Tales from Wendlebury Barrow is a new series of quick reads set in Sophie Sayers’ home village, featuring many of the regular characters of the Sophie Sayers Village Mysteries, and introducing interesting new characters in every story.One of the reasons I’m writing this series is that I had great fun with The Pride of Peacocks, a story of similar length, that is available exclusively to members or my Readers’ Club mailing list. While writing that story, I realised I had lots of ideas that would lend themselves well to short-form fiction.
Quick Reads in Compact Format
Each story in this series is a quarter the length of a Sophie Sayers novel. Technically speaking, they are novelettes or short novellas. They are available both in ebook and compact paperback – just 6″ x 4″, the size of a standard picture postcard. Their small size and light weight makes them easy to slip into a handbag or jacket pocket for reading on the move.
Each book is a complete story in itself, and you can read them in any order. Nor does it matter if you haven’t already read the Sophie Sayers novels. Like the Sophie Sayers novels, they will be gentle, funny reads, but without the body count. There will be crimes and misdemeanours, but no murders – and a happy, feel-good ending is guaranteed.
The Natter of Knitters
In this entertaining and touching story, Sophie volunteers to take part in a secret village yarnbombing project in aid of a charity for the homeless. Naturally, this being Wendlebury Barrow, the plans of the event’s domineering organiser, Mrs Fortescue, swiftly go awry. It’s down to Sophie to save the day. And to learn to knit…
- click this link to order online
- The paperback is also available to order from your favourite bookshop when you quote ISBN 9781911223511.
The Clutch of Eggs
When teenage tearaway Tommy puts the village on the map for all the wrong reasons, it’s down to Sophie Sayers to set things straight. Inspired by the beauty of wild birds’ eggs and the enthusiasm of birdwatchers for all things ornithological, this lively story introduces engaging new characters such as handsome tourist Michael, a trio of birdwatching brothers, and Tommy’s new best friend, an adorable sausage dog called Bunty.
- click this link to order online
- The paperback is also available to order from your favourite bookshop when you quote ISBN 9781911223641.
More Tales from Wendlebury Barrow to follow soon.