Hey there, lovely reader, It's raining here, and I'm stuck inside. I'm getting closer and closer to publishing the next book in the Inspector Graham series. Early feedback has been fantastic. I can't wait to share it with you. To whet your appetite, I have a teaser...
Hey there, lovely reader, Now that April has rolled around, I'm starting to prepare for my trip to the UK at the end of next month. I'll be there until September and during that time my son will be leaving for Indiana to take up a university place. Lots of changes are...
Hey there, lovely reader, I've been rotating between writing and doing my jigsaw this week. Early into a new book, I take lots of breaks to allow for ideas to pop into my head. Sometimes they arrive, sometimes they don't. And maybe it's just a good excuse to take...
Hey there, lovely reader, Another week has gone by! What happened? I've been in my writing bubble working on my next book. Early days but I'm excited to see where it goes. Today, I have an exclusive preview of something I made when I needed a break 😀. Something I...
Hey there, lovely reader, I hope you had a lovely holiday season and are back in the swing of things. Thank you to everyone for your well wishes about my leg, which is now mostly mended. I wear a brace on occasion, and take care when I'm out and about, but it's not...
Hello lovely people, I'm' sure you're busy setting up your holiday, so I'll be brief. I absolutely love my jigsaw advent calendar and plan on making my own next year. Sitting on my sofa with a tray and a small jigsaw puzzle to put together in the warm with something...
Hey there, lovely reader, Over the past few years, I have developed a taste for novelty advent calendars. This year, I have three running: A brain teaser a day, a tiny pot of jam a day, and a jigsaw puzzle per day. The jigsaw puzzle comprises twenty-four thirty-six...
Hey there, lovely reader, My, my, it's been an exercise in humility these past two weeks. I've had to suck it up, get outside my comfort zone, accept I don't know stuff, and prepare myself for looking like an absolute fool on numerous occasions. A couple of weeks ago,...
Hey there, lovely reader, I broke open the Christmas decorations this week. The trees aren't available yet, but I can put up the rest and it seemed a good way to spend my time as I adjust to returning to the US. This week I'm answering a reader's question, announcing...
Hey there, lovely reader, I have returned from a very wet, chilly, and windy UK. In the two months, I got a lot done, much of which involved managing manly men and their trucks and tools, dirt, and physical exercise. If nothing else it kept me warm in the cold. I also...
Hello! I'm heading into the last couple of weeks of my UK trip. It has been lovely to be here: I've visited with friends and family, had a lot of quiet time to read and work, and almost my favorite thing of all, I've been dealing with quite a number of manly men and...
Hello! I like to challenge myself with every book I write and The Case of the Body in the Block was no exception. Recently, for a separate project, I researched my family history. This gave me a great idea for a book and boom! Just like that, (not really 😀) The Case...
Greetings! Happy Thanksgiving to all my Canadian readers! I hope you have a lovely day. And I hope everyone everywhere is safe and warm and dry. We're in the final days before the new Graham launch. I always love this part of the book publishing process. The book is...
Greetings! We have a break in the rain here, and I'm getting closer and closer to publishing the next book in the Inspector Graham series, The Case of the Body in the Block. Early feedback has been fantastic. I can't wait to share it with you. To whet your appetite, I...
Hey there, lovely reader, Unbelievably, I have been in the UK for nearly a month. I've been super busy sorting a few things out, dealing with manly men and their trucks and tools, clearing out a bunch, visiting long-time friends and indulging in some of my favourite...
Hey there, lovely reader, Welp, earlier today, the new Inspector Graham went to my editor. We will work on it a little more, I will commission a cover illustration and a blurb, pull everything together, and then it will be released. Oh, and I have to choose a title....
Hey there, lovely reader, I've been head down, bashing away on my keyboard, finishing the new Graham. It is booked in with my editor and should go off to her at the weekend. Someone told me it's still August, so that's good. I'm on schedule and I plan to fly to the UK...
Hey there, lovely reader, I'm sitting outside in the sun writing this. We're having our annual carpet cleaning and I'm staying out of the way. I always say that getting the carpets done is as much work as moving house. I exaggerate, but it's a lot of work to move all...
Hey there, lovely reader, I'm a bit late today. That's because I decided not to write my newsletter yesterday as I normally do. I was on a roll writing the new book and I wanted to keep bashing away on my keyboard. I get hyperfixated like that at times. Sometimes...
Hey there, lovely reader, I've said it before and I'll say it again, I have some of the smartest readers out there. I know this because the standard of the questions I received from you last week was outstanding. So outstanding in fact that I will take a few weeks to...
