Announcing the Miss Clara Vale Mysteries – my new series with Embla Books

Louise Brooks – if someone were to play Miss Clara Vale in a moving picture it would be Miss Louise Brooks!

Well this is an auspicious day. Not only is it my birthday and I’m going to see the Mousetrap this evening as my present, but my new series with Embla Books (an imprint of Bonnier Books UK) has been announced in The Bookseller! The Miss Clara Vale Mysteries, about a lady science graduate who inherits a detective agency in Newcastle upon Tyne, will be released this September. There are three under contract, so far, the first is ‘The Picture House Murders’, set in the summer of 1929. So fans of Poppy Denby (and hopefully many more new fans) prepare yourselves for more mysterious Golden Age delights!

https://www.thebookseller.com/rights/embla-books-signs-new-cosy-golden-age-mystery-series-from-veitch-smith

Newcastle in the 1920s – a novelist’s research

Friends in the Newcastle area, I am giving a talk (with visuals) at Jesmond Library on Thursday 16th, on ‘Newcastle in the 1920s – a novelist’s research’. I will be talking about how I researched the locations for The Art Fiasco, book 5 in the Poppy Denby series, set in Newcastle, about a murder at the Laing Art Gallery. As this book came out during lockdown I was unable to do all the local events I had planned for it. I do hope you can join me. £3 donation to the library. And a chance to buy signed copies or just to say hello!

http://jesmondlibrary.org/event/fiona-veitch-smith/

Marble Hall Laing Art Gallery circa 1920

Reporter Sleuths & Crime Fiction online event

Join me in conversation with Warwickshire Libraries, Newcastle Libraries and the British Library on Tuesday, 8 March at 7.30pm

From the event website:

Warwickshire Libraries, in partnership with Newcastle Libraries and the British Library are thrilled to be hosting a virtual ‘in conversation’ with crime author, Fiona Veitch Smith.

We will be talking to Fiona, author of the Poppy Denby Investigates series, about her inspiration in creating the 1920s reporter sleuth and how she has drawn on her own experience working as a journalist and lecturer in journalism.

Fiona will also be sharing her knowledge of some of the formidable women journalists of the early 20th century.

This event is part of the Breaking the News exhibition, a partnership between the British Library, the Living Knowledge Network and public libraries throughout the country, launching in late February.

Warwickshire Libraries and Newcastle Libraries are both part of The Living Knowledge Network and will be hosting a display of exhibition panels in their libraries from the end of February.

You can view an archive of previously screened events at living-knowledge-network.co.uk

Tickets are FREE but you need to register here.

Fiona Veitch Smith was shortlisted for the CWA Historical Dagger for her book The Jazz Files.

 

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. 

The Crystal Crypt is Love Reading Book of the Month

Delighted to see that The Crystal Crypt, coming out this month, is a Love Reading Book of the Month for November!

“Whoopee, isn’t this just the bee’s knees of a murder mystery!” says Liz Robinson of Love Reading.

You can read the whole review here:

https://www.lovereading.co.uk/genres/lrbom/books-of-the-month

Just a reminder of publication dates:

The audio version, published by WF Howes, and narrated by the fabulous Helen Keeley, is coming out on Thursday 4 November. The paperback and ebook versions, published by Lion Fiction, will come out on Friday 19 November. You can pre-order by clicking here.

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