Merle Temple's Blog

"The next 'superstar author'...a remarkable talent...a must read!"-Susan Reichert, Editor-Southern Writers Magazine

"Merle Temple weaves another totally captivating tale of intrigue and treachery! The demons he faces are completely unexpected...truly A RENTED WORLD!"—Jim Clemente, Writer-Criminal Minds

"A barn-burner of a page-turner...readers would do well not to miss the phrasing treasures that lie hidden along the trail of intrigue."-Errol Castens, Writer-The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal

“Leave the gun, take the cannoli, and buy this book!”—John Martino (Paulie), The Godfather

"Writing is spell binding, haunting...broke my heart."—Lisa Love, Writer-Southern Reader Magazine

“Writing hums with the pulsating rhythm of the New South, where gangsters and ghosts no longer lurk in the shadows but reach out and grab you by the throat in broad daylight. A gripping read from an emerging author with a true gift for words."—Robert Lee Long, Editor—De Soto Times

“…betrayal, heartache…the wrong side of powerful men who thrive in the dark shadows of power. Merle Temple dives deeper into the depths of the underworld he survived…”—Mark H. Stowers, the Clarion-Ledger

“Whether a man is Goliath, or a White Knight covered by armor, there is one point of vulnerability…right between the eyes…even better than A Ghostly Shade of Pale. “Jan Ballard—Yarnspinners Book Club

“…a master at delivering spiritual messages within secular bindings…deep within the company of the finest Mystery-Suspense writers in the Southern Tradition.”—K.B. Schaller, Author-100 + Native American Women

“…provocative, powerful…the dark underbelly of humanity…begs for Temple’s third book to complete the trilogy.”—Bob Chrismas, Canadian police officer, Author-Canadian Policing in the 21st Century

"I ask my students, ‘Can you picture that’? Merle Temple's descriptive writing makes it so much easier for them as he creates spectacular mental images."—Jonelle Gillette, Speech Pathologist.

“I tell my clients who think life is over, ‘I have two words for you—Merle Temple.’”—John Garcia, Attorney (former prosecutor)

Reviews for A Ghostly Shade of Pale by Merle Temple, merletemple.comA Ghostly Shade of PaleA Ghostly Shade of Pale

“Captures the South, the period in the 1970s...evocative of some of the great Southern writers...a taste and feeling for where you are... a lot of layers in a fascinating book."—Allison Hope Weiner, Media Mayhem, Beverly Hills.

“..a great storyteller, writing to all of your senses…a story so detailed and complex, yet beautifully sinister…reader is immersed in the feeling of absolute reality.”—Jim Clemente, Criminal Minds, Hollywood.

“The writing is intense, lush and occasionally lurid… poetry in abundance…pages where Michael goes home to bury his beloved grandmother are particularly moving…pure melodrama, in the best sense of the word…delivered with such passion and conviction that flaws become irrelevant…repentance, purity, revenge, honesty, malice, regret and redemption all cry out to us for attention… will repay your perseverance.”—Crime Fiction Lovers, England.

"I fell for his language as a fan of Southern fiction… The tone of the novel is part gothic, part mystery, part thriller and all stratagem…a very new twist on a time period he has the background and authority to talk about. Opens with a murder and doesn’t let go. I look forward to the sequel."—Gila Green, Israel, Author—King of the Class

“…the press is just beginning to jump on board to something that’s about to get as hot as a drug deal gone bad with automatic weapons and kilos of cocaine flying around. The book may be fiction but its writer is not. He’s lived the life and survived it – with his faith intact.”—Mark Stowers, The Clarion-Ledger, Jackson, Mississippi.

“The drug war is on . . . and we should all be afraid…takes the reader into a 1960s world of violence and mystery, and creates characters that are chillingly sinister, especially the evil Fredrick, who may haunt your nightmares for a very long time…blends action with a literary style that only grows in the Deep South. Romance and brutality merge in this debut novel by a promising author. Not for the faint of heart.”—Adele Elliott, Real Media Radio.

“Temple’s first-hand knowledge of gun battles, drug deals gone bad, corrupt politicians, and law enforcement officials, makes the scenes and pages come to life.”—The Oxford Eagle.

“Suspense-driven…a compelling read from cover to cover…memories have their way with him so those raw emotions would surface and be laid bare on page after page of remembrances in order for his readers to feel what he felt…”—Southern Writer’s Magazine.