Hey there, lovely reader, It's been very quiet for me these past weeks as I bury myself in writing. I did manage to stay up to watch fireworks on July 4th, though. They are launched from San Francisco Bay and we live at the top of the hill (mountain?) overlooking it....
Hey there, lovely reader, It's been another busy writing week. I'm cracking on. Some days things flow, other days it's a struggle. A good night's sleep always helps. 😉 What I learned this week I cracked on apace with the latest book this week. I'm still in the phase...
Hey there, lovely reader, It's been a busy week for me. I braved a new hairdresser. When the person who'd cut my hair for over twenty years retired, I was a bit lost as to what to do until I decided I would do something really retro: I decided to go back to the...
Hey there, lovely reader, I was planning to leave on Saturday for three lovely months in the UK, but COVID had other ideas. I'm over the worst, but evaluating my plans – whether to hop on a plane as soon as I feel up to it, or shift the trip to later in the...
Hey there! I am busy getting ready for my trip to the UK at the beginning of next month. I've decided to go for three months so I don't have to rush my plans and because we're having construction done on our house which will not be conducive to writing. This way I'll...
Hey there! It's still pretty chilly in the mornings at 7 a.m. when I go out for my walk but the blooms and blossoms are beautiful. These are from my deck guarded conscientiously by Shaun the Sheep. What I learned this week The above beautiful photo is of Audrey...
Hey there! Happy May! In one month today, I touch down in the UK for two months. While I'm there, I will be traveling with family and also continuing the project I started last summer – to clear a family member's house of no longer wanted items. I'm looking...
Hey there! I hope you are having a lovely week. I recently shut down my social media accounts for a test. I was looking for ways to cut down distractions from writing. I've found that I've filled my time with more writing and reading, finishing off three books this...
Hey there, lovely reader, Last month was a banner month for me, my most successful since I started writing nine years ago. It's very exciting for me to see so many people around the world discover Annabelle, Graham, Roxy, and Diana for the first time, especially in...
Hey there, lovely reader, I'm taking the week off writing and will start again on April 1st, but have a few announcements to make. If you celebrate Easter, I hope you eat as much chocolate as you wish (which may be none, of course – I prefer hot cross buns) and...
Hey there, lovely reader, I enjoyed one of my twice a year visits to the movies last weekend. I forgot my earbuds which was troubling for the previews, but the film I went to see was gentle and quiet for which I was grateful. The film was One Life about the story of...
Hey there, lovely reader, The clocks have changed here in the US and I'm sitting at my desk at 5:30 a.m. (really 4:30 a.m!) writing, writing. I love the early morning – so peaceful and quiet. I typically go out for a morning walk at 6 a.m. for 90 minutes, after...
Hello! Well, it's finally here. Six years after the last installment, I am so pleased to announce that the fifth book in the Diana Hunter series, Broken has hit the Amazon shelves. Please read on. There is an extract from the book below, along with purchase links. But...
Greetings! I'm getting closer and closer to publishing the next book in the Diana Hunter series, Broken. I can't wait to share it with you. To whet your appetite, I have a teaser and a new game that you can play without having read the book. But first, a warning....
Hey there, I am bereft. After twenty years, my hairdresser is retiring. He lives in Miami and has decided not to travel to the Bay Area anymore. When I first went to him, I had hair down my back and I wanted a change. I dropped my kids off to preschool and without...
Hey there, lovely reader, I was having lunch with a friend last week and we were talking about how, twenty years ago, when we were raising very young children, computers for kids were still in their infancy. We discussed how lucky we were that our children loved books...
Hey there, lovely reader, It was New Years Eve 2022. I was heading to an early morning doctor's appointment. It was dark. No one was about. It was raining. As I went down the hill, I noticed rainwater accompanying me on my journey, but I didn't worry too much. I got...
Hey there, lovely reader, New year, new you? I hope not. I think you're pretty great as you are. 😊 Today, I have updates on my wip, some recommended authors whose writing is set in earlier eras, and what to do if you don't follow me on Amazon. Always learning, always...
Hey there, lovely reader, Good morning! We're into the second week of the new year and I'm cracking on with Diana #5. Yesterday I got some writer's block on a scene and was also noodling another plot point. I started to procrastinate. I ended up buying a few things on...
Hey there, lovely reader! I hope you had a lovely holiday season and are now recovered and raring to go! I barely stopped over the winter break (reason for that will be in next week's newsletter) and it's full steam ahead here. 2023 is in the rear view mirror. And now...
