Lion Fiction – Fiona Veitch Smith

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!

The Crime Writers’ Awards Dinner

Fiona — Mon, 17 Oct 2016 09:36:00 +0000

This week I am back at my desk after a whirlwind week in London where I went to attend a gala awards dinner, hosted by the Crime Writers’ Association. The Jazz Files did not win the CWA Endeavour Historical Dagger award. It was pipped at the post by the very worthy Stasi Child by David Young. But what a fantastic night we had! A gang from my publishers’ Lion Hudson were there to cheer Poppy along and my husband, Rodney, came down from Newcastle with me. Here are some pics from the night. The one with my eyes closed is me waiting to hear the result …

Illustrious company. The Jazz Files alongside fellow nominees AJ Wright’s Striking Murder (wonderful book) and David Young’s Stasi Child (a worthy winner).

Me and editor Jessica Tinker in our flapulous 1920s gear. Photo courtesy of the very lovely Amy Boucher Pye from the Woman Alive Book Club who was also there to cheer us on.

And the winner is … not me!

Pride in the pride. Me with Lion Fiction editors Tony Collins who first commissioned the Poppy Denby series, and current editor the flapulous Jessica Tinker

Me and fellow Lioness Elizabeth Flynn, author of the D.I. Costello crime series.

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

Going back in time

Fiona — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 10:20:51 +0000

I had a flapulous time (to quote a friend) at my publicity shoot for the up-coming novel, The Jazz Files. With only three weeks to go until publication, I thought I’d get into costume and into character. I made the dress (see post below) and borrowed the car. A beautiful 1928 Ford Pheaton owned by the very generous Alan and Christine Simpson of Crawcrook. For more on the Poppy Denby Investigates series visit www.poppydenby.com

A new frock for Poppy Denby

Fiona — Wed, 22 Jul 2015 10:52:01 +0000

I’m going to challenge my dressmaking skills to try and make this fabulous outfit from an original 1920s pattern. If it’s a success I will wear it to a photo shoot in August to publicise the launch of The Jazz Files, the first in the Poppy Denby Investigates series in September. If it’s not a success I’ll wear it anyway and insist on low light.

Vintage 1923 Typewriter

Fiona — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 10:30:21 +0000

It’s mine! All mine! A 1923 Remington vintage typewriter just like the one my character Poppy Denby would have used in her job on the Daily Globe. Bid against seven other people and won! Came in £8 under my top price. A belated birthday present from my darling husband and daughter. Now just waiting for the baby to be delivered ..

Poppy Denby Investigates

Fiona — Fri, 06 Feb 2015 15:24:12 +0000

I am delighted to announce that I have just signed a contract with Lion Fiction for the first in a series of mystery novels, set in the 1920s. Tentatively called ‘Above the Fold’, the first of the Poppy Denby Mysteries, it will be coming out in September in the UK, and soon after that, elsewhere. Poppy is a female reporter on a London newspaper in the Roaring Twenties. Here is a cartoon that a friend of mine, Chris Bambrough, did on hearing the news.