“Are you in search of a fascinating gift for your favorite reading enthusiast? Look no further than an offering by a Mississippi native who lays battered emotions bare for all to see…draws readers into an emotional story without using profanity or sex as a crutch.”—Town and Gown Magazine

“Through his engaging character and alter-ego, Michael Parker…Mr. Temple has woven together the elements of a powerful Mystery-Suspense that left this reader's heart pounding! A Ghostly Shade of Pale establishes Merle Temple among the elite writers of gripping tales in the Southern tradition. He demonstrates great skill in delivering deeply spiritual messages within a secular binding."—KB Schaller,Author,Journalist, and LinkedIn Author Forum Modreator.

“Temple has the ability to bring his readers to a very personal place, allowing them to resonate with him as an author and with characters in his novel…what an amazing story (he) has shared with his readers.”—The Daily Mississippian (Ole Miss).

“Gripping…”—Mississippi Magazine.

“Terrific! Recommend highly!”—Paul Rodgers, WBZM, Orlando.

“The sheer beauty of the words…Magic!”—Arlene Uslander, Author, Mystery of Fate.

“He captures the times as only an eyewitness could. The parallels of truth and fiction are intriguing.”—Dr. Chester Quarles, Author, Terrorism, Avoidance and Survival.

“First class read…exhibits a respect for the intelligence and imagination of his reader, rare among today's authors...this talented writer has escorted you through the maze of good and evil so that you are the richer for it.”—Thomas Coleman, MS. Appeals Court Judge (Retired).

“A clear and vivid history…(In)the retelling of struggles between good/bad, goodness/evil, and beauty/ugliness, (he) presents a respect not only for the characters in the book, but even for the reader, not experienced before in this type of literature…highly recommend…look forward to the second part of the trilogy.”—Jan Ballard, Yarn Spinners Book Club, Ackerman, MS.

"(In) 8th and 9th grade English, we read a Ghostly Shade of Pale in class. My students did not want to stop reading each day. You feel like you know the characters personally and I believe that is an attribute that every novel should have. I knew it would hold my students attention! BRAVO! Job well done!!! –Amy Parker Robinson, Winston Academy, Louisville, MS.

“He lived the life of Michael and has transposed his experiences into a story where we can all feel the emotions and excitement of infiltrating the underworld—a truly riveting and compelling novel.”—Richard Todd, former Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics agent.

“A fast-paced, succinct thriller. Set in the halcyon days of the late 60's...His prose is fluid and engaging, a first novel to be proud of.”—Barbra-Lee Ricketts, Author, This is White Country, Australia.

“From part truths, part fiction, and personal emotions comes another Mississippi Literary Masterpiece....”—Mary Frances Mullen, Hattiesburg.

“Early Grisham good, raw stuff and pulls you in many directions. Merle Temple pulls you in and makes you feel every bead of sweat and every bit of tension in the room with Agent Michael Parker. A masterpiece! It is truly fantastic! The next John Grisham.”—Dr. John Kenney, Tupelo.

“When I got my hands on this book, I had to read it right through. This is history that we all have to know.”—Father Ulf Sanned, Sweden

“Seamless descriptions let you experience every moment. He has a true skill of letting imagination and real life become one. A Ghostly Shade of Pale is hard to put down! May his true and authentic writing skills continue to inspire!”—Denise Minnard Campoli, Northern Essex College, French/Spanish Instructor, Boston, MA.

“ very talented writer...narcotics, death, crime, intrigue, and mysterious characters—a world (he) knows to describe in an absolute realistic view. To all European readers, I can recommend this pearl of literature—a revelation, I can promise. I hope that Europe will discover the talent of Mr. Merle Temple soon! I did!”—Francoise de Walle, Belgium.

“This wonderful novel…took me back to my youth when the world was reeling with communist witch hunts, cold war, hippy drug culture et al - written in an honest but gritty style, dotted with pure faith of a better future despite the wicked ways of the anti-hero, who you will hate from Chapter 1. Well done Merle Temple, I cannot wait for…a sequel? Dare I suggest a screenplay? Of course I dare!”—Bernie Jenkins, Age UK Blackburn, England.

“Excellent workmanship…all the human emotions in one book. The term "wordsmith" is perfect…a unique gift with words and a thorough command of the English language…looking forward to following Michael and Clay into the next book. This would definitely make for a good movie!”—Veronica Rush, Atlanta, Georgia.

“What an incredible book…a page turner! The first night I read it, I had nightmares!”—Anita Rhymer, Columbus, Ohio.

“I’ve read a lot of page-turner, can’t-put-it-down books and on the rare occasion I’ve had the privilege of reading a grab-you-by-the-throat or grip-your-heart book. I’ve read not one or two, but three such books. I plan to read them all again. My recommendations for great books are listed in the order in which I read them: “A Ghostly Shade of Pale” ~Merle Temple, The Shack ~William P. Young, The Harbinger~Jonathan Cahn.”—LaRue Peters, Nettleton, MS.

