Photo Diane Hill
The winter winds have been so strong we haven’t been able to get out in the outrigger for several weeks. We managed it today and had no wind or rain. We had an escort of a sea lion for about fifteen minutes. He was curious about us and undulated and dived beside us. Since he weighs about a thousand pounds, we were happy he kept at least six meters away from us. There is only a part of him showing in this photo.
Bloomsbury to Barkerville: The Life of Florence Wilson is moving through the publishing process for a spring release. I see it is up on Amazon and so is available for pre-order. It likely can be ordered at independent bookstores as well. There is no cover on Amazon, and I haven’t seen a cover yet, but I notice an artist has a credit for it on the inside information for the book, so I expect I’ll see it soon. Heritage House Publishing comes up with covers that are unexpected and exciting. I can hardly wait for it and will put it on in my newsletter when I get it.
Murder in Ashton-on-Tinch: The British Book Tour Mysteries Book 7 does have a cover that is evocative of the Hampshire country where the story is set. This is the first cover by the Camel Press designer and I am totally happy with it. The last book Storms in the Cotswolds (Book 6) will be releasedby Harlequin Worldwide Mysteries June 6, 2026.
All that is work the publishers do, so I am free to work on the first book in a mystery series set in the Nicola Valley of BC. The protagonist is a nurse and, since my nursing knowledge is outdated, I have asked local nurses to read the draft and advise me on what I need to update. Six nurses are coming to my house this week to talk about the book. I am excited. It’s going to be fun, and the book will be so much better because they have checked it.
I envy those authors who can write a mystery a month. It takes me at least six months to research and write it and then another three to six months to re-write it. I wrote faster when I was younger, but I am fussier now and not willing to let a book go until I have gone over it many times. That takes time. Perhaps I enjoy it more and I live and breathe the plot and characters for quite a long time.
My dog is still barking at imaginary visitors. She stops when I say “Quiet” but she startles me when she suddenly decides that pine cone that fell on the roof is dangerous, and I should know about it. I’m trying to ignore her now. Let’s see if that works.
The best of the Christmas season to you all.