I'm Abel's wife, mother of Lupita.
My husband thinks I'm obsessive about the fact that he is exposed to blood in his job. What he doesn't realize that because of the low-lifes he deals with they might be infected with all sorts of diseases from hepatitis to the AIDs virus.
No matter what anyone may say, particles blood containing viruses can linger in the air when someone has been injured or shot. All I'm asking Abel to do is protect himself and his family by making sure he's wearing protective gear when entering an accident or crime scene.
Oh, I know he wears gloves and shoe covers to protect the crime scene--but my concern is what he might breathe.
Yes, I am a nag about that--but hopefully if I remind him enough he'll eventually pay attention to my warnings.
I love Abel and I know he loves me--but sometimes I wonder if his job isn't more important to him than his family. Not much I can do about that--police work is as much his chosen field as nursing is mine.
Maria Navarro, RN
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Sergeant Abel Navarro
I love my job. Sometimes my wife, Maria, thinks I love it far too much.
Maria is a nurse. She works in the daytime at our local hospital and I work nights so we don't need a babysitter for our little girl, Lupita. My mom would love to take care of Lupita for us, but she and Maria don't get along. You see my mother is old-fashioned and doesn't really believe wives should work. Maria insists my mother doesn't like her, and maybe that's true, but the real problem is mom doesn't think any woman is good enough for her boys. I have to admit mom can be mean by saying just the wrong thing in a way that no one can really fault her.
Back to the job. When something is going on, I want to be in on it. I always wanted to be a police officer. For awhile I was afraid I was too short, but fortunately they relaxed the height rules.
Things are usually pretty quiet in Rocky Bluff, but once in a while everything goes crazy. Hate to admit, but that's when I'm happiest.
Abel
Maria is a nurse. She works in the daytime at our local hospital and I work nights so we don't need a babysitter for our little girl, Lupita. My mom would love to take care of Lupita for us, but she and Maria don't get along. You see my mother is old-fashioned and doesn't really believe wives should work. Maria insists my mother doesn't like her, and maybe that's true, but the real problem is mom doesn't think any woman is good enough for her boys. I have to admit mom can be mean by saying just the wrong thing in a way that no one can really fault her.
Back to the job. When something is going on, I want to be in on it. I always wanted to be a police officer. For awhile I was afraid I was too short, but fortunately they relaxed the height rules.
Things are usually pretty quiet in Rocky Bluff, but once in a while everything goes crazy. Hate to admit, but that's when I'm happiest.
Abel
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Detective Doug Milligan speaks out
Frankly, after my wife left me and took my two kids I was convinced I'd never marry again. Then along came Stacey Wilbur. Just thinking about her makes me smile.
A tiny little thing, she is so different from my first wife. Kerrie was spoiled and mainly interested in herself--but she was tall, willowy, sexy and looked great no matter what she wore. But she hated my job with the police department. Stacey has short, sun-bleached hair and seldom wears make-up. She looks fragile--but has proven time and time again she's absolutely not. When she was first hired on as an officer at Rocky Bluff P.D., no one wanted to partner with her or have her turn up as back-up. It wasn't long before she proved she could hold her own. Though she seldom resorts to brute force--though she certain can when necessary--she manages to talk angry people down and is an expert at calming volatile situations.
It wasn't long before I began noticing she had acute powers of observation and deduction. I noticed others things about her too--her femininity, her great personality, and frankly--she's hot.
Yes, you guessed it, wasn't long before I was figuring out ways we could be together. Not easy when you work on the same department. Also I had to contend with the fact Stacey didn't think it was wise to date someone she worked with. Lucky for me, she felt the same attracting toward me as I felt toward her.
Things heat up for us as we work together trying to find out who killed the preacher's wife in No Sanctuary. I just wish she wouldn't strike out on her own so much--often putting herself in danger.
Detective Doug Milligan
A tiny little thing, she is so different from my first wife. Kerrie was spoiled and mainly interested in herself--but she was tall, willowy, sexy and looked great no matter what she wore. But she hated my job with the police department. Stacey has short, sun-bleached hair and seldom wears make-up. She looks fragile--but has proven time and time again she's absolutely not. When she was first hired on as an officer at Rocky Bluff P.D., no one wanted to partner with her or have her turn up as back-up. It wasn't long before she proved she could hold her own. Though she seldom resorts to brute force--though she certain can when necessary--she manages to talk angry people down and is an expert at calming volatile situations.