Hey there, lovely reader! It's the end of 2023. Many people count down the days but I think every day is precious. 🎇 As the year ends, I'm feeling grateful. 2023 has been an amazing year for me and that's all down to you. If you’ve bought one of my books, left a...
Hey there, lovely reader! Are you nearly done with your holiday prep? I don't have too much to do having such a small family and it's just about done. 🦌 We are limiting gifts this year to one from each person (3) plus our Secret Santa gifts, also three. Our Secret...
Hey there, lovely reader! Ack, I managed to plant my bulbs this week but forgot to water the Christmas tree. I love a profusion of daffodils in spring, but gosh, do I procrastinate putting them in. I finally got it done at the weekend, but then realized the tree was...
Hey there, lovely reader! How are those holiday preparations coming along? Our tree is now fully decorated and the Christmas wishlists came in right on time (no surprise there!) Today, I offer a peek behind the scenes and an announcement. Fun! Yesterday, I was...
Hey there, lovely reader! If you're in the US, I hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving last week. Ours was just as I like it, nice and quiet. A friend told me about her plans for having twelve people over and then moving to someone else's the next day, and I had to tell...
Hey there, lovely reader! Gosh, it's noisy here today. We've got a couple of world leaders meeting for a summit two miles away and the air is full of planes and helicopters. Add a few police sirens and this author is struggling to concentrate. Today, I have updates on...
Hey there, lovely reader! Ka-pow! Boom! Pshewy! That's the sound of my brain exploding. I am spending part of this week attending an author conference (online.) I am particularly interested in new technological developments especially as they relate to book marketing,...
Hey there, lovely reader! I hope you enjoyed Halloween. I had a blast! I stayed in, doled out candy, and reminisced about Halloweens of years past which were SO much fun, they are permanently etched onto my memory. This week I am revisiting a story I've told before...
Hey there, lovely reader! I got into the Halloween candy after a stressful weekend. ?This happens every year. I really need to buy the bag of sweets on October 31 rather than a month before. I promise myself that I will do this every year and I never do. Perhaps...
Hey there, lovely reader! As we move into the holiday season ?, I am thinking of next year – what I want to do, achieve, who I want to spend my time with, how I want to move forward with my life. I reach a milestone birthday next year, a number I find...
Hey there, lovely reader! Fall is here. ? It was ninety degrees last week. ☀️ Goodness. This week I have some more thoughts on artificial intelligence, some fun for you, and an announcement. Also the latest on the impossible jigsaw. ? Comma, comma, chameleon When I...
Hey there, lovely reader! I've been studying and experimenting with artificial intelligence for months now as I think about when, how, and if I want to use it. What AI can do is amazing, shocking, and mediocre all at the same time. Undoubtedly it will get better. Is...
Hey there, lovely reader! I went to the pictures last week to see Kenneth Branagh's A Haunting in Venice. I don't go to the movies that much. It's too loud. I am probably the only person who takes her earbuds with her, switches them to noise cancellation, and can...
Hey there, lovely people! I went to a neighbour's party last weekend. I've lived on this street for 27 years and this was only the second one I've been to. In that time, older people have moved away and families have moved in. There are more young children here than I...
Hey there, lovely reader! The mornings are getting cooler. I had to put a jacket on to go for a walk this morning. I usually like to get out for an hour before everyone else and before it gets to hot and before I write for the day. It sets me up well. I listen to...
Hey there, lovely people! It's a beautiful day here in Northern California. The skies are a deep, clear blue, the temperature is just right – not cold, but not energy-sapping hot, either. It truly feels like the dog days of summer and I'm here for it. I am...
Hey there, lovely people!, I'm back from the UK and back to business here in the US. Got a bit waylaid by the obligatory virus one picks up while travelling and also by a kitty who was pleased to see me, but I am back at my desk and beavering away. What's next? My...
Hey there, Phew! Have I been hot, dirty, and dusty these past few weeks? I am helping a relative declutter her home. It's been hard, physical work – quite the opposite to the type of work I usually do – but very satisfying and, I hope, helpful. Help...
Hey there, I'm off to New York for my son's graduation on Saturday. We're staying all week to enjoy the sights, a show or two, and a couple of escape rooms. I can't wait! The ceremonies are taking place at Radio City Music Hall and Yankee Stadium, two places I haven't...
Hello! It is my pleasure to announce that the fourth book in the Roxy Reinhardt mystery series, Cajun Catastrophe has hit the Amazon shelves. Buy Cajun Catastrophe or read for free with Kindle Unlimited If you missed last week's cover reveal, scroll no further and go...
