I’m on it – the final chapter of Holywell Street. I’ve reached 95,000 words of the first draft and for the last couple of days, have been struggling with the last chapter, only because I wasn’t sure of the best order in which to do things, and which point of view to do it from. Still, within the next few days, I can commission a cover and an illustration, set about the blurb and rewrite/edit, and book in my proofreader. I aim to get this draft to Neil to start beta reading later today. Yay!
Meanwhile, you may have seen from my Facebook page that I have been experimenting with technology that brings the characters on the covers to life. Basically, it makes them move, and some of these have been more successful than others. I’ll be dropping more on the FB pages in due course, but I wanted to share one here with you as a Wednesday treat. I love the way the water moves here, but something very strange happens with the hands, and the wrong man goes under the water, lol. It was fun spending half an hour experimenting with the thing though, but I am a long way from taming it completely. I’ll leave you with this moving cover and get back to the final chapter.
I am currently at 82,000 Holywell Street… Well, 82k words written for ‘Holywell Street’, the Delamere book number eight. Funnily enough, the plot revolves around number eight Holywell Street, mainly so I can say here’s book number eight Holywell Street as though it’s an address as well as part of the sequence. Also, according to the 1891 census, that address was vacant, as were others around it, so I can be more creative with its description. I suspect the buildings were left empty for a good reason, like they were falling down, because the street was demolished in 1901. It was quite picturesque by all accounts and some buildings there were from pre-1700 or very early 1700s.
Anyway, I am having fun and working through the climax, which isn’t really a climax in the usual sense. There’s no death-defying leaps of faith, zip lines onto music hall stages, or people falling off burning towers. What there is, though, is a bit of fun (I hope) as part of the ‘towards the end’ section is seen from Ronny’s point of view, and we know what a little oik he can be. As that’s going on, I am waiting for the first draft of a new reel to come back from the guy who is working one up for me, and I am about to send off for a new pencil sketch to go in the front of the next book. I am also considering the cover, though the final draft won’t be ready for some weeks yet. Meanwhile, I believe Holywell Street will be my 48th book, including my ‘living on a Greek island’ books and those written under my real name. I know it sounds like a lot, but it’s what I do! This is one of my shelves and contains all the Jackson Marsh titles, except for ‘Bobby’ which is on the shelf above.
Here’s an update on how Holywell Street is coming along.
I am up to around 65,000 words of the first draft, and it’s going along quite well, thank you. I was a little worried that I was about to peak too early, but I have sorted that. It’s a case of me wanting to write the exciting part asap, but not wanting to write it out of sequence. When that happens, I tend to rush the middle, so I have to either a) force myself to slow down, or b) write the exciting part out of sequence, which is what I wanted to avoid. By ‘exciting’ I mean the revelation, the part where I can let go of all the surprises I have kept in my head, and all those traps I have laid through the early part of the story, which I can now spring.
(Wych Street ran behind Holywell Street, and in yesterday’s writing, Jack and Ronny were parked here waiting for someone…)
Holywell Street doesn’t have so many surprises, and it’s not going to have an action ending as we have in A Case of Make Believe and Acts of Faith; it’s going to have more of the kind of ending we had in Gave Developments. What it does have, though, is a string of seemingly unrelated and random ‘clues’ for Jack and co. to solve, some information based on fact about a certain Victorian pornographer, a nod to the story of Jack Saul, and plenty of factual details about a few other matters you will read about before too long. Hopefully, you will find the book on the shelves and ready for reading before the end of June.
Meanwhile, can I tempt you to a click and a browse of some mysteries and thrillers that are all available on Kindle Unlimited? Have a browse here, and I’ll be back on Saturday with more news.
This week’s work in progress update is to let you know that I have just reached the halfway point in the first draft of Holywell Street, the eighth Delamere file. What can I tell you? It’s a complicated trail of seemingly unrelated clues left by a man who wanted a favour done for a specific group of people, and Jack Merrit is compelled to carry out the dead man’s last wish. While he and Baxter start on the trail, Will and Ned have some research to do, and the new detective is settling into life at Delamere.
There’s a little more of Ronny and Simeon in this one, so a little vulgar comedy from time to time, there are facts mixed with fiction as usual, and, so far, we have been taken to places such as the Old Bailey, Fulham, and, of course, Holywell Street.
