Is this the title of the next Delamere mystery? I’m not sure. What is the Thirteen Club? In my case, it’s not a clothing store in Canada, but one of those quirky, Victorian societies. In this case, it sought to debunk superstitions. It met at least once a year, usually on the 13th of the month, and held a dinner at which there were 13 tables of 13 people each, 13 waiters, speeches that lasted 13 minutes, toasts with only 13 words, and members of the group would smash mirrors and walk under ladders — and more.
Here’s what the Illustrated Police News wrote on January 6th, 1894, in regard to the meeting due to be held on the 13th of that month.
The Thirteen Club
Formed to demonstrate the folly of the superstitious, this club has gone on prospering, and with every appearance of still further advancement. The annual feast will be held in room number 13 of the Holborn Restaurant, and as is customary on these occasions, members and their friends will occupy thirteen tables with thirteen at each. Peacocks’ feathers will abound, while the knives and forks will be crossed, and any quantity of salt will be spilt. During the evening, the toast-master, instead of informing the assembly that the chairman will be happy to take wine with them, will vary the stereotyped declaration by announcing that Mr Furniss will be happy to spill salt with them. The club saltcellars are coffin shaped, and the best “dim religious light” obtainable from skull-shaped lamps will illuminate the banqueting hall, before entering which the company will pass under the club ladder. Other details which are said to be “too gruesome to mention,” will be revealed at the last moment.
Inside the Holborn Restaurant, where the meeting was held on January 13th, 1894. (This is a later, Edwardian, photo.)
The Delamere Involvement
It’s a very new idea – I only came across it yesterday, but I thought it would be fun to put Jack and Larkin at that dinner, which really did happen on 13th January, 1894. Ah, but then what?
That’s what I am going to think about over the weekend – a mystery based around the Thirteen Club, but what mystery? I also want the next book to have a little more ‘heat’, so I am planning something for Baxter and Charlie. A previous character may be coming back, too, and we still have the madman Orlando Temple on the loose, so there is a lot to consider as I slowly start my way back to creative work after a long break.
Before you go, though… There is still a promo featuring one of my titles, so if you’ve not looked at what’s on offer this month, here’s the link.
New Year, New Attitude: Memoirs, Poetry, Relationship, Inspirational reads
Here’s something slightly different from my usual promotion. It’s a collection of 28 titles, all of which are non-fiction. In fact, they are more along the lines of inspirational fic, women’s fic, literary fiction, memoirs, poetry, etc. There are no self-help books, and nothing done by AI.
I have entered my godfather’s biography, ‘Bobby, a Life Worth Living’, into this promo.
The other day, someone asked me to comment on their book blurb. I did, and in doing so, reminded myself of a post I had written in 2020. I thought now was a good time to repost that post, because nothing has changed. People are still asking me to advise on their blurbs. Perhaps I should charge next time?
Maybe not. So, here’s the post from before and as relevant now as it was then.
Recently, I noticed a few new writers on Facebook groups asking for advice about their blurbs and putting up some examples of what they had come up with. I found myself cringing at some and being impressed by others, and thought I would talk about the way I write mine. This short guide is about what I do. Whether you decide this is a good way to do it, or whether you think, ‘Hm, I’ll avoid his advice,’ it’s up to you.
So, what is a blurb?
A blurb, also known as a book description, is found on the inside back cover of a hardback, on the back cover of a paperback and/or on the Amazon page under the product description. It’s the thing that a potential reader usually looks at after they’ve been impressed by your cover, or not. It’s your story in a nutshell and is probably the hardest thing to write after a logline. You are condensing your book into 150 to 200 words, after all, but you are doing so much more than that.
Start with a Logline
A logline is perhaps more of a filmmaker’s term, and it aims to reduce the film/story into even fewer words. When I write my books, I desperately fight to come up with a logline first, so I know what my story is, and then using that line as my focus to keep myself on track.
Yeah, right, well… Often I come up with it halfway through or at the end, because by then, I actually know what the story is about because the characters have taken over, but that’s me, and that’s novel writing. Film loglines, however, are a good place to start when writing a blurb because they help you focus.
