My lovely (sadly now former )editor, Jessica Gladwell, and I are in this month’s Writing Magazine talking to Dolores Gordon-Smith about my journey to publication and the Poppy Denby novels. Check it out if you get the chance. 
Poppy Denby in surround sound!
Today is a very exciting day for me, it’s the launch of the Poppy Denby audio books! Hurrah! If you are looking for something to wile away a long journey on holiday or lounging by a pool, then why not download one now? (They are also available in audio and MP3 cds). Narrated by the fabulous Helen Keeley and published by Lamplight Audiobooks,
I am thrilled to hear Poppy and her friends brought to life. I hope you will be too. Please note, the first three books, The Jazz Files, The Kill Fee and The Death Beat are available now. The Cairo Brief will be released next month. Download your books here.
Newcastle Noir
I had a fantastic evening at last night’s historic crime panel, the penultimate event of the flapulous Newcastle Noir 2019. Here I am in conversation with my fellow partners in crime. From left to right, Ann Landmann (moderator), Lesley Thomson, Nicola Ford, yours truly and Oscar de Muriel.
Delicious chills and un-sensible shoes
A delicious review of The Cairo Brief from the CWA’s delightful Dea Parkin, writing for Promoting Crime Fiction
“Atmosphere is as important as the slick plot and engaging story in this novel and it added hugely to my enjoyment. The misty gardens at Winterton Hall, the British Museum and surrounding streets in snow, all underpinned by that first spooky scene in the newly discovered tomb provoke delicious chills and put the reader very firmly in Poppy’s un-sensible shoes. A delight from start to a rewarding finish.”
– Dea Parkin, Secretary of the Crime Writers’ Association.
If you have read The Cairo Brief, please consider voting for it for the People’s Book Prize where it has been shortlisted for the best winter read of 2018/19. You can vote here.
Get That Novel Started
I am once again running my Get That Novel Started course at Newcastle Central Library. Sign up now if you’d like some guidance on how to make some progress with that masterpiece. And please also let your writerly friends know. Four Thursdays in a row in February. 5 – 7pm. £65. Must book in advance through Eventbrite. Click here to book.
Cairo Brief Blog Tour
This week Poppy and I are zooting around the internet on a blog tour for our latest book, The Cairo Brief. Do drop by if you have some time. Yesterday on Love Books I was talking about how my characters present themselves to me in ‘creative visions’. And today I’m talking about seances on Claire Musters’ blog, as well as the murky world of antiquity theft with Shelley Fallows. All sounds a bit dodgy, doesn’t it? 😉 For links to those articles plus the rest of the tour, see the list below.
