Anna Sayburn Lane

Thriller author

Newsletter

November news: Turkish travels, Agatha Christie and book news

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What an exciting month! I’ve been travelling again, this time a fascinating trip to Turkey. I published Blackmail In Bloomsbury, bringing me the best month’s book sales ever. I met one of my heroes. And I sent my next book, The Soho Jazz Murders, to my editor.

Read on for all this, plus recommendations and promotions.

Adventures in Turkey
I’ve long wanted to visit Turkey and I finally got the chance to tag along when my husband was asked to speak at a conference in Izmir, a big port city in the south of the country. While he worked, I had plenty of time to explore!

As one of the ‘WAGs’, I was invited on a tour of nearby Ephesus, an astonishing city from the days of the Roman Empire. We saw the remains of temples, amphitheatres, the forum, shops and houses – even a 20-seat lavatory! Most impressive of all was the rebuilt façade of the city library, pictured below right.

Izmir too has Roman-era remains, but I was most intrigued by the bazaar. I spent hours exploring the maze of streets, coming across shops selling everything from Barbie t-shirts to heaps of spices, kitchen utensils to antiques, soap to budgerigars. I met a friend of a friend who lives in the city and she guided me around, helping me purchase fragrant freshly-ground Turkish coffee to bring home. We then stopped at one of the many shops selling Cay (pronounced chai), Turkish black tea served in small glasses, cheap, delicious and refreshing. It certainly beat a trip to the supermarket.

Less cheap but equally delicious was the peach Bellini that I sipped on the rooftop of our hotel after a refreshing swim! My fellow WAGs had heard about my book launch, so they made sure that I had a suitable celebration.

Meeting a hero!

Agatha Christie loved travel. She wrote to a friend that ‘your travel life has the essence of a dream… you are yourself, but a different self.’ That ability to imagine different lives is, I think, one of the reasons that so many writers love to travel.
The quote above comes from historian Lucy Worsley’s biography of Agatha Christie. It’s extremely readable and tells a fascinating story of a life from Victorian girlhood into the 1970s. I’m a big fan of Miss Worsley’s history programmes and podcasts, so when she visited Canterbury’s Marlowe Theatre to talk about Agatha Christie, I grabbed a ticket. She’s a brilliant presenter and it was a very entertaining evening. Not only is she formidably knowledgeable, she’s very funny and glamorous. She also remained kind and patient with all of us who’d queued to have her sign our books.

 

Recommendations: A Christie special

After all that gushing, it won’t surprise you to hear that my first recommendation is indeed for Lucy Worsley’s Agatha Christie. Her life involved two world wars, two marriages, a mysterious ‘disappearance’, intrepid journeys to Iraq and Egypt – not to mention writing an astonishing 80 books.

The second recommendation also comes via Lucy Worsley. Asked which her favourite Christie novel was, she nominated Murder At The Vicarage, in which the wily Miss Marple makes her first appearance. I’ve just re-read it and it is terrific. I liked the acidic way in which Miss Marple is described – the vicar’s wife say she’s ‘the worst cat in the village’ – and the humour of the vicar’s tribulations with his avidly curious parishioners, his ‘distractingly pretty’ wife and his appallingly bad cook. The mystery itself is satisfyingly twisty, with hidden couples, false identities and double bluffs. I was nowhere near guessing the true murderer when Miss Marple revealed it.

Book news
Blackmail In Bloomsbury looks like being my most successful book yet, which makes me very happy! Congratulations to Megwen Woodham, who won a signed copy of Blackmail In Bloomsbury for her correct response to my question last month.

One of my readers suggested Blackmail In Bloomsbury would make “the perfect Christmas present” for any lovers of classic crime… and far be it from me to disagree! If you think your mum, dad, aunt Maisie or friend at the book club would like it, why not grab a paperback? You can order from your local bookshop, or via the button below.

If you’ve already finished it and are anxiously awaiting the next in the series, good news! I’ve sent the first draft of The Soho Jazz Murders to my editor and all is going well for publication in January.

Here’s the cover – as you can see my designer Donna has come up trumps again with a lovely design.

You can pre-order your e-book copy now.

 

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September Newsletter: one month to go!

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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!

 

July newsletter: Blackmail In Bloomsbury cover design

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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.

May newsletter: writing news and spring recommendations

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Book news

I’ve been busy finishing the first in my new series of 1920s murder mysteries, Blackmail in Bloomsbury. The manuscript is off to my editor next week.

It’s my first historical mystery and I’ve discovered a few challenges along the way. For example, in one scene a man arranges to meet somebody at Piccadilly Circus, by the statue that Londoners call Eros. I wanted to check people used that name in 1922, so I looked it up – only to discover that Eros was removed from his pedestal in 1922 for the building of the new Piccadilly Circus underground station! Cue some hasty re-writing.

Next month you’ll receive Murder at the Ritz, the prequel novella which introduces the series. My beta reader team has been busy checking it through and I’ve been delighted with their responses.

Here’s a taster of comments: “Hugely enjoyed it… I really liked all the characters, especially Marjorie Swallow and Mrs Jamieson, and the story was fantastic… It is a great start to a very promising series… I loved the setting of a luxury London hotel.”

I hope you’ll enjoy it just as much.