An example of a logline would be: The ageing patriarch of an organised crime dynasty transfers control of his clandestine empire to his reluctant son. (The Godfather)
Loglines are not to be confused with taglines, the publicity headings if you like. A tagline would be ‘In space, no one can hear you scream’ (Alien), or, ‘There are 3.7 trillion fish in the sea. They’re looking for one.’ (Finding Nemo).
A logline for my new release (due out on Monday/Tuesday of next week) might be: ‘A Ukrainian refugee and the son of an Irish immigrant meet, bond, and become sex workers in Victorian London.‘
That’s a very simple outline of ‘Banyak & Fecks’ but is the overarching story, therefore should be the basis of the blurb.
From Logline to Blurb
Do you know what your story is about, or do you only know what happens? A blurb isn’t a synopsis. Well, it is, kind of, but it’s not a full synopsis. It’s 150 to 200 words that a) introduce your main characters, b) set the stage for your conflict, c) establish the stakes/risks, d) show the reader why they will like this book. Simple, eh?
No, not really.
Here’s a made-up example of what I consider a bad blurb based on a few I have read. “Jack searches for love and has a one night stand with Jock that leads to them becoming insta-lovers, but Jess gets jealous and kills Jack in a brawl the next day. Jock yearns for his lost love like a teenager with raging hormones. Will he ever find happiness?”
For a start, I am already confused between Jack, Jock and Jess. However ‘insta-lovers’ suggests a bit of nookie might happen as long as we understand the modernism, ‘insta.’ We know one of them gets killed, so that’s that tension gone, but who are these people and what chemicals were they taking? ‘A teenager with raging hormones searching for love?’ What does that mean? After that, I didn’t care who found love and moved on.
It’s difficult. In fact, writing a blurb is more difficult than writing a 120k word novel or a 100-word synopsis. I just took another look at my ‘Banyak & Fecks’ blurb and realised I’d written 196 words, which is a bit over the top, but I also noticed I’d cheated.
How? Well, I’ve put certain information outside of the book description, but I reckon that’s okay because that info will be for the Amazon page, and people will have read that before buying the paperback, so I don’t need it on the back. Your Amazon book description can give more information than you book blurb, and so, is a convenient space in which you can expand your sales pitch and description.
The ‘cheated’ info runs:
‘Banyak & Fecks’ ends the day before the first Clearwater Mystery, ‘Deviant Desire‘ begins. It is a story of friendship and platonic love set in Greychurch, the imaginary Whitechapel of the Clearwater world. Extensively researched, readers are taken from the Russian steppe and the Wirral slums to the squalor of the East End in the late 1880s.
[Genre: Historical Bromance]
[‘The Clearwater Mysteries.’ Historical MM Romance, mystery and adventure.]
You don’t need all that on the back of your book, but it’s excellent information to put on Amazon, your blog, publicity, social media etc.
My Blurb Advice Based on My Learning Curve
What you do need is a brief outline of who, what, and why. Who is/are the main character(s)? What’s the tension, conflict, interest? Why does the book appeal?
1 Keep it simple. Don’t give in to temptation and outline the entire story. 2 Use power words. (See below.) 3 Think, ‘Who am I writing for/selling to.’ 4 Remember, you know who/what you’re talking about – but the potential readers don’t. 5 Don’t be indulgent. The blurb doesn’t show off what a great novelist you are or how cleverly you use words. If anything, it should show off how succinctly you can write, how objective you can be, and how good a salesperson you are.
Here’s an example of a blurb
I am not saying it’s the best example, but this is the blurb for my best-selling novel, ‘Deviant Desire.’ That’s bestselling for me, not as in ‘New York Times bestseller or anything. I’ve put notes in brackets and power words in bold. Power words are things like fear instead of ‘are scared of’, and kill rather than ‘attack.’ Murder or disembowel might have been even better.
Deviant Desire taken apart:
Deviant Desire blurb on Amazon
The Victorian East End (time and place) lives in fear of the Ripper (tension) and his mission to kill rent boys. (Character setting general. This opening line also sets the overall atmosphere and theme.)
Silas Hawkins, nineteen and forging a life on the streets (main character 1) could well be the next victim, (personal danger) but when he meets Archer, his life changes forever. (How? Why? Interest in what comes next.) Young, attractive and rich, Archer is The Viscount Clearwater, a philanthropist, adventurer and homosexual. (Main character 2, conflict between classes, sexy man suggesting ‘Mr Right.’ Homosexual isn’t the best or most powerful word, but ‘gay’ didn’t exist in that context in 1888. Even ‘homosexual’ was only used in the professional medical world, but there you go.)