It wasn't long before I began noticing she had acute powers of observation and deduction. I noticed others things about her too--her femininity, her great personality, and frankly--she's hot.
Yes, you guessed it, wasn't long before I was figuring out ways we could be together. Not easy when you work on the same department. Also I had to contend with the fact Stacey didn't think it was wise to date someone she worked with. Lucky for me, she felt the same attracting toward me as I felt toward her.
Things heat up for us as we work together trying to find out who killed the preacher's wife in No Sanctuary. I just wish she wouldn't strike out on her own so much--often putting herself in danger.
Detective Doug Milligan
Saturday, January 10, 2009
About the Town of Rocky Bluff
Rocky Bluff is a beach community not yet discovered by the rich and famous. From the ocean, the town itself is built on a slowly rising hillside, with homes of various ages and sizes climbing to the top. On one side of the town is a rocky bluff from where it got its name--and where the newest and most expensive homes are located, as well as the Rocky Bluff Community Church--the largest Protestant church. All Saint's Calvary church and St. Mark's Catholic church were located in the older downtown area.
Funky little cottages were closest to the beach. Built in the thirties as vacation get-aways from people from Los Angeles, most in stages of disrepair now served as lower-income rentals though a few had been purchased and refurbished by young marrieds.
A privately owned and run campground was on the most southern end of the town, right next to the condemned pier. Also at that end of town were several abandoned warehouses occupied at times by the transient homeless. The city fathers talked about the demolition of the pier and the warehouses, but so far that's all it was--talk.
Restaurants came and went, but a diner downtown, a Mexican bar with a Chinese restaurant above it had all been there for years. The Chinese restaurant is one of Detective Milligan's favorites. Of course a couple of the fast-food chains have opened close to the freeway entrances.
There are two elementary schools, one on either side of town, that go to the eight grade and one high school. Upon graduating, most of the young people go to Ventura or Santa Barbara to college or to find jobs.
Rocky Bluff P.D. is a small department with a Chief, a couple of Lieutenants, two Detectives, three Sergeants, and between seven and ten officers. At the moment, Stacey is the only female officer. When there is a need for one, Rocky Bluff calls in the Ventura County coroner.
For the most part, the town has been untouched by big city crime. Oh, of course there is prostitution, some drug dealing, and they've had some murders. But so far, the gangs haven't moved in. In some ways, visiting Rocky Bluff is like stepping back in time.
Stacey Wilbur feels like it's the best and safest place to raise her son, Davey.
Funky little cottages were closest to the beach. Built in the thirties as vacation get-aways from people from Los Angeles, most in stages of disrepair now served as lower-income rentals though a few had been purchased and refurbished by young marrieds.
A privately owned and run campground was on the most southern end of the town, right next to the condemned pier. Also at that end of town were several abandoned warehouses occupied at times by the transient homeless. The city fathers talked about the demolition of the pier and the warehouses, but so far that's all it was--talk.
Restaurants came and went, but a diner downtown, a Mexican bar with a Chinese restaurant above it had all been there for years. The Chinese restaurant is one of Detective Milligan's favorites. Of course a couple of the fast-food chains have opened close to the freeway entrances.
There are two elementary schools, one on either side of town, that go to the eight grade and one high school. Upon graduating, most of the young people go to Ventura or Santa Barbara to college or to find jobs.
Rocky Bluff P.D. is a small department with a Chief, a couple of Lieutenants, two Detectives, three Sergeants, and between seven and ten officers. At the moment, Stacey is the only female officer. When there is a need for one, Rocky Bluff calls in the Ventura County coroner.
For the most part, the town has been untouched by big city crime. Oh, of course there is prostitution, some drug dealing, and they've had some murders. But so far, the gangs haven't moved in. In some ways, visiting Rocky Bluff is like stepping back in time.
Stacey Wilbur feels like it's the best and safest place to raise her son, Davey.
