When I last wrote this diary I was looking forward to my first visit to Suffolk to take part in Slaughter in Southwold. I had a wonderful time there and really enjoyed meeting the lovely crime readers in the large and enthusiastic audience there. A huge thank you to Charlotte Clark from Suffolk Libraries and her team for organising such a wonderful event.
July has been an eventful month. I presented my new murder mystery The Case of the Late Cook at Norton Priory in Cheshire (with the setting changed from Northumberland to Cheshire!). The undercroft of the medieval abbey was a fantastic and atmospheric location (and gratifyingly cool on one of the hottest days of the year), the acting was superb and a good time was had by all. Many thanks to all involved.
July wasn’t only eventful on the writing front. The month saw the arrival of my grandson, Alexander, and it was fun looking after his big sister while he and his mum were in hospital (she loves books and libraries!)
My latest paperback DEAD MAN’S LANE was published on 1st August and I’ve been signing copies in local bookshops. On Friday and Saturday (9th & 10th Aug) I'll be at Stockport and Wilmslow. Do check my events page for details https://www.kateellis.co.uk/events
I’ve written a short piece about the inspiration for DEAD MAN’S LANE (including a chance meeting on a quayside and the discovery of a pair of skulls).
On the 16th August I’ll be at the Crime and Mystery Weekend at St Hilda’s College, Oxford and I’m in the process of arranging some events in Devon in early September. More about that next time.
Happy reading.