Greetings! I'm getting closer and closer to publishing the next book in the Roxy Reinhardt series, Cajun Catastrophe. Early feedback has been fantastic. I can't wait to share it with you. If you missed last week's cover reveal, scroll no further and go here. To whet...
Hey there, Thank you so much for all the well wishes. I am well on the way to recovery now. COVID plus pneumonia was no fun, but our Starry looked after me and, well, who could resist that cute face? Writing isn't physically strenuous, so I have been able to work in...
Greetings, I hope you are doing well. I am decompressing from my trip, attending to a few things Stateside, and getting ready for my son's graduation next month in New York. It was so lovely to share with you my UK experiences. As I replied to readers who wrote to me,...
Hey there, Greetings, When you receive this, I'll be touching down again in San Francisco, two months after leaving for a trip to the UK. Someone asked me how the trip had gone. It has been by far my longest visit since I left the country nearly 27 years ago, and I...
Hey there, Well, what an adventure I've been on. Since I last wrote to you, I've gone from being stranded by snow to navigating a fiery dystopian hellscape. But I tell you, to an author, it's all grist for the mill. Expect my experiences to be featured in a story or...
Hey there! This week I have answers to some questions, and of course some photos. There won't be a newsletter next Thursday because I'll be in Paris with my son who is flying in from New York. We will meet at St. Pancras International and take the train under the...
Hey there! Gosh, this week's been busy. I feel I've finally mastered the basics of living out in the sticks. I know when the freshly-baked cakes are delivered to the coffee shop. I've eaten in the pub. I've discovered there is a bus tracker app. (OMG. There. is. a....
Hey there, Golden gang! I hope you had a gorgeous week. I have been beavering away in my cottage writing. I've also been hanging out with my family and catching buses. Or not. I had planned to show you pictures of a nearby town today. It's a terribly pretty place, but...
Hey there, Golden Gang, Another week has passed, and I've had a lovely week. Friday evening fish and chips with a friend, afternoon tea in the cottage with another. The mornings are getting lighter and the evening sunsets from my cottage are wowsers. What goes on...
Hey, hey, hey! I'm writing today from a converted cow barn half a mile outside a North Bedfordshire village in the UK. The village was where I got the inspiration for Annabelle and Upton St. Mary and I hope to share with you over the coming weeks some of the village...
Hey, hey, hey! The pink Annabelle covers are going away! That's today's message. Next week, they start disappearing. Poof! ? Poof! ? Poof! (Imagine a ninja deflecting books that come flying through the air. That's what it'll be like. ?? ?) (Not really. ☺️) Get your...
Good day! How are you? I have not yet got washed away in this atmospheric river that's sweeping California, but I am staying at home a lot and am very grateful I live on high ground. I promised last week I would let you know what I have planned for 2023. Here we go ....
Hello! 2022 is in the rear view mirror. At the end of each year, I like to review what I achieved and look ahead. Last year was full of achievements I crossed a few things off my bucket list. Things got done. In 2022, I achieved the following. If you missed any of...
Hello! It's the end of 2022. Many people count down the days but I think every day is precious. As the year ends, I'm feeling grateful. 2022 has been an amazing year for me and that's all down to you. If you’ve bought one of my books, left a review, or recommended me...
Hey there! Are you nearly done with your holiday prep? The final Golden bird returns to the nest later today and the fun (and food!) and games can begin. On Christmas Day there will be calls to my English family, gift opening (with sausage rolls and mimosas,) followed...
Hey everyone! Seems like it's been cold everywhere this week. Even here in Northern California, it's been cold. I'm staying warm lugging gifts home and wrapping them. Writing a bit too. Last week's email got readers a-thinking. In answer to the many questions about my...
Hey there! Hey there, Golden gangstas! I am continuing to pull my holiday season together. I simply love Christmas. It is my favourite time of year. It will be the four of us again this year and we are staying in California. We like our family time quiet. Christmas...
Hey there! One of my favourite authors is Peter Bartram who has a new book out: The Family Tree Mystery. Pick it up if you need some good reading for the weekend. I recommend it. Bartram writes clever, fun cozy mysteries set in Brighton during the Sixties. While I do...
Hey there! I hope you are doing well. I am still in the UK, dodging the rain, still in awe of the green scenery after a three-year dry spell. I have been quiet this week. I injured my foot a few days ago. It has forced me to stay home for a few days, but not to worry,...
Hey there! I bought a ticket to the UK last week and jumped on a plane inside twenty-four hours. I am currently in a coffee shop charging all my devices as it buckets down outside. I am damp but connected to the interwebs. Business continues as usual. All is good....