Friday, January 9, 2009
What Others Have Said About Rocky Bluff P.D.
To make you a bit curious about Rocky Bluff P.D. thought you should read some excerpts from reviews of the last couple of books about us, so here goes:
"I settled in to read Smell of Death on a recent Saturday morning, expecting I would have the day to myself. Reading fiction is a pleasure I don’t take often enough. Alas, the day did not go as planned and I was only about a third of the way through the book when something came up and I had to put it down.
"Going about my business I continued to think about the characters introduced... series, these were new to me. Police Officer Stacey Wilbur—a single mother. Detective Doug Milligan (did I sense a love interest developing between him and Wilbur?). Officer Felix Zachary and his wife, Wendy; Officer Abel Navarro and his wife, Maria; and Officer Gordon Butler (uh-oh, he has a crush on Stacey Wilbur, too).
By the time my reading was disturbed, the beach-front community had two murders and a missing child—and the busy PD was handling a number of other cases, too. I had to wonder what more could happen.
"I wanted to know 'who done it' and I wanted to see if the various characters would resolve their problems and issues as the story unfolded.I was satisfied on both counts. With the understanding of both the job side and the human side of law enforcement personnel, Meredith’s characters are believable and the storyline demonstrates the kinds of issues they face.
"The nuts and bolts of a police procedural are woven seamlessly with the involvement of the major characters in a number of sub-plots playing out over what amounts to about two weeks in Rocky Bluff. It makes for what is simply a great read—with enough twists and turns to avoid being predictable, and with characters you will continue to think about after the mysteries are solved.
"Leaving hope, of course, that another Rocky Bluff PD story will find its way out of Marilyn’s active imagination very soon!" --Claudia Elliott, Editor, Southern Sierra Messenger
"...In the style of the best of Wambaugh, albeit with a gentler hand and less rugged language, F. M. Meredith draws characters we want to know better, those with whom we'd like to kick back and share a beer. She lays bare their flaws and weaknesses while showing us that these brave men and women, who risk their lives to protect us on a daily basis, are really no different than we are-decent, caring individuals with the same hardships and triumphs, struggling to do their best as husbands and wives, and moms and dads, while keeping their humanity. The members of the Rocky Bluff P. D. are definitely folks I want to visit again, and look forward to "riding along" as they guarantee the triumph of justice over evil." Miqui Miller
"Rocky Bluff P.D. Series is a cross between Law & Order and As the World Turns. The story centers on the everyday lives of the law enforcement who serve and protect citizens of Rocky Bluff, California, a beach community....By the end of the book, cases will be closed, but the lives of the Rocky Bluff P.D. will keep on. We’ll be able to catch up though in the next series to come."
–J.Kaye Book Blog
“...This book does an excellent job of showing, through well-defined characters, the impact that life on the police force has on its members and their families. The touch of romance between Stacey and Doug is just the right thing to lighten up some of the heavy stuff going on in this book.
"Smell of Death by F.M. Meredith is an engaging, well-written, and gripping page turner, that will leave you hungry for the next book in the Rocky Bluff P.D. series." --The Book Connection
“...Author F. M. Meredith has been compared to Joseph Wambaugh, and I can definitely see the connection. The cops of her fictional Rocky Bluff PD have lives that extend beyond the chase and the crime scene. They struggle to raise their children, deal with leaky faucets, and pay their mortgages. They have hopes, loves, fears, and nightmares. They come across like real people, with real lives. The police work in Smell of Death is not fancy, or even particularly high-tech.There’s no CSI magic to be found here. There are no courtroom theatrics, and nohyper-intuitive detectives. Just hard working cops doing the sort of methodical spadework that probably solves most real life crimes.”...Jeff Edwards, AAA
These reviews have certainly recognized the essence of the Rocky Bluff P.D.
"I settled in to read Smell of Death on a recent Saturday morning, expecting I would have the day to myself. Reading fiction is a pleasure I don’t take often enough. Alas, the day did not go as planned and I was only about a third of the way through the book when something came up and I had to put it down.
