml Comprehensive resource covering forensic identification.<br />
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http://www.terryburns.net/COPS_CRIME.htm Articles related to crime scene investigations, physical evidence, death investigation, and DNA.<br />
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http://www.crimeandclues.com The Art and Science of Criminal Investigation.<br />
http://www.dplylemd.com Writer's Medical & Forensic Lab<br />
http://www.dplylemd.com Professional Investigator's Magazine<br />
http://www.charlottedillon.com/WritersLinks.html Every story need a little Romance<br />
http://www.computerforensicsworld.com<br />
http://www.writerswrite.com Great Site<br />
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Just a few I use for research, happy writing.SUBMISSION GUIDELINE SUCCESStag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-07-12:537324:BlogPost:2070242009-07-12T19:00:00.000ZMiranda Phillips Walkerhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/MirandaPhillipsWalker
Do your homework to cut down on rejections on your part. You should have gone through Writer's Market 2009, Jeff Herman's guide to book publishers, editors and agents, Preditors & Editors, Agent Query. Very important, always match the correct genre. It would would be a hugh mistake to send a romance to an agent/pubshier that only handles mysteries, but you won't believe how often this happens. Now the fun part let's all play are favorite childhood game, Simon Says, remember if you don't do…
Do your homework to cut down on rejections on your part. You should have gone through Writer's Market 2009, Jeff Herman's guide to book publishers, editors and agents, Preditors & Editors, Agent Query. Very important, always match the correct genre. It would would be a hugh mistake to send a romance to an agent/pubshier that only handles mysteries, but you won't believe how often this happens. Now the fun part let's all play are favorite childhood game, Simon Says, remember if you don't do what simon says you're out, only this time you'll get a cute little rejection letter for not listening. Agents and publishers are human too, they are overworked, have families and friends, and most of all if you've never been a New York office you would freak to know the stack of submissions really are piled to the ceiling on their desk. Yikes! Even with the perfect manusript these things will make the best agent/publisher throw you manuscript in the slush pile.<br />
Take Note:<br />
Read the entire submission guideline for the agency you are sending too. Don't get cute and pull any tricks like color paper, going through three boxes till you get to the manuscript, ...you get the idea.<br />
1. Font: Always use 12pt Times New Roman/Courier<br />
2. Use good quality paper, speaking of paper never use paper clips, staples, or fold paper. make sure it's clean, i.e. no coffee stains, or cigerette smears.<br />
3. Use a lazer printer, if you don't have one , get it copied at Kinko's or any office supply store. Unless you want immediate death never sent a hand written, or copy where your printer has run out of ink getting lighter in the last few chapters. sudden death for sure.<br />
4. Spacing, Typos, and Margins: Check the submission guidelines/call to confirm. No cute stuff follow the rules. Some companies now are having authors use only one space between words so check guidelines. I know this sounds like I'm beating a dead horse but I'm not. Note if you work on one computer say, and send it to another for rewrites, the back and forth tends to cause formatting issues, you are better off to stay on one computer. I see this with say your work is on an old computer with XP and transferred to a new computer with Window's Vista.<br />
5. As I've written before, but worth repeating:<br />
Start in the first chapter in the middle of action, you should have action/heat on every page.<br />
Use Dialog, Show don't tell<br />
Back story is a few sentnces, anymore and it's not a back story. Salt & Pepper the back story through the book, don't hit the reader with it all at once, they'll loose interest and the book will loose speed.<br />
Conflict is king! use it, abuse it, and anything that does not move your story along cut it!<br />
Your ending should be as strong as your opening, don't wip out now, Nail it!<br />
6. Run the spell check, but remeber the word may be correct but the the right meaning. Use Explanation points, ..., dialects, slang, sparing. Remenber to use a good word mix, Watch you POV, your repretention one one word, watch for purple prose.<br />
7. Rememer when writing the scene to sift the five senses through the character. i.e. What is the characrter feeling, seeing, hearing, smelling, touching, gives the scene a real feeling.<br />
Hope these tips were helpful Happy Writing!!<br />
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http://www.agentquery.com<br />
http://www.litmatch.net/<br />
http://anotherealm.com/prededitors/pealr.htm<br />
http://www.agentresearch.com/cgi-bin/agent_verification/dbspace.cgi<br />
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http://www.howstuffworks.com/<br />
http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/elsi/forensics.shtml<br />
