Fiona Veitch Smith – Fiona Veitch Smith

Newcastle Noir 10th anniversary!

Fiona — Tue, 10 Dec 2024 11:32:07 +0000

Tom Mead, Fiona Veitch Smith & Antony Johnston at Newcastle Noir 2025.

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!

Kitty Murphy, Fiona Veitch Smith, Tom Mead & Antony Johnston.

Partners in Crime. Jacky Collins (bottom left), Antony Johnston, Fiona Veitch Smith, Kitty Murphy and Tom Mead.

Four Poppy books for Christmas!

Fiona — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 11:54:34 +0000

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!

Fiona — Fri, 18 Jun 2021 14:05:28 +0000

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.

Click here to pre-order you copy now!

Writers in Conversation: Ruth Everson & Fiona Veitch Smith

Fiona — Mon, 17 May 2021 13:24:16 +0000

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.

Crime Writer’s Week

Fiona — Tue, 06 Apr 2021 09:23:23 +0000

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

Fiona — Tue, 15 Sep 2020 14:02:47 +0000

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.

You can read the interview here.

The Art Fiasco ready for pre-order now – Poppy Denby 5

Fiona — Tue, 30 Jun 2020 11:44:56 +0000

Poppy Denby, the 1920’s most flapulous reporter sleuth, has a new adventure coming out in October. And here, ladies and gentlemen, is the cover! The Art Fiasco is available to pre-order now. If you haven’t read the first four books in the series (available in paperback, ebook and audiobook) then there’s still time to catch up. Click here to put in our order.

Murder Monday with Miss Jane

Fiona — Fri, 15 May 2020 10:45:44 +0000

I’m not sure how I missed this when it came out two years ago, but the lovely Miss Jane featured the first two books in the Poppy Denby investigates series in her Mystery Monday video review. Lovely to hear that Poppy has another fan.

Newcastle Noir

Fiona — Mon, 06 May 2019 13:50:49 +0000

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.

The Jazz Files is launched!

Fiona — Tue, 22 Sep 2015 09:21:53 +0000

Well it’s finally happened. The first book in my 1920s mystery series, Poppy Denby Investigates, has hit the shelves. If you’re in the Newcastle upon Tyne area on Friday the 25th at 7pm, do drop by Waterstones near the Monument for the official launch party. There will be live jazz, a free glass of bubbly and 1920s costume! Oh, and a chance to hear me read a chapter from the book. If you are in the UK, but not in the area, books are now available to order through your local bookshop or from various online retailers.

In Australia you can order through Booktopia

In New Zealand from Fishpond

In South Africa you can pre-order the paperback from Takealot.com or get the e-book today from Amazon.co.uk (at least I hope you can. If not, you will have to wait until it becomes available in the USA – see below).

In USA – I’m so sorry my darlings, but it is only being released in the USA on 28 November! However, if you really can’t wait – and who would blame you if you couldn’t? – you can order from the UK Amazon site and have it shipped over. It’ll get there long before the 28 November! Amazon.co.uk

If you would like to read more about Poppy Denby and her world, please visit www.poppydenby.com