Finding A Few Moments to Reset
After a horrible September, the love of friends and family reminds me of the good in the world.
I have to begin with a thank you to all the lovely readers who reached out to me after my last newsletter. It’s not easy sharing the deeply personal stuff and the support of my family, friends and my lovely readers has made the journey through grief so much easier.
I did something I rarely do, I took a spur of the moment trip to Far North Queensland (FNQ), specifically Magnetic Island just off Townsville for five days of doing very little except moving between the pool and the lovely beaches. I read and slept and reset. Highlight of the trip was a lunchtime cruise on a yacht to a quiet bay where we were free to jump off the side of the boat and swim in the clear blue seas, followed by a sumptuous lunch. It was, as they say in the classics, just what the doctor ordered. Of course… writers never take holidays and there were moments when I thought “What if a dead body was found here?” :-)
NEWS
Two new re-releases in one week! That makes eight for the year. Hopefully that is it. I am looking forward to getting into something new!
Book 3 of the Guardians of the Crown series, EXILE’S RETURN, is now live. The set is complete!
A CHRISTMAS LOVE REDEEMED is also live (and wide…meaning not confined to Amazon). The print edition is also available (although only through Amazon at this stage) as is the audio (although I am just waiting on my narrator to update it to include the new epilogue).
And translations! The German edition of LORD SOMERTON’S HEIR has taken off and I am just about to add a German and French edition of A CHRISTMAS LOVE REDEEMED to the list of translations.
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY: I am committing to doing a number of book signings next year both locally and interstate. For details I suggest you look at my website, where I have them all listed with the appropriate links!
SPECIAL OFFERS, NEW RELEASES and SHOUT OUT
Firstly A SPECIAL OFFER from me!
Wednesday 22 October: For one day only I am making TERROR IN TOPAZ free to download as part of a ‘Stuff Your Kindle - Crime edition’. There are nearly 150 titles to download so if you love your crime fiction, grab these freebies while you can (and it is not just for kindles… I have made Topaz free across all the retailers)! The link will only be live for the one day so get it in quick.
New releases from friends:
For the writers among you… When it comes to character development (particularly for a long series like my Harriet Gordon Mysteries) I like to know everything about my characters… including their star signs and my clever friend Michele Finey has written a book ASTROLOGY FOR STORYTELLERS which delves into how to use astrology to help shape your characters.
My friend Elisabeth Storrs deserves a huge shout out (not only because she organises our Historical Novel Society Australasia conference coming up next week!) but because she has a written a fabulous series set in Ancient Rome, beginning with THE WEDDING SHROUD that has just been re-released by my UK publisher with fabulous covers!
Reading/listening/watching…?
Reading: Perfect holiday reading! A SHIPWRECK IN FIJI by Nilima Rao… the second in her Sergeant Singh series set in Fiji in 1914 (no relation to my Sergeant Singh!).
Listening: I binged THE IMPOSSIBLE FORTUNE (the fifth book in the Thursday Murder Club series by Richard Osman). I’m now on to THE HALLMARKED MAN by Robert Galbraith, but I have to admit I am struggling - like all her recent books this one feels impossibly bloated (31 hours of audio!) and I am ready to strangle the two main protagonists!
Watching: Who is watching the TRAITORS - UK Celeberity edition? As I might have mentioned I am a big fan of Traitors and I am living for this version… Stephen Fry, Celia Imrie, Alan Carr and more - all trying to work out who the Traitors are. No spoilers but the casting was inspired! Have also been watching the Amazing Race Australia (Celebrity edition) mostly because this program always reminds me of holidays with my husband. In more serious moments we are watching the new series of SLOW HORSES and ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING. I’ve also been watching THE SURVIVORS on Netflix (based on the Jane Harper book). You’d think I spent every moment watching TV!
What are you reading/watching or listening to this month?
Finally…
All from me… please feel free to comment directly on the Substack post :-) I love hearing from you and if you are not already a subscriber, consider subscribing to my posts and look out for a link to a free download of the Harriet Gordon prequel novella THE UMBRELLA in your inbox :-)
It is important to keep writers caffeinated and, as most books sell for less than a cup of coffee these days, in the interests of transparency, some of the links I use in my newsletter may be ‘affiliate links’ which earn me a small (very small) commission.
Best regards
Alison
I am addicted to the Traitors (well, the UK version, anyway) and yes, teh casting for the celebrity version is inspired.
I can't believe you said The Hallmarked Man was bloated. I binged in in a couple of days... As good as the Running Grave, which was also 30+ hours long.... Sound like you might have sour gapes.