What I can also share with you today is a shot of my research. This is a screenshot of a record from the Central Criminal Court at the Old Bailey from September 1876, and forms part of one of my clues. These records are online and available for anyone to trawl, and they make for fascinating reading. You can find them for free at Old Bailey Online.
Now, I must return to 1893 and chapter 14, where I will start at 48,500 words. I last left the team in the new boardroom, with someone having a revelation, so it will be interesting to see what happens next. By the way, there will be another newsletter soon, and a new set of promos to view and push, so keep an eye out for all that on Saturday.
That’s the working title of the next Delamere Files mystery. Actually, it’s Eight, Holywell Street, because the file I have started is titled 08 Holywell Street, but I am not sure if there was a number eight in that street in 1893. There was a number 10, and it was inhabited by a bicycle shop, but I’ve not been able to find number eight on the 1891 census. I have the rest of the street and will be using some of the occupier’s names when I start to write the first draft, and that will be in about 30 minutes from now.
What’s it to be about? Well, that’s an interesting question. I know the subject, the background, if you like, but not yet the detailed story, except that I want it to present my team of mainly gay detectives with a moral dilemma. They are already solving cases and fighting crime while being inherently criminal themselves (as it was illegal for men to have sex with men), but now, I want them to pick up on another side of that subject. I can’t say more than that or else I will either give the story away or let you down by changing my mind later.
So far in my research, I have been trawling newspapers and publications of the time, looking through the census to get an idea of what businesses were in the street and the kind of people who lived there, and I have been reading some history sites about the area, the churches of St Clement Danes and St Mary le Strand which stood at either end of Holywell Street, and (here’s a hint) I have been reading some papers on male prostitution and the early days of pornography in London.
If you are interested in the former subject, I can recommend this well-written and easy-to-understand thesis on the subject:
So, that’s where I am with ‘Holywell Street’, and I shall shortly be typing the first words of chapter one. While that’s going on, I have seven different promos to tell you about this month, so bear with me. They will all be in Saturday’s newsletter, but let’s get the ball rolling by telling you about this one:
The Delamere Files book seven is now available on Amazon in Kindle format and in KU. As I write, I am waiting for the paperback version to go live too, but this can take a few days longer than the Kindle version. Here’s the universal link:
Click that, and you should reach the Kindle page for your local Amazon online store, though, I believe, you can buy Kindle books from any Amazon site.
What’s Next?
That’s a good question. I have some ideas floating around, but right now, I am finishing a re-edit of an old James Collins horror novel called, Lonely House. I hope that the version I am editing is the original unedited version because it’s riddled with typos – and I also hope I catch them all. This ancient story was written in 2014 and released in 2015, and it’s in a completely alien style. I mean, the style is nowhere near anything I write these days. It’s very ‘filmscript black stuff’, with much being in the present tense, and lots of ‘He sees…’ and ‘He hears…’ Which I hate to do these days. So, I am trying to edit while remaining true to the original and will rerelease it, hopefully, next month. I need to save for a new cover and then attempt to format it myself via Kindle Create, as it’s never going to make its money back otherwise. I’ll let you know when it’s ready, in case you have a taste for twisty, creepy, modern, strangely written horror (with a kind of bromance feel).
What’s Next for Jack Merrit and Co.?
I can’t give too much away about how ‘Acts of Faith’ finishes, and how things develop at Delamere, not until enough time has passed for you to have read the story, but…
I am thinking about hot air ballooning, Holywell Street (home of seditious publications and Victorian porn), while also scouring the newspapers of the time for ideas and thinking about something cosier than the last few mysteries have been.
So far in the Delamere series, we’ve covered:
Criminal gangs and kidnapping (East End gang culture) Historic murder at a public school (Private school homo-relationships) Police crime, gangs and assassination (The music halls) Feuding brothers, wills and murder (Creepy isolated castle and family feuds) Child kidnapping and murder (Theatre of the Grand Guignol) Graverobbing (Gay cruising grounds of the late 19th century)
And, in ‘Acts of Faith’ more weird and wonderful ways to kill someone, as you will see, plus, the difficulty of men securing relationships in a time of extreme discrimination.
