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Hello! I'm back home again at last, after a long trip in Europe – which, of course, included my wonderful visit to Paris and my very first book signing!

It was so lovely to meet my fans in person. I can't tell you how much it touched me and how honoured I am that so many readers came to the signing. Some had even travelled specially to Paris from Germany and Belgium just to see me!

(** For those who missed my last newsletter... I figured out a way to take Muesli with me, at least in spirit 😉 - via a life-sized cardboard cutout version of her. You can imagine how many strange looks I got as I was walking through airports and the streets of Paris - haha!) 

I took loads of fun videos that I want to share with you ('Flat Muesli' really enjoyed Paris! 😆 ) but it's been chaotic since getting home: the journey back to Australia took nearly 30hrs, what with flight delays and 6hr+ layovers in both Charles de Gaulle airport (Paris) and Changi Airport (Singapore) - and getting over the jet lag has been a struggle. Plus catching up on all the work, admin & emails I'd been neglecting while travelling... and of course, trying to dive back into the current manuscript and get back into writing! 

So I haven't had time to sort through the videos yet but I wanted to send you this first and share some pictures from that lovely day!
 

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Here is me and Flat Muesli arriving at GIBERT PARIS VI - a "grand dame" of a bookstore, spread over six floors in a magnificent old building. Apparently, it's the biggest bookshop in Paris!

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Wow... I didn't expect so many people and such a long line! I was meeting readers and signing books non-stop for nearly 2 hours... For all those who came, thank you so much for your patience!

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This was actually my very first book signing and so everything was new for me. Before the trip, I was madly researching how authors normally word their messages in books and what sorts of things I should say to fans... I was really nervous! I spent hours the day before practising signing my name! 😅 

It was extra nerve-wracking because everything was in French. I had learnt French at school and can understand and even speak it a little, but it's still very discomfiting when you're doing something important for the first time, in a foreign country and a language you're not fluent in. I was really worried about how to communicate with the fans... but everyone was so lovely! Most people spoke some English and the rest we managed with nods and smiles and gestures. 

The event had been organised by my French publisher - as an opportunity for me to meet fans of the Oxford Tearoom Mysteries (called Les Thés meurtriers d’Oxford - "The Deadly Teas of Oxford" in French translation) and also to celebrate the launch of my English Cottage Garden Mysteries (called Petits crimes et jardin secret - "Little Crimes & Secret Gardens") in French translation too. 

(** Oh - If you have any French-speaking family or friends who enjoy mysteries, please do let them know about my French editions! Here's the latest new release: FLORAISON FUNÈBRE )

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It was wonderful to have the chance to chat with each reader. I so enjoyed hearing your thoughts on my characters and stories, and your favourite scenes from the books (and yes, I know everybody wants Gemma & Devlin to get back together! 😉).

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I couldn't believe it - several fans had even brought me gifts and cards! It was so kind and thoughtful, such as special biscuits and sweets from different regions of France for me to taste... My goodness, I was so touched and overwhelmed! Thank you! ❤️

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Of course, everyone loved Flat Muesli and wanted a photo with her. 😉 A lot of readers showed me photos of their cats too - it was great fun to hear all about their names and different personalities.

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It was really a wonderful day and thank you again to all those who came to share it with me! ❤️

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Oh - by the way - while the English Cottage Garden Mysteries has only just launched in French, the series is already available in German. In fact, the 6th book: Ein Ende mit Schnecken, has just been released and you can pick it up in either Kindle or paperback HERE. 😊

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And if you haven't read the original English editions yet... what are you waiting for? 😉 Especially if you're a fan of my Oxford Tearoom Mysteries, you'll likely love this one too as it's very similar in feel. 

A cosy English village, a clueless city girl, 
and a cat who's smarter than everyone…!

Follow city girl Poppy who inherits a gorgeous cottage garden nursery in the English countryside. With a notorious "black thumb", keeping roses alive is tough enough without stumbling over dead bodies! Now Poppy must juggle nosy villagers, revive the family business and deal with the dangerously attractive crime author next door - not to mention his very opinionated ginger tom cat! - all while digging for clues. If only solving murders were as easy as killing houseplants…

The English Cottage Garden Mysteries

Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon DE

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I’ll leave you with a picture of the gorgeous bouquet of flowers that my French publisher gave me at the signing… they match the “romantic English garden” vibe of the English Cottage Garden series perfectly, don’t they? It was such a lovely surprise and the team really organised a fantastic welcome for me in Paris!