Happy Book Birthday!

Murder at Enderley Hall is one year old this week! Wow! That has gone so quickly.See it Here So happy that Matt and Kitty are gaining new fans every day. I'm working hard on book 7 and Murder at Elm House will be out in June!

Happy St David's Day

Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus.

Happy St Davids Day to all of my Welsh family, friends and readers.

Guest blogger - Georgia Hill

A warm welcome to lovely Georgia Hill talking about her latest book and the inspiration behind it!

Huge thanks for having me on, Nell! Yesterday saw the publication of a book which has held a very special place in my heart for years. I loved writing Janey Trelawney’s Year of Surprising Triumphs. I always fall in love with my hero but this time I fell for the heroine too! A long time ago, a friend introduced me to the idea of snowdrop devotees – galanthophiles. She sent me some articles from a magazine and links to a few websites. Also percolating in my brain was the image of a studious and sexy accountant hero and a heroine who was a bit ‘out there,’ a little eccentric. I wrote the first scene, where Will watches Janey dance under the chestnut trees and then, as often happens, I got waylaid with writing other stuff. That first scene never left me though. Opposite my childhood home were three chestnut trees. I was a bit of an eccentric child, a bit ‘out there’ (probably still am) and loved standing underneath them listening to the breeze seething through the leaves. The sound that trees make in the wind is called ‘susurration’ – isn’t it a beautiful word? A re-watch of one of my favourite films, Calamity Jane, got me excited; I had the inspiration for some of the plot, mainly the bit where everyone is in love with the wrong person. The book wears its Calamity Jane influences lightly but, if you’re a keen film buff like Janey, you’ll have fun spotting them. I’m like Janey in some ways but especially when it comes to dyscalculia, which I believe I have to a mild degree and which ruined large parts of my high school life. I only wish I had her gardening skill; my ability to kill plants is legendary.

It’s funny how things trickle through your life and end up in your writing. All the above – and much, much more – ended up in Janey Trelawney, including a dim-witted and naughty spaniel! I must take this opportunity to add my thanks to Greg Poulos, who was very helpful in reminding me what a wonderful city Boston is, and my friend Debbie who supplied Janey’s ‘bra incident.’ I forgot to acknowledge you both – a terrible habit and I promise to make it up to you next time. I also need to thank my weekly Zoom group. You know who you are. You’ve gave valuable insight along the way and kept me sane-ish during Lockdowns. I wanted to read uplifting fiction during these (groan) unprecedented times and I wanted to write it too. I hope Janey fills that need. Love, Georgia x About the book! - Janey Trelawney's Year of Surprising Triumphs Janey’s life becomes more disaster movie than romcom when the ruthless Becca steams in to manage Cheney House. Her job as head gardener in peril and her self-confidence in tatters, Janey must fight back. Finding an ally in Will, who’s more Clark Kent than Superman, it’s up to them to save the day while owner Clare is away having her Shirley Valentine moment. It doesn’t help that everyone is in love with the wrong people! Why can’t people love the one who loves them back? Will Cheney House survive - and will Janey ever get her When Harry Met Sally happy ending? Find out in this warm-hearted romance from the author of the best-selling Millie Vanilla’s Cupcake Café, full of Gregory Peck look-a-likes, snowdrops, cake, and a cocker spaniel called Camilla. BUY THE BOOK HERE

About the author: Georgia Hill writes warm-hearted and up-lifting contemporary and timeslip romances about love, the power and joy in being an eccentric oldie and finding yourself and your community. There's always a dog. It's usually a naughty spaniel of which, unfortunately, she has had much experience. Her books are firmly rooted in small seaside towns similar to the one she lives in and she loves history especially when it insists on rearing up and battering at the present. As a child she had an invisible friend called Gonky who lived on the third stair from the bottom. As an adult her invisible friends inhabit her head and refuse to leave until she commits them to paper. Readers of her books can escape into a warm bath of words and, no matter what challenges her characters face they will, ultimately, have a happy ending. Find her on Twitter as @Georgia Writes

Best seller

Whoo hoo, thank you to all my brilliant Canadian readers. Murder in the Bell Tower has its lovely best seller fl

ag today again. You can get your copy BUY HERE

Guest blogger - Lizzie Chantree

International bestselling author and award-winning inventor, Lizzie Chantree, started her own business at the age of 18 and became one of Fair Play London and The Patent Office’s British Female Inventors of the Year in 2000. She discovered her love of writing fiction when her children were little and now works as a business mentor and runs a popular networking hour on social media, where creatives can support to each other. She writes books full of friendship and laughter, that are about women with unusual and adventurous businesses, who are far stronger than they realise. She lives with her family on the coast in Essex. Visit her website at www.lizziechantree.com or follow her on Twitter @Lizzie_Chantreehttps://twitter.com/Lizzie_Chantree.