“One of the best books I have ever read in my life...”—Debra Pepper Stanley, Houston, MS.

“People will read Ghostly expecting a legal thriller, but hidden like a diamond in the rough exists one of the sweetest, most beautiful love stories I've ever read. As a fan of John Grisham and Nicholas Sparks, I love how (Temple) incorporates an underlying romance story into an expected legal thriller. There was nothing I disliked about the book. I could almost smell the gunpowder over a few chapters!”—Julie Wurth, Oxford, MS.

“Puts you right back in the era of early drug enforcement. It's a hard read to put down. He nails the characters' personalities. Excellent book and highly recommended!!”—Dessa Wellborn Gleason, former Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics employee, Ft. Worth, Texas.

“All I can say is Wow!”—Sharon Smith Stone, Greenwood, Mississippi.

“ This book is just the beginning for this author. You would easily rate him with Clancy or Grisham. So where has he been hiding? You will NOT be disappointed.”—Helen Breier, Atlanta.

Ghostly is a gritty story, but you have no profanity in the book. Was that intentional?

We have an ample supply of descriptors at our command to use to paint pictures. Using profanity is just not what I wanted to do or to be remembered for. I wanted to write a book that I would not be ashamed for my Mother or my English teacher to see if they were still with us. Ghostly is a book that might have been written forty or fifty years ago. It is written as literature to endure in a throw away world.

Do you think others who use four letter words are wrong?

No, each writer has to decide what they want to write. I do caution fellow writers. The words we we write today are like epitaphs on our tombstones. I don't want someone to stroll through the graveyard of my novels thirty years from now and attach certain words to me. I hope the words I use are beautiful and poetic, and even in a gritty story, I hope they paint vivid scenes and inspire readers.

What about crime writers who say they write about subcultures that are not so nice, and the words are needed?

Some tell me that the words are necessary to be authentic. I just disagree. The bombardment of readers with profanity has so desensitized readers that the use of those words have lost all of their power. One writer told me that he had just edited a tough crime story and it had to be done to be real. I told him that I had just written a big crime story and the folks at Criminal Minds loved it and endorsed it as "beautifully sinister."

What do you mean about your book being enduring?

I wrote it as literature and resisted all suggestions that it be "dumbed down." I think that I may have more respect for readers than some in the publishing world. Ghostly is not a story you've read many times before. It was written to inspire and to encourage the reader to join the central character in his struggles as he finds his way in a murky world. From what we hear, each copy of Ghostly is read by an average of six readers. People read it, like it, and want to pass it on to loved ones, to keep it in the family.

Is that related to the lack of offensive language?

Partly, I think. People are just hungry for good books that contain none of the usual language used to titillate and they are eager to find a book that is not a formula book with the same old patterns repackaged to sell books.

Ghostly is written to the senses, and people respond to that, especially women who give us our best reviews. The reviews have just been great. That would make my Grandmother Pearl happy. I use her real name in the book and keep a promise I made to her over fifty years ago to never forget her.

What do you hope readers will find in A Ghostly Shade of Pale?

Something new, yet familiar in the crime genre...tenderness amidst the darkness, the tension of monsters all about, a teetering view at the edge of the abyss, and a sudden escape route that is not temporal but supernatural.

What can readers expect?

I hope readers of Ghostly will be transported to another time, a time they may not know, but a place where they may round the bend and find themselves.

Ghostly takes you to a place you've never been, but one you've always dreamed of
where the inhabitants are not strangers.

What have you enjoyed about this book process thus far?

The best part of writing and marketing Ghostly is meeting new people and introducing them to a fresh story, yet as old as mankind--one that could be their own.

What are some of your favorite moments in the novel?

Those moments of revelation when the hero realizes that there are still battles worth fighting and risking everything for...when he looks behind him in the darkest of times and discovers that goodness and mercy is following him all the days of his life.

Who influenced you? John D. MacDonald is my favorite writer. He inspired me to try to tell a good story while commenting on the world in which the characters travel. His books were never one dimensional, and I hope mine aren't either...never predictable but familiar because they parallel our common dreams.

What is your style of writing? Inspired by memories of my three or four lives in one, I go back and dig up bones and embrace all the pain, grief, love, joy, gain and loss there to be authentic. I become just the chronicler and narrator of it all, paint pictures with words on a canvass rich with descriptors, and try to set it all free to find its audience.

Describe your experiences outside of writing that inspired you. The paradigms that I lived within were shattered by those experiences and others later in my life. The search for that elusive simplicity on the far side of complexity nurtured a need to write it down and make sense of it all, to examine my triumphs and failures in my writing. http://merletemple.com