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Anna Sayburn Lane

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Blackmail In Bloomsbury

September Newsletter: one month to go!

September 7, 2023 by Anna Sayburn Lane

It’s all systems go at the seaside as I put the final touches to Blackmail In Bloomsbury, ready for launch next month. The book is back from the proof-reader; I’ve sent copies to the book bloggers for review and – most exciting of all – I’ve finally held a copy in my hands. No matter how many books I publish (and this is number five) nothing beats seeing your words down on paper in a ‘proper’ book for the first time!

You can pre-order Blackmail In Bloomsbury today!

And onto the next…

In August I dived into writing the first draft of the next Marjorie Swallow murder mystery, The Soho Jazz Murders. I absolutely love this part of writing; when the story is fresh in your mind and you have the fun of introducing the characters that have popped into your head, creating the settings and making sure all the elements needed are in place. I’m more than halfway through the first draft now.

Research for this book has been exciting. I’ve read about 1920s nightclubs, flappers, early jazz musicians and organised crime. I’ve enjoyed learning some of the slang of the era – my favourite is the phrase ‘giggle juice’ for booze! I can certainly relate to that after a glass or two of my sleuth Mrs Jameson’s favourite cocktail, the French 75 (recipe below).

So what is the story about? Well, I don’t want to give away spoilers but it involves Freddie the pianist, the American ambassador’s wayward niece, and Marjorie going ‘undercover’ as a dance hostess in a Soho nightclub on the trail of a drugs gang. I think it’s going to be a lot of fun.

Recommendations: books, blogs and booze

Did you know that Dorothy L Sayers, one of the greats of ‘Golden Age’ crime fiction, worked in advertising? The wit and wordplay of copywriting obviously stood her in good stead. It also provided the setting for one of her most enjoyable novels, Murder Must Advertise. I read it for the first time recently and was blown away by its contrasting witty tone and dark subject matter. I found it completely gripping and loved the pin-sharp dissection of the work of an advertising agency.

I read it on the recommendation of Kate Jackson, a prolific blogger about classic crime and author of the entertaining-sounding British Library book How To Survive A Classic Crime Novel. I’m a big fan of the British Library’s crime books, so I’ll be picking up a copy next time I’m there for research. Kate also wrote a very funny blog post, Dorothy L Sayers Guide to Amateur Sleuthing, which you might enjoy.

My version of the French 75 comes from Cecil Beaton’s Cocktail Book, a splendid publication which kept me amused during those long evenings of lockdown. As well as delightful recipes to try, it includes lots of inspiring photographs of the Bright Young Things photographed by Beaton in his studio. As the book says, the French 75 is ‘a beautifully straightforward sweet and sour combination, with a charge of gin and a bubbling fuse of champagne leading to a kick likened to the French 75 field gun.’

Here’s how: Shake 25ml gin, 20ml lemon juice, 10ml sugar syrup together and fine strain into a champagne flute, then top up with champagne and garnish with a lemon twist. Cheers!

 

Filed Under: Blackmail In Bloomsbury, Marjorie Swallow, New novel, Newsletter

August newsletter: Rome, jazz and Blackmail In Bloomsbury

August 4, 2023 by Anna Sayburn Lane

The advance reader team have been sending me their feedback on Blackmail In Bloomsbury and I’m delighted to say they think (to use the slang of the time) it’s the bee’s knees! Here’s what they had to say:

“Thank you for a perfect summer read! Enjoyed it immensely!”

“Thoroughly enjoyed it. Loved Mrs Jameson, & the story was excellent.”

“I very much like the way Marjorie is shaping up to be tougher and less naïve than one might initially assume.”

Keep an eye on your emails – it will be ready to pre-order this month.

When in Rome…

It’s a running joke in my family that you can’t take me anywhere without me writing a story about it. Well, it’s happened again. I had the great fortune to visit Rome earlier this month with friends who know it well. We had a fantastic time visiting gorgeous palazzos, fascinating old churches and (of course) hanging out in cafés and bars over the occasional aperitivo.

As readers may remember from Murder At The Ritz, Mrs Jameson is a well-travelled woman who spent a lot of her life in Italy. I wondered what Rome had been like when she was a young girl, fresh from Boston, perhaps attending her first ball in a palazzo like the ones we visited… The resulting short story, Diamonds Are For Christmas, will be with you as a little Christmas present later this year!

All That Jazz

My next 1920s murder mystery is going to involve a lot more jazz! I’ve put together a playlist of some ragtime favourites, including classics like the Tiger Rag by the Original Dixieland Jazz Band and the wonderfully-titled I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate. Well, don’t we all! You can listen to it here: https://buff.ly/44pGrGm

What I’ve enjoyed this month

The novel is now underway and features the archetypal Jazz Age character, the flapper. I went to the British Library last week to read up on some 1920s history, but on the way out got snared by this appealing little book from Pushkin Press in the bookshop.

