Happy New Year! I hope you’ve had a relaxing break over the Christmas holiday period, enjoying time with friends & family!
 

I had a lovely time visiting my mother in Taiwan over Xmas & New Year, and I'm really happy to report that she's been making a good recovery: she is SO much stronger and healthier than when I left her, after her double spine operation in Nov last year. I've got more to share below - for those who enjoy a gossip 😉 - but first, for those who just want the book news...

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In book news...

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As mentioned in my last newsletter, I'm currently working on a new "secret project" which I'm really excited about. 

It's still a mystery novel but it's a little bit different from my usual "cozy mysteries". I can't tell you much more at the moment - to be honest, I haven't got far into the manuscript as there have been so many interruptions in the past few months, due to travel and the unexpected stay in Taiwan to look after my mother... that I just haven't been able to find the peace and time to write! 

But I'm hoping to focus properly on the manuscript in the coming months, so that I can finally finish writing this new book. 

And after that, I am planning to return to the Little Stables Tearoom! 😊 Yes, after I complete this new secret project, I will be working on the next Oxford Tearoom Mystery. As you know, I've been searching for inspiration for the next book in the series for a while. Although I've had a couple of vague ideas, nothing really GRABBED me and I firmly believe that you need a strong idea - some premise that excites you - before you start writing a book. 

Then, while I was in Taiwan looking after my mother, it suddenly occurred to me: what if Evelyn Rose has to have an operation and Gemma finds herself having to take care of her bossy, interfering mother? That would certainly create some interesting conflicts and predicaments! 😉 And what if her mother's suave, handsome doctor was suddenly murdered? OR... maybe even better, what if he's accused of murder and Evelyn is convinced that he is innocent, so she asks Gemma to find the real killer and clear her doctor's name?

It's still only the germ of an idea but it has piqued my interest. I will have to layer on other subplots, of course - something involving the tearoom, perhaps, another involving Muesli or the Old Biddies, maybe something to do with Oxford University...and of course, the big question of a possible reconciliation with Devlin...?

Hmm... so many things still to mull over and work into a coherent plot... but at least I've got a strong spark of inspiration now - something to get the fire going. 😉

So I suppose there was a silver lining to my poor mother's ordeal with her multiple spine operations and stays in hospital... it's given me the idea for the next Oxford Tearoom Mysteries novel! 

And as for the question that we authors are constantly asked: "Where do you get your ideas from??" - the answer is: "Anywhere and everywhere!" 😁

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A new series for my French-speaking fans!

I'm delighted to announce that the French translation of DEADHEAD AND BURIED, the 1st book in my English Cottage Garden Mysteries, has just been released! 

The series is called "Petits crimes et jardin secret" in French and Book 1: Floraison funèbre is now available from Amazon: 

Kindle et le broché 

Amazon FR | Amazon CA

** The print edition is also available from all good bookstores across France, through my partnership with French publisher, City Editions. 

If you have any French-speaking friends or family who enjoy reading mysteries - please do share this new release with them! Thank you! ❤️

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BOOK SIGNING: Meet me in Paris...? 😉

To celebrate the launch of this new series, my French publisher, City Editions, has just informed me that they've organised a book signing for me in Paris!

Yes, you see, I’m heading off on a work trip to Europe for book research and will be stopping in Paris for a few days for meetings with my French publisher and translator. Well, the publisher thought it was a great opportunity for me to meet my readers and fans too. 😊 So if you happen to be in Paris on Sat 1st Feb, do pop in to the bookshop and say hello – I’d love to meet you and sign your book! 

GIBERT PARIS VI
26 Boulevard Saint-Michel, 75006 Paris
4pm – 7pm
Saturday 1 February

Of course, Muesli is a bit miffed that she can't come along. 😉 Not that she wasn't invited, but there's the little matter of needing a pet passport and a scary trip in a plane hold for 20+ hours each way... not to mention having to endure possibly weeks of quarantine upon return to Australia just to re-enter the country! 

So, sadly, no, Muesli won't be jetting off to Paris with me. However, I've come up with the purr-fect compromise: meet her cardboard double, a.k.a. “Flat Muesli”!

Muesli inspecting her cardboard doppelgänger...

... and checking the pose...

"Are you sure that's my best angle?"

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For those who love a gossip... 

I was overwhelmed by all the lovely messages following my last newsletter with your prayers, well-wishes and suggestions for my mother's recovery. (If you missed my last newsletter and are wondering what happened to her, you can catch up HERE) 

In particular, thank you to the many, many of you who emailed me with photos and detailed descriptions of a "walker" to help her. It was so kind and thoughtful of you and I really appreciate it! ❤️ Yes, they do sell walkers like that in special stores in Taiwan and I did suggest getting one - but my mother adamantly refused! (I told you she was fiercely independent! 😝)

She insisted that she didn't need something like that just yet - and to be fair, she did seem to be regaining her strength quickly enough that she could soon stand and walk without support. The only problem was the sciatic pain, which meant that she could only take a certain number of steps before she needed to sit down to ease the agony. So what she really needed was a "portable seat" - and the little trolley box she had found could provide that while rolling easily by her side (unlike a walker which is bigger and more unwieldy and would block her path).

I did also get her one of those walking sticks that could unfold into a little stool but it was fairly flimsy and again, the trolley box proved to be a better option. The wheels have locks to prevent it rolling and the top opens to provide a roomy interior for her handbag, coat, water bottle, groceries, etc. 

So all in all, it was a good solution - and I'm pleased to tell you that it was a TEMPORARY one too - because by the time we were leaving Taiwan, my mother had already improved so much that she could go for short outings without her trolley box. Yay!  

She still has to undergo a lot of physiotherapy and rehabilitation, of course, and the spinal nerve damage may never fully heal, but if her pain can be significantly reduced, then at least she'll be able to remain mobile, maintain her independence and have a much better quality of life. 😊

In fact, my mother had recovered so much that - while we were there over Christmas and New Year - we were able to take her out for some nice outings. It was so lovely to see her enjoying herself after months and months of hospital stays, doctor visits and being stuck alone at home. 

A walk in the nearby park to watch giant koi carp swimming in the pond...

... a visit to a cafe for "afternoon tea snacks"... and even a ride on the Taipei Metro was a simple pleasure she'd missed!

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Hopefully by the time we return to visit her next Christmas, at the end of this year, she'll have recovered even more and be able to do more fun things!

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Well, until next time, I shall leave you with a picture of Muesli playing “nurse”… yup, I’ve managed to start the new year with a horrible cold: hacking cough, throbbing headache, streaming nose and fevers & chills... I must have picked up some nasty virus - probably in the airports while travelling home to Perth - and have been sick as a dog for over a week! 

I can’t remember the last time I was ill for so long. Every time I think I’m getting better, I start spiking a fever and coughing again… I've completely lost my voice and I didn’t even turn on the computer for 3 days (which is unheard of, for a workaholic like me! 😉 ) 

Anyway, I started feeling vaguely human yesterday and my voice has started to return (I now sound like a squeaky hinge) - so hopefully this means that I'm finally on the mend…

I hope you’ve all been well and haven’t caught a nasty bug too!

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