Monday 3 March 2014

March madness - a cover update and a competition

I am rich in proof copies!
First, some updates. As some of you may have already seen, proofs for Murder Most Unladylike are finally in, and they look stunning. The book is finally out in the world and being read - and that's an awesome and terrifying feeling. I can't wait to hear what you all think of it, and I can't wait to find out whether you manage to crack my whodunit. (Though, a caveat: if you do read it, you should consider yourself immediately sworn to silence as to the identity of the murderer. This blog is a spoiler-free zone!)

It's been a fairly quiet month on this blog, but that's because I've been busy writing the sequel to Murder Most Unladylike. Due for UK release in spring 2015, its title (at the moment) is Arsenic for Tea - and as of Sunday night, Draft One has been officially FINISHED. Now comes my favourite part: the edits!

I have written a bit on other blogs, though: a piece for the Author Allsorts about diversity in children's and YA fiction - and why I think that a diverse supporting cast will never make up for a lack of diverse narrators.

And an interview that I gave my lovely agent, Gemma Cooper, about the UK cover for Murder Most Unladylike. And talking of the cover . . .

I began last month with a cover reveal. It was a great cover - your enthusiastic reaction proved that. But since then, a decision has been taken by the wise people at Random House that a few small tweaks would make my book, and the series as a whole, look even better. And by golly, have they delivered.

The new-look Murder Most Unladylike still has the same beautiful illustrations and the same gorgeous title font as the original. In essence, it's absolutely the cover that I loved and approved last month - but it now has a different background colour, and a slightly simplified design. I hope you'll agree with me that these small changes have made it look even more wonderful than it did before.  I'm so proud to now be able to share the final look with you, and I hope that you'll fall for it all over again, just like I did!



And now, to celebrate the new cover direction, I'm delighted to be able to finally make good on my promise of a proof giveaway. That's right, it's competition time! I've got ONE very special proof copy of Murder Most Unladylike to give away to one of you lovely people.

All you have to do to win it is:

Tell me what your all-time favourite murder mystery is, and why.

This competition is now closed. Thank you to everyone who entered - and congratulations to the winner!

26 comments:

  1. I think any of Christopher Fowler's "Bryant & May" novels- he takes the "locked room" mystery to a new level

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    Replies
    1. Thank you for your entry! I do love a locked room mystery. Unfortunately, you weren't the winner this time - but I may be holding a giveaway on Goodreads on the run-up to publication - so stay tuned!

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  2. Any of the 'Murder she Wrote' stories on TV - all the plots merge into one, but there is a murder which somehow isn't upsetting,(!) a lovely bicycle, jolly music, and an innocent person is always vindicated! Oh yes - and the writer is the heroine! Likewise Agatha Christie Poirot murder stories - you are left with the vision of a magnificent moustache, Hastings' chivalry and lots of lovely hats…There was one Agatha Christie murder involving a blowpipe (but I won't tell you which…) I remember being ASTONISHED at the ending.

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    1. For that lovely answer, I declare you the winner! Congratulations! Please email or DM me with your address and I will send you a proof copy!

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  3. My favourite murder mystery is The Thin Man by Dashiell Hammett - and the film adaptation starring William Powell and Myrna Loy. I loved the story and the banter between husband & wife team Nick & Nora Charles. For a story from the 1930's it has surprisingly modern sensibilities and is incredibly funny

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    Replies
    1. Thank you for your answer! It's a good one! Sorry that you weren't the winner this time, but stay tuned - I may be holding a giveaway on Goodreads on the run-up to publication!

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  4. Favourite of mine is Charles Pallisers 'The Unburied' A fantastic gothic mystery with a weird fairy tale at the end

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    1. Ooh! The Gothic is a favourite genre of mine - I might need to check this out!

      Thanks for entering - and although you weren't the winner this time, I may be holding a giveaway on Goodreads on the run-up to publication. Stay tuned!

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  5. Looks so incredible! Love the update and can't wait to have it on my shelf :)

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  6. The Talented Mr Ripley. Patricia Highsmith broke ground with that one. I do like being in the head of a murderer - especially such an elegantly twisted one.

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    1. Ooh, good answer! I like it. You weren't the winner this time (though you came close!) - but I may be holding a giveaway on Goodreads on the run-up to publication. Stay tuned!

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  7. Brat Farrar by Josephine Tey - the first one I read and quietly gripping

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    1. An absolute FAVOURITE of mine! Just gloriously creepy, isn't it? Thanks so much for entering - and although you weren't the winner this time, I may be holding a giveaway on Goodreads on the run-up to publication - so stay tuned!

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