When Archer suspects the Ripper is killing to lure him to a confrontation, (Why? Who is the Ripper?) he risks his reputation and his life (what’s at stake MC 1) to stop the madman’s murders. (Summary of action plot.) Every man must play his part, including Silas. (What’s at stake, MC 2) Secrets must be kept, lovers must be protected, and for Archer and Silas, it marks the start of their biggest adventure – love. (That lot doesn’t tell us what happens, it suggests what might happen and, hopefully, our imagination is stirred.)
There then follows on Amazon pages only:
A mashup of mystery, romance and adventure, (tells the potential reader if this is their kind of thing) Deviant Desire is set in an imaginary London of 1888. (Imaginary to show we’re not taking a new look at Jack the Ripper, so Ripperologists don’t get offended.) The first book in the on-going The Clearwater Mysteries series (shows there are more, and if you enjoy this one, your investment will pay off) and mixes fact with fiction. The series takes the theme of loyalty and friendship in a world where homosexuality is a crime. (Covers the overall series without going into detail, and says what kind of books follow, though not what stories.)
Insta-love, physical romance, mystery and murder. (A general covering of ‘tropes’ a word I dislike but a necessary evil.)
Some writers also put ‘triggers’ but, to be honest, with power words such as murder, Ripper, homosexual, and physical romance, you’d have to be pretty dim not to pick up on the fact this is going to be a gay murder thriller with some sex in it. ‘Physical romance’ is there because it’s best not to mention ‘sex’ on Amazon pages, they get funny about things like that.
DS Billings Mystery series box set
Another thing you can do on the Amazon page is put quotes from reviews of the book, or others in a series. You’ll see that’s what I’ve done for Deviant Desire’ and others. For ‘Banyak & Fecks’, I am lucky enough to have a quote from Olivier Bosman, author of the DS Billings Victorian Mysteries.
“A colourful and enchanting tale. Beautifully written. Marsh does an excellent job of evoking the look and feel of a different age.”
Again, I’m not saying I am the expert on writing blurbs; I am simply passing on my experience. If you want professional advice from trained educators, you can easily find it through an online search.
Hi, all. I’m back from my travels and preparing to start on a new book.
It’s good to be able to report that, so far since its release, ‘1893’ has been doing well, and, thanks to the promotions and you, the three Clearwater series also continue to attract new readers. That’s good news, and from reviews, it seems readers are mostly happy with my work. My aim is to entertain, so as long as readers are entertained by the stories, I am happy.
So, for now, it is back to writing, and I’m afraid, back to the relentless promos and publicity needed to keep me in writing materials. So, let’s kick off 2026 with these:
Promos
I have three promos to share this month, as you may have seen in yesterday’s newsletter. In case you didn’t, here they are:
New Year, New Attitude: Memoirs, Poetry, Relationship, Inspirational reads
Here’s something slightly different from my usual promotion. It’s a collection of 28 titles, all of which are non-fiction. In fact, they are more along the lines of inspirational fic, women’s fic, literary fiction, memoirs, poetry, etc. There are no self-help books, and nothing has been done by AI.
I have entered my godfather’s biography, ‘Bobby, a Life Worth Living’, into this promo.
Steamy MM Winter Nights
There are 133 titles in this collection of steamy MM romance novels, all of which are available from Amazon. All kinds of tropes are included; there are some great covers, very tempting taglines and blurbs, and loads of variety.
Have a look and prepare to curl up with a steaming hot mug of this is how male love is.
All Flavours of MM Romance
There are over 20 books still available in this special promo, all MM Romance, but all different tropes and flavours are included.
That’s that, for now. I aim to be back on Saturday, when I might have some news for you about TikTok and other things I don’t understand!
Today’s blog post will be the last of this year, so I want to take the opportunity to thank all my readers for their support through 2025. It’s been a very productive year for me, starting in March with the publication of Acts of Faith (Delamere seven), followed by Holywell Street, Snake Hill, and recently, A Depraved Indifference (Delamere 10). What next for Jack Merrit and Co.? I shall have a think while I am away on our Christmas tour of Europe.
