Marshall Allen
LA CANADA FLINTRIDGE -- Local author Jerrilyn Farmer will share
lessons learned from writing her Madeline Bean Mystery series with
interested writers at La Canada Flintridge Public Library tonight.
Farmer will offer would-be authors advice for how to get published and
the best ways to start their novels.
Farmer's best-selling culinary mysteries have earned many American
mystery honors in the four years they've been published. Her latest, "Dim
Sum Dead," follows the characters Maddie Bean and Wesley Westcott into
the worlds of mah-jongg, mu shu and murder as they operate an event
planning and catering business.
Farmer's mysteries are her latest taste of writing success and a
product of her experience and geography. When she first moved to Los
Angeles, she joined the writing staff of "Jeopardy!", and continued a
career in television that included writing comedy sketches for Dana
Carvey, Jon Lovitz, and other comedians.
Farmer's Hollywood experience offered rich fodder for creating
characters, she said.
"I truly was delighted to find how many strange, sometimes brilliant
and exotic people land in television production," she said.
Familiar with the flavor of humanity, Farmer enjoys dishing it out to
her readers.
"It's truly a blessing to have the opportunity to voice what I think,"
Farmer said.
While savoring her take on social relationships, local readers might
recognize Farmer's geographical references. Farmer's book, "Immaculate
Reception," featured the city of La Canada Flintridge and St. Bede the
Venerable Catholic Church. La Canada Flintridge is portrayed as a
"charming, beautiful, residential area that also has a few secrets in its
garages," Farmer said.
In "Killer Wedding," locals might be familiar to a fictional country
club that closely resembles Oakmont Country Club in Glendale, she said.
As an encouragement to new writer's, Farmer said that it's her life
experience that makes her work possible.
"There's a great opportunity for those of us who've lived a little bit
of life and built up some of those experiences," she said.
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Jerrilyn Farmer on "How To Get Published."
WHEN: 7 tonight.
WHERE: La Canada Flintridge Library, 4545 Oakwood Ave., La Canada
Flintridge.
COST: Free.
INFO: For more information, call 790-3330.
