New School Year, New Start for my School Mystery Series

Debbie Young

Sep 1

As the new academic year starts in my local village school, I'm getting ready for a fresh start for my cosy mystery series set in an eccentric English boarding school for girls.

Until now there have been two books in this comedy cosy mystery series, which readers have described as a cross between St Trinian's and Malory Towers for grown-ups! These first two books were originally published under the titles Secrets at St Bride's and Stranger at St Bride's.

NEW TERM, NEW TITLES & COVERS

This autumn, the multi-award-winning Boldwood Books will be reissuing them with bright new covers and snappier titles as Dastardly Deeds at St Bride's (on 15th September)...

...and Sinister Stranger at St Bride's (on 11th October).

Then on 14th November, an all-new third instalment of the adventures of Gemma Lamb and friends will be launched, called Wicked Whispers at St Bride's. The cover for that one is still under wraps, but I'll share it with you as soon as I can.

TOP MARKS FOR COVER DESIGNER

If the style of the cover looks familiar, it's because it's the hand-drawn artwork of the wonderful book designer Rachel Lawston, who last year created the cover of my standalone romantic comedy novella, Mrs Morris Changes Lanes.

cover of Mrs Morris Changes Lanes

I'm really looking forward to seeing what Rachel comes up with for Wicked Whispers at St Bride's!

While I wait for that cover reveal, I'm already dreaming up ideas for the fourth book in the series, which I'll be starting to write very soon.

NEW PUBLISHER IS TOP OF THE CLASS

All of this series will be published on multiple platforms and in multiple formats by the energetic, expert team at Boldwood Books, including ebook, paperback, hardback and audio - so however you prefer to read, there'll be a format to suit your preference.

You'll be able to buy them online and from bookshops, and if you ever have any problems tracking down the one you're after, just let me know and I'll help you out.

MEANWHILE BACK IN WENDLEBURY BARROW...

In the meantime, I'm 15k words into my next novel, which will be the eighth Sophie Sayers adventure, set in the Cotswold village of Wendlebury Barrow. Its working title is A Fling with Murder, although that may well change by the time I've finished with it. The Fling is an allusion to its Scottish setting - Sophie is whisking Hector out of his comfort zone in the Cotswolds to take him to meet her parents in Inverness, a city I love very much. This series is also about to get a relaunch and to become available in multiple formats. More news on that soon...

Now back to my writing desk, my notebook and fountain pen... there's homework to be done before I can have my tea!