As an author I travel to a lot of festivals and events in far-flung places. So it’s always a treat to have a crime festival right on my doorstep! And not just any festival, but one of the best in the country. I was delighted this year to appear on the Cosy Crime & Golden Age panel at Newcastle Noir’s 10th anniversary at Newcastle City Library. With me were Golden Age mystery novelist Tom Mead (the Spector Locked-Room Mysteries) and contemporary cosy writer Antony Johnston (the Dogsitter Detective). We were interviewed by the fabulous Kitty Murphy, who writes the Dublin Drag Mysteries. Thanks to the incredible Jacky Collins (aka Dr Noir) for running the whole show, warmly and professionally. May there be many more!
Four Poppy books for Christmas!
Since the first Poppy Denby book, The Jazz Files, was re-released under the new title A Front-Page Murder, I have been delighted by the reception the books have received from fans old and new.
My wish was to give these wonderful stories new life and for them to reach a new audience. Here’s a sample:
“Now this is what I call a page turner! This is one of the best books I’ve read for a long time. Loved Poppy Denby.”
A new Poppy fan
Quick on the heels of A Front-Page Murder, the new titles have been released one a month. So far there are three out, the fourth will be out in December – and a further two in January and February! So why not gift yourself (or a loved one) the first four Poppy books for Christmas? Click here to order.
The Crystal Crypt cover reveal!
Poppy Denby’s next adventure, The Crystal Crypt, will be released in November. Today, in collaboration with Love Reading, we reveal its cover! And here it is…
Reporter sleuth Poppy Denby is asked to investigate the mysterious death of an up-and-coming female scientist in an Oxford laboratory known as the Crystal Crypt. The official verdict is that Dr June Leighton died in a tragic accident, but Dr Leighton’s lab assistant believes it was murder. However, when Poppy discovers that the colleague has spent time in a mental institution and has an unresolved murder in her own past, Poppy wonders if she is being misled. But then, another female academic is attacked, and Poppy herself becomes a target. This is the sixth book in the Poppy Denby Investigates series.
Writers in Conversation: Ruth Everson & Fiona Veitch Smith
My former high school English teacher Ruth Everson and I will be chatting in a FREE online event about our life and writing. Ruth is now an internationally renowned poet and I am a novelist. Back then she was an inspiring young teacher and I was, well … join us to find out.
27 May. 7pm UK time.
Register here for your free ticket to this online event
Crime Writer’s Week
I’m going to be joining a stellar line-up of crime writers, publishers and agents in the Pro-Writing Aid Crime Writer’s Week on 19 – 23 April. Alongside the likes of Peter James, Leigh Russell, Karin Slaughter and Ian Rankin, I’ll be sharing my experience of crime writing in a session on research for historical mysteries. I will be looking at how to create an authentic historical word. Do join me at 3pm (UK time) on Wednesday 21st April for a totally FREE session. And of course, dip in and out of any and all of the other talks and workshops taking place that week. Visit www.prowritingaid.com/crimeweek to sign up. Full details below.
Writing Disability
Readers of my Poppy Denby books may have noticed that in each of my books there are always some characters with disabilities. There are of course the regular characters who appear throughout the series: the fabulous Aunt Dot who is in a wheelchair and the tough-as-nails editor Rollo Rolandson with dwarfism. However, in each book there are also additional characters with some form of disability.
I have been speaking to disability awareness charity Through The Roof about the reasons I include disabled characters and why I think more novelists don’t do so.