Although I didn’t mention it at the time, last month’s post was written on a tiny island in the Cyclades, where we were finally enjoying a much-postponed and much-needed break in the sunshine. The holiday was paid for in 2019 and originally scheduled for June 2020. Three years of lock-down and two knee replacements later, we finally got there. And it was glorious. Hot, but not uncomfortable; relaxed but with a modicum of gentle exercise; and with as much moussaka and Greek salad as we could eat. But as we left on 4th July, the temperature was beginning to soar. How quickly things can change. My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone in southern Europe who are suffering from extreme heat and the raging fires that have sprung up as a result. And somehow, it doesn’t seem right to complain about the cool, damp conditions we currently have in the UK. So let’s talk writing instead.

Writing this month

Having pushed the deadline for beta comments on Calamity at Coombesford Church back a month, I fully expected to spend July on the final rewrite. But somehow the return from holiday, our wedding anniversary, my husband’s birthday, a big summer party hosted indoors in the pouring rain, and several trips away from home all got in the way and I’ve done very little writing at all this month. But I’ve done a lot of thinking about writing! Does that count? I guess not.

Last month, I mentioned I’d started plotting the fourth in the Coombesford Chronicles series of cozy mysteries. To be honest, I was struggling a bit with it, finding it less than cozy in a number of respects. And then I realised I was actually plotting a thriller. It would appear the Jones Sisters Thrillers series is no longer a trilogy, since I’m busily working on the plot for book 4. I don’t have a title or a launch date for it yet, but to follow the pattern of the previous three books, it should be a single word with an exclamation mark. Maybe Retribution! Revenge! or Retaliation! I’ll let you know how I get on with that thought process next month.

And, having sorted that one in my mind, it became much easier to start work on the next cozy as well. Provisionally entitled Slaughter at the Summer Social, it features all the old favourite characters, plus some only seen briefly in the past. Remember Olga Mountjoy? Well, she’s back. Or at least, she will be when this one launches in October 2024.

Sales and Marketing

A reminder that Calamity at Coombesford Church is now available to pre-order on Amazon, in ebook form, with a launch date of 17th October. The date for the paperback has yet to be finalised, but it will definitely be in time for those Christmas shopping lists.

My Amazon Ads for the cozies continue to do well. I’ve switched the ones for the thrillers back on as well, but have seen no activity there yet. More work to do on that next month, I guess.

Out and About

As mentioned above, I’ve been out and about quite a bit this month, but none of it was writing-related. However, things change drastically from the start of August. At the end of this week, I am heading north towards Derbyshire to attend the 74th Writers’ Summer School in Swanwick. Regular readers of this blog will know I’m a long-time supporter of this wonderful institution, and this will be my fifteenth time since I first attended in 2006. I’ll be running the Bookshop once again this year, while also presenting a two-part session on Author Business Foundations. I’m really looking forward to seeing old friends and making new ones. I’ve carved out some time in the programme to spend on my various works in progress. Plus it’s the official year end for my writing, so I will be reviewing my achievements over the past twelve months and setting objectives for the coming year. However, I’ve decided to dispense with my daily blog this year. There’re only so many hours in the day.

Last month, out of the blue, I received an invitation to speak on Author Business Foundations at a one-day indie authors’ summer camp being run by the South Carolina Writers’ Association. Having confirmed it would be virtual, as it’s a long way to go for one day, I was delighted to accept. The event is on Saturday 26th August from 9am to 4pm EDT, which makes it 2pm to 9pm here in the UK. The goal of the programme is to walk through the publishing process from finished manuscript to continued support of the book. If this sounds interesting to you, check out the details here. And for those of you based in the UK who think the US market doesn’t apply to them, I’ve learned so much and my sales have taken off since I started interacting with the Women in Publishing community a few years back. American readers love books set in the UK. And you meet some great folks, too.

What Have I Been Reading Lately?

I met Judith Cranswick many years ago at a writers’ conference and we’ve always kept in touch. I love her travel-themed mysteries. So when I heard she had a new book coming out, and the first in a new series too, I jumped at the chance to read it. Her style is very gentle and probably wouldn’t suit those of you who prefer your crime on the gritty side, but for lovers of cozy murder will be very happy. Here’s my review of Passage to Greenland:

Judith Cranswick’s novels tend to revolve around travel. First there was Fiona Mason, coach tour guide. Then there was Aunt Jessica and her exotic holidays. Now, in this new series, we meet Amanda, married to a cruise ship tutor. Passage to Greenland has all the hallmarks of a good cosy read: a dead body (obviously); a quick and easy explanation by the power-that-be; a suspicious amateur sleuth who believes there is more to it than death by natural causes; a handful of suspects; and lots of red herrings. Judith Cranswick’s research and attention to details are evident once more, as the cruise becomes a character in its own right. A highly enjoyable read and a great start to a new series.

And elsewhere on my bookshelves, I’ve also been reading:

A Room Full of Bones by Elly Griffiths: book 4 in the series. Police procedural with flawed characters, and a heavy dose of indigenous Australian culture and myth, set in East Anglia.

The Dorothy Martin Mysteries 1-8 by Jeanne M Dams: A very readable box set of cozies set in a small cathedral city in south east England.

A Harvest Murder by Frances Evesham: The third in the Ham Hill series of cozy mysteries.

Agent 6 by Tom Rob Smith: As well-written as always, but an intensely depressing end to the trilogy that began with Child 44.

The Hanging City by Charlie Holmberg: Yet another switch in style by Holmberg. I will never look at trolls in the same way again.