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New book from Yorkton author

Marjorie Dech, who writes under the pseudonym Marsha Olivia Meadows, has a new book. A book from the author has become a rather regular occurrence. “I published my first novel in 2013.
Meadoews

Marjorie Dech, who writes under the pseudonym Marsha Olivia Meadows, has a new book.

A book from the author has become a rather regular occurrence.

“I published my first novel in 2013. Jessica's Perception was to become the first of what is commonly called now as, Jessica's Trilogy,” she related. “The second of that series, Jessica Awakens was released in 2014 and the third, Jessica's Attainment followed in 2016 bringing the series to a close.  

One year later, 2017 Dark Cold Ice was published and now we have Bar-B-Que being published this year. 

The idea for the latest book came almost by accident admitted Dech who was “born and raised in the outlaying rural areas”, and now resides in Yorkton.

“A friend and I were doing the 'bs' thing over a coffee when I noted that I was trying to come up with a couple of ideas for a novel I am working on that will contain a collage of short stories. What was meant to be a slight joke actually became extended to a full novel that definitely would not fit into a book of shorts.”

Readers will not have to have read Dech’s previous books to jump right into the latest offering.

“Bar-B-Que, as does Dark Cold Ice, stands by its self and is again, another completely new genre for me,” she explained.

“With this novel I have dipped into the depths of darkness. I have written a tale of a young lad who has a thirst for the heat of fire. A serial killer of sorts, who enjoys helping 'Karma' reap havoc on ruffians who tend to torment and intimidate the lesser people. I have also added a dash of thought that perhaps a ‘Paranormal Entity’ might exist.”

It is a book Dech admitted, almost did not get written.

“I had thoughts of putting the book on the shelf and leaving it undone a few times, but after allowing some of my previous readers to view some snippets, their replies were a desire for more of the story,” she said. “I always aim to please my readers so Bar-B-Que became a completed novel.”

The issue for Dech was plotting what turns the story would ultimately take.

“Planning the route the story would take was indeed more fun than it was a challenge,” she said, adding; “once the idea registered in my mind all that was to be done was outline the thoughts, fashion them into easy flowing order and proceed.

“In any novel I write, I need to see the happening in my mind's eye before it hits the pages. If I can see it happen, the story becomes very simple to execute. Prep work for me, is thinking and seeing it while I go about any daily chores thus you may often see a note pad and pen within my reach.

“When a vision happens, it turns into words for whichever novel I may be thinking on at that moment.”

For Dech it is a process that has come to her with no formal training as a writer, beyond one course, and it stuck.

“As a high school student, English was a favorite subject for me,” she related. “I read the pages of novels and books a plenty until I desired more teachings.

“I wanted to try my hand at writing. We did not have the opportunity, at that time, to study writing anywhere other than by correspondence so that is exactly what I did. I took a course in writing, ‘Short Stories’.

It helped too that her career was one where she could collect ‘story ideas' almost by osmosis.

“In the early years of my chosen career, I worked in the fashion and hair industry where I was granted the opportunity to listen to and absorb a wide array of adventures told to me by those I worked with and for,” said Dech “These tales have assisted me in the completion of four novels thus far, and now the fifth.

“I continue to work part time with the public still drawing inspirations from their stories that assist me in writing adventures yet to be executed on the pages of my next novels.”

As for her latest offering the challenge was to go places in the story that were disturbing in nature.

“I think the most challenging aspect of this project was accepting the fact I could write something with such darkness in it,” said Dech.

“I previously noted that I had shared snippets with some others to read. When I did that I did expect negative reviews but received nothing negative at all. However there may be those who, after reading the entire works, just might look at me a touch sideways when next we meet.”

So what does the author see as the best aspect of the book?

“I think the best aspect of this novel lies in the possible existence of a 'Paranormal Existence' that can maybe take over a human's mind causing them to perform in ways that are far removed from the person's regular beliefs,” she said.

But, is Dech happy with the final tale she has told?

“I am my own worst critic yet while doing a draft or editing Bar-B-Que, I must say, yes I am satisfied with the final outcome of the completed project,” she said.

And, there may be more stories to be told.

“Once again I have left a portal which could lead to a follow up novel yet no plans of such are in the works however, I do have two more novels started that need to be completed,” said Dech. “With our world in the state it is, where social distancing has become the daily practice, I have much time on my hands so perhaps there will be no better time to draw pictures in my mind and complete one or both of the next projects.”

All of Dech’s novels can be found on Amazon Book store as well as Coles in Yorkton (once it is open). She can be found on Facebook and her web page; www.momeadows.com