http://www.crimeandclues.com/physical.htmMarketing Your Novel with Success!tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-07-11:537324:BlogPost:2069402009-07-11T02:16:16.000ZMiranda Phillips Walkerhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/MirandaPhillipsWalker
Alrighty then, your book has been published--Great! Now the hard work really starts, you need to know it's up to you to promote it. I know some of you are working with a large publishing house and think your covered. Well take off your rose colored glasses. Yes, the big houses will do some promo work, but it's not like it use to be, with budget and staff cuts all around, you can't sit back and hope magic happens. If you don't know this, take note, publishers and agents you will deal with from…
Alrighty then, your book has been published--Great! Now the hard work really starts, you need to know it's up to you to promote it. I know some of you are working with a large publishing house and think your covered. Well take off your rose colored glasses. Yes, the big houses will do some promo work, but it's not like it use to be, with budget and staff cuts all around, you can't sit back and hope magic happens. If you don't know this, take note, publishers and agents you will deal with from now on are concerned with "The Numbers." How many copies did you sell? You made be a kick A writer, but it's the numbers that will keep you in the game. Some writers have even went with a pen name to start over so the powers that be don't get blind sided by the poor numbers they recieved on their last book.<br />
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First, you need to get your face and name out there. Get a <i>website</i>, this is a must. If you don't know how to built one get professional help. Picking a webmaster can be tricky like everything else some are out to take your money and give you a crappy site. I use stephen@srwalkerdesigns.com You can check out his work on my site at www.mirandawalkerbooks.com<br />
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Set up your author profile on Myspace, Facebook, Blog Spot, Authors Den, Crimespace, refers to my website for more of these links. After you get your blogs going write and submit articles related to writing, add your url to search engines like Google, Yahoo, MSN...it might take a week or so before they crawl to top ranking.<br />
Consider doing guest blogging or blog tours, start with your contact list, most other authors will be glad to have you as a guest on their blog. Don't forget your bussiness cards, book markers, book posters, post cards you should always carry your cards with you. Vista print offers free deals on several products you just pay S&H.<br />
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A note on Book Signings- set them up at least a month in advance. When you are about 3 weeks from the date, (very important remember this) confirm they have no problems ordering your book and confirm that they have ordered it. Book stores usually order 20-30 copies. I make sure I have an extra twenty with me. You don't want to show up for the signing and not have books! Can you say disaster. Most books stores don't think signings sell books so they don't do much in way of promotion. Take your book or a PDF file to a office supply store and have them make up a simple color poster of the front cover of your book on a board. cost about $5-7 dollars depending on the size you order. I also take a camping table with me, in case they don't have a table or it's too small. Set up your books, posters, flyers, cards on the table. I also have a dish with suckers and chocolate kisses, to draw the customer to the table. If you can, ask the book store if you can place one of your poster in their store window with dates of your signing a week or so prior to the event. Remember to place your table at the store's entry so you see customers as they enter. Whatever you do don't just sit there, nows not the time to be shy. you don't have to jump them, but greet the customers as the come in, tell them your the author and mention your book. if they seem interested pitch your book in 20 secs.<br />
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Press Releases are another great way to market your book, send them to book stores, independent book stores, newspapers, libraries, the college you graduated from...you get the idea. If you don't know how to write a sell sheet/press release I will be posting a sample one.<br />
Sign up for book conferences, do signings, network. Join writers forums, and writers organizations.<br />
Theses are just a few of my suggestions for affortable book promotion, I hope these tips were helpful to you...Summer Book Signings Have Started!tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-06-29:537324:BlogPost:2056672009-06-29T23:32:19.000ZMiranda Phillips Walkerhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/MirandaPhillipsWalker
<b>Starting in Charleston, WV:</b><br />
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Books-A-Million SouthRidge Charleston, WV July 18,2009 12-4pm<br />
Taylor's Books Downtown Charleston, WV July 30, 2009 12-2pm<br />
Borders Town Center Mall Charleston, WV August 15 2009 12-2<br />
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More to Follow, it's going be a buzy summer!<br />
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Also, The Well Meaning Killer is now available on Kindle at Amazon.com!
