Hello, and welcome to my April Newsletter.
I was pleased when the clocks changed last weekend and signalled the start of British Summer Time, which is always welcome with the lighter nights and longer days. However, when I looked back at my newsletter from last April, I couldn’t believe the difference in the weather now, compared with the same time last year.
In April 2024, I wrote, “I was more than a little surprised when I opened the curtains last week and found the garden was white with snow.” So that is the photo on the left – while to the right, one I took this morning in brilliant sunshine.
I mentioned last month that Bryan and I are moving to another house in our village. Things are progressing satisfactorily as far as we know – and they say no news is good news, but we are hoping to get a moving date soon. I’m reluctant to start packing, as I don’t want to jinx things, but it is frustrating knowing there is so much to do and not being able to get on with it. As my mother would have said, “Patience, Marcia!” I also have this horrible feeling that when we move, it will probably turn into a monsoon season, with weeks of rain, just when I want to get out and play in my new garden! I have my fingers crossed for a long, dry summer.
Maybe my next newsletter will contain a photo of my new garden – or the newsletter might be delayed by a week or two if I’m up to my eyes in bubble wrap and packing cases!
Old Sayings
Here we go, then – another old saying that I’ve investigated.
Bitter End
An anchor cable was wrapped around posts called bitts. The last piece of cable was called the bitter end. If you let out the cable to the bitter end, there was nothing else you could do; you had reached the end of your resources.
My Writing News
The Devon Maid Book Corner – Blog Posts
I’ve been hosting a couple of authors a month for The Coffee Pot Book Club blog tours, and here you can read about the March authors. I haven’t read either of these books, but I thought you might like to take a look at my blog and see if they are for you:
Death of a Princess by R. N. Morris
“Morris has outdone himself with this riveting thriller. Parts of it were so gripping I had to stop reading so I could catch my breath… Characters, setting, plotting and pacing are immaculate. I cannot recommend this engrossing book too highly.”
You can read all about this great new book here: https://marciaclayton.co.uk/death-of-a-princess-by-r-n-morris/
The Midnight of Eights by Justin Newland
The Midnight of Eights is the second in The Island of Angels Series, which charts the uncanny coincidences of time and tide that culminated in the repulse of the Spanish Armada.
You can read all about it here: https://marciaclayton.co.uk/the-midnight-of-eights-by-justin-newland/
Book 7 in The Hartford Manor Series – No Name Yet!
I’m pleased to tell you that I’m getting on well with writing Book 7 of The Hartford Manor Series. I’ve planned all the chapters and have finished writing Chapter Five. I think the next couple of months might see a delay with us moving house, but I’m pleased with the progress so far and am enjoying writing it.
Facebook Ads
A few months ago, I mentioned that I was looking into how to run Facebook ads and that I had studied a couple of online courses about it. An author friend also gave me some helpful instructions. Unfortunately, much of the advice I found was conflicting, so I picked out what I thought was the best of it and launched an advertisement campaign for Betsey, the prequel to the series. The advert has been running for about 6 weeks and I’m delighted with the results, having had my best month ever for sales in March. I don’t suppose it will last forever, but at the moment, my sales are improving daily, and I’m making a decent profit even after paying for the ad. The ad targets the UK, but if my sales start to fall, I may stop this one and focus on the USA instead, as the readers there also seem to like English historical fiction. I mention all of this not to blow my own trumpet, but because I know some other independent authors read my newsletters, and they might like to give this a try too. I’m certainly no expert on Facebook ads, but if anyone wants a few pointers, I’d be happy to help.
Hartland Book Festival on Saturday, 14th June 2025
I’ve been invited to the Hartland Book Festival again this year and will have a stall selling my books. I enjoyed it last year, talking to the other authors and chatting with those who visited. It will be held in Hartland Parish Hall, EX39 6BL, between 10 am and 3 pm, and coffee and cake will be available. If you’re in the area, do call in for a chat!
Special Offers – 99p
All of my books are free to read if you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited on Amazon. However, if you want to grab a bargain, these books will be reduced to 99p on the following dates:
The Angel Maker – 99p from 4th – 11th April 2025
The Angel Maker is set in a Devon village in Victorian times. Unmarried mother, Charlotte, is distraught when her aunt has her baby adopted behind her back. Will she ever see her daughter again?
http://mybook.to/TheAngelMaker
The Mazzard Tree – 99p from 11th – 18th April 2025
When Annie’s father dies, her mother is left with 7 hungry mouths to feed. Annie, 15, is determined to keep her family from the workhouse. Will she succeed? What lengths will she go to? A gripping Victorian family saga.
http://mybook.to/TheMazzardTree
Betsey – 99p from 1th – 24th April 2025
Betsey, the prequel to the much-loved Hartford Manor Series. Set in 1820 in a Devon village. A little girl, lonely and abandoned, is entrusted with a secret she must carry for a lifetime.
http://mybook.to/Betsey
My Book of the Month
The Promise by Nora Wolfenbarger: A Suspense Thriller (The Blackbirds Book 1)
About the Book
Someone is killing organ transplant survivors. Can a homicide detective with a prosthetic hand and The Blackbirds stop the madness?
When Kansas City is rocked by a series of murdered women, bodies posed nude in public, placed with only a note and a surgeon’s scalpel, Homicide Detective Silas Albert is launched into a mind-shattering investigation. Silas is well known for breaking barriers and fighting for a cause. He is the first cop on the force to win the right to work with a prosthetic limb. Some say Silas has a gift for solving murders. Those closest to the detective know he is an expert at keeping secrets, too. He’s created a high-tech sanctuary in a renovated, ultra-secure warehouse, fortified by a supercomputer named Bertha. On the outside, brick walls appear to house a shelter for abused women, where Silas’s parents and his niece, Lila Girard, provide a unique pathway for healing. Inside lies the secret epicenter for an innovative group of abuse survivors. The Blackbirds. As Silas and The Blackbirds go into action, the clues point to old enemies, a violent drug dealer, and a cop. Then the medical examiner makes a discovery. The killer, the victims, and a member of Silas’s family are connected by one shocking detail. This twist exposes secrets long buried in the past and a maniac moving ever closer. Will Silas and the Blackbirds stop a killer who wants to rip away a person’s second chance at life?
My Review
This is the first book I have read by this author, and I thoroughly enjoyed this intriguing whodunnit, which kept me guessing to the very end. I like a good crime thriller, and this story was built around an unusual plot which involved someone killing organ transplant recipients. Silas, the homicide detective trying to solve the case, is an interesting character who inherited a lot of money and a warehouse from his grandfather, to whom he promised to give the place a heart. He met the challenge by calling the building The House of Audrey in memory of his sister, whom he lost to cancer. The building provides a shelter for abused women and also houses The Blackbirds, a talented and well-trained group of abuse survivors who can be called on to right wrongs. A good plot and well-developed characters made this an enjoyable read, and I strongly recommend it. You can find the book here: The Promise: A Suspense Thriller (The Blackbirds Book 1)
Thank you so much for reading this far and continuing to follow me. Until next time, I hope you enjoy this lovely sunny weather and keep well.
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