Saving the Environment With Fiction

Educator. Environmental Activist. Theater Enthusiast. Administrator.

Marjorie Abrams uses these words to describe periods of her life and interests, but since retiring in 2000, she has added another descriptor: Writer.

"When I retired, I wanted to do something fun, and mystery writing is fun," said Abrams, author of a North Florida mystery series.

Dorothy Staley, Abrams' fellow writer's group member, said Abrams is much more than a writer. Like the main character's theatrical career in Abrams' books, Staley said she sees Abrams not just as a writer but as the director of a play.

"She has chosen to see the books through from the beginning to publication," Staley said, adding that Abrams self-publishes her novels.

In her third book, "Murder on Hogtown Creek," releasing in December 2009, Abrams continues the themes from her previous novels as her returning protagonist, Lorelei Crane, visits Hogtown Creek where Lorelei stars in a play while investigating murder and eco-terrorism.

Abrams said she moved her next novel to Hogtown Creek, located just two blocks from her home, after finally visiting it not long ago, even though she has lived near it for about 20 years.

"A year and a half ago a friend took me for a walk [to Hogtown Creek], and it was just magical," Abrams said.

As in all her books, including the third book, Abrams said she writes to convince people of North Florida's beauty.

"I hope that they gain enjoyment from reading the story and that they take a greater appreciation from the settings I'm describing."

When she first thought about writing, it was important to her to include environmental undertones, Abrams said. In fact, writing a book was her chance to combine several of her interests: the environment, Florida scenery, the theater and good mystery novels.

"It's been my goal to entice the readers' appreciation in environmental areas around Florida," she said.

Abrams interest in the environment began in the 1980s when she attended a small workshop on environmental ethics, she said. There she first viewed a picture of the Earth from outer space.

"We sat and contemplated that beautiful blue and green globe, and it just had a powerful impact on me," she said.

From there, her love for the environment and sadness over its destruction was always part of her journey.

"I've steadily been involved and have done a lot of activism in my community," Abrams explained.

Abrams also makes sure to include her interest in the theater in the novels. The main character, Lorelei Crane, is a theatrical actress, and the plays she stars in always parallel the action happening in the novel.

Anne Boches, a long-time friend of Abrams who helped proofread Abrams' first and second books, said, "She gives a lot of information on the theater in general."

Although the information Abrams' provides on the theater and the environment could be daunting, Boches said Abrams presents it in a friendly way.

"I think people, even if they don't expect it, receive a lot of good information and have a lot to think about without hitting them over the head with it," she said.

Being able to meld different interests into one book was not an easy task in the beginning, especially considering Abrams jumped from professional writing to creative writing when she decided to tackle a novel.

"I've always written, but I had never done creative writing," Abrams said. "It took me a while to unlearn how to write."

To help her with her move into fiction writing, Abrams relied on a writer's group she joined in 2002.

On Mondays, six women, including Abrams and Staley, meet at the Millhopper Library Branch to discuss writing and projects.

"Whenever she runs into a writing wall, when she brings it to the group, a fresh set of eyes helps," Staley said.

With Abrams' first book, "Murder on the Prairie," Staley said the group helped Abrams with the basics of fiction writing.

"She had been a professor and [was] used to writing professional journals," Staley said. "She had to switch from formalized writing to informal."

While writing "Murder at Wakulla Springs," which won a Bronze Medal for popular fiction in the 2006 Florida Book Awards, the group helped Abrams fine-tune her style, Staley said.

Now, on her third book, "Murder on Hogtown Creek," Abrams has kept things under wraps.

"She took off and was able to fly on her own," Staley said.

Over the time Staley has known Abrams, she has come to the conclusion that Abrams, like the North Florida mystery series, is a package deal.

"She works from the heart and doesn't waste time," Staley said. "That for me is inspiration." §

Mary Kypreos is a freelance writer and editor who travels as much as possible. She can be contacted via the editor: editor@towerpublications.com.

1-Minute Biography:

Favorite Writing Book:
"On Writing" by Stephen King

Favorite Mystery Writer:
"One of my favorite mystery writers is P.D. James. I took the name M.D. Abrams in homage to her."

Philanthropy:
Abrams donates books and a portion of the profits from her books to environmental organizations, such as the Suwannee St. Johns Sierra Club.

Writing Genre:
Abrams writes in a mystery genre called "cozy," which is a relatively bloodless murder mystery, with little coarse language and no sexually explicit material.

Fun Fact:
Abrams wrote an award-winning play, "The Cellphone," which was produced at the Hippodrome State Theater in Gainesville.

Book Signing Information:
Jan. 21: Wild Iris Books, 802 W. University Ave., starting at 7:00 p.m.

Feb. 13: On the banks of the St. Johns at Palatka's Riverfront Park, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with all profits donated to the Putnam County Environmental Council.

"Murder on Hogtown Creek" Preview
When actress Lorelei Crane returns to Gainesville to star in "Sweeny Todd: The Barber of Fleet Street," friends ask her to find out about the murder of their fellow Earth Save member. What began as a simple inquiry soon puts Lorelei on an investigative trail leading her to the City of Palatka and the Ocklawaha River and Rodman Dam. Lorelei comes to believe the Gainesville crimes are linked to an act of eco-terrorism committed on the river. In pursuit of proof about her suspicions, the actress faces the greatest danger to her life.