Happy New Year

Oh, dear, I've done it again. Only because I've suddenly discovered my friend Christina Jones has a blog have I realised it's almost a month and a half since I updated my own - if, of course, anyone reads it.

Christina's books, if you don't know, are the absolute best sort of romantic comedy, which she calls Bucolic Frolics, which is also the name of her blog. Why she isn't celebrated as much as Katie Fforde and Jill Mansell (my two other favourites and also mates) I shall never know.

I am now over half way through the mss of Murder in Bloom, which means I have to complete the other half in just over five weeks. I make all sorts of calculations, i.e. if I write two thousand words a day, seven days a week, I could do it in three weeks. On the other hand, if I do two thousand words FIVE days a week I could do it in three weeks. Huh? Like a lot of us writers, maths was never my strong point.

There are other things to take into consideration; for instance: yesterday I went to London to have lunch with my new agent. Yes, at last I have an agent, and no, I'm not going to say who it is. It is however, very encouraging that someone other than my publisher thinks I am A Proper Writer, and she is going through my contracts with an eagle eye and showing me just what I've been missing. I'm also trying to get the publishers to change the cover for Murdeer in Bloom, which is about the garden of a semi-stately home being landscaped. Have a look at the current cover on amazon and let me know what sort of book it suggests to you!

Anyway, that was a day away from writing, because, unlike a lot of my workaholic friends I really can't work in the evening. That time is for open fires, cats and other people's books, with a smattering of television. (Rented a Bill Bailey dvd for tonight. Can't wait.) Another day away is on February 10th, when I'm giving an after-lunch speech at The Hythe Imperial hotel. And occasionally, the family require a little attention, although while I'm slaving at my deadline they're being very good and leaving me alone.

And now I'd better got on...after all, I have to finish work at five. (Self imposed office hours.) Do leave a comment if you chance on this blog. It all helps to spread the word. Happy New Year!

Sing Out!

Just finished appearing in Sing Out! at the Whitstable Playhouse. An enjoyable experience with no pressure, except that I got so nervous about my solo, a vaguely comic song called It's Harry I'm Planning to Marry, I actually felt ill on stage on Saturday. Perhaps it's time to hang up my microphone.

I received my copy of the audio version of Murder at The Laurels this morning and I LOVE the cover. They do their own, rather than reproduce the book covers, and it really looks as though they've taken note of the story. So many of my friends, particularly in the category romance field, have covers which bear no relation to the story or characters whatsoever. My friend Elizabeth Chadwick, a highly respected author writing in the medieval period, used to have terrible trouble with covers which looked more like Disney representations of Sleeping Beauty.

Murder in Bloom is struggling on and with any luck I'll deliver it to the publishers by the end of February for publication in May. On Thursday this week (December 4th) I'm on Radio Kent at 3pm talking about pantomime to Pat Marsh, and next week I shall be talking about the same thing to a local WI group. The following week I shall be talking to Radio WFM in Manchester again, as I did last year, also about pantomime! 9.30 am on 15th if anyone in Manchester reads this.

Family all well, Philly home from the Carribean tomorrow and straight up to London to play at an awards evening, so I'm driving up to take evening dresses and music and stuff and bring home her holiday case, as she won't be back in Kent for days.

If I don't post again before Christmas (as if I would) Merry Christmas to all our readers!

Holidays and families

Late as usual. Murder by the Sea has been out for nearly three months and is apparently doing all right. Holiday in Cavus as relaxed as ever, met all the old lags and generally did nothing. Had a book signing as several of them had taken copies with them, and have some great pictures of people (Sue, Marie and Alison) reading by the pool!

Book, however, not doing nearly so well as my friend Julia Williams - whose Strictly Love hit the zeitgeist bang on the button, and is a fantastic read. Comes with a free "How to Dance" book, too!

Also had a lovely weekend with my cousins in Burnham-on-Crouch. Lovely place. Unfortunately my poor cousin Penny is now going to have to put up with me more than she wants as I liked it so much I'm transporting it to Kent to use it in the next novel. Yes, folks, despite public opinion, there will be a new Libby Sarjeant book out next June. Let's hope the credit crunch doesn't affect the book trade.

Eldest daughter is happily half way through her second pregnancy, and I'm still fighting against my "Nanny" title. I shall have to coach my grandson when he's a little older, then he can choose a name for me - which could be dodgy. Eldest son still gigging and he and his partner Clare looked after cats for me while I was away. Needless to say, one of them ran away (just like school guinea pigs dying during the holidays) but came home again with an abscess. All sorted now.

Younger daughter currently on tour with a prog-rock (?) band called Karnataka, playing London Astoria2 tonight and having to dash back to Cambridge to teach. Younger son still living in frequently flooded "garden" flat in Manchester, working hard and not playing as much as he'd like.

That's up to date. I'll try and remember to update a little more frequently, but I'm so lazy!

A Crime Novelist's Progress

On Saturday, I did a signing at Waterstone's, Westwood Cross, Kent. I didn't sell that many books, but met some very nice people, some of whom had read all the books, one of whom bought the latest and then an hour later came back and bought the rest. The manager showed me my sales over the months on their computer - a bit of a blur as I hadn't got my glasses on - and both he, Neil, and his assistant, Claire, were absolutely charming.

Since Murder by the Sea came out, I have been on the cover of a Saturday Review magazine (only in Kent, unfortunately!) and been interviewed (again) by our local papers, and, impressively, by a Kent glossy for their October edition. I have also featured recently in a magazine called This England in a piece about Kent based crime writers. I have also been asked to contribute to a charity anthology alongside such luminaries of my genre as Simon Brett and Reginald Hill and been asked to write a feature for the local paper.

Fears for the future were unfounded as the fifth Libby Sarjeant book has been commissioned for release next June and I have already started on that. This year I have also served on a panel at CrimeFest with other luminaries Andrew Taylor, Lesley Horton and Stephen Booth and, as previously anguished about, organised the Crime Writers' Association Conference.

OK - now. My problem is this. Can I now call myself a novelist? Can I now call myself a CRIME novelist? I can tell you (if anybody's reading this) I certainly don't feel like one. I feel as though I'm playing at it, and someone will pop their head round the door sooner or later and say: "Come on, now, Lesley, time to stop playing those silly games."

Oh, well. I suppose I just go on playing...