Good Afternoon,

I hope you’ve had a fabulous weekend. It’s finally stopped raining in Bristol, although the weatherman assures me it’s only a brief respite, so here I sit, sun shining in, letting you know what’s happening.

For those of you yet to read it, Witness for Wendy is free until the 17th October. Should you wish to grab a copy, simply click here or on the cover.

Ill Conceived has passed the quality test at Audible and is currently being processed. I should be available within the next week or so. If you haven’t listened to the sample you can do so here. I will be provided with a batch of free promo codes, so if you would like to have a listen to the full book, please shout.  I also have a few codes for Misplaced Loyalty if anyone would like one.

I’ve read some great books, and my reviews are up to date, are yours? You can see what I’ve been reading here.

Hopefully I have finally sorted out the duplicate newsletter issue. However if you do receive a newsletter from both MailChimp and WordPress please let me know so I can stop it happening.

Don’t forget if you follow me on BookBub you can choose a free book (see below). I’ve had a few follows that I don’t recognise, if you have followed me, but not heard from me, please drop me a line.

Finally, Not If You Paid Me, had a spurt and is now crawling along again, but I promise to do better!

That’s it, I’ll leave you to whatever is filling your Sunday,

Happy reading,

Follow me on BookBub and you may choose a FREE ebook from my list of novels. ( boxed sets excluded)  Simply click here and you’ll be taken to my author page, and will find the follow button on the top right. If you don’t use your own name for BookBub please drop me a line and let me know what it is and I’ll be in touch.

Hello from sunny Bristol,

We seem to be having a late burst of summer here, I hope the weather is nice where you are.

Now the greetings are out of the way, a quick up date for you, it’s all go here I should have steam coming out of my ears. First, I have a confession, and no – you won’t like it. In an effort to get more momentum into the latest Meredith & Hodge – Not If You Paid Me – I’ve read it through (again), and ignoring typos etc., I know what was wrong . . . I didn’t like it! The basic premise was okay, but the whole thing needed a shakeup, a different character, and a slight change of direction.  I’ve made the amendments, and I am now off and running again. I added a further 5k words to it over the weekend. With a fair wind I should have it done in a couple of months.

The audio version of Ill Conceived is almost complete, and I’ve now completed the interview with narrator Lee Beddow. The photo below is of Lee in the studio where it all happens. He’s a very busy man. No boring nine – five for him!

Everyone has favourite characters in the Meredith & Hodge series – those they love, or sometimes love to hate.  To date my favourite characters have been Meredith (of course), Nancy Bailey from The Wrong Shoes, and Peggy Greene who first appears in Tin Soldiers, and pops in and out to annoy Meredith throughout the rest of the series. However, listening to the production of Ill Conceived, Lee has given me another to add to my list. The villain, Michael Brent. Lee really has brought him to life for me. Have a listen to the following clips and let me know what you think.

In this clip, Brent is ‘convincing’ Derek Christie to work for him.

Here, his long-suffering wife, Liz, believes her days are numbered.

 

Amazon have provided another batch of FREE promo codes for Misplaced Loyalty in both the US and UK. If you would like a free listen please let me know and I’ll get a code off to you. Producing the audio books has been an eye opener in many ways. For instance I’m now led to understand that you may have to sign up for audible to download the book even with the free promo code, but please be aware you can cancel membership at any time and still keep the books you have chosen. I’ve also discovered you can actually amend the speed at which you listen to the book- who knew? Not I.  If you want to know more about Audible, click the icon on the right.  I’ll let you know when I have codes for Ill Conceived. Now it’s over to Lee.

Interview with Lee Beddow

Q: Being a musician and teacher, how did you come find yourself narrating novels?

A: I’ve always done little bits of voice over work including everything from radio ads to telephone systems, even competitions on the phone. Narrating books seemed a logical step and I’d always read to both my children when they were young, particularly enjoying characterising different people with different voices.

Q: You have a very busy life, teaching one day, narrating the next, and then on to a music session. Do you enjoy the variation, or would you prefer to have things fall into blocks of work?

A: Having a variety of work keeps things interesting. I love narrating & doing the voiceover work, teaching can be really rewarding and music production is where I started my recording career, as I started my own studio at 18!

Q: Do you yourself listen to audio books or are you a reading man?

A: Actually, I love audio books, especially for long car journeys. Those and a good podcast too – depends on the length of journey as to which I listen to. That said, I LOVE reading and often have a couple of books on the go at the same time – usually one on Kindle and one in the traditional format.

Q: When choosing a book, what’s your preferred genre?

A: I like reading a mixture of genres. I like detective books, such as Ian Rankin’s Rebus and Michael Connelly’s Bosch. I’ll then mix it up with some biographies or real-life stories and maybe something humorous too.