Lizzie's fabulous new book is released on 19th Feb! And it sounds amazing: The Little Icecream shop by the sea: Genie’s family is in crisis. Their seafront business is failing with the loss of Genie’s grandmother and her legendary ice cream flavours. Genie is determined to be the one to save her family’s heritage, but suddenly her mother wants to sell to developers and leave their shared history behind. Buying the business and taking on a sixty-eight year old business partner, Ada, with a mysterious past and a gorgeous but distracting grandson, Genie sets out to prove her parents wrong. Ada’s grandson, Cal, wants to protect his gran from ‘pensioner persuader’, Genie, but soon realises that living in a little seaside town and away from the paparazzi in Hollywood can actually give him time to heal. Hiding in a seafront business with its fiery owner and working as kitchen staff, is the only way he can think of to keep his ex-Hollywood glamour-puss, gran from harm. But his meddling might also ruin Ada’s second chance at love. Hiring a private detective and learning about Genie’s parent’s past makes Cal regret his own impulsiveness. The information he has unearthed could destroy their blossoming romance and turn Genie’s world upside down. Genie soon discovers that friends can become enemies and your closest family can have lied to you for your whole life.

Hmm, icecream and the seaside, what's not to love? Especially with a side serving of romance. Get your copy HEREBest of all its just 99p or 99c for the next 7 days!! Follow Lizzie on Twitter TWITTER Or on Facebook FACEBOOK

Starting Miss Underhay book 7

So, book 7 is officially underway and the first 8k is down on paper! This story takes us out of Torbay and into Yorkshire to a castle no less! Lots of fun to write and research. My first delivery of materials has just arrived. I had planned an in person trip for last summer to coincide with the Theakston Crime festival. Alas those plans bit the dust so I'm relying on memory of previous trips, famly knowledge and my lovely shiny new books and maps.

Murder at Enderley Hall is an Amazon US bestseller!

Huge thanks to my fabulous readers! Murder at Enderley Hall is in the top 50 today on Amazon US. HERE snuggled up next to Julia Quinn's Bridgerton books!!

Sounding the bargain Klaxon!

Whew! Lots of stuff going on here right now! Today is the last chance to get Murder on the Dance Floor for 99p Here But! Murder at Enderley hall is 99p/99c just for a few days so you have the chance to grab that one Here For those of you following Kitty and Matt's adventures, Murder in the Bell Tower is out tomorrow! Eeek!Here And finally Murder at Elm House had a cover release this week and can now be preordered! Here Flipping heck! I'm exhausted just reading all that! My publishers have been very busy bees.

Murder at Elm House cover reveal

Cover Reveal and preorder is live for Murder at Elm House! Order here

One week to go!

One week until release day! So excited now to share this with you all.

Hoping you will all enjoy it. The first reviews have been fabulous. Here is what one reviewer had to say, 'Helena Dixon carefully weaves the tale and the mystery to it's denouement in true Christie style and you could briefly imagine that Poirot was sitting in a corner nodding sagely at Kitty.' Joanne D Netgalley. This made my heart leap!

Book 6 has a title!

Drum roll please! Book 6 in the #MissUnderhay series will be Murder at Elm House. Now I just need to finish polishing it up ready to send to my editor.

Guest Blog - Georgina Cross

Georgina's fabulous book, The Missing Woman is out anytime now. She is the author of the incredible book, The Stepdaughter which came out in September. Here is the blurb!

Erica thought Sabine had it all. The glances Erica makes to the other woman across the pool, envying her life, the looks going unnoticed, until the day Sabine stares back and she holds the stare a little too long. A cold feeling clenches inside Erica’s chest, a fearful warning. And before the sun sets and the pool lights turn on, Erica knows something is about to go terribly wrong. Hooked? Here's a bit more! They live in the big houses on the pretty street. Those other women, as we call them. And to think I used to want to be like them, to have their money and happiness, to live and laugh and play like them. Not any more. It’s the fourth of July and the whole town is gathered at the local pool. Through the sweltering afternoon, we single mothers don’t mix with the other women––the ones with the perfect lives and happy marriages. Women like Sabine Miller. But when Sabine shoots me a desperate look across the water and suddenly disappears, my blood runs cold… Running to the back gate, all I find is a silver charm bracelet she dropped on her way out. I convince myself I’m imagining things until Sabine’s husband Mark appears. When he realizes she’s missing, he phones the cops straight away. “Someone has been threatening Sabine,” he says. “Now they’ve kidnapped her.” Hours later, I wish I’d run faster. The whole town is searching the streets, calling Sabine’s name over and over. On the TV, Mark is begging for someone to bring his wife home. The truth is, I was the last person to see her alive––and it’s killing me inside. Now the cops are at my door asking questions. I’m terrified they’ll find out what happened years ago between me and Sabine. Something I’ve never told anyone. But I need to tell someone. Can you keep a secret? Get your copy Amazon Apple Kobo Google