<b>Starting in Charleston, WV:</b><br />
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Books-A-Million SouthRidge Charleston, WV July 18,2009 12-4pm<br />
Taylor's Books Downtown Charleston, WV July 30, 2009 12-2pm<br />
Borders Town Center Mall Charleston, WV August 15 2009 12-2<br />
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More to Follow, it's going be a buzy summer!<br />
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Also, The Well Meaning Killer is now available on Kindle at Amazon.com!The Well Meaning Killer available now at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Bookstores!!!tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-06-14:537324:BlogPost:2032412009-06-14T23:16:30.000ZMiranda Phillips Walkerhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/MirandaPhillipsWalker
Grab one, and let the mystery begin! To see Author page on Krill Press go to: http://krillpress.com/WellMeaningKiller.html
Grab one, and let the mystery begin! To see Author page on Krill Press go to: http://krillpress.com/WellMeaningKiller.htmlThe Well Meaning Killer Was Published Yesterday!!!tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-06-11:537324:BlogPost:2028162009-06-11T19:43:18.000ZMiranda Phillips Walkerhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/MirandaPhillipsWalker
Exciting news, as of yesterday, my book, The Well Meaning Killer was published!!! After I finish another shift in the ER tonight, I'm going to celebrate! Currently working on my second novel in the series with firey FBI Agent Megan McKenna and her lovable sidekick Max, a retired search & resecue Lab.
Exciting news, as of yesterday, my book, The Well Meaning Killer was published!!! After I finish another shift in the ER tonight, I'm going to celebrate! Currently working on my second novel in the series with firey FBI Agent Megan McKenna and her lovable sidekick Max, a retired search & resecue Lab.In The Spotlight Interview with Jean Henrytag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-05-31:537324:BlogPost:2009232009-05-31T13:25:17.000ZMiranda Phillips Walkerhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/MirandaPhillipsWalker
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<b>Mysterious People</b>Saturday, May 30, 2009<br />
A Conversation with Miranda Phillips Walker<br />
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An ER nurse and wife of novelist Robert W. Walker, Miranda Phillips Walker has a soon-to-be-released novel of her own, The Well Meaning Killer.<br />
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Miranda, what made you decide to write The Well Meaning Killer?<br />
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From an early age, I have always liked to write stories, poetry, and write songs. I wrote them on everything, post it notes, notebook paper,…
<p style="text-align: left;"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/70745584?profile=original" alt="" width="3296" height="2472"/></p>
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<b>Mysterious People</b>Saturday, May 30, 2009<br />
A Conversation with Miranda Phillips Walker<br />
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An ER nurse and wife of novelist Robert W. Walker, Miranda Phillips Walker has a soon-to-be-released novel of her own, The Well Meaning Killer.<br />
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Miranda, what made you decide to write The Well Meaning Killer?<br />
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From an early age, I have always liked to write stories, poetry, and write songs. I wrote them on everything, post it notes, notebook paper, napkins, and of course in notebooks. When I was young, I hated the typewriter, never could type too far without it looking like the page had been shot with the white tell-tell blotches of whiteout. In 2002, I bought my first computer, and after some tinkering around, I realized I could finally bring my stories to life via the word processor. The Well Meaning Killer, comes from an old manuscript I started back in my early twenties and from information I have run across in my nursing travels and while working in the state government.<br />
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Tell us about your debut novel.<br />
<br />
