Arizona – The Land of Milk and Honey?

I've been talking with Marja McGraw, a well-known writer of mystery novels. I was a guest on her blog last week. Today she's guesting on mine.

Marja is a well-known writer of mysteries. Check out her latest - "Death Comes in Threes" - on Amazon, and visit her home page: www.marjamcgraw.com.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that she's a westerner - altho not a Texan.

-- Dac.

I live in Bullhead City, Arizona, which is in the northwest part of the state. We live within walking distance of the Colorado River, and we have mild winters, hot summers and very little rain. In other words, I live in the desert, although thankfully we’re near a river.

I’ve seen the temperature as high as 128 degrees, and in the winter I’ve seen it get down to freezing (rarely). There’s an old bumper sticker which reads, “Bullhead City – Chill Factor 110º”. The heat rules here.

We have roadrunners who will eat out of our hands. Factor in critters like white desert iguanas, scorpions, snakes and tarantulas, and you know you’re in the desert – and yet we love it.

Most people wouldn’t associate the desert with mysteries, but believe me when I say there are plenty of places, things and people who would fit into a mysterious story.
For instance, there’s a Pass not far from here that reeks of mysteries. It’s hidden, not easy to find. There are caves once used by American Indians. One is black from smoke and it’s where the Indians cooked. Another one’s walls are covered with paintings. There’s an interesting overhang in the Pass. People have left dates written in pencil, sometimes accompanied by names. They date back to the early part of the last century. Because they’re on the underside of the overhang, they’ve remained legible. And there’s a rock that looks like an Indian princess. Legend says that the Indians may have hidden from the Cavalry in the Pass. It’s a fascinating place, and we treat it with care so nothing will be lost.

I hiked with a mapmaker for an archaeologist and we discovered all kinds of Indian artifacts, along with a very old shoe, probably dropped from a covered wagon in days gone by. Again, we treated this area with care, not removing anything we found.
We sometimes use our ATV (All-Terrain Vehicle) and ride out on the desert. We’ve found caves, watched animals like burros and Big Horn Sheep, and nearly broken our necks on some of the steep trails.

As a mystery writer it’s easy to imagine finding a body (new or vintage) in the desert. Or maybe a character could hide out in the hidden Pass. Imagine being chased by bad guys as you cross the desert in your ATV. Could a roadrunner lead you to a clue in someone’s yard or in the desert? The ideas are endless.

Contrary to what some people seem to think, there are mountains in Arizona. In Old Murders Never Die, I created a fictional ghost town in the Arizona mountains where a character and her partner became stranded. There are some huge, empty spaces between towns all over the state. Why not put a ghost town in one of those areas – someplace where the characters couldn’t easily walk away and find another inhabited town.
In Southern Arizona you’ll find Tombstone, the site of the OK Corral and the infamous shootout, along with other great historical sites. It’s a state full of history, excitement, and of course, heat.

Life is good, and so is Arizona.

Comments

[Marja McGraw]

Lesley, The desert really is a mysterious place. I'm glad to hear your husband used it. One of these days I may use the hidden Pass. Fun stuff.

[Lesley A. diehl]

When I lived in the southwest I found the remains of early native culture there fascinating and, like you, I believe it is the perfect setting for a mystery, yet I've never used the setting although my husband did in his first book.

[Marja McGraw]

Thank you, Elise. Most of my books take place in Los Angeles, but even fictional characters travel from time to time. And mysteries an pop up anywhere.

[Marja McGraw]

Thank you, Pat! You never know what you'll find when you travel through this state. Fun place to visit.

[Marja McGraw]

Thank you, Melodie! February is the time to find a "mellow" winter month. This winter in particular, I was glad I was in Arizona.

[Marja McGraw]

Thank you, Amy. I mentioned in an earlier reply that the desert is a unique place. Don't plan on visiting the state in July or August. LOL That is, unless you love the heat!

[Elise M. Stone]

I love Arizona! Since I spent most of my life in the Northeast, close to the ocean, I wasn't sure how I'd feel about living in Tucson. But, as you point out, the desert has its own charms.

There are several great Arizona mystery writers, including Elizabeth Gunn and Susan Cummins Miller. I hadn't heard of you before, but I've added you to my To-Read list. Your books sound fascinating.

[Pat Hernandez]

I love Arizona and have traveled all over the state. You are so right that it provides plenty of background for a mystery. Great blog, Marja!

[Melodie Campbell]

Love this post, Marja! You make Arizona come alive here and in your books. And I know what I'm talking about - we've been going to Arizona in Feb for 15 years.

[Amreade.wordpress.com]

Hi, Marja,

Nice to see you on this blog! Great post. I would love to visit Arizona someday. I'm not sure I want to be there when it's 128 degrees, though. I love the idea of being able to find ghost towns (real or imagined), parts of the Native American past and present, and unspoiled miles of the American west. Thanks for sharing your corner of the world with us.

[Marja McGraw]

Thank you, Susan. The desert is a unique place. I had no idea what I was in for when we moved to Arizona, but I've loved every moment of it.

[Susan Oleksiw]

My husband and I lived briefly in Tucson way back when, and I had an opportunity to visit the city last year. I couldn't get over the changes, but much of the city as I remembered it is still there. It's a beautiful area and I loved exploring it. I'll have to pick up some of your mysteries and enjoy it from a distance.

[Marja McGraw]

Thank you for having me as a guest, Dac. I love your blogs and I'm honored to be here.

[Marja McGraw]

Thank you, Marilyn. One of these days I want to visit Sedona. I've heard it's beautiful.

[Marja McGraw]

Pat, Thank you so much! I wish I could bottle your comments and pass them out. :)

[Patricia Gligor]

Marja, the first book of yours that I read was "Old Murders Never Die," which, as you mentioned, takes place in a fictional ghost town in the Arizona mountains. I loved the book and I've since read every one in your Sandi Webster Mystery series, including the most recent "Death Comes in Threes." Fantastic series!

[Marilyn Meredith]

Arizon has many great places--I love Prescott and Sedona, both beautiful. Good post, Marja.