Good afternoon,
It’s been a gorgeous day again here in Bristol, I hope the sun shines where you are. We took the dogs on a different walk today, and as you can see from the terrain, I was very happy it wasn’t raining.
I will begin with my usual confession: It’s not finished! The writing is happening . . . slowly. I have no excuses, not real ones, and at a guess I would say I’m about three quarters of the way through. On Wednesday I wondered if it was the story that was holding me back, so I started doing a read through without stopping for the many typos, and found it’s not me losing the plot – well not with the writing anyway. I’m liking it. I’ll continue reading through to the end, when I’m sure I will be inspired and my fingers will fly over the keyboard until it’s too hot 
to touch – if not I shall plod on. I wouldn’t mind, but I’ve got the next Bearing Witness and Murder Tour plots buzzing around in
my head, so I need to get it finished.
I’ve put Misplaced Loyalty and Who Killed Charlie Birch? On offer this week, so if you want to grab a 0.99 bargain, simply click the covers. I’m also trialling some adverts on Facebook, so if you do happen to have one appear in your newsfeed, I’d be forever grateful if you would be kind enough to share it. Once I’ve finished this (almost) newsletter, it’s headphones on to listen to the latest audio chapters for Charlie – as always Lee is doing a great job, and I’m sure you audio listeners will love it. Still have a few free codes for most of the other books, if anyone wants one, please shout.
With not much news on the writing front, I will bore you with news from the family. We had a beautiful new addition to the family this week, my great niece, Maisie arrived a little before midnight on the 20th April. She is beautiful, and I can’t wait for my cuddle. 
Maisie is our second lockdown baby, and my lovely niece Lucy, and hubby Adam, are rightfully over the moon. This generation of our family certainly produces stunning babies. I’ve had a quiet week, as my grandchildren have been off having adventures at Centre Parc, and as most of their usual attractions
are still closed, they were lucky with the weather and have had some lovely adventures. I’ve put up a collection of pictures to distract you from the news that the next Meredith & Hodge still isn’t finished.
That’s it, I’d better get on with it, you probably won’t hear from me now until I am dancing a jig, and swigging from a bottle, because I’ve finished . . .
Happy reading,
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Hodge, which many of you are chasing me for, but still, it’s finished. And, I will confess that eighty per cent of it was written quite a while ago, but most of it had to be rewritten or tweaked, so I’m counting it. It was going to be a one off, but I might just pull together a mini-series, as I have a couple of ideas for stories with a similar set up. The working title is An Unexpected Turn of Events, but it’s more likely going to end up being called, Who Killed Charlie Birch? Which of these two titles would grab your attention in the first instance?
US & UK. I only have a limited number so it will be first come first served. I also have a number of codes on all the
gave her poor old mum more than a rough time before she finally put in an appearance. But I’m sure like the rest of the family, mum and dad now think those hours . . . and . . . hours and hours were worth it! Here she is a few days old, the bruising from the forceps almost gone. She is, without a doubt, one of the prettiest newborns I have ever seen. All I want now are my cuddles, not sure how long it will be before I get them . . . but let’s not go back there.
glorious sunshiny days, to just about bearable heatwave (for us), to spectacular thunder storms. We are currently in a lull and if it wasn’t for the temperature, when you look out of the window, you’d be forgiven for thinking it was November. That’s the weather dealt with! I’m not going to talk about the pandemic, I think we all hear enough about that, other than to say, whatever your views, I hope you and yours stay safe.
you’ve yet to meet the young Meredith click 
haven’t used before, one that’s not associated with anyone famous, the list goes on. Even when I think I’ve sorted it, I often realise that name didn’t suit, so I change it. 
Take Louie Trump for instance, I didn’t name him, my best friend, Jane, did. We were away for a weekend of pampering and I was talking about Ill Conceived the second in the Meredith & Hodge series. I explained that a rather posh chap would be joining Meredith’s team and I hadn’t got a name for him. I described him and she came up with Louie Trump. This was almost eight years ago, I liked it, and Meredith’s side kick was named. Of course, had she suggested that name today, I would have rejected it, and I’ve had more than a few comments from readers since, but back then . . . who knew?
Beliefs
the morning you meet some very interesting characters. So, tucked away at the back of my mind was a plot where two dog walkers happen across a body. I don’t know who, or why, just that one of the dog walkers had committed the murder, then doubled back to give himself an alibi by choosing to take that route with a fellow walker. This is now a story which will never be written.
news!
One Secret Too Many
two.
This is a photograph of my beautiful daughter, Ellie. It was taken in early November at her 30th birthday celebrations. Her birthday was on the 4th, a Monday, and family and friends had lined up a weekend of celebration, culminating in a family meal on the Monday. Ellie named the weekend, “Hello thirties, bye bye Boobies”.
knew I’d love the opportunity to see it again. It was during our journey to the theatre she told me she’d found a lump, and thought she probably should get it checked out. She did the next week, and the doctor referred her to the hospital.
bilateral mastectomy. If she could be brave, then so could I, and, dry eyed, we asked a LOT of questions.
On a cheerier note, the other reason my life is hectic are these beauties. 
