Approaching the murder mystery/thriller/crime fiction genre from every viewpoint from both sides of the Atlantic: reader, writer, editor, agent, librarian.
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Contributors
Donna Fletcher Crow
Donna Fletcher Crow (US) is the author of forty-some books, mostly novels dealing with the history of British Christianity. She is the author of The Monastery Murders series; The Lord Danvers Victorian True-Crime series; The Elizabeth & Richard literary mysteries, GLASTONBURY,A Novel of the Holy Grail and more.
www.donnafletchercrow.com
Fay Sampson
Fay Sampson (UK) is a writer of adult and children's fiction and non-fiction, including A MALIGNANT HOUSE, #2 in the Susie Fewings series, a British Crime Club Pick.
http://www.faysampson.co.uk
Book Awards— A Great Antidote to Depression
By Fay Sampson ~ May 14, 2013
A week or two ago I was delighted to get an email from my editor at Lion
telling me that The Hunted Hare had won the Christians Together Resources award for Fiction Book of the Year. I’d had fun researching it in Wales and writing it, but it was extra good to know that others had enjoyed it too.
Hudson, but the award makes a wonderful start for the new imprint Lion Fiction, launched in March. I am hoping that it will give an extra boost to its sequel, Death on Lindisfarne, published under that new imprint in April.Fay Sampson (UK) is a writer of adult and children's fiction and non-fiction, including A MALIGNANT HOUSE, #2 in the Susie Fewings series, a British Crime Club Pick.
http://www.faysampson.co.uk
Ascension Day in Fact and Fiction
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ May 9, 2013
Ascension Day, commemorating the bodily ascent of Christ into Heaven, 40 days after Easter, is one of the most joyous feast days in the Christian calendar. The celebration is always accompanied by lovely hymns such as "Hail Thee, Festival Day" and "Hail the Day that Sees Him Rise." And on one very special Ascension Day I was in the monastery which serves as a model for the Community of the Transfiguration where Felicity is studying and got to experience standing at the foot of the tower and hearing the ordinands far above me sing in the morning, just as Felicity does in my newest release in the Monastery Murders— AN UNHOLY COMMUNION.
Fortunately, my morning didn’t end with the drama Felicity’s did. Here’s a sample:
Felicity stood alone in the peaceful garden, gazing upward just as that band of disciples must have done on the hill outside Jerusalem on the first Ascension morning. Trying to picture what that first morn would have been like, Felicity’s mind scrolled through the artists’ interpretations she had seen all the way from full-length paintings of a ghostly, white-draped Christ floating in the air, to a silver gilt plastic cloud with just the nail-pierced soles of Jesus’ feet poking through. Her favorite depiction of all, though, was one she had seen once in some cathedral with the fully Christ looking back down through the clouds, his hand raised in blessing, appearing for all the world as if he were waving to her.
And you can read the rest of it here: http://ning.it/11tcd4m
Felicity wasn’t sure whether she was gesturing to the ascended Christ or to her fellow ordinands as she flung her arm upward. "Blessed day to be hallowed forever;/ Day when our risen Lord Rose in the heavens to reign." At the end of the song the jubilant singers leant over the parapet shouting and ringing their bells until Felicity wanted to shout at them to be careful— a warning that she herself needed to heed as her vigorous waving almost caused her to lose her footing on the steep hillside covered with wet grass.
The tower-top choir began, "Hail the Day that Sees Him Rise, . . . Christ, awhile to mortals given, Alleluia!/ Reascends His native heaven, Alle— "
The final Alleluia never registered in Felicity’s ears. It was extinguished by a much nearer shriek. Her own.
The scream reverberating in Felicity’s ears tore a second time from her throat as she watched in horrifying slow motion a cassock-clad figure from the back of the choir catapult across the parapet and arc over the side of the tower.
The singing must have continued, as no one on the tower appeared to have seen the terrifying spectacle. But Felicity heard no music, only the shuddering thud as the body hit the earth. Then, appallingly, rolled down the steep hill to come to rest at Felicity’s feet.
Donna Fletcher Crow (US) is the author of forty-some books, mostly novels dealing with the history of British Christianity. She is the author of The Monastery Murders series; The Lord Danvers Victorian True-Crime series; The Elizabeth & Richard literary mysteries, GLASTONBURY,A Novel of the Holy Grail and more.
www.donnafletchercrow.com
For God and St. George!
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ April 23, 2013
The historic George, patron saint of England, is much disputed, but he was most likely a soldier who was martyred at the beginning of the Diocletian persecutions. There are many explanations of the sources of the legends of his slaying a dragon but I like to apply it symbolically to his slaying the dragon of evil by standing strong for his faith.
At least, that's how I portrayed the story in the St. George section GLASTONBURY, of my epic grail
search novel, just released in an all-new print edition http://ning.it/10wKkIb
And GLASTONBURY, The Novel of The Holy Grail on ebook: http://ning.it/10wL9Rh
The crowd has gathered for George's execution. We see it all through the eyes of his fellow centurion Valerius:
Donna Fletcher Crow (US) is the author of forty-some books, mostly novels dealing with the history of British Christianity. She is the author of The Monastery Murders series; The Lord Danvers Victorian True-Crime series; The Elizabeth & Richard literary mysteries, GLASTONBURY,A Novel of the Holy Grail and more.
www.donnafletchercrow.com
Bargain Offers for The Monastery Murders
By Donna Fletcher Crow ~ April 21, 2013
AN UNHOLY COMMUNION will be getting a lot of attention in the next two weeks. This newly released installment in the Monastery Murders finds Felicity and Antony leading a group of young people on an historical philgrimage through mystical Wales. All is as idylic as Antony promised Felicity it would be until the lurking shadows that seem to have been following them take on more substantial form. And then they find a body face down in a holy well. Many of the websites that will be reviewing AN UNHOLY COMMUNION and posting interviews and articles from the author (me) will also be hosting giveaways. I'll try to keep up with promoting these giveaways so my readers will have plenty of opportunities to win. Also, my publisher has planned special promotions of the first two books in the series so readers can enjoy all of Felicity and Antony's adventures. A VERY PRIVATE GRAVE, first escapade in detecting as they chase and are chased by murderers across northern England, taking them to Whitby, the Holy Isle of Lindisfarne, Durham, and other places in a desperate attempt to save a fabled treasure will be free on Kindle on April 25 and 26 and available for the special price of $1.99 April 27-May 1.
In A DARKLY HIDDEN TRUTH, book 2 in the series, a search for a missing icon mirrors Felicity's search for dirction in her life. Should she become a nun? And how will the murder of a dear friend affect Antony's life? Will he be the next victim? You can find the answers for free May 2-3 and for only $1.99 May 4-9
Donna Fletcher Crow (US) is the author of forty-some books, mostly novels dealing with the history of British Christianity. She is the author of The Monastery Murders series; The Lord Danvers Victorian True-Crime series; The Elizabeth & Richard literary mysteries, GLASTONBURY,A Novel of the Holy Grail and more.
www.donnafletchercrow.com
Congratulations, Fay! yes, the writing life certainly has its ups and downs--but winning a major award is definitely one of the ups! Well deserved.
-Donna, May 14, 2013,