FBI Agent Megan McKenna is handpicked for this assignment by her boss, Xavier Hollister. McKenna is eager to prove herself on this case, because it is so similar to the last case she worked that hit her hard. Megan is a professional, and although humorous at times, she doesn’t let people close to her. McKenna’s best friend is Max, a retired decorated police dog. Phil Jenkins is just a good guy, he’s polite, and a darn good cop. You see this when Jenkins hears rumors of McKenna’s meltdown with the DC case. Phil waits to judge Agent McKenna herself, not some hearsay. Together McKenna and Jenkins search Baltimore with the clock ticking before the serial killer plays his next card. You can actually see these two getting closer and Jenkins more protective over Megan as the pages turn.<br />
<br />
How can a killer be well meaning?<br />
<br />
The killer is definitely not well meaning. The title is a play on words. As you read you learn the importance of the ugly wells to the killer. The Wells are the killer’s dumping grounds, his trophy ground so to speak. You get the idea early on, this guy is more than a little sick.<br />
<br />
I’ve read that nurses account for the majority of serial killings committed by women. What in your studies of psychology would explain it?<br />
<br />
I believe medical professionals, in general have the knowledge, opportunity, and easy access to drug and equipment, but from what I’ve read most of these professional don’t believe they are killers, but angels of mercy. Medical professionals form close bonds with their patients and hate to see them suffer, so some might succumb to the patient’s request to die, be it mercy of a favor to a friend. That being said female serial killers are divided into nine categories: black widows, angels of death, sexual predators, revenge killers, profit killers, team killers. Nurses are considered the most prolific serial killers among women, they have abundant opportunity and medical expertise to murder undetected. Deaths occur every day in the hospital, with no one the wiser. They also murder over a periods of years, sometimes up to thirty years with eight to fourteen killings a year. Women serial killers can kill under the wire for years because society looks at them as caregivers and nurturers.<br />
<br />
Please briefly explain the aberrant behavior of the agencies that abuse the foster care system.<br />
<br />
By aberrant behavior, I mean deviant behavior. There are many state foster care agencies that do well, but there are many that just don’t make the cut. Remember in Florida in 2002 when the State foster agency had lost hundreds of children with eighty-eight still at large? Abuses in the system continue to be on the rise today, what with budget cuts and dwindling social workers and staff. There are reports of children not only missing and abused in foster agencies, but many are placed in homes where known dangers lurk. This is a sad fact that The Well Meaning Killer, in one story thread, explores.<br />
<br />
Is The Well Meaning Killer, due out June 1, the first of a series?<br />
<br />
Yes, The Well Meaning Killer is the first novel in the series, introducing FBI Agent Megan McKenna and Max.<br />
<br />
I am currently working on the second book in the Megan McKenna Mystery series set in Kill Devil Hills—a fitting place for murder and mayhem, although Megan had gone there for a vacation and much needed rest and relaxation.<br />
<br />
Does your husband, novelist Robert W. Walker, serve as your editor and sounding board?<br />
<br />
No, but Rob makes a mean Ruben sandwich. Just kidding, of course, he’s a big help after all, he has published over forty plus novels, has a master’s in English, teaches writing, presides over his own editing business, and he’s been around the block a few times in the publishing world. Our kids get a kick that most of the time we write in the same room at separate but adjoining desks. I began reading Rob’s books the moment I met him and I love his characters and plots. So of course, I use him as a sounding board, but if you’ve read his novels, you’ll see I have a very different style. Rob is great fun to be around; he cracks me up with his dry humor.<br />
<br />
How does an ER nurse and mother of four children find time to write?<br />
<br />
If you really want to do something you love, you make the time. I write in the morning before getting the kids up, on the porch while making sure the boys don’t kill each other on their skateboards and bikes, while I watch TV, and late at night till the characters’ voices in my head shut up! You get the idea.<br />
<br />
How important is humor in a suspense novel?<br />
<br />