I wasn’t only working on the Delamere series, though. I very recently launched 1893 on the world, and that is now on the Clearwater Tales series page. As that has only just come out, there are no reviews or ratings yet, but I had a lovely comment from a reader who had just read the Barrister’s Tale and described it as reminiscent of an Ealing Comedy. Brilliant! Exactly what I wanted to hear.
Also, during the year, I tried out with some moving book covers, and I continued with my promo activity, hoping to promote other indie authors while also promoting myself. Again, you are a great help with this. The more clicks my promos get, the better reputation I have in the indie community as someone willing to help promote others.
I also signed up to BookBub and Bluesky, so if you haven’t connected there, here are my profile links:
The Christmas adventure I mentioned starts next Friday. Me, husband, godson and his mum are heading off on a tour of Europe (buts of). This year, instead of spending a fortune on presents and one feast at home, we decided to spend several fortunes on a 12-day trip and have Christmas elsewhere. This isn’t a quick flight to an all-inclusive hotel somewhere, though, oh no. It’s partly ‘The Clearwater Inheritance’ and partly ‘The Larkspur Legacy’ except without the mystery or schooner. Here’s a brief itinerary:
Rhodes flight to Athens, Athens flight to Milan. Quick train to Verona for a couple of nights, so we can get it a day in Venice. (Neil as booked us half an hour with a gondolier – I think he meant gondola.) From there, to see the Tyrol and Innsbruck, then on to Salzburg, and from there to Prague for three days over Christmas. Thence, to Transylvania on an overnight train via Budapest and Vienna, for a few days in Romania (hopefully seeing the castle that’s on the front of ‘Inheritance’), and New Year’s even in Bucharest before flying back home. Phew!
For now, though, that’s it. I’m off! Thanks again, and let’s keep in touch via my Facebook and/or Bluesky. JM
Hi. The news today is that the current Work In Progress, ‘1893’ is nearly ready for you. The MS is with the proofreader, I’ve sent the back cover text to the designer to sort that, and the boys are ready and waiting to do the layout as soon as needed.
With any luck, you should find ‘1893 The Clearwater Tales, Volume Two’ on your Amazon hit list by the end of next week.
The last time I posted here, I gave you a shot of one of the characters (Creswell) and some of his story. Today, I have the cover for you. I’ll also put a link to the series page on Amazon.com, though you can find it on most Amazon shops. When 1893 is ready, it will be added after 1892.
Don’t forget to sign up for the newsletter for news of promos, new titles and sometimes giveaways.
I have several promos this month, but as I will be away from around the 18th onwards, I won’t have time to post them here week by week. So, you’ll get all the news in the newsletter on Saturday, and then, I will schedule Facebook posts to bring reminders of these great promos, where many of the books are reduced in price. Today, I’m kicking off the month with something spicy…
Hot MM Books Genres: General Fiction / LGBT, Romance / Active/Erotica, and Romance / LGBT
If you like a little spice in your mulled wine, then this promo will do it for you. Yes, it’s all going to be a little hot and spicy (maybe a lot hot and spicy), with 100 titles to browse through, and all kinds of tropes and niches are covered, from vampires to coming out to ‘The Mentor of Wildhill Farm.’
To be honest, I am now working on only one thing, and when that is done, I won’t be working on anything else until the New Year. I believe I have said before, I aim to have ‘1893’ ready for you before Christmas.
A quick summary:
Five characters meet in a fog-bound railway station the night before Christmas Eve, 1893, and there, they are catered for by the stationmaster, Harry Carnforth. Their onward train is delayed, so they spend the night telling each other stories. There is also a plot surrounding these shorts, so the book, like ‘1892’, is a set of short stories set within a novella, I suppose. It, like its counterpart, should run to about 60,000 words.
I am currently up to 51,000 words, but I still have a way to go, so there will be editing involved later.
I have given myself until the end of this month to produce a decent second draft, so I need to get on with it, as there are still two stories to complete, plus the rest of the outer story which wraps them.
To, hopefully, keep you interested, here is another quick snippet, this time from (the unedited) ‘The Barrister’s Tale, Part One.’