My Amazon page for all my titles (click the banner)
Actually, that’s not a bad idea. If there’s a subject you feel might work for a Victorian, gay, mystery series, drop me a line.
Meanwhile, be sure to join my mailing list for monthly news of new books and promotions and ideas for other things to read while you wait for the next Delamere, whatever it turns out to be.
Today, I can reveal the cover of the Delamere Files book seven, Acts of Faith.
There is a link at the bottom of the page that will open the full image. If you have signed up to my monthly newsletter, you might have already seen the cover, as this time, I released it to subscribers first. Today, though, everyone can see it. The MS is with the proofreader, the illustration is done, and I am just waiting to get the full cover from Andjela, and then the MS, and… Well, you shouldn’t have to wait too much longer.
As usual, I have added a few author’s notes to the end of the book, and this time, the subjects cover some of the locations I’ve placed the characters at, including some theatres that get a mention. Then there’s the Criterion Restaurant, Piccadilly, the Illustrated Police News headlines and stories (1888 and 1893), the London Fire Brigade, the law regarding breach of promise (of marriage), the Thames Torso Murders, and Tower Bridge.
Now then, that odd collection of topics might whet your appetite and have you wondering what on earth the story is about. I’ve left out one subject which is the villain’s modus operandi, because I don’t want to spoil the surprise for you. Talking of which… Here is the blurb and the front cover. I am aiming to have the book out before 26th March, so watch this space (and my Facebook page and Bluesky. Links at the bottom of the post).
Acts of Faith The Delamere Files Book Seven Jackson Marsh
When the Commissioner of Police assigns a personal case, failure is not an option. However, what begins as a simple mystery soon turns into something far more complicated. An opera singer dead in her bath, a Smithfield butcher skinned alive, a dentist locked inside a steam engine… What is the connection?
With Baxter’s help, the Clearwater detectives begin investigating the gruesome and seemingly unrelated murders, fully aware that failure could spell disaster for the agency.
As Baxter strives to prove his worth as a detective, he finds himself falling for a young police constable, but his search for love and success takes a chilling turn when he makes a horrifying discovery: the killer may be closer than he thought.
Click Ben Baxter to see the full cover Facebook page Bluesky
A slight change in tack today. I have an update for you and news about the cover reveal, but first, I wanted to draw your attention, and your click, to a collection of varied titles by authors such as Mary Crawford, and RD Kardon. These titles fall under the categories of women’s literary fiction and biographies.
Judging from the covers, many appear to be love stories, but there is also an element of time travel or adventure about them. (I love the tag line for ‘Head Lion’ by Neil Peter Christy, ‘Fasten your deceit belts.’) I can’t vouch for the quality of every single one, but those I have dipped into read well. The proof of the pudding is in the reading, so take a look, and if anything takes your fancy, you will find books are available on various platforms, including B&N and Kobo, depending on each title.
‘Acts of Faith’
Now, to return to my usual Wednesday update… The full MS of the next Delamere book is going off to my proofreader this weekend. All being well, it will be back by the following weekend, and out before the 26th March. Depending on how fast you read, you could start the story on, say, the 24th (as long as it’s ready), and finish on the 26th (Clearwater’s birthday) which happens to be the date of the climax of the story.
Is it a thrilling climax? Is it in the usual Jackson Marsh style of build to the unlocking of the mystery only to discover someone’s in trouble like, right now? You will have to read it and see. So far, it’s got a thumbs up from my husband in its Beta stage, but he may be biased.
As for the cover reveal, I will do this on Saturday. If you are on my newsletter mailing list, you should have already had the monthly newsletter and seen the full cover. The link is on the bottom of the newsletter. If you are not on the mailing list, sign up via the simple box at the top of the right-hand column here. You will ned to verify it’s you and you’re okay to join as it’s not an automatic sign-up thing.
So, why not read some of the titles from the above fiction list while you wait for ‘Acts of Faith’ and why not call back on Saturday to see Andjela’s cover which shows Benny Baxter doing something dramatic, but where…?
