When I enjoyed a day out at the Monmouth Medieval Festival a few weeks ago, I was surprised to come across the murder weapon used in my new cosy mystery novel, Death at the Village Garden Party: a crossbow. (Pictured with my husband, above.)
Fortunately, in this case, the crossbow was not in the hands not of a killer, but of a very pleasant fellow sharing his expert knowledge of medieval weaponry.
Continue reading “My Close Encounter with a Crossbow at Monmouth Medieval Festival”
Hurrah for the parcel box – a humble everyday item that plays a crucial part in my latest novel, Death at the Village Garden Party.
My husband, who is a very good handyman, built a wooden parcel box for our Cotswold cottage during lockdown, so that we could receive deliveries while social distancing.
Last week, I was pleased to be a speaker at the London Book Fair as a member of the panel discussing “The Rise & Rise of the Authorpreneur”, chaired by Orna Ross, founder of the Alliance of Independent Authors and champion of indie authors everywhere.
It’s an author who treats their writing like a business – and, crucially, makes money from it!
Orna invited me to be part of the line-up to represent what’s known in the trade as the hybrid author. That means someone who self-publishes some of their books while licensing rights on other books to traditional publishers. Thus, they have a foot in both camps.
That’ll be me, then!
Continue reading “What’s an Authorpreneur and Why Am I One?”
On the last Wednesday of every month, I share a conversation with an author friend, and this month I’m delighted to introduce you to novelist Hastie Salih.
I first met Hastie Salih last year at the London Festival of Writing, which is Jericho Writers‘ annual get-together, bringing together a huge variety of authors at different stages of their careers in a highly creative and supportive atmosphere. I’m involved as a speaker and advisor because I’m a mentor and course tutor for Jericho Writers – roles I adore, partly because I love helping other authors and partly because it introduces me to so many new author friends, such as Hastie Salih.
When Hastie told me about her books, set partly in London and partly in Iraq, featuring women of Kurdistani heritage like herself, and addressing complex issues of cultural and gender identity, I was intrigued. The stunning cover of her debut novel, Dahlia and Carys, was a bonus, and I immediately ordered a copy, followed by her second novel, The Cradle and the Cage, as soon as it was published. I also knew that I wanted to invite her onto my blog to tell us more about her work, exploring important, under-represented issues.
While writing this year’s murder mystery event for the Hawkesbury Drama Group, I’ve been reminiscing about 1980s office life – the inspiration for my new play, Murder at the Office. (Tickets now on sale here.)
Back in the day, as an impressionable twenty-something fresh out of university, I assumed everything I encountered about office life to be normal practice, because I had nothing with which to compare it.
Looking back now, I realise a lot that went unremarked would cause an outcry in a 2026 business setting.
Continue reading “The Remarkable Hazards of 80s Office Life”