I believe humor is as important in a suspense novel as it is in life. Humor is what helps us through difficult times and keeps us from “losing it”; even when faced with danger, you have to find just a smidge of humor in the fact that you’re caught in it. I believe every kind of book should have some element of romance, mystery, suspense, thrills wrapped up within it. After all doesn’t life have it all?<br />
<br />
Thank you for taking part in the series.<br />
<br />
Miranda's web and blog sites:<br />
<br />
www.myspace.com/mirandawalkerthrillers http://crimespace.ning.com/profile/MirandaPhillipsWalker http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=1654248410&ref=profile http://www.shelfari.com/o1517883100<br />
http://www.mirandawalkerbooks.com<br />
Posted by Jean Henry Mead at 8:30 PM 2 comments<br />
Labels: ER nurse, Miranda Phillips Walker, mystery novelist, The Well Meaning Killer<br />
Friday, May 29, 2009<br />
How We Manage to Write TogetherNew Review of The Well Meaning Killer by Mary Welk, author of A Merry Little Murder!tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-05-15:537324:BlogPost:1984842009-05-15T03:55:34.000ZMiranda Phillips Walkerhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/MirandaPhillipsWalker
Miranda Walker presents readers with a gutsy new character in the world of police procedurals. Plagued by a past almost as horrendous as the case she's investigating, FBI Agent Megan McKenna exhibits the determination of a bulldog in both her professional and private lives. This opening salvo in Walker's new series is a sure bet for readers who love strong feminine characters."<br />
<br />
Mary Welk
Miranda Walker presents readers with a gutsy new character in the world of police procedurals. Plagued by a past almost as horrendous as the case she's investigating, FBI Agent Megan McKenna exhibits the determination of a bulldog in both her professional and private lives. This opening salvo in Walker's new series is a sure bet for readers who love strong feminine characters."<br />
<br />
Mary WelkReview of The Well Meaning Killer From: Raymond Benson, author of JAMES BOND--THE UNION TRILOGYtag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-05-07:537324:BlogPost:1975192009-05-07T21:58:50.000ZMiranda Phillips Walkerhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/MirandaPhillipsWalker
"In her debut FBI procedural novel, Miranda Phillips Walker exhibits confidence, talent, and credibility. Megan McKenna is an appealing heroine who is sure to be around for a long time. A very entertaining read!"<br />
--Raymond Benson, author of JAMES BOND--THE UNION TRILOGY
"In her debut FBI procedural novel, Miranda Phillips Walker exhibits confidence, talent, and credibility. Megan McKenna is an appealing heroine who is sure to be around for a long time. A very entertaining read!"<br />
--Raymond Benson, author of JAMES BOND--THE UNION TRILOGYReview of TWMK from Pat Mullan Author of The Root of All Eviltag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-05-02:537324:BlogPost:1968432009-05-02T17:57:51.000ZMiranda Phillips Walkerhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/MirandaPhillipsWalker
I was captured immediately by Chapter One, actually I was captured by the first sentence of the very first chapter. As I read on, I realized that I was in good hands, the hands of a writer whose skills never intruded on the page. That’s masterful. Many writers never achieve that. If I didn’t know you, and didn’t know that this is your first book, I would have attributed this work to someone with many years of successful writing accomplishment. You’ve made Megan McKenna someone that I care…
I was captured immediately by Chapter One, actually I was captured by the first sentence of the very first chapter. As I read on, I realized that I was in good hands, the hands of a writer whose skills never intruded on the page. That’s masterful. Many writers never achieve that. If I didn’t know you, and didn’t know that this is your first book, I would have attributed this work to someone with many years of successful writing accomplishment. You’ve made Megan McKenna someone that I care about, your settings, location, relationships, internal and external conflicts are all credible. And your dialogue is smooth and believable.”<br />
Pat Mullan, author of The Root of All EvilPreview The First Few Pages From Well Meaning Killer!tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-04-27:537324:BlogPost:1961432009-04-27T19:41:09.000ZMiranda Phillips Walkerhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/MirandaPhillipsWalker
