The newsletter was started before social media took us all over. So was the blog. The newsletter, which I havered about for a long time, was in response to requests from readers who didn't use computers much, except for email, and certainly didn't read e-books. Some of them have eventually graduated to social media, but it was interesting to receive replies to the newsletter that indicated that they didn't use it much, because there was information in there that they'd missed. So I feel it's worth keeping it up, if only occasionally. The blog I'm not so sure about. If there was a particular subject in which I was an acknowledged expert, I could rant on about aspects of that, but really - how many blog posts on pantomime could you bear to read?
To get this particular post up to date: on March 24th Murder Dancing came out, the sixteenth in the series. It also came out in the US where the books are now published by Start Publishing in association with Accent Press. The next Libby, Murder on the Run, will be out later in the year, probably early September, and the second in The Alexandrians just before Christmas, as far as I know. If I get them written, of course!
I have been doing all sorts of guest posts on other people's blogs, and next week sees the start of a US/Canada blog "tour". I've done them before, although I don't know whether they do any good, but we are supposed to do all we can to publicise our books and increase our "discoverability". (Buzz word in publishing.)
It's all a far cry from writers just writing books. I'm not sure I would have embarked on my later life career as a novelist if I'd known how hard I'd have to work! Retirement? What's that?
In other news, I recently appeared on stage again, in the cameo part of the Judge in Whose Life Is It Anyway. I was absolutely terrified, mainly, I think, because I've got out of the habit of it. However, once we were running I enjoyed it, so - anyone got any small parts they need doing? I've also been taken on by a Murder Mystery events company, and have been, so far, a widowed pub owner and a widowed "best friend of victim". It's great fun, and best of all there are no lines to learn!
Until next time - à bientôt.