This week’s update is about the cover for Acts of Faith. Andjela has again come up with a brilliant cover for the story, and this time, it’s a scene from the climax of the tale. I will be revealing the full cover in due course, but looking at it made me wonder about previous covers and what they showed. It also made me ask the question, should a cover show a scene from the story, or a representation of it as a whole?
When I was looking for a cover for my mystery, The Saddling, the designer (not Andjela) came up with an image of a pagan festival wreath and that kind of summed up the story nicely. I, though, wanted someone walking into the action, and to feature a scene from the village where the story is set, and we ended up with a man, Tom Carey, innocently walking into the village through the mist and heading to the church where… You’ll have to read it to find out.
Then, looking at the Clearwater series I realised we have a mix of covers. Deviant Desire shows the two main characters with the threatening evil behind them, Twisted Tracks shows them running for a massive locomotive, the third book shows a mix of story moment and main character (Silas Hawkins), and the fourth cover, Fallen Splendour, has a grabbing image that also sums up the story. And so on through all books to the Clearwater Inheritance which shows us the Orient Express (kind of) charging through snow which is in fact music.
I often have a person on the cover as I think that helps link the reader to the characters, even though it’s only my image of what a character looks like. In the Larkspur series covers, we see (in order), Joe Tanner, Joe again (on horseback), the baddie for book three, the ghost for book four, Edward Hyde for book five, evil again for six, and finally, the Legacy, Clearwater’s ship.
The theme continues with the Delamere Files, where, so far, we have: Larkin Chase and Jack Merrit, Jack and the four old-school boys from the story (including Larkin when younger), Jack and his brother Will Merrit on book three, Will alone for ‘Where There’s a Will’, the villain and Ronny on book five, Jack and Baxter on ‘Grave Developments’, and, for ‘Acts of Faith, we have…
(Cropped from the cover)
You’ll have to wait for the full cover reveal in a week or so. Meanwhile, I can tell you that my target today is to finish the last chapter of the first draft. This one has taken a while to get down because of Christmas, a trip away, illness and my knackered shoulders, but we’re getting there.
Before I go, I know people are switching off from Amazon and KU because of the far right politics of the USA, but I must continue to use it because it is from where I get 75% of my income, and I couldn’t survive without it. So, if you’re still okay with supporting authors who have to rely on Amazon, you might like to look out for some new series starters from this list. Click the banner to take a look at all the titles.
Hello everyone, I am back from my travels and I have started back to work on ‘Acts of Faith’, the Delamere Files book seven.
We had a great time away, despite Neil going down with the flu and me having a dodgy allergic reaction to something I ate in London. We caught up with my old cabaret partner, had lunch in Garrick Street, went to see ‘The Book of Mormon,’ surprised my nephew on his 30th birthday, Neil’s sister too, and my brother, I called in on my mother and stepfamily, and we stayed overnight in a pod in Gatwick airport. Now, we’re back, and both have colds, but we’re battling on.
I have some photos of Clearwater-related places in London that I took while I was there, and I will share them with you in time.
Today though, as my Wednesday work-in-progress blog, I wanted to run by you the first draft of the blurb for the next book. This, like the 1st draft, is still a work in progress, but this should be enough to give you the gist of the story and whet your appetite to know more. As for the writing, I am at 75% and am coming up to the smoking gun realisation, crisis and climax. It’s all in my head. It’s just a case of getting it down. So, here’s the blurb – and I’ll be back on Saturday.
Acts of Faith
The Delamere Files Book Seven
Jackson Marsh
When the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police assigns a personal case, failure is not an option. However, what starts out as a simple mystery soon turns into something far more complicated. An opera singer dead in her bath, a Smithfield butcher skinned alive, an unknown man found locked inside a steam locomotive… What is the connection?
With Benny Baxter’s help, the Clearwater detectives begin investigating the gruesome and seemingly unrelated murders, fully aware that failure could spell disaster for the agency.
Bringing in a handsome young constable seems to do little to aid the investigation, but Baxter recognizes in PC Inning a man trapped in a loveless marriage, with desires that lie elsewhere. As Baxter strives to prove his worth both in the case and in winning Inning’s affection, his search for a better life and love takes a chilling turn. He makes a horrifying discovery: the killer may be far closer than he ever imagined.
Benjamin Baxter, 1893
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