Chapter One<br />
Aberdeen, Maryland July 13, 2008, 11:20PM<br />
<br />
FBI agent Megan McKenna knew something about being treated like garbage, and she knew what it felt like to be placed inside a hole in the ground. Her father had seen to that; he used a well out back of the house to discipline her, leaving her to shiver in the dark—sometimes for hours. But she was an adult now with a job to do, and she needed to keep her head in the game.<br />
Rain pounded her drenched coat and gear. The soggy ground sank beneath…
Chapter One<br />
Aberdeen, Maryland July 13, 2008, 11:20PM<br />
<br />
FBI agent Megan McKenna knew something about being treated like garbage, and she knew what it felt like to be placed inside a hole in the ground. Her father had seen to that; he used a well out back of the house to discipline her, leaving her to shiver in the dark—sometimes for hours. But she was an adult now with a job to do, and she needed to keep her head in the game.<br />
Rain pounded her drenched coat and gear. The soggy ground sank beneath Megan’s hiking boots, which she’d earlier dug from her car trunk. For two days and nights, a continuous downpour had pummeled the Baltimore area. Mud flowed everywhere, yet somehow the dogs had picked up the scent. The animals and handlers quickened their pace to the edge of the woods. After two days of searching, Megan feared she and Phil Jenkins had accomplished their goal—a goal with a doubled-edge. One they needed—for more information about this killer, but also one that meant more death bundled in a horrible package and dumped down this remote well.<br />
<br />
Yes, here it is, and it feels inevitable, imminent, and quite disconcerting.<br />
As the German Shepherds frantically thrashed around the abandoned well, their barking increased. This was no drainpipe hole in the ground, but an old-fashioned fieldstone structure, covered in lichen and mold and tenacious weeds at its base. It hadn’t the overhanging bucket or canopy of a storybook well but rather a crude, falling apart rustic wooden lid that’d been snatched from its moorings and pushed to one side. Here it leaned awkwardly away in a mocking gesture of a child’s slide. The ugly, weathered lid, braided together by two bands of iron, had gone to rot, soaked through from years of rain damage. Small sections had broken away where Detective Phil Jenkins and some of the others had hefted the monstrosity, dirt and weeds clinging to it. The men of the Baltimore Police Department stood staring down into the black hole they’d uncovered, curious, muttering to one another, all soaked through to their BVDs, but no one was climbing down into the well; no one but Phil had volunteered when Megan piped up, shouting, “Back off, gentlemen. This is where being a size six is needed.”No one on the Baltimore Aggravated Assault Taskforce, BAAT, expected to find the victim alive. Both the Baltimore Police Department and Megan McKenna, an FBI behavioral scientist, had by now bellied up to the well, which had become the central focus since the body-sniffing dogs had surrounded it. They’d all been standing and staring down into the black interior, all waiting to be told by lead investigator, Jenkins ‘what next’ before making a move.<br />
<br />
Baltimore detective Phil Jenkins handed Megan a flashlight and a rappelling harness. Without a word, Megan quickly and expertly attached the harness and started down the well. Actions speak louder than words, she recalled from her training officer at Quantico, Marcela Hiesling, who’d drilled it into her. Earlier, she and Phil had discussed who’d be dropping down into the abyss; they’d early on decided that there wasn’t a man among them small enough in the shoulder-width to manage the area offered by that hole in the ground. Phil had argued that he could manage it with his thin frame, but Megan had cut him short with, “I can get in, eyeball it, and be out quickly, Phil, whereas you or Grogan over there’d be stuck halfway down, and no one wants to call in the fire department.” She now inched downward into the black interior, feeling the small space at each shoulder knock grabbing at her petite body. Small particles of moss and plant life, crumbling stone, and spindly naked roots conspired with an overwhelming odor of dampness, earth, and decay. All crowding in on me. It felt like being buried alive, and even more so when Grogan and some of the other fools above threatened to place the lid over her as a sick joke. She heard Phil overhead putting an end to the tomfoolery before it’d gone too far. Megan breathed deeply and paid for it, as the odors here choked her and permeated every pore. She already wanted out of here, wanted soap, a shower, elbow space…but instead she focused on the task as difficult as it was. She suppressed all personal memories, hoping against hope that her instinct about what they’d find at the bottom was wrong.<br />
