In Meredith's books, too, good does triumph over evil, a comforting message in troubled times.

Marilyn Meredith:  Both books were written at very different times. With Madeline, I wanted to show how she matured faith-wise when it became apparent that she was the only one who understood the danger that surrounded them. I think the demons didn't value Madeline at all or think she was any threat whether female or not. In THE CHOICE, Jessica only has the faith of a "mustard seed" and in her case, it is enough. The one who was going to be sacrificed was the minister because he was a man of God.

For anyone who has read my Deputy Tempe Crabtree mysteries, THE CHOICE really began as the first in that series. However, by the time I got to DEADLY TRAIL, Tempe was no longer the same woman that I began with and THE CHOICE became a stand-alone.

Kristin Johnson: Certainly misogyny plays a major role working against Deputy Jessica McGuire.  Talk more about how you developed a female police officer as a protagonist.

Marilyn Meredith:  Definitely Jessica is looked down upon as a female by those she works with. My interest in females in law enforcement began when I interviewed a female deputy for our local newspaper--a personality piece. She poured out her heart about how difficult it was for her. When I wrote the article, I had her read it because I was afraid she'd get fired when it was published. She told me to go ahead with it--and she was fired. I also did a ride-along with the only police officer on the Porterville P.D. From the hours from 3 a.m. to 6, nothing happened, and the officer let me know how it was being the only female on the force. Many similarities between both women. From their stories my heroines were born.

Kristin Johnson: As a teenager, Madeline Mahoney doesn't have the responsibilities of Jessica McGuire as a widowed single mom.  Yet Madeline, too, exhibits great courage---and she doesn't even have Jessica's shotgun!  Do you see Madeline as a role model for teenage girls?

Marilyn Meredith: I once taught a girl like Madeline Mahoney in Sunday School. She was very attractive, and very centered on her own looks--but at the same time she had very strong religious convictions. I have a teenaged granddaughter who also has many of the same attributes as Madeline--and I'm very proud of her. Yes, I think Madeline would make a good role model.

Kristin Johnson: As watchful as you obviously are about cultural influences on our youth, you definitely put the responsibiliuty for dabbling in evil on the adults.  Fortunately, you balace them with role models such as Pastor David Tanner, Pastor Bracksmith and Madeline's mother Kitty Mahoney.  What role do you think adults play in keeping our children away from negative influences?

Marilyn Meredith: Unfortunately, I don't think that adults today pay enough attention to what children are watching on TV and listening to music-wise. I think adults need to take the time to befriend teenagers. If teenagers have adults with good moral and religious values as friends, the teenagers will use them as role models.

Kristin Johnson: Pastor David Tanner says at the end of THE CHOICE, "All that matters is that ultimately each one of us will belong to God or to the devil, we all must make that choice." Your characters, Jonathan McGuire, Madeline Mahoney and Jessica McGuire, are all flawed, not universally strong in their faith, and yet in the end they make the correct choice.  What lesson do you think this illustrates for our society?

Marilyn Meredith: We have to make choices every day of our lives--it's important that we make the right choices.

Kristin Johnson: How prevalent do you think Satanism is in our society, and what kind of threat does it pose?  Do you believe in demons?

Marilyn Meredith: I'm afraid that devil worship does go on. We've had some evidence of this even in the small foothill community I live in. The papers tend not to report these kinds of things.

Kristin Johnson: What made you choose Satanism as a topic for these books?

Marilyn Meredith: Where do ideas come from? Frankly, they pop into my head, which I think happens to most writers. I like to think that God planted both ideas. 

Though I believe we certainly can choose our own beliefs, in the case of DEEDS OF DARKNESS, this is a case of witchcraft gone bad--opening up the world to the demons.

Yes, I do believe in demons as much as I believe in angels. I don't think you can read the paper today without realizing that the devil is alive and well and busy in our world--and to create all the chaos that is going on he has to have helpers. Demons are mentioned many times in the Bible. I don't really think they look like the demons in my story--but the book is fiction after all.

Kristin Johnson: Does Brian Coulter fall for Madeline Mahoney because of the love spell she casts with Lynette Parker?   Why or why not? 

Marilyn Meredith: The love spell didn't work. Madeline was kind to Brian at the right time. Before that he only had eyes for his girlfriend and hadn't really paid any attention to Madeline. Though I did do some research in how to do those kinds of spells and the ceremonies of the witches, I changed and left things out because I didn't want anyone trying any of these things.

Kristin Johnson: Both Madeline and Jonathan seem to be lured into the occult because of crushes, but become disillusioned when Heidi flees the satanic sacrifice and people clsoe to Brian are endangered.  Talk a bit about the lure of infatuation versus the deep affection Brian and Madeline have, as well as Jessica McGuire and David Tanner.  What role does love play in summoning and destroying the demons?

Marilyn Meredith: I think people do foolish things in the pursuit of love.

Teenagers become infatuated easily and often for all the wrong reasons: looks, popularity, vehicles, clothes etc. When Brian and Madeline began spending time together and got to know each other their feelings for each other matured into a true relationship. Though Brian had good intentions, the demons only wanted Madeline. 

Jessica had experienced true love before and so had David. Not only did her love for David cause her to brave facing the devil--her love for her child was strong motivation to face this horrible supernatural being.

Kristin Johnson: What further plans do you have for similar books?  Do you feel you've exhausted the subject of satanism and the occult?

Marilyn Meredith: I'm rewriting another book that deals with a similar subject. I doubt that the subject has been exhausted--though my take on the dangers of embracing satanism and the occult aren't popular with today's culture.

        Madeline Mahoney is an ordinary small-town teenager absorbed in boys and her appearance, embarrassed by being the daughter of the town sheriff, and perpetually annoyed by her brother Skip. She's also deeply devoted to her Christian faith, and wishes handsome Brian Coulter would pay attention to her.

       Madeline's crush on Brian leads her into an encounter with a witches' coven led by her friend Lynette's mother, Dian. Madeline agrees to try casting a romantic love spell to win Brian's affections, although the idea of  witchcraft makes her uncomfortable even as she begins to raise questions about her faith in her church youth group. Madeline's faith faces an unusual test. A series of tragedies test the Christian faith of the entire
community of Yokut Springs. 

      Madeline's guilt intensifies when one of the tragedies befalls Brian's girlfriend, who then shuns Brian. Brian turns to Madeline. Though wondering if Brian likes her for who she is rather than the spell, Madeline
revels in his attention---and counts on him for support as the coven of witches proves to be far more sinister than Dian claims.

      The author doesn't waste much time on spooky apparitions. When demons appear, Madeline and Brian, who in typical teenage-hero fashion can't communicate the problem to adults, take action to save the community and its members, including Madeline's beloved mother Kitty. In true Christian spirit, the most ordinary person (much like the Biblical Jonah) has the most power. Madeline rises to the occasion, confronting the demons' evil through the strength of her, despite the denial of her pastor.

       While the demons are an expected component in this denunciation of witchcraft, they aren't frightening, although the lead demon's taunting Madeline's flaws is effective. The scene of three children being blown up by a hand grenade seems far more horrifying, perhaps because the idea of the supernatural is still something people can't grasp. This book proves that acceptance of invisible evil and the power of God is a matter of faith, and dares to tackle complex issues.

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