Q: If you had to choose, which novels would be in your top three?

A: Top 3 novels? Gosh that’s tough!! My all-time favourite book is definitely “To Kill A Mocking Bird”, which I’ve read countless times since I was about 15. It was a school exam text and I remember thinking it wouldn’t be for me but then couldn’t put it down.  On a completely different vein, I’ve also read a slightly obscure Beatles novel called “Paperback Writer” by Mark Shipper many, many times. It’s a funny book giving a fictionalised account of The Beatles’ story, right up to them reforming the band in 1980 and doing a concert supported by The Sex Pistols and Peter Frampton – hilarious!!!

Q: You’ve narrated books from a wide selection of genres, Crime, Children’s stories, Sci-Fi, do you have a favourite?

A: Each different type of audio book brings its own rewards so there’s no favourite genre really. That said, I do love doing different types of voices, whether it’s a serious bad guy or strange alien.

Q: With the Meredith & Hodge novels, did you guess ‘whodunnit’ before the reveal, and if so, did that effect the way you portrayed the character?

A: So far, I’ve never guessed whodunit in the M&H series, although I have to admit to reading ahead to find out the conclusion in the latest one before I narrated it, but that was more because I wanted to know, rather than influence how I delivered it.

Q: Because I’ve had the character’s voices in my head for so long, it took me a while with some of them to recognise your ‘version’ of them,  but as we come to the end of the second novel I can pick who’s speaking without the narrator letting me know, and by far my favourite is Michael Brent, the villain in Ill Conceived. Where did your inspiration for Brent come from?

A: Would you believe it if I said Brent was originally a giant white tiger?! I have done a children’s book where a little girl’s best friend is a white tiger and I wanted to give him a low, slow and thoughtful voice. With a few tweaks, I realised a similar delivery would fit Michael Brent and I really looked forward to doing his lines in Ill Conceived.

Q: Who’s your favourite character in the Meredith & Hodge novels so far. (I’m conscious you’ve yet to come across Peggy Greene – but that’s a conversation for another day.

A: My favourite character in the M&H series is easily Loopy Linda! The lines she has instantly put her voice in my head and she’s definitely someone I see inside my head as a narrate her.

Q: Has any particular character given you any trouble?

A: I don’t think characters give me trouble so much as making sure I’m consistent with delivery. For example, I can do a reasonable Irish accent but then trying to do the accent whilst delivering the written lines becomes a lot for tricky. Adding more accents and variations of voice is something I look at constantly – If I hear an interesting voice anywhere, I find myself shaping my face and imagining how I’d do that voice. I often ‘see’ character’s faces in my head as I’m reading them in order to maintain them as much as possible.

Q: If readers are interested in hearing more of your work, where can they find this?

A: People can hear me in all sorts of places – I might turn up in a training film or on a TV / Radio ad at any time! In terms of audiobooks, the most recent include Patrick G. Cox’s “Harry Heron – Into The Unknown”, where 3 18th century sailors are transported from a sailing ship accidentally to the 23rd century onto a space ship, so a real mix of historical and sci-fi genres. Also available very soon is “The Bag” by D.J. Cattrell, a teenage fiction novel set between Earth & a mystical land inhabited by dwarves and other odd creatures as well as a very horrible and powerful witch. Both available on Amazon / Audible.

Q: Finally, when the recording equipment has been switched off, and the school books put away, how do you relax?

A: How do I relax? Well, I love my music, playing, writing and listening. I play a number of instruments but guitar is what I’m most likely to pick up – I used to have over 30 guitars but have slimmed it down to probably around 17 or 18 now. I’m a self-confessed Beatles anorak and in fact I have a Master degree in The Beatles and Popular Music, which I studied for in Liverpool (naturally!). I love spending time with my family and walking the dog, but the end of a good day is always with the company of my wife & either a glass of red or a large whisky – cheers!

_ _ _

That’s it for now. I’m off to sit in the sun for an hour with my kindle. Don’t forget to follow me on BookBub and claim your free ebook (see below)

Happy reading,

 Don’t forget if you follow me on BookBub you may choose a FREE ebook from my list of novels. (Not boxed sets)  Simply click here and you’ll be taken to my author page, and will find the follow button on the top right. If you don’t use your own name for BookBub please drop me a line and let me know what it is and I’ll be in touch.

Good Morning,

It’s a beautiful spring day here in Bristol,  the sun has been shining for almost a week – with no rain….

Exciting news, Meredith & Hodge are spreading their wings, as are the Bearing Women.  They have decided it’s about time that they were also available as an audio book.  I’ve found a wonderful actress for the Bearing Witness series, and fingers crossed, also a narrator for Meredith & Hodge. We are some months away from release, but as with all things, I need to know what makes an audio book listener click that button. I’ve put together a small survey that will take less than 3 minutes of your time to complete, and there’s a chance to win one of three 10.00 Amazon voucher.