Where All Good Flappers Go is a compendium of stories by some of America’s greatest writers, including F Scott Fitzgerald, Dorothy Parker and Zora Neale Hurston. The stories celebrate the flapper as “An artist in her particular field, the art of being – being young, being lovely,” as Zelda Fitzgerald put it. But the flapper was more than that – she was courageous, charming, irreverent and out for a roaring good time. I was jolly pleased to be taken along for the ride.

The big question!
I often get inspired to set murder mysteries in places I visit. What do you think is a great location for a murder mystery? Hit reply and let me know. The first answer that makes me laugh gets a free e-book copy of Blackmail In Bloomsbury.

Want to receive my newsletter and get your free copy of Murder At The Ritz? Sign up here.

Filed Under: Blackmail In Bloomsbury, Marjorie Swallow, Murder At The Ritz

July newsletter: Blackmail In Bloomsbury cover design

July 6, 2023 by Anna Sayburn Lane

I hope you enjoyed Murder At The Ritz, the first Marjorie Swallow adventure. Blackmail In Bloomsbury, the first full-length novel in the series, is on track to publish in October. Here’s the cover! Thanks to Donna Rogers, my amazing cover designer, for another beautiful design.

A bohemian party, a handsome artist – and murder
At her first Bloomsbury party, Marjorie Swallow enjoys dancing, conversation, and the attentions of a handsome artist.
But for one guest, the night ends in murder – and Marjorie’s artist friend is a prime suspect. From the garden squares of Bloomsbury to the seedy backstreets of Soho, trainee detective Marjorie and her employer Mrs Jameson undertake a perilous hunt for the killer.
Can they save an innocent man from the gallows? Is it ever a good idea to blackmail a murderer? And will Marjorie’s new satin T-strap shoes be ruined forever?
If you enjoyed Murder At The Ritz, I think you’re going to love Blackmail In Bloomsbury.

Join my advance readers club!
I’m looking for more readers to join my advance readers club. How does it work? You get a free advance e-book copy of Blackmail In Bloomsbury, in return for letting me have your feedback within two weeks. That helps me to spot any clangers that have got past me and my editors. Then, when the book is published, I’d be most grateful if you could post an honest review on websites like Amazon and Goodreads. Fancy getting involved? Hit ‘return’ and let me know.

More about Marjorie

So who is Marjorie Swallow, my new sleuth? Marjorie seemed to spring to life almost fully-formed, perhaps because I drew on my own family for inspiration. For a start, Marjorie is my middle name. I hated it at school, I love it now!

My grandmother Marjorie Swaddling (born Marjorie Ball) grew up in South London, one of 10 children. She’s bottom right in the photo. She grew up in the 1920s and 1930s, living above the builder’s yard in Lee High Road. After working as a hairdresser she met and married my grandfather Dave Swaddling, who had a bicycle and toy shop in Catford. So my mother – like Marjorie Swallow – was the daughter of a Catford shop-keeper and also won a scholarship to Sydenham High School for Girls.

My grandmother and mother grew up in the aftermath of the two world wars that shaped the 20th century. As a child, I learned about Auntie Vi (the child on her mother’s knee), whose fiancé died in the second world war, and Auntie Dulcie (bottom left), whose husband was also killed. My grandfather was away fighting in France when my mother was a small child. It’s this aftermath of war, and the changes it brought, that first sparked my interest in writing about the 1920s.

What I love most about Marjorie Swallow is her mixture of innocence and quick-wittedness. She enjoys life, she’s kind and courageous – and she has a great sense of humour. Perhaps the many excellent women in my family history were peering over my shoulder while I wrote?

What I’ve enjoyed this month
The book I’ve enjoyed most this month is Stephen Bates’ fascinating The Poisonous Solicitor, a true-life 1920s murder mystery investigation. Did the mild-mannered small-town solicitor poison his wife with arsenic? Or was he really intending to use it to eradicate the dandelions in the lawn?

I’m also getting into the Shedunnit podcast by Caroline Crampton, which unravels the mysteries behind classic detective stories. From the forensics of Agatha Christie to 1920s slang, it’s a treasure trove for aspiring classic crime authors.

Free cozy crime and historical mysteries
There’s a banquet of crime and historical mysteries this month! I’m taking part in three promotions via Bookfunnel. Murder At The Ritz will be featured, along with lots more e-book free novels and novellas. Why not take a look?

Cozy Mystery Freebies

Free Cozy Mysteries

Historical Fiction Freebies

The big question!
What did you think of Murder At The Ritz? I love hearing from readers, so do let me know.

Haven’t downloaded your copy yet? Sign up below.

Filed Under: Blackmail In Bloomsbury, New novel, Newsletter, Uncategorized

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