Marilyn Haddrill

Author Marilyn Haddrill created the fictional town of Salt Flat as a sometimes zany creative backdrop for her animal-themed cozy mystery book series, Salt Flat Murders.

But she adds a dash of realism to main character Jessica Flynn by drawing on past real-life experiences as a rural reporter in the remote southeastern New Mexico desert region where she grew up.

Marilyn won numerous honors during her early news reporting career, including a national second place feature writing award from Gannett Corp. and two Texas Headliners feature writing cash prizes.

As a novelist, she currently has three published books in the Salt Flat Murders cozy mystery series: Death by Snake, Death on a Cold Silent Night, and Death in the Blink of an Eye.

Her earlier works include two published novels co-written with her deceased mother Doris Holmes.

Marilyn eventually left news reporting to complete her journalism career as a medical writer and editor. But she always dreamed of creating a mystery series set in the exhilarating natural world of her beloved New Mexico where she still lives with her husband.