An actress, a playwright, a wildlife photographer, a screenwriter, a producer, former vice president of production at Tristar Pictures, a professor at UCLA, and novelist, her cat is named ‘Magic.’
This is how the Internet Movie Database (IMDB) described the extraordinary Linda Palmer. I know her as the author of two cozy mystery series. One features Morgan Tyler, a soap opera writer living and working in New York City. She pens the second series, set in Santa Monica, California, under the pseudonym Melinda Wells; her sleuth, Della Carmichael, showcases her love of cooking both as star of a cable TV cooking show and as owner of a cooking school.
The Della Carmichael series includes lots of intriguing recipes. I haven’t tried them yet—but I will! First up will be Della’s “Gangster Chicken” Cacciatore.
I first read the Della Carmichael series and looked for more books by Melinda Wells. That’s when I found that she and Linda Palmer were one and the same and that she had passed away in 2013. And so I started on the Morgan Tyler series and have one to go.
If you haven’t read these short and finite series, do yourself a favor and seek them out.
For bibliographies, visit Stop! You’re Killing Me.
Read UCLA Extension’s tribute to Linda Palmer.
Read a tribute from one of Linda Palmer’s students.
Hi Maggie, I was so surprised to see this blog by you. My daughter and I were fortunate to study screenwriting With Linda at UCLA. She also has a book on screenwriting titled How to Write It, How to Sell It: Everything a Screenwriter Needs to Know About Hollywood. When she started writing cozies, we used to have girls lunch out (Linda, my daughter, and I). We also shared a love for animal rescue. Linda was a truly warm, kind, generous person and a fabulous teacher and inspiration. There aren’t enough good words. Her classes were always filled early. I do agree with TSTL on her cozies, but she was always right-on on her notes to students and other work. She truly cared about her students. We miss her terribly.
Nancy, I’m so glad you were able to take one (or more?) of Linda’s classes and to be friends with her. From all I’ve read about her, she was a great teacher and a warm person. Definitely someone I would have liked to know. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Maggie, I was fortunate to have 5 or 6 screenwriting classes with Linda. They worked for her regular students as works-in-progress classes. There were 6 or 7 of us regulars at one time. That’s not to say she was ever easy on us, but she was always encouraging and very knowledgeable. You would have enjoyed her and I’m sure it would have been reciprocated. We’ll have to get together at a conference and talk some time.
Yes, I hope we do meet at some point.
Great post! It’s interesting to find a writer then learn he or she has penned more novels under another name. I’ll check out (Me)Linda’s books!
Let me know what you think. I hope you’re enjoying your tour. I’m sorry not to have participated more, but I’m getting ready for this trip and craziness prevails!