Hey there! Thank you for all the well wishes, last week. I'm slowly returning to the land of the physically moving and fully cognizant, and starting to dip my toe in to the cool waters around Gorey Harbour again. Also thank you for the feedback on recent features. I...
Hey there! Welp, this week I was expecting to show you pretty pictures from my converted cowbarn in the middle of the English countryside where I was finishing off the new Inspector Graham. But two days before my flight to the UK, Covid visited my household. So...
Hey there! Counting down to my trip to the UK ??. Lots of appointments, seeing friends before I leave, writing reminders for things that need to happen while I'm gone. I won't be back until Thanksgiving ? in November and that feels like a long way away. A newsy...
Hey there, It was so great to hear from so many of you last week about my jumble sale dress. I'm so glad you enjoyed the story. It was fun to write. I live in earthquake country, just a few miles from a fault line. These past few weekends I have been updating our...
Hey there, Something happened a few years ago. I wrote about it. It's cute. And completely true. A magical (and true) story I moved to California on October 30, 1996. Virgin Atlantic flight VS019 arrived at SFO at 2:50 p.m. to be exact. I sat in seat 49C. Five years...
Hey there! I hope you are doing well. I went for a lovely afternoon tea on Sunday with a friend who'd just had surgery. We ordered extra sandwiches because I love sandwiches. We didn't order extra scones though which I think was a mistake because I needed more...
Hey there, I had dental treatment last week. I'm adjusting to my new mouth and grateful for pain medications and sedation and skilled dentists on the forefront. I'm not a fan of the dentist. And as I had been waiting in trepidation for over sixteen months for this...
Hallooooo! Gosh, it feels like I have been gone a long while. I hope you are doing well, and enjoying your summers. I've been hearing from some of you about your trips to Cornwall and Jersey. Seeing the photos makes me very happy. What I've been doing I have been as...
Hey there, oh dear reader! It's windy where I live. In the afternoons, I can barely stand upright when I go for my walk and have to cover my head with my hood, holding it at the neck to keep the wind out. It is lovely and sunny though, so inside it is very nice. Next...
Hey there, Last week I mentioned I had something personal for you. A few weeks ago, my friend Lisa invited me onto her podcast. I haven't done a spoken interview since I became an author so this is a first! I've known Lisa for 15 years and we got into it. You'll learn...
Hey there, lovely readers! I hope you have had a great week. Today I have the results of a newsletter subscriber poll on what my next-but-one book should be and answers to some frequently asked questions relating to my future plans. But first… ? My next...
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Conclusion for the Series Hey there, I had a busy launch week last week. If you missed news of the release of the eighth and final Annabelle mystery, you can get your copy of it here. I have two contests for you today. Enter for a chance...
Hello! I am so pleased to announce that the eighth book in the Reverend Annabelle Dixon cozy mystery series, Witches at the Wedding has hit the Amazon shelves. Every book I write has a quotation associated with it. The quote for this book comes from Maya Angelou:...
Greetings! I'm getting closer and closer to publishing the next book in the Reverend Annabelle Dixon series, Witches at the Wedding. Early feedback has been fantastic. I can't wait to share it with you. To whet your appetite, I have a teaser below. Also, there's...
Good day gangsters! I often get asked where I get my ideas from. And I always answer, “real life.” A couple of examples: I had to take Star to the vet on Saturday. Phew. It was a two-person military operation. We got her some medicine to put in her food...
Hey there, Recently, a reader wrote to thank me for writing stories she doesn't have to hide from her granddaughter. And that made me think of a story from my own life. When I was a little girl I would visit with my grandparents every summer. They lived in Cambridge,...
Hello! I am so pleased to announce that the eighth book in the Inspector Graham series, The Case of Sampson's Leap has hit the Amazon shelves. Please read on. There is an extract from the book below, purchase links, and what to do if you haven't tried this series yet....
Hey there! The Case of Sampson's Leap will be out earlier than expected. I originally said November, but it's ready and will be published next week! The Case of Sampson's Leap will be available on Kindle, in paperback, and via Kindle Unlimited. In a few days, I'll...
Hey there! Wow, here we are mid-October. Time is flying. I don't know about you but last year I got caught scrambling in December buying Christmas presents and food when so much had already sold out. So this year, I got myself sorted nice and early. When I had sent...
Hey there! Man, it seems like a while since I last landed in your inbox. Things have been cracking on a-pace. My nest has emptied and it feels more permanent this time, but I'm happy the boys and their friends are back living their lives as young people should. I...
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