New Look Books

Here's the cover for Murder in the Green, followed by all the news ones!

Covers and concert

What a proud Mummy! Last night I went to see Phillipa in the end of term concert at the Royal Academy of Music. A stunning ensemble of thirty young people all selected for their outstanding talent, who are now one third of the way through their course. You wonder how much more they can learn. The orchestra, of course, also Royal Academy students, were fabulous, as you would expect, the MD and chorus master, Stephen Hill, a marvel.

Each member of the course had a solo, Philly's small, as they are saving her voice until after she's had her throat operation a week on Monday. There were many moments through the evening which made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, and the only thing I could have wished for was that Philly's elder sister Lou (also a singer, in case you don't know) could have been there. Her best friend, best friend's brother, sister-in-law-elect and two sponsors were there with me, and we all agreed it was a fab evening.

Other stunning news - I am being rejacketed. A whole new matching set will be out next year, and apparently one of the wholesalers (Bertrams) is to do a special promotion of them all when book 6 comes out in April. Oh - and book 7 will also be out next year on October 25th, in time for Christmas. Long live Libby Sarjeant.

Last week I attended the RNA winter party, had lunch and shopping before with Bernardine Kennedy and a lightening catch up with other friends when we got there. The result - dreadful feet for two days. One day in London equals ratcheted up arthritis for days afterwards. As I was up there yesterday, guess how I feel today?

Ain't yer got no sense of yoomer?

Having actually watched poor Ian Rankin (teehee!) on the Crime Thriller Awards last night, I have to admit that his comment was, indeed, a throwaway joke. I'm not apologising for being defensive on behalf of the Romantic Novelists' Association, or writers of the ubiquitous Women's Fiction, merely saying yes, it was a joke, and I'm sure he would be astonished at the reaction it has provoked in our community.

I can, unfortunately, see how our combined raised spines would appear to the general public. Do I need to spell it out? I think the title of this post says it all. So come on, ladies and gents, think of a good joke for the crime writers. (Oh, that includes me, doesn't it? Bother.)

After a comforting discussion with my publisher the other day, I'm pleased to report that I have a stay of execution on the current book - pub. date now moved to April - another book is required after that, and large print and audio versions of Murder in Bloom are out on Monday. All the Libby Sarjeant series is now in audio, but this will be my first large print. Thrilled to bits. I will be able to eat for at least another year...

Blood on the carpet says Mr Rankin

Apparently this is what happens whenever two or more romantic novelists gather together. Harpies and harridans, the lot of us.

Now, I'm a member of the Romantic Novelists' Association and the Crime Writers' Association. Over my years of membership, I have met more close friends through the RNA than the CWA could shake a stick at. They are supportive, helpful, genuinely pleased at each other's successes and have a unique New Writers' Scheme. I have been a member of the CWA for three years. (Sorry - was there more to that sentence? No? Ah.)

So please, crime writers, leave it out. It isn't funny - it may have been when first uttered fifteen years ago - and it most certainly isn't true.

A gentle trot through October

I did try to blog while on holiday in Cavus, Turkey, but for some reason the Turkish server wouldn't let me! I managed everything else; I wrote, Tweeted, Facebooked and emailed, and listened to music and comedy on the ipod and the laptop. Fab. Three weeks is, however, too long. I've spent three weeks there before, but when I was still fairly new to the place (ie, only been there three or four times). Now, however, three weeks away from home, the cats and the children is too long. My friend Marie suggested I shouldn't have kept up with home so much, but she can talk! She, grandmother of the year, who has to phone home to find out how grandson 1 has done at football, not to mention phoning to wish him luck before every match...

Cats were spoilt by their Auntie Alison, who lived in for the whole time. Despite the fact that they now think they can have at least two breakfasts and can sleep on my bed with me (shades of Alan Davis's cats who went to live with his sister), I am so grateful to Alison, who (the mug) has said she'll do it anytime.

I am on the home straight with Murder in Bloom, and it has been even more of a struggle. I suppose each one will get harder and harder. Four of the books are now in audio, and I'm still hoping Magna or Thorpe will pick them up for large print. I have a beautiful new map of Steeple Martin drawn by my friend Susan Alison which is on my website and will appear in each new book.

