100th Anniversary of WWI

Today is the 100th anniversary of the end of WWI. British social structure changed dramatically as a result of the war. Many men who had been in service in stately homes were either killed, badly injured or died from the flu. Women who had worked as housemaids, kitchen maids or lady's maids, realised that they no longer needed to work as a servant. They could train as nurses, work in a shop, factory or office. It was the beginning of the decline of many stately homes. Heirs were lost or debilitated and there were not enough servants to keep the estates running. Lanhydrock House in Cornwall was one of them. It, like many other, is now owned by The National Trust. Visitors can enjoy the grounds and explore the house and experience what life was like centuries ago.

Prince Harry & Paul McCartney

Prince Harry & Paul McCartney both followed me on twitter. Did I get excited? No. I knew they were imposters. I reported them as such. Paul McCartney has been removed, but Prince Harry is still one of my followers

The death of Evelyn Anthony

In the 80's my favourite writer was Evelyn Anthony. I would haunt bookshops waiting for her next novel to come out. She died today and her obituary annoyed me. She was described as a romantic novelist. She was no such thing. She wrote about espionage, secret agents and spy thrillers. Love stories ran through her novels, but a love story is different to a romantic story, which is formulaic. Like Daphne DuMaurier she has been brushed aside as a romantic novelist. So wrong and infuriating.

Face Book as an alibi?

Today my cousin wrote a post that showed she was in Australia. She wasn't. This made me think that FB could be used as an alibi. 

'But officer, I told you I was in Australia, and Face Book proves that I was. How could I have murdered a man in London?'

Bloodhound Books versus the big publishers

When I lived in London I belonged to an excellent writer's group. One of the members, who was a brilliant writer, had her first novel accepted by an agent, and quickly found a well known publisher. We were all excited for her. But it took two years for her debut novel to be published and six months for them to design a cover. By that time she had written her second, equally brilliant novel. After her fourth novel was published they demanded two novels a year and she became so stressed, the muse deserted her and she stopped writing.

My own experience has been different. After my crime novel was accepted by Bloodhound Books, I immediately felt welcomed and valued. Even before the editing process was complete they had designed a cover. The whole process has been smooth and quick.It once took a well known agent four months to e-mail me a standard rejection letter. Many never bothered to reply. Bloodhound Books will publish my novel in November 2018 - four months after it was accepted. 

Publishing Journey

Publishing Journey

At first it looked promising. In 1994 I was headhunted by an agent who was listed in The Writers and Artist's Handbook and The Writer's Year Book. Unfortunately he was unable to find a publisher and said that it may have been because of the unusual subject of the novel, which was opera.  

24 years and 6 novels later Bloodhound Books are going to publish my crime novel in November.

Success at Last

After 24 years of trying to find a publisher Bloodhound Books are going to publish my crime novel

The Doll Collector.

Their administration is impressive. From the beginning I have been welcomed and made to feel part of the Bloodhound family.