"Going about my business I continued to think about the characters introduced... series, these were new to me. Police Officer Stacey Wilbur—a single mother. Detective Doug Milligan (did I sense a love interest developing between him and Wilbur?). Officer Felix Zachary and his wife, Wendy; Officer Abel Navarro and his wife, Maria; and Officer Gordon Butler (uh-oh, he has a crush on Stacey Wilbur, too).
By the time my reading was disturbed, the beach-front community had two murders and a missing child—and the busy PD was handling a number of other cases, too. I had to wonder what more could happen.
"I wanted to know 'who done it' and I wanted to see if the various characters would resolve their problems and issues as the story unfolded.I was satisfied on both counts. With the understanding of both the job side and the human side of law enforcement personnel, Meredith’s characters are believable and the storyline demonstrates the kinds of issues they face.
"The nuts and bolts of a police procedural are woven seamlessly with the involvement of the major characters in a number of sub-plots playing out over what amounts to about two weeks in Rocky Bluff. It makes for what is simply a great read—with enough twists and turns to avoid being predictable, and with characters you will continue to think about after the mysteries are solved.
"Leaving hope, of course, that another Rocky Bluff PD story will find its way out of Marilyn’s active imagination very soon!" --Claudia Elliott, Editor, Southern Sierra Messenger
"...In the style of the best of Wambaugh, albeit with a gentler hand and less rugged language, F. M. Meredith draws characters we want to know better, those with whom we'd like to kick back and share a beer. She lays bare their flaws and weaknesses while showing us that these brave men and women, who risk their lives to protect us on a daily basis, are really no different than we are-decent, caring individuals with the same hardships and triumphs, struggling to do their best as husbands and wives, and moms and dads, while keeping their humanity. The members of the Rocky Bluff P. D. are definitely folks I want to visit again, and look forward to "riding along" as they guarantee the triumph of justice over evil." Miqui Miller
"Rocky Bluff P.D. Series is a cross between Law & Order and As the World Turns. The story centers on the everyday lives of the law enforcement who serve and protect citizens of Rocky Bluff, California, a beach community....By the end of the book, cases will be closed, but the lives of the Rocky Bluff P.D. will keep on. We’ll be able to catch up though in the next series to come."
–J.Kaye Book Blog
“...This book does an excellent job of showing, through well-defined characters, the impact that life on the police force has on its members and their families. The touch of romance between Stacey and Doug is just the right thing to lighten up some of the heavy stuff going on in this book.
"Smell of Death by F.M. Meredith is an engaging, well-written, and gripping page turner, that will leave you hungry for the next book in the Rocky Bluff P.D. series." --The Book Connection
“...Author F. M. Meredith has been compared to Joseph Wambaugh, and I can definitely see the connection. The cops of her fictional Rocky Bluff PD have lives that extend beyond the chase and the crime scene. They struggle to raise their children, deal with leaky faucets, and pay their mortgages. They have hopes, loves, fears, and nightmares. They come across like real people, with real lives. The police work in Smell of Death is not fancy, or even particularly high-tech.There’s no CSI magic to be found here. There are no courtroom theatrics, and nohyper-intuitive detectives. Just hard working cops doing the sort of methodical spadework that probably solves most real life crimes.”...Jeff Edwards, AAA
These reviews have certainly recognized the essence of the Rocky Bluff P.D.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Officer Stacey Wilbur Speaks Out
Right now I'm the only female officer on the Rocky Bluff P.D. I vowed I would never date anyone on the department, knew all it would do was complicate my life.
That was before Detective Doug Milligan came along. In Smell of Death I'm the first one on the scene of two brutal murders and Doug (yes, that's what I call him now--at least when I'm thinking about him or we're alone together) enlisted my help in the investigations.
Oh, Doug was there in Final Respects, Bad Tidings and Fringe Benefits, but I didn't have really interact with him until Smell of Death.
Soon you'll be able to read about our continued romance--and some dangerous stuff I get to do--in the new book, No Sanctuary, coming out soon from Oak Tree Press.
Watch this blog for more information--and also for blog posts by others on the Rocky Bluff P.D.
Oh, and Marilyn wanted to let you know that at this time the only way you can order the first three books is from her website: http://fictionforyou.com
Officer Stacey Wilbur
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