Summer is well and truly at an end and, during my breaks from writing, I’ve been trying to spend time tidying up in the garden. It’s also the time of year when I buy a new diary and there are already a few entries for library talks and conferences in 2024 (I’ve already signed up for CrimeFest in Bristol next May). Watch out for any events near you. I always love meeting my readers.
The last few months have been busy as usual. I’ve just finished Wesley’s next case, entitled Coffin Island and my editor loved reading it. I’ll say more about it nearer publication time but, I must say, I’m quite pleased with this one.
As well as working hard, I’ve also managed to get away on holiday. In early September I visited Devon again and we were blessed with a week of glorious weather. My excuse is that I have to carry out research for my Wesley Peterson mysteries but the truth is, I just love it down there. I visited several lovely bookshops while I was there. I signed books at Browser Books and the Community Bookshop in Dartmouth and at Harbour Books in Kingsbridge. I also visited the fantastic Ivybridge Bookshop where I spoke to an enthusiastic audience about my work and the life of a crime writer. I also met a fellow writer there; top chef and food writer, Orlando Murrin, who is about to publish his first crime novel. I had the pleasure of reading Knife Skills for Beginners before my visit and I enjoyed it very much.
While I was in Devon I did my usual pilgrimage to Greenway, the holiday home of Agatha Christie. I walked there with my husband from Kingswear (on the opposite bank of the River Dart from Dartmouth). It’s quite a challenging walk; only about three and a half miles through woodland but very steep in places. We always feel much fitter when we’ve been to Dartmouth!
After returning from Devon I travelled to Nottingham to speak at Bromley House Library, a flourishing independent library founded in 1816. It was so good to meet everyone there and many thanks to the staff there for the warm welcome I received.
At the start of this month we decided to grab some last minute sunshine and fly to the lovely Greek island of Rhodes. It was our first visit and we were bowled over by the amazing old town, the lovely people and the fantastic food. And the cats! So many cats! I suspect they rule the place. On our return we watched a DVD I had of the Poirot episode Triangle at Rhodes. It was good to be reminded of our holiday.
My editor has just sent through pictures of the new covers for my soon to be re-released Joe Plantagenet books, Kissing the Demons, Watching the Ghosts and Walking by Night. I’m really pleased with them and I understand that they will be available in early February 2024. I’m also delighted to announce that Wesley’s latest case, The Killing Place, will be out in paperback on 11th April next year.