Edie and Frankie. My beautiful grandchildren, and I’m happy for them to take up my time any time they like.
little time dedicate to writing, and when I do get a few hours here and there something happens to distract me. Not If You Paid Me, the next Meredith & Hodge story, is certainly moving along, but powered by snail rather than rocket. Hopefully this will all change soon, as the distractions settle into a pattern. . .
women in front of me.
hadn’t been ill, in fact she had only just returned from a dream holiday in Alaska. Susan was only sixty-two, and she was one of the nicest people I have never met. Genuinely one of life’s nice people. She cared passionately about animal welfare. Her dog, Mia, was a rescued German Shepherd. In February it was Love your pet day, Susan commented. “Seriously? This is “Love Your Pet Day”? If that isn’t every day, then you should not have a pet.” While in Alaska she and her husband were going to the Mushers Banquet, and she told us, “We will get to meet the Mushers. Shhhh, would prefer to meet the dogs, but this is second best!”
questionnaire, thank you. Your contribution is much appreciated. However, as I’m finding out, there is an awful lot invested in producing an audio book, not least time, so please, if the author and narrator have entertained you, leave a review when you have a moment. It really does help and is very much appreciated. Which brings us to the winners, the following three readers were selected at random by my hubby, and in no particular order, the winners are: Angela Herron, Jan Meredith and Diana (Evs2Hui)
readers were delighted to meet Meredith’s half brother, and . . . No. No spoilers here, you’ll have to read it to find out. The cover has been chosen for the next in the Bearing Witness series, Terms of Affection, and it was …..The Scarf. The novel itself is making steady progress, and is still on course for publication in late spring.
Hello and Seasons Greetings,
loved it, some said, “Nah, let’s get back to normal.”
wonderful and peaceful Christmas and a very Happy New Year.
they are so much more practical than paperbacks, particularly when you need a stock to take on holiday. But there really is nothing quite like holding the real thing in your hands, and the cover for An Unexpected Gift looks stunning in real life, unfortunately my phone photography skills leave a lot to be desired.
Thank you once again to the Beta readers who downloaded, read and left a review on the advance copy as promised. It really does mean so much to me and other readers. Those who got their reports in before publication have been included in the acknowledgements in both ebook and paperback.
out and finish it. Although, I have to say I was pondering the next section of the story, and quite by chance (see what I did there?) a totally different twist came to me. I thought I had ‘whodunit’ narrowed down to one of two characters, but it turns out it wasn’t either of them, which is quite often the way when I write, the characters seem to have minds of their own. My tardiness in getting on with it has actually saved a huge re-write. I’ve been working with my editor and proofreader and improving both 
night (we came third and won an enormous Easter egg in the raffle), and not only did I drink a little too much, I went to bed two hours later than usual, so could have done with a few extra hours in bed this morning. Nobody told the dogs! So I was up by six as usual, and by twenty past was having any threat of a hangover stripped away by the cold. We had a sharp frost last night, and while the dogs bounded around joyfully, my feet crunched through the crispy grass and my head slowly cleared. A carpet of low fog slowly dispersed, and as the sun rose from behind the trees, a fabulous full moon was making its exit. It was a glorious walk, and one I would have missed if I’d listened to my body and not the dogs. So, Good Morning, wherever you are, I hope your Easter Weekend gets off to a good start.
Hello from snowbound Bristol, and welcome new subscribers,
I’d be interested in your thoughts on the cover. My designer sent several through, but this one grabbed me, so I decided not to bother you with voting on your preferred design, and went with my personal favourite – I hope I got it right.
Happy reading,
the house, walked the dogs, washed and dried the dogs, (it’s raining for a change!) I’ve showered, and I’m sitting in a sweatshirt & PJ bottoms, writing to you. I have no intention of doing much else today other than eating, and that will be whatever is easiest to prepare, as I simply can’t be bothered. Today I veg out!
(An alternative working title was, A Meredith Christmas and a Patsy New Year – I know! But in my defence, and as I’ve mentioned, it’s been hectic!) Target: Published by the end of March 2018, as this will set the scene for the next Meredith & Hodge novel, ‘Family Matters’. 
10% NEVER review books they have read. 8% because they can’t be bothered. Although 44% would always leave a review if they liked the book. I’m quite shocked that people can’t be bothered, particularly as it is a way of thanking an author if you’ve enjoyed a free book. I do wonder if they simply don’t realise how important reviews are to the author. To keep taking and not giving anything back when it only takes a few words and a few minutes seems harsh. One of my favourite reviews said simply: “I loved it – more please!” I always review a book if I can award 3 stars or more. I never leave a negative review, as I know you can’t please all of the people . . . and I guess that book simply wasn’t to my taste.
reading all those they had downloaded. 40% had over 20 paid books in the queue. It’s lucky most of us use e-readers or we’d be buried in books! I will certainly read all of the books on my kindle, I’m now being very disciplined in not downloading new books unless something really, grabs my attention. Currently there is only one free book in my to be read queue.
It’s bright, it’s breezy and autumn is well on its way. I had a wonderful walk with the dogs this morning, and I am raring to go. There is so much going on at the moment, it’s sometimes difficult to know where to start.
appropriate. As the survey is confidential, if you would like to be entered into a draw for one of the Amazon vouchers, please put your email address in the comment box at the end of question one. As it’s #October review time, if you would like to be entered into the draw twice, then copy and paste a link to your review of one of my novels into the comment box on question two. The survey will remain open for four weeks. It will only take a few minutes to complete – click here to join in:
I am a people watcher. But I’m very discreet – I hope. Even the briefest of encounters can become a dramatic snippet of someone’s life . . . in my mind. What if he’d missed that bus? What was he covering so diligently in the boot of that car? What would she do if he turned and walked away from her nagging? Why is that child wandering along the street on their own? What caused that black eye? And on, and on. I’m lucky, as now I can offload most of my theories into a story, thereby making them real. Yesterday, a mild case of road rage had me itching to write the offenders backstory.