<br />
She concentrated the light on the darkness below, seeing an ominous reflection that struck her full force. The light had caressed a slick black Hefty trash bag. Something in the bag created a bulge. Something wicked indeed lay here at the bottom of the well. Grabbing hold of the black bag, she felt its weight tug back. Resistance. She tightened her grip and hefted it, fearful she’d not have the strength necessary. But she won the struggle, gaining on the awkward cargo. “Phill! Get me the hell outta here!” Her voice echoed up the well, sounding more distressed than she’d meant it to. With the men assisting, it was an easy ascent, yet too slow for Megan, who felt anxious for solid ground.<br />
<br />
Overhead, it’d begun to rain again. As she emerged with the evidence, Phil rushed to help her over the lip of the well. No one said a word, but the search team moved in as McKenna untied the bag. Mottled flesh stared back at them, the stench unbearable. The skin appeared intact, the stomach distended. The young victim’s head, covered with a plastic bag and secured with duct tape, proved all too sickeningly familiar. Unfortunately, the same MO as the last two victims had suffered within a three-week span, and still no clue to the sick monster behind these merciless killings. Megan looked up at Jenkins and the others, and with a weary sigh, shook her head. She could feel the heat of everyone’s stare…waiting for her to freak out or have a breakdown, given her recent history with cases of this nature, all involving wells in the Virginia-DC area.<br />
Phil tugged at Megan’s elbow, pulling her close so others wouldn’t hear. “Just let it be, kiddo. Don’t even go there.” “Like that’s possible, Phil?” A few weeks before, Jenkins could not have imagined saying any kind or consoling word to Megan. No cop liked the Federal Bureau of “Incompetence” moving in on his case, let alone a know-it-all, strong-willed redhead with a hair-trigger temper. Jenkins had overheard others at the precinct gossiping about McKenna’s leave of absence and questionable mental status. In other words, the FBI hadn’t sent their finest. The story he’d heard went along the lines of McKenna’s having lost it after being unable to save some kid over in D.C. from a real whack job like the one they now faced.<br />
<br />
A shout from someone on the team to get more amps on site echoed about the woods, and this, along with wildly flashing lights from a cadre of squad cars disturbed Jenkins’ train of thought. Phil frowned to see Megan step away from him. She now worked her way through the heavy mud and rain, returning to the road where the ambulance and attendants waited for the go-ahead. “You can stand down, have a smoke,” she told the jacketed male and female paramedics. “No one’s in need of life support or attention from anyone but Dr. Massey.” The mention of the medical examiner’s name said it all, and the medics nodded appreciatively. Jenkins shouted for a uniformed officer to accompany the body to the morgue while Megan studied the chaos he was in charge of, knowing the choreography of their murder scene was already badly staged, at the whim of nature, and shaky at best. Too many footprints going in and out, and no chance of tire prints as they had been destroyed by the rains. Any chance of finding a useful clue sat at zero percent. And she knew the killer would have left no trace of himself on the victims.<br />
<br />
And damn Phil Jenkins for taking me aside to calm me down before the others, like I’m his assistant…like I’m some grade school child in need of milk and cookies.<br />
The forensic team remained busy securing the crime scene. The sound of mud sloshing became a mantra, growing louder as the CSI people moved in to take photos and search for trace evidence that Megan knew would not be found. Just then Phil joined her, standing alongside, soaked, arms crossed as he watched the organized chaos. She sensed he was about to give her more advice, so she spoke first. “Hardly seems a likely possibility that CSI’ll find anything useful in this soupy marsh.” “Still gotta go through the motions.” He rubbed his hands into one another.<br />
