Chairman Mao

Hello!

Having moved it is time to orient my self to a different part of the same town. A new space to write in; a new hairdresser (maybe) and best of all my lovely new kitchen!

And what is even better – a new url – the fictional fifties dot com.

Since I started writing fiction and publishing novels (with the exception of my first novella), I’ve mainly pursued the mystery genre. But recently, beginning to write ‘The Leiston Riddle’, I’ve been experimenting with historical fiction – something I have always leant towards but never quite embarked upon. Part of this is living where I do – I really do hold a candle for Lucy M. Boston and I feel that there is a side of my work that I just haven’t properly begun to explore (as yet).

As the last four novels I’ve written have been quirky mysterious indie page turners (with a comic twist) and I have to admit that telling an entire story in a different era is definitely a change of direction. However I am sure it will be a lot of fun as I orient myself to my new abode…

It has been confirmed I will be offering GCSE tuition in September and have my first booking. Next week we meet to firm up the foundations for the coming months and years to ensure student success. Luckily I have my teaching qualification and it has stood me in good stead in the shifting sands of the publishing world.

Aside from helping keep a roof over my head tutoring does me good. Writing is a very solitary pursuit and it is good to keep one’s skill set up to date.

When not slaving over a keyboard, I’ve been reading some of the stories that have been submitted to my new Substack, ‘Embers and Shadows – glances into the past and a fleeting glimpse of the future’, and getting my wheels balanced so the car drives a bit better in preparation for my holiday at the end of the month.

What I’ve Been Writing:-

I have a number of books in the works so sometimes it is difficult to pick where I should be placing my writerly energy. I sent what I consider to be the best to my editor for her feedback and she was extremely helpful. I am considering crowd-funding – an avenue I have never been down before as I think it would be really great to have an actual book in circulation and the quality of the providers that are prepared to deal directly with authors is improving all the time.

Mike Doggett will take centre stage – as my editor said ‘this is definitely his story’.

Upcoming Book Announcement:-

In the autumn, Deuteron Ltd will formally announce the acquisition of James Rutherford’s debut novel. This will announced in The Bookseller in the UK and Publisher’s Marketplace in the US.

Writing Maestros:-

As some of you know, I co-founded a local writing group. This month, instead of focussing on one particular topic, the group will be in the form of a workshop where participants can bring along any difficulties or queries they might have concerning their own work, and ask more general questions about writing, publishing, working with agents and editors, and so forth. Please indicate your interest – be it in attending or even being a guest speaker. We are happy to include people via internet connections (wasn’t the pandemic such a Great Leap Forward?! Thankyou Chairman Mao). Time and date tbc.

Next Week’s Update

I look forward to keeping you in the ‘loop’. Updates continue to be posted on social media so you can always follow along there.

Have a great week!

Best wishes,

Lucy and everyone else at ‘The Fictional Fifties’