Deal Music and Arts Festival

I’m thrilled to be appearing at the Deal Arts Festival in my home town of Deal in Kent in July. I’ll be on a panel with one of my favourite crime writers, William Shaw, to talk about writing crime by the seaside! The box office opens on 9 May if you’re interested in coming along. Link here: https://dealmusicandarts.com/festival/

What I’ve enjoyed this month

On TV, I loved watching The Gold, a dramatization of the aftermath of the massive Brinks Matt gold robbery which took place in London in the early 1980s. I grew up in south London at the time, so a lot of the pleasure was from recognising places, faces and fashions. I didn’t know that development of the area of London now known as Docklands was funded from the heist. I remember going for a ride on the brand-new Docklands Light Railway in the early 80s, across acres of derelict former docks and building sites. It’s now home to half of London’s biggest banks, not to mention very posh flats.

The novel Godmersham Park, by Gill Hornby, was another peek into English history. This was a bit longer ago, and a bit more decorous than the 1980s criminal underworld. It tells the imagined story of the real-life Anne Sharp, a governess to the family of Jane Austen’s brother Edward. The difficult position of an independently-minded (but unfortunately not independently-funded) woman in Georgian England is keenly exposed. It includes tantalising glimpses of Jane Austen herself, who understood only too well the perils of her situation.

The big question!

What have you been reading or watching this month? Hit ‘reply’ and let me know.

Have a wonderful May, and happy reading.

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March newsletter: writing news and a box-set bargain

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The Music Room at the Brighton Pavilion

I spent February in a flurry of writing activity. I’m working on a new crime fiction series that I’m very excited about. I’ll be sharing more news (and hopefully a novella to whet your appetite) next month. It will feature glamorous London locations, sassy lady detectives, and a sprinkling of murder and mayhem. I think you’re going to like it.

However, that means that the Helen Oddfellow series is on hold for now. Apologies to anyone waiting for news of her next adventure – I hope to come back to Helen at some point.

But there’s also good news if you’ve dipped into one or two of the Helen books and would like to read them all. I’m releasing books 1 to 4 in a new e-book collection, available on Kindle today. For 5 days only, this will be at the ridiculously low price of £1.99/$1.99. That’s four books for less than 50p/50c each. The price will go up on March 1, so don’t hang around!

What I’ve been up to

I had a trip to Brighton this month and finally got around to visiting the amazing Royal Pavilion, commissioned by the Prince Regent (Queen Victoria’s uncle) in 1815. The building is a wild oriental fantasy, inspired by Indian Mughal palaces on the outside, but stuffed with Chinese-style furnishings on the inside.

The lavish decoration allowed the prince, later George IV, to entertain high society in unique style. I particularly loved the Music Room (see below), with its extraordinary ceiling, and wished I could see it thronged with people in Bridgerton costumes, dancing the night away.

Upstairs a small exhibition explained how the pavilion had a very different role during World War I, as a hospital for Indian Army soldiers who had been wounded while fighting for the British in France and Belgium. The photographs of Indian soldiers lying in rows of beds beneath the extravagant chandeliers are quite surreal. I wonder what they made of it all.

What I’m enjoying

I do enjoy historian Lucy Worsley’s programmes, whether she’s investigating the murders of the Princes in the Tower, telling us what goes on behind the scenes at Hampton Court Palace or simply having fun with the BBC’s dressing up box. I particularly enjoyed her short series about the Queen of Crime, Agatha Christie, available in the UK on BBC iPlayer now. Christie became aware of the possibilities of poison during her time working as a VAD in the Torquay Town Hall Red Cross Hospital– another grand building re-used as a hospital during World War I.

February newsletter: treats and recommendations for the winter months.

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January can be tough, can’t it? My theory is that the only way to make it through the dark mornings, dark afternoons and dark evenings is to indulge in plenty of treats.

I had some lovely treats in January. I went to the candle-lit Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, the recreated Jacobean playhouse that stands next to Shakespeare’s Globe theatre, to see a wonderful and very funny play about storytelling. And I had a very special posh afternoon out, with tea at the Ritz Hotel in Piccadilly, London, for a friend’s special celebration (see photo!).

But mostly, I indulged in lots of evenings curled up with a good book. It’s what winter evenings are made for.

Free books promotion

I’m sure you could do with some good books, too! Whether you’ve finally made your way through your Christmas stash, or just feel like trying something new, February is a good month for new books.

If you haven’t read my first novel, Unlawful Things, now is the time to try it for free. The e-book available free of charge until Monday 30 January. It’s part of a promotion by the book recommendation service Hello Books. Why not see what other free thrillers they have this month?

What I’m enjoying now

Here are some things that have kept me entertained this month:

MW Craven’s incredibly twisty and well-plotted novel The Botanist. Absolutely addictive! I loved the intricate plot but also the funny and believable detective team.
LJ Ross’s Northumberland-set mysteries, starting with Holy Island. My father comes from the north east of England so I know some of the locations – but fortunately my childhood family holidays didn’t involve quite so much murder.
The BBC crime drama Happy Valley. The series – the third and final – has been an absolute masterclass in acting and dramatic tension. The two female leads, Sarah Lancashire and Siobhan Finneran, and writer/director Sally Wainwright, conjured the most gripping scene I’ve ever watched out of two sisters talking quietly in a cafe.