Anna Sayburn Lane

Mystery and thriller author

Anna Sayburn Lane

Book launch: 8 October

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Join me for a celebration! I’ll be holding an online event to celebrate the publication of The Peacock Room on October 8, at 7pm. I’m delighted to say the event will be part of Libraries Week 2020, and will be co-hosted by Lewisham Libraries. I’ll be joined by Rachel New, one of Lewisham Libraries’ outreach officers, who has been a great supporter of Unlawful Things. We’ll be talking about the inspiration behind the new novel, and what readers can expect next for Helen Oddfellow.

To take part, register using this link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/book-launch-the-peacock-room-tickets-122679456557

I’m sorry I won’t be able to raise a glass with you in person, but I hope you will tune in and celebrate over the ether.

 

 

Cover reveal: The Peacock Room

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And here it is! I’m delighted to share the cover for the new Helen Oddfellow mystery, THE PEACOCK ROOM, which will be published in October.

A literary obsession.

An angry young man with a gun.

And one woman trying to foil his deadly plan.

When Helen Oddfellow starts work as a lecturer in English literature, she’s hoping for a quiet life after the trauma and loss of her recent past. But trouble knows where to find her.

There’s something wrong with her new students. Their unhappiness seems to be linked to their flamboyant former tutor, Professor Petrarch Greenwood, who holds decadent parties in his beautiful Bloomsbury apartment.

When Helen is asked to take over his course on the Romantic poet William Blake, life and art start to show uncomfortable parallels. Disturbing poison pen letters lead down dark paths, until Helen is the only person standing between a lone gunman and a massacre.

As Helen knows only too well, even dead poets can be dangerous.

THE PEACOCK ROOM is the intriguing follow-up to the acclaimed 2018 mystery thriller UNLAWFUL THINGS, which introduced the London literary sleuth Helen Oddfellow.

Thanks to designer Jessica Bell for another great cover.

Lewisham Voices podcast: Beyond Unlawful Things

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I enjoyed a long chat with Rachel New, outreach officer for Lewisham Libraries, for their Lewisham Voices website, about the inspiration behind Unlawful Things and my next novel, The Peacock Room. Includes tips on writing in lockdown, becoming a journalist, and how not to give up on your novel during eight years of writing!

You can listen to our conversation here.

The history and mysteries behind Unlawful Things – online talk

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The usual talks and events that I had planned for this year are on hold, so I decided to try an online talk. On Monday May 4 at 7pm, I’ll be talking about the real-life history and mysteries that inspired the novel.

The talk will take you to some of the fascinating places in London and Kent that I visited while researching the novel. I’ll talk about the amazing archives at Dulwich College, the ancient pilgrim hostel in Canterbury and the magnificent Cobham Hall in Kent.

To join the talk, email me hello@annasayburnlane.com and I’ll send you a link.

NEW: Listen to a recording of the talk here.

 

 

 

Love [reading] in a time of coronavirus

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Strange times.

I had a cracking weekend of activities planned. On Saturday, I was going to lead a walk around Deptford and along the Thames, in the footsteps of Christopher Marlowe, Samuel Pepys, John Evelyn, Joseph Conrad and more. It was to be part of Deptford Literature Festival, a day of mostly free events, many aimed at families, to get people excited about reading and writing.

On Sunday, I had tickets for the Killer Women crime writing festival in London. I was looking forward to hearing about new releases, to talking to experts and meeting other writers.

Both festivals were cancelled with a few days’ notice. As a friend commented, literary festivals are not that crucial in the current context. But spare a thought for all the people who worked so hard to bring the events together. Literary festivals are also a great way for authors to promote their books, and many people with new books out, which they have laboured over for years, will see their time in the spotlight come and go.

With a suddenly empty diary, and the potential need for self-isolation in future, I did what I always do in times of crisis. I headed for my local bookshop and stocked up. My ‘stockpile’ consists of the new Hilary Mantel novel, The Mirror and the Light (which I have been longing for since I finished Bring up the Bodies, seven long years ago), plus Daisy Jones and the Six, which I’ve heard great things about, plus a copy of the wonderful reader’s quarterly, Slightly Foxed.

If you want me, I’ll be reading. And if you think that sounds like a good idea, contact your local indie bookshop. Most take orders and will arrange delivery, if you’re self-isolating. And don’t forget you can find your local through Hive. They face a tough time, as do we all. Let’s support each other.