Hello, and welcome new subscribers,
I’m glad to report that following on from my last newsletter, the plot of The Burglar continued to flow, and reached its conclusion. The question is: Will you will like that conclusion? I will go back to Little Compton next year, and when I do, I’ll ask you to let me know what you think might happen, or if I should leave well alone! The manuscript is now with Sharon, the editor, and I’ve booked, Jill, the proofreader. Who knows, with a fair wind, it might even get published a little earlier. If you want to pre-order you copy, you can do so HERE. Before I leave the subject of Little Compton, I must just say I’ve just listened to the first four chapters of the audio version of The Murder. Some characters surprised me, but I LOVED it! Perdita really brings Liz to life. You audio listeners are in for a treat. I’ll keep you posted about when it will be available.
As I am free to do as I please for a couple of days, I’m catching up on stuff I put off. One of those being to update
the ‘Work in Progress’ section – it was last updated on Valentine’s Day! When I got there, I remembered all about poor old Rosie Webber & the Bearing Witness ladies. Their stories are sitting in a file on the laptop somewhere, but as the update says, a vague outline of Meredith & Hodge‘s next case is shouting the loudest, so that’s my next project. I don’t even have a working title yet, but I’ll beef up the outline a little, write the opening scene, and hopefully I’ll be off and running.
That brings me nicely to the purpose of this newsletter. When I asked for suggestions for characters to be included in The Burglar, I got some crackers. Now Axel Wagner, Michelle Neale, and Geoff O’Brien are now living, breathing, residents of Little Compton. Next time I go back there, I’m sure they will at least make a cameo appearance. BUT now I’m after characters for the next M & H. So, if you’re feeling creative, get your thinking caps on and send in your suggestions. I’d like: Name, age, occupation (if any), personality, any family you want me 
to know about, any secrets they might be hiding. (Can even be you if you like). I can’t promise I won’t have to tweak them a little, but those selected will appear alongside Meredith & Hodge. I will acknowledge your contribution in the book, and a £10 Amazon voucher will be yours as a thank you.
I don’t know how many I’ll use because I’m still at the planning stage, and however nice they seem to be, I can’t promise that it won’t be your character ‘whodunnit’. Email me by hitting the contact button above. Can’t wait to meet some new characters.
That’s it for now, I have to get my own thinking cap on!
Happy Reading,
Hi, there is a couple you might like Guila and George Waterlow, bit like George and the dragon. She was a lovely woman but called a spade a spade and spoke her mind, she was also a very kind person who would help anyone in trouble and a keen crocheter. She would see a pattern on someone and sit behind them and take the pattern. George was a bus driver quiet kind man who would help people, loved by all his passengers, in Blackpool he drove trams as well. He loved his snooker and darts. My mum and dad who have passed now but people still talk about them, she would find anything out if there was any trouble and not behind the door in telling people what she thought about them. But a heart of gold and they adopted me. I know I’m rambling but she told me the name of my birth mother and she has passed away with white leg, but before she died she said I don’t mind if you look for your mother which made me think. I have found out that my birth mother was in a mental institution and had me due to a leave to her home and raped by her stepfather, who before he was arrested fell overboard of the trawler he was working on ???? She did leave the home and got marriage 9 years later.
Oh Sheena, what a sad story, so glad it had a happy ending. I don’t think this is a Meredith & Hodge, but it certainly might be a Bearing Witness. A confession, although I promised myself a week or so off writing and that I’d do ‘normal’ things, I got the first two chapters of M & H done yesterday. Think I’ll move on to Bearing Witness there after. This seems like it might fit in somehow.
M x
One thing I forgot to say is mum was a great story teller, she said my birth mum had passed but she also said I was a result of a office romance with her boss and he didn’t want anything to do with me. Rather than the truth ???? but from what I’ve found out my birth mother was sent there when she was about ten and was 25 when she had me, but I think it was due to some kind of behavioural disorder which wouldn’t be called for now as people know about them now xx
Oh, how sad. Did you get to meet your birth mum?
Young girl, named Alison Lone, shows up in town out of nowhere and gets to be babysitter of a couple with 2 kids. Her secret is that she was adopted/stolen (whatever) and is a runaway looking for her real parents. Maybe her parents can be the ones to kill the couple (or just one of them) to try to hide the hole thing. It would be fun if they only show up at the end as a great plot twist.
It would be fun too if the story started with her being portrayed in a mix of a sweet girl and a con artist, where we don’t know her real intentions… And now I want to read this story and not to know the end…
Wow. This really gives me something to think about. Blimey, the way this is going I won’t be coming up for air until 2025 – so many stories to write 🙂 Thanks Susana
I’d love to read about a lovely old man with no family of his own but a couple of great friends. Lots of stories as he’s lived a very well travelled life full of exciting times but doesn’t brag about the things he’s done or places he’s been.
The sort of man who would do anything to help anyone he can but too proud to ask for help when he needs it.
His name would have to be Bert or something that’s not fashionable these days and he’s just happy and content with his life.
Oooh that sounds very interesting. Not sure that he might be better represented in Bearing Witness or Little Compton, but I’ll give it some thought!
For absolutely no reason whatsoever, I got the name of a journalist Annabelle Unsworth. She’s a no nonsense writer but a bit young and naïve perhaps following the wrong lead and putting herself in danger?
Ohhh, she sounds interesting. You might have to start working on a voice!