Chapter VI THE BARRISTER’S TALE, PART ONE
Hard leather soles clacked on the marble tiles as the defence barrister (to be) hurried to the robing room. With his morning’s brief under one arm, and his beloved copy of Blackstone’s under the other, he shouldered his way backwards through a pair of double doors, and clacked his way into another, longer and more hallowed marble corridor. There, a murder of hooded crows flitted this way and that, stopped to peck over some titbit of a case, or hung around the alcoves smoking pipes, but mainly, they were in the process of finding a place to settle for the morning; a courtroom where they could caw and crow and jabber and feel very important because they knew the law.
Creswell, head down, knew exactly what room he was making for, and also knew that the slightest delay would cause him to be late. All the same, there were rituals to follow, and they began with the ancient Rite of the Unnecessary Greeting, where each exchange was accompanied by a brief nod.
‘Creswell.’
‘Blinkinthop.’
‘Creswell.’
‘Smitherston-Minor.’
‘It’s Smitherson-Major, actually.’
‘That’s a matter of opinion. Mackay.’
‘Creswell.’
‘Creswell… Blithering idiot, that’s a mirror.’
The robing room was just as hectic, but also a place where the Rite of the Unnecessary Greeting became expanded.
‘Creswell.’
‘Jones.’
‘Are you well?’
‘Well enough. What you got?’
‘Theft. It’s all theft this morning.’
‘Morning, Creswell.’
‘Larrow.’
‘I think you’re up against me.’
Creswell was, because he was reaching over the man to collect a book.
‘Who do we have to entertain this morning, Mr Larrow? Any idea?’
In Creswell’s opinion, Larrow had very little idea about anything, certainly not the law. How he ever became a barrister was beyond Creswell’s ken, and he had hoped for a more worthy opposition in the, hopefully, last case of his pupillage.
‘No, I have no idea,’ the prosecution replied, donning his wig to become more like a white-headed woodpecker than a hooded crow. He certainly had the nose for it. ‘Clerk told me a name, but it’s not one I know. He’s coming in from out of town, they say. The Honourable…’ he examined a docket, ‘Sir Barkley Sproot, but no-one seems to have heard of him.
‘Then I, alas, am also no-one,’ Creswell said, fixing the last of his plumage. ‘Let’s hope Sproot’s a hoot, eh?’
‘Hoot is the word,’ Larrow quipped as he headed for the door.
‘Oh? Why?’
‘Read your brief, Creswell,’ the opposition replied and was lost to the flock.
Here’s my monthly return to a favourite place, and this time, there are 77 titles in the list. Not necessarily gay, these thrillers and action novels are all promoted by the mighty Book-Mojo. I have two pen names on the go in this one, so if you can check both, that would be ideal.
Did you know there’s a ‘Smutfest’ running this weekend, where 40+ books are being offered either at a reduced price or for free for this weekend only? I have the link for you below.
I have a title in this collection, ‘The Mentor of Wildhill Farm’ was the first book I wrote when I decided to become Jackson Marsh, and it’s a far cry from what I am currently writing. (More news about the current Work in progress for you on Wednesday, and it’s exciting news, too.)
‘Wildhill Farm’ is probably the smuttiest book I’ve written, although ‘smut’ doesn’t seem quite the right word; sexiest, naughtiest, the one with the most erotic encounters in it… Something like that. When I set about writing it, I thought more about the characters and what they would get up to rather than a plot or similar. Unlike other Mentor books, there’s no villain, as such, and there’s no great storyline other than the one outlined in the blurb.
Camden Stevens, a forty-two-year-old writer with a passion for younger men, is invited to mentor four gay youths at an isolated farmhouse. His students are budding writers in their late teens, all keen to explore their creativity — and sex. Camden must mentor them in both, and expects them to work hard.
What he doesn’t expect is a youth like Gabriel, and what he doesn’t know is that the man who set up this fantasy-come-true has a motive of his own.
[Here’s the universal link to the book itself, currently available for free until Sunday night. The Mentor of Wildhill Farm]
To Chest or Not to Chest?
