Honestly, it is, but it will be a couple of weeks yet before we get to see how the Delamere Files ends (if it ends, or if it ends for now). While it is away with my proofreader, I have been in touch with the wonderful Andjela, who is working on a cover, and in a moment, I’ll order the layout from my usual guys at: https://www.otherworldsink.com/, and then, I have to wait for it all to come back.

I’ve not been lazy while this is going on in the background. I have already begun work on an idea that is very far removed from the mystery and mayhem of the Delamere boys, the Larkspur students, and the Clearwater crew. After seven years in the lives of Silas Hawkins, Lord Clearwater, Dalston Blaze, Joe Tanner, and now Jack and Will Merrit, it’s time to turn my attention to something more literary, and I have an idea for something more considered than one of my usual tales of mystery and adventure with some gay romance overtones.

There’s no title for this idea yet, apart from the working title, ‘Lockbox’, because that’s what the story is all about, metaphorically as well as physically. It’s currently set to be a considered MM romance set in 1895 against the background of the Oscar Wilde trials, although they happen as a backdrop to the action, rather than being a story about the trials.

There is, though, a setting — a small village in Kent — a main character (A 20-year-old blacksmith’s apprentice), an impact character (a 25-year-old historian/architect), a mentor — the apprentice’s uncle and master blacksmith — and a connecting mystery plot. However, in this case, the story isn’t about the mystery, that’s the catalyst, although it does provide intrigue around the main relationship plot.

As this is a completely new start, I have started with a ‘bible’, a long document listing and discussing all information needed for characters, setting, time and so on, and that is building up well, so far.

I always have trouble naming characters, and today’s job is to settle on a MC name (everyone, it seems, was called John or William, James or Edward in those days, so I’m trying to think of something more memorable), and do some character work on the impact character – the one who upsets the MC’s real world and causes him to change in some way.

That’s what’s going on in the background. In the foreground, there was a free eBook giveaway in my newsletter this month, and if you missed it, you might like to sign up for it on the newsletter page. https://jacksonmarsh.com/newsletter/

I’m hoping to do another giveaway next month, so get yourself registered and verified.

One of the newsletter features is the list of promos where other indie authors are offering their work, and we provide each other with, hopefully, a new audience.

Here’s one presented in simple form to give you an idea. Click to view the list of books, and click further to read blurbs and make up your mind.

July MM Romance

This promo holds 58 varied MM romance titles with some of our favourite authors on the list: Ann Lister, for example, and Jackson Marsh.

https://books.bookfunnel.com/julymmromance/vlc6qk25ye

Back soon with more news about The Delamere series finale, ‘The Delamere Dilemma.’