Click the image to take part, and then okay to commence the questions.  Question one contains a box for your email address should you wish to be entered for the draw to win one of three 10.00 Amazon vouchers. The draw will take place on 15th March 2019, and winners will be contacted by email, and the results published in the following newsletter.  Thank you in anticipation of you help.

 

In other news, the latest Meredith & Hodge – Family Matters, is going down well. Regular 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.

That’s it for now, I hope you’re reading something interesting, don’t forget to take the survey.

                           Happy reading,

Don’t forget if you follow me on BookBub you may choose a free ebook from my list of novels. (Not boxed sets)  Simply click here and you’ll be taken to my author page, and will find the follow button on the top right. If you don’t use your own name for BookBub please drop me a line and let me know what it is and I’ll be in touch.

Happy New Year!

First the big news. I didn’t get to see in the New Year, I was in bed by 10.30 having seen the first photographs of my new grandson, Frankie.  He arrived at 9.30pm on New Years Eve, eight days late and even then he took two days to find his way into the world. Edie stayed with Nanny and Grumpy for the duration of mum’s labour, and looking after a toddler and worrying about her mummy saw me virtually pass out once I knew all was well.  He’s a lovely, handsome little chap, if a tad nocturnal. Sleeps all day and is awake most of the night! The photograph is of our first meeting, Edie wasn’t sure she wanted to share her Nanny.

Something else that was late, partly as a consequence of the above, was getting my final draft of Family Matters off to the editor, I got there in the end and only a few days late. I’m sure Sharon is chopping and changing it as I write. Once she’s finished it’s off to the proof-reader Jill, and it will be published on 15^th February. Pre- order available here.

Would you like a sneak preview? Thought you might. An unedited version of Chapter One is available for download HERE.

I’ve already made a start on Terms of Affection, the next in the Bearing Witness series, but I’m not going to promise a date for delivery on this one . . . yet. The trouble with giving a date, is that you really should be on time, yes, even babies!

Before I go, something that might interest you – I’m a member of a Mystery readers group on Goodreads, and next month we will be reading a mystery written pre-1900. I’ve downloaded three of them because I simply couldn’t choose, and what bargains, all priced at either 0.49 or 0.99 – can’t wait to get started. These are the three I’ve chosen, simply click on the covers if you fancy a classic read.

    

Happy reading,

Don’t forget if you follow me on BookBub you may choose a free ebook from my list of novels. (Not boxed sets)  Simply click here and you’ll be taken to my author page, and find the follow button on the top right. If you don’t use your own name for BookBub please drop me a line and let me know what it is and I’ll be in touch.

Hello, and welcome new subscribers,

I have news! I hope you’ve all had a wonderful summer, we actually sizzled here in the UK this year.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve started a newsletter, just to let you know the progress on the long-promised Quite by Chance, (Meredith & Hodge #7) over the past few months, but something always seemed to get in the way.

It was a hot and hectic summer to say the least. A holiday in Zakynthos, (can’t resist a Greek island), more birthday celebrations than I can remember, including my Dad’s 80th, two beautiful weddings, the loss and funeral of my wonderful and dear Uncle Harry, and the announcement that a new grandson and great-nephew will be arriving between Christmas and the New Year. Double trouble on the way!

And that’s not forgetting the day job, babysitting my granddaughter, walking the dogs, and the usual household stuff that needs to be sorted. I’m almost ready for another holiday!

I did manage to read lots of good books, to include: Every Single Secret, Sycamore Row, Her Last Day, Ice Cold Death, The Things you find in Rockpools, Deception Wears Many Faces, Another Mother & The Pick, the Spade and the Crow. I didn’t do much sightseeing on holiday! Reviewing them is on my list for this week, and I’ll also update my reviews & recommendations page.

Oh yes, and I did some writing.

But, I’m wittering on. Quite by Chance is done, (Did I hear a shout of finally?), and will be published on 19^th October! I’m delighted to say that I’ve had the thumbs up from those who have read it. One reader said: “Loved it. Meredith & Hodge are back!”   They are trapped up a mountain with a couple of dead bodies, and you can guess how chuffed Meredith is.

Quite by Chance is currently going through the final edits, but it is available for pre-order here. 

I’m planning some offers and giveaways in the run up to publication, the first being a choice of any one my ebook novels free to the first ten readers to email me a copy of their Quite by Chance pre-order confirmation.

I’m off now, as I’ve already started the next Meredith & Hodge, I’d better get on with it.

 

Happy reading,