When you take a look at the list of titles in this weekend’s special promo, you’ll see an awful lot of bare chests. The book covers should come as no surprise, as they are classic staples of gay erotica and spicy romance genre cover images that we’ve come to expect. Bare chests (muscled, of course, have you ever seen a larger model on such a cover?), handsome face, usually young, chiselled features, braces, firemen, etc., and behind it all, some much-loved tropes and themes. MMM Straight to Gay. First time. BDSM. Vampires. Holiday romance. Age gap (like ‘Wildhill Farm’). Dark taboo… Everything you could want. Click the banner to find the Smutfest and fill your kinky boots with loads of free/reduced-price reading.
I’ve been tinkering with some ideas for another Clearwater Tales. This time, it would feature five characters from stories from Clearwater, Larkspur and Delamere, and a station master. So far, I have managed to write one complete story, and the prologue. I wanted to have this ready for Christmas, but I fear that it may be next Christmas, as another Delamere idea is starting to form, and I may have to work on that instead. So, I am dithering, and ‘1893’ is not progression, but it might.
That is currently where I am at with writing anything, pottering with bone and researching another. We have a trip coming up over Christmas so I will be away, and I will probably get straight back to the next story after that, and continue to potter in the meantime.
1892, The Clearwater Tales, Volume One
Five characters from the Clearwater, Larkspur and Delamere Mysteries find themselves taking the train to Cornwall for the 1892 Larkspur Hall Christmas Eve ball. To pass the time, they each tell a story from their past.
1892 can be read as a short, standalone novella, and there’s no need to have read the Clearwater, Larkspur or Delamere series to enjoy the story. However, you might gain more from reading 1892 if you already know the characters and their histories.
In the meantime, why not read the opening of Baxter’s tale (very much a first draft), and then have a browse through the promo at the bottom of the page, and after that, have a good weekend.
THE INVESTIGATOR’S TALE
That was the year of the dear Queen’s Jubilee, and I was sixteen. I’d not long been chucked out of me home by me dodgy parents, and it was a bit before me mum got done in and my dad went off the wrong end of mental. I’d got myself all set up with some, er, night work that we’ll say no more about, but thanks to that, I was able to afford a room in a court in Bluegate Fields.
Now then, that’s not an area for everyone. Well, you’d think it was an area for everyone in the flippin’ city, what with the rooms kipping ten bodies, and the kids at your feet like swarms of hungry ants. So many people crammed in, finding a room wasn’t easy, but I managed it. Yeah, so they called it a slum, and a couple of years ago that Booth do-gooder called us all “lowest class, vicious, and semi-criminal,” but there you go. Anyway, he didn’t know what he was talking about. We might have been low class and some of the Irish girls were vicious, but no-one was “semi” criminal. We were all good at what we did. Not only that, but we didn’t mind the noise and the stink; you got used to that in Shadwell. So, I moved in.
Thing was, the place was not far from St George’s church, and the bells kept me awake at first. Mind you, so did the fights downstairs.
Mrs Scratch, see, she’d somehow got the whole ground floor where she had a kitchen she let the others use. She rented out the rooms down there to a couple of Polish in with a German family, and Stalking Ken, the yard-docker who did the fencing, was down the other end, sharing with a horde of little whatnots he’d got from somewhere dreadful. France, probably. Oh, and her name wasn’t really Mrs Scratch. I never knew her real name, but she used to scratch herself around the madge area. Sniffy Sid, one of the whatnots Stalking Ken had taken in, he used to stand at her kitchen door all day watching her thump bread dough about, scratch her whatsit, sniff her fingers and get back to work. He was fascinated, young Sid. So fascinated, he came to think it was what every woman did when they were making bread, and when he was eight, he got himself a job sweeping the bakery floor. That’s the big one off Cable Street. Still there should you want to visit. They’ve stopped putting chalk in the flour now, so the bread’s almost acceptable.
Anyway, Sniffy Sid, he sniffed himself to work on his first day, sometime around three in the morning, I think, because I was just coming in from turning a few bob, and I wished him luck. Well, he didn’t have much of it, but then, he didn’t have much of a brain either, not Sid. There he was, sweeping up, when he sees one of the women has started banging her dough about, and that’s not a euphoniumism, I meant she was knocking back her bread. Seeing that her hands were covered in flour, Sniffy Sid gave a sniff and went into action. Knowing women liked to scratch down there when baking, and seeing as she couldn’t, he did it for her.