Happy New Year

Wishing all of you a safe, happy and healthy New Year! To start the year off on a bright note, Murder on the Dance Floor is just 99p today only in the UK HERE

Radio interview

I was interviewed by the lovely Caro Cook for BBC radio Somerset broadcasting across the South West. My fabulous agent has managed to get the audio file and it's now on the agency youtube channel for anyne who missed it and fancies a listen. There are tips for writers and a bit of behind the scenes things for the Miss Underhay mysteries! Click Here

Picture this!

I found this fabulous picture which captures Lucy at Enderley Hall in Murder at the Bell Tower so wonderfully I thought I'd share it with you all along with a tiny snippet.

Matt glanced around for Kitty. She was assisting Lucy while the craft table was full. He wanted to speak to her to tell her about his visit to the police station and to ask if she had seen her uncle. He excused himself from the group and carried his decoration over to Kitty. “Another one for your tree.” She studied it for a moment. “What is it?” “A robin, obviously.” He was a little disgruntled at her disparagement of his artistic endeavours. “Of course, I see it now,” she grinned and hung it on the tree next to a slightly malevolent looking cherub.

Guest Blog from Verity Bright

A very warm welcome to my fellow Bookouture authors who write together as Verity Bright. Their Lady Eleanor Swift series, set in the 1920's has a new Christmassy edition today with the release of Murder in the Snow available from Amazon! https://bit.ly/2GRtSyc An English Christmas has mince pies, cheerful carols, a twinkling tree… and a murder? Thank goodness Lady Swift is on the scene! Winter, 1920. Amateur sleuth Lady Eleanor Swift is feeling festive. She is playing host to the entire village at Henley Hall for gifts, games and gingerbread. She’s also purchased perfect presents for each of her household – not forgetting the biggest bone in the butcher’s shop for her partner in crime, Gladstone the bulldog – and is looking forward to celebrating her first English country Christmas. As snowflakes fall, Eleanor is cheering on contestants in the traditional Christmas fun run in the grounds of the Hall. But tragedy strikes when one of the runners drops dead at the finish line. Dashing Detective Seldon is convinced it’s just a heart attack, but Eleanor isn’t so sure. When she finds a rather distinctive key where the man fell, Eleanor knows she’ll never rest until she finds out the truth about what happened in her own home. Next the vicar is taken ill with what looks like poison and Eleanor starts to wonder if the two cases are linked. When someone tries to frame her by planting poisoned berries in her own kitchen, she knows speed is of the essence. But the entire village was at Henley Hall for the festivities and Eleanor has enough suspects to stuff a town full of turkeys. Can she nail the true killer and clear her name in time for Christmas?

Audio version of Murder in the Bell Tower

I'm thrilled to tell you that the fabulous Alex Tregear will be narrating the audiobook version of Murder in the Bell Tower. Alex has done such a wonderful job with the other titles and I know you will all be delighted to hear that she will be narrating Kitty and Matt's latest escapade.

Murder on the Dance Floor is out!

Murder on the Dance Floor is finally out! Yippee and the cover has also been released for Murder in the Bell Tower

Researching Kitty's car

I've spent quite a bit of the weekend researching for book 6. My very grateful thanks go to Julian Chair of Torbay Old Wheels club for generously giving up his time to give me a wonderfully informative socially distanced tour of his fabulous cars. Historical accuracy is very important to me and I spend a lot of time ensuring that I'm as accurate as possible with the period.

Almost time!

Murder on the Dance Floor will be out very soon - October 28th! Don't forget you can preorder now. Book 5, tentatively titled Murder in Midwinter is with my editor and I'm waiting to hear what she thinks! In the meantime I'm about to start writing book 6 Murder to Order so I'm busy with research in Torquay and Brixham.