Sex, power & feminism – and mince pies – at Newcastle Noir

As Darkness Falls historical crime panel at Newcastle Noir 2023. With, from left to right, panel host Fiona Erskine (The Chemical Detective), Bridget Walsh (The Tumbling Girl), Kate Griffin (Fynshade) and Fiona Veitch Smith (The Picture House Murders). Blonde head at the front unknown!

It was an honour to be invited to the 2023 Newcastle Noir crime writing festival held at Newcastle Central Library and hosted by the tireless Jacky Collins (Dr Noir) and her team. I was on an historical crime panel called ‘As Darkness Falls’ which discussed sex, power and feminism in historical crime novels. Hosted by Fiona Erskine (The Chemical Detective), we were joined by the gothic historical crime novelists Bridget Walsh (The Tumbling Girl) and Kate Griffin (Fynshade).

And then after that we all had Greggs mince pies! (You have to when you’re in Newcastle, don’t you? Well, I have to, as my husband, Rodney Smith, works at Greggs!). Happy Christmas to you all!

Miss Clara Vale on location!

Are you a fan of 1920s murder mysteries or historical cosy crime? Have you read or are about to read the Miss Clara Vale Mysteries? Join me as I take you to various locations for the ‘Picture House Murders’, published by Embla Books – while wearing vintage style clothing I made from original 1920s patterns. In this first video I visit Exhibition Park in Newcastle upon Tyne, the location of the Great North East Coast Exhibition in 1929, and one of the key scenes in ‘The Picture House Murders’. You can also read about how I made the outfit! Click link below:

http://www.claravalemysteries.com/videos-1/

Publication day for ‘The Picture House Murders’!

Lights, camera, action! It’s publication day for The Picture House Murders, the first in the Miss Clara Vale Mysteries. Is it too early for champagne? While I ponder that, you can get your copy now! Ebook, print or audiobook via Amazon, or order a copy through your local bookshop. Embla Books, Bonnier Books UK

Order your copy here!

Clapperboards and the reel of film lie on a wooden board.

The Crystal Crypt blog tour continues … and they all love the map!

Today on Poppy’s blog tour for The Crystal Crypt we are stopping of at Jaffareadstoo. She says:

“Beautifully written, with both a sense of fun, and pathos, the glorious city of Oxford comes to life and thanks to the cleverly designed map, I was able to, quite literally, follow in Poppy’s footsteps as she moves through the city on her hired bicycle. […] Poppy Denby is, by far, my favourite amateur sleuth, and I look forward to meeting her again soon.”

I must confess, the map is my favourite part of the book. It took me ages to source just the right one and to plot Poppy’s adventures on it. But it helped me visualise where Poppy was going from the very beginning.

Happy Publication Day! The Crystal Crypt out now

And it’s Happy Publication Day for The Crystal Crypt! Out today in paperback and ebook (already out in audio). Poppy and I will have a glass or two of bubbly this evening. It’s hard to believe this is book 6 already. Thanks so much to my family, friends and loyal followers of Poppy for your support over the years. It brings me joy to know that my imaginary friend and literary creation is so well loved. Thank you all ????

Get your hands on a copy here. 

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