Next thing he knows, he’s dazed, bleeding, and out on the street. Poor lad, and all that before four in the morning. Some people, eh?
PROMO
MM Romance & Fiction Pure MM romance is on the cards with this select selection of titles from some old friends, such as Anne Barwell and Jem Wendel.
With ‘A Depraved Indifference’ now out there and available, I start to wonder, ‘What next?’
I am currently writing notes and drafts for another collection of shorts to make up a Clearwater Tales Volume Two, and have the prologue, half of one character’s story, nearly all of another’s, and no idea what the other three stories and the through-line will be. Also, I am talking things slowoy at eth desk for a while, thanks to various repateteive strain injuries. We’re going away on a trip in just over six weeks, so there will be a two week break over Christmas, a break from everything for a change. I am usual here on Christmas Day checking emails and sales, but not this year. I shall be elsewhere.
Meanwhile, though, the first review of ‘Indifference’ is in, and the reviewer was not indifferent at all.
The book is also currently #21 in LGBT + Mystery on Amazon, doing better than some books that have (allegedly) more than 24,500 star ratings. How does any book get that many, I wonder?
Talking of reviews, I found this one for Deviant Desire today, and I wish there was a way of replying to the reviewer. This is a great idea for another Clearwater prequel, though it would mean some intense research in naval procedures, ranks and all that, and a bit of imagination, but I am used to that.
Dear Mr. Marsh: I would love to read a back story prequel on Simon Harrington, the guy who was apparently All That and a bag of chips. Three men fell deeply in love with him, fought viciously over him, and two of them went insane because of him. That’s a story I’d love to read.
I shall have a think and add it to my list of possibilities for the future. Or maybe I could include the story in the next Clearwater Tales, the one I am tinkering with right now? There’s a thought… I’d better get writing.
PROMOS
Here’s today’s list of books for you to browse and consider.
LGBTQIA+ Characters in Romance (All Pairings Welcome)
General Fiction / LGBT, Romance, and Romance / LGBT
There are 62 titles in this collection of new books and old, with top-name authors taking part, such as Ann Lister, TL Travis, and, oh, me!
Here’s the link. One click and it’s free to browse.
Something simple today. The cover for the Delamere Files Book Ten, ‘A Depraved Indifference,’ as created by the wonderful Andjela K.
All being well, the book will be published this week, so keep an eye on your Amazon notifications and my Facebook page.
UPDATE: 29th October. The Kindle version of the book is now available. Click here.
If you have not yet subscribed to my newsletter, you can do so here and be among the first to receive news of my books and other authors’ work in special free-to-browse promos. Talking of which, I have another for you after the cover reveal, which I will do after reminding you of the blurb:
A Depraved Indifference
The Delamere Files Book Ten
Jack Merrit longs for a case more challenging than burglaries and missing jewels, and when someone finds a skeleton inside a pipe organ, his wish comes true. At first, the strange discovery in the church of St Clement Danes seems like a prank, but when Jack’s next call is to a crime within earshot of the bells of St Martin’s, an uneasy pattern emerges.
Oranges and lemons say the bells of St Clement’s You owe me five farthings, say the bells of St Martin’s
And then, the murders start.
If the first is chance, a second becomes a coincidence, but a third? That’s a pattern, and these are no ordinary murders. They involve diabolical contraptions that kill seemingly random victims. Asked by both London police forces to investigate without being told why, Jack and his men embark on an investigation knowing where the killer will strike next, but not when.
When the killer invites Jack to join his game, a contest of intellect begins, and knowing failure will lead to disgrace, he pits himself against his most cunning adversary so far.
PROMOS
MM Romance & Fiction There are 22 MM titles here, some, like mine, you may already know, but there are others I’ve not seen advertised before. Plus, there are some new authors to explore and a variety of niches within MM romance.
LGBTQIA+ Characters in Romance (All Pairings Welcome)
There are all manner of pairings within the realm of queer romance. KC Karmine is doing things with tentacles, Ann Lister is Pitch Perfect, and I have the Mentor of Lonemarsh House in the list. It’s a trifle awkward that on the row below that book is another using the same model in the same pose (it’s the same stock photo). Strangely, the book is called ‘Without Respect,’ which I find strangely fitting for the placement of our two novels.