“Cold?” she asked. “This kinda thing always makes me cold to the bone.”<br />
She nodded appreciatively, staring at the CSI force. They had their orders straight from Dr. Massey.<br />
“Gonna be damn impossible to triangulate the position of the body,” complained Phil in her ear.<br />
“Not so hard, really. Use the well.” “The well?”<br />
“Just state the body was found in the well. Triangulate the damn well.”<br />
“Ahhh…gotcha, right. I’m sure our guys can figure it out. The Baltimore PD maintains an excellent crime scene unit. If anyone can find any—”<br />
“Assume nothing, detective. If there’s one thing I’ve learned in law enforcement it’s that. Assume nothing.”<br />
Phil nodded unappreciatively and grunted.<br />
Megan said a silent prayer for the young person in the bag as the rest of the world—like gray shadows—worked at the evidence gathering.<br />
<br />
The Chief Medical Examiner for the Greater Baltimore area, Dr. Joseph A. Massey, joined Megan and Phil. Massey gave his cursory opinion from having spent a few minutes with the young female victim. “I’d say an autopsy will pretty much confirm it’s him again.” “Which doesn’t help us a whole hell of a lot, Doctor,” replied Jenkins. Massey’s features pinched, reflecting his own pain. “Just wanted you to know as lead detective on the case, and you, Agent McKenna.”<br />
“Then you’ve no doubt that it’s his handiwork?” pressed Phil.<br />
“I don’t imagine there’re two nutcases stuffing young people down wells, do you?”<br />
Megan inwardly smiled at hearing Massey say aloud precisely what she was thinking. “Third victim in as many weeks.” With her hair plastered against her head, she was as soaked through as Phil. “Let us know when you schedule the autopsy.”<br />
Massey nodded, staring at her. “Will do, of course. Meantime, Agent McKenna, are you OK?”<br />
Megan’s jaw was set so hard that her teeth were grinding below her cheeks, and her eyes must have shone her disappointment. Still she hammered Massey. “I’m fine, damn it, fine! And I wish people would stop asking.”Great Review!tag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-04-22:537324:BlogPost:1952732009-04-22T22:21:23.000ZMiranda Phillips Walkerhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/MirandaPhillipsWalker
Pack up your cozies and lock grandma in the closet, THE WELL Meaning KILLER is a female-driven mystery with enough hard-boiledbite to give Jim Thompson the jim-jams. Fist-time novelist and veteranER nurse Miranda Phillips Walker brings both the verisimilitude and theviscera to this riveting chiller. Following world-weary female FeebMegan McKenna on a greased skid into the heart<br />
of darkness, otherwiseknown as Baltimore, KILLER tells the story of McKenna’s terrifying racethrough the broken foster…
Pack up your cozies and lock grandma in the closet, THE WELL Meaning KILLER is a female-driven mystery with enough hard-boiledbite to give Jim Thompson the jim-jams. Fist-time novelist and veteranER nurse Miranda Phillips Walker brings both the verisimilitude and theviscera to this riveting chiller. Following world-weary female FeebMegan McKenna on a greased skid into the heart<br />
of darkness, otherwiseknown as Baltimore, KILLER tells the story of McKenna’s terrifying racethrough the broken foster care system to catch a hair-raising – andultimately heart-breaking – monster of a maniac. Readers will not soonforget THE WELL INTENTIONED KILLER, and they sure as hell betterremember the name Miranda Phillips Walker. An absolutely breathtakingdebut!” -- Jay Bonansinga, National Bestselling Author of PERFECTVICTIM, THE SINKING OF THE EASTLAND, and THE KILLER’S GAMEGathering Reviews & Blurbstag:crimespace.ning.com,2009-04-22:537324:BlogPost:1951702009-04-22T14:11:44.000ZMiranda Phillips Walkerhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/MirandaPhillipsWalker
As the release date of The Well Meaning Killer approaches this June, I am busy gathering reviews, blurbs, setting up signings and guest blogs. Whew! I just recently joined my space and facebook, and i'm busy stting up my own website. My publisher, Krill Press just put out the arc of my book on the ever popular DorothyL for comments. Enjoy!
As the release date of The Well Meaning Killer approaches this June, I am busy gathering reviews, blurbs, setting up signings and guest blogs. Whew! I just recently joined my space and facebook, and i'm busy stting up my own website. My publisher, Krill Press just put out the arc of my book on the ever popular DorothyL for comments. Enjoy!