Jack and the Beanstalk will be the pantomime at the Whitstable Playhouse in January 2010, and I'm extremely pleased to say I shall be playing the Queen. It's years since I was actually IN a panto, having been conned - I mean, asked - to direct more recently. Luckily directed ones wot I had writ, so got the royalties, but it's not the same as being in one.

Daughter Phillipa is having the time of her life at the Royal Academy of Music, and I would like to add my own thanks to all those who helped her get there.

That's about it for now. Do let me know if you've read this by commenting.

Looking for a fan!

I received a lovely email via my website this morning, and have tried to reply three times, only to have the horrible FAILURE message come whizzing back on elastic. Part of the address was sue@pepper, and she says she read the blog, so if she does - please get in touch again!

Otherwise, not much to report. Still struggling with book 6, but spent a whole afternoon doing hard copy editing yesterday and feel a little happier with it. One Twitter-friend says she's aiming to do 6000 words a day this week for a deadline. Deadline? I'd be dead! I aim for 2000 a day, but the amount of thinking I do uses up so much time that I flag at about the 1500 mark. I wish I could think it all through first and then just type the words, like copytyping. Doesn't work like that, though, does it?

Philly moves up to London at the weekend (between gigs) and starts at The Royal Academy on Tuesday. Gor blimey. I would like to thank all my friends who have so generously helped her. I am truly gob-smacked. You all deserve - well, I don't know what you deserve. Sainthood, possibly.

Now to plod on with book 6. See you soon -ish.

Bad Babes, Music Hall, Lou's and Leo's birthdays

Lots of catching up to do.

On Sunday 19th July Catherine Aird and I had our very badly attended book signing in Oxfam in Canterbury. I think (God Bless Simon Hall for thinking of it) it was a mistake. Oxfam bookshops are pushing indie bookshops out of the market place, when they're already under threat from the big chains. Also, of course, second hand book sales are NOT good for authors. If customers only buy second hand books, we don't get any money! And please don't compare us to washing machines or clothes, which are also sold second hand. A book is due solely to the industry of its author, and our ancillary editors, publishers and printers, of course!

Number one child Lou's birthday was fun, held in her garden which she and Jarrod had decked out very prettily. Both children slept through it. Music Hall - very hard on the feet - was sold out every night and received high praise from everyone, including Those In The Know from the British Music Hall Society, but from one couple, whom I thought of as friends, total disparagement. However, as their daughter is on the West End stage, perhaps their critical faculties are set rather high!

Talking of West End Stage, those who follow us will know that Phillipa, number three child, has obtained a place at The Royal Academy of Music starting in September. Her course has been informed that they are to form the choir at Elton John's Albert Hall concert with Teddy Thompson, introduced by Stephen Fry on September 22nd. Oh, WOW!!! Of course the tickets have been sold out long before they were told they were doing it, so fond parents will not be admitted.

Number four child, Leo, came home from Manchester for a week, during which he celebrated his 25th birthday (notice I didn't say which one Louise celebrated) with a party on the day and a trip to The Globe with the aged p to see As You Like It. We were both enchanted. If the arthritis could stand the underground I'd go every week.

Number two child Miles has organised, bless him, for a downstairs loo to be put into my house - if I can get my office cleared out in time for the visiting New Zealand plumber. Otherwise, Miles just goes on being a good son who lives over the road and is performing locally tonight. I shall be there cheering.

Last night, Linda Regan, Kaye C Hill, Mary Andrea Clarke and I held the first "Bad Babes" event at Waterstones, Bromley. We, or rather Linda, had devised a crime quiz, which she and I ran. I didn't know the answers, sadly. The winners received tickets for performances of "The Spider's Web" by Agatha Christie at The Churchill Theatre in November. We then talked about our writing, helped greatly by Linda's husband, Brian Murphy, who kept us going with very intelligent questions. I want to have Brian when Linda's finished with him. A successful evening, organised by the lovely lady whose last event it was, as she is moving from bookselling to librarianship. Everyone even got more than one glass of wine!

That's it for now. All comments gratefully received - let me know there are people out there reading it!