Hazards in Hampshire (A British Book Tour Mystery)by Emma Dakin
About Hazards in Hampshire
Hazards in Hampshire (A British Book Tour Mystery)
Cozy Mystery1st in Series
Camel Press (October 15, 2019)
Paperback: Number of Pages 190
ISBN-10: 1941890601ISBN-13: 978-1941890608Digital ASIN: B07V2K7QTB
Moving to a quiet English village should have been tranquil, but Claire Barclay learns that even an invitation to tea can be deadly. Who killed Mrs. Paulson, the president of the local Mystery Books Club? Was the motive for murder located in the archives of the book club? The members of the books club might have reason to want Mrs. Paulson’s out of the way. She had lived in the village all her life, been involved in many organizations and societies and knew many secrets of the villagers. Was one secret too dangerous for her to keep? She had been wealthy and left her money to a member of the club. Could the legatee have been impatient for her inheritance? Who cared enough to want her dead? Claire, an expert in solving problems in her job as a tour guide, decides to delve into the archives and into the lives of the villagers—and find out.
GUEST POST by Emma Dakin
What is the most rewarding aspect of cozy mysteries? Meeting all those imaginary characters who have such interesting lives. I enjoy Phryne Fisher’s wardrobe (Kerry Greenwood); I’d like to drink as much as
Angela Marchant (Clara Benson) with as little effect. I’d certainly like to have the faithful servants so many have to look after the housekeeping that somehow, in my house, is my job without any social conscience about difference in opportunities. I love living in those imaginary worlds where justice is served and protagonists are miraculously protected from death and poverty by their industry and tenacity. It’s lovely. It seems when I’m reading a novel that the world of the protagonist with its plot twists and turns unfolds easily, smoothly as if the writer woke up one morning and the story simply unfolded. The humour, pathos, challenges and resolution appear to be totally logical and intriguing as if they dropped onto the paper or into the ebook as a whole. Well, they did arrive that way to me, the reader, but not, to me the writer. As a writer, I spend hours with my protagonist, writing her back story, very little of which appears in the novel, writing her likes and dislikes, coming to terms with her ambitions, her strengths and her limitations. It takes days, weeks even. Then, I write about the people she loves and the people she meets. The setting is always in my mind when the character arrives. She belongs in that setting and I couldn’t move her. If I moved the setting (no publisher has ever asked me to do that. They must understand how difficult that would be). What would likely happen in that setting? From there, I start on the plot. I have been known to drive my friends and family crazy working out a plot, because I will suddenly have an idea about what might happen and need to write it down before I do anything else. Immediately. The idea might fly into the ether and I’ll never find it. Luckily, I usually have my iPad with me which has a note page. Since I type the notes, I can read them later. Scribbles on pieces of paper are useless, as I can’t read my own writing
When the first draft is finally completed, I feel as though I can now begin the novel. The first draft nails down the plot. The magic of writing comes in the re-write, and I totally love doing it. I don’t even mind doing it six or eight times. As long as the plot works—and I have worked very hard to make sure it does—then I know I can make it wonderful.
Can I explain all this to a first-time writer? Not all of it. The new authors I have met do not seem willing to completely overhaul their first draft. I’m not sure why. I don’t want to criticize too much as it is difficult to hear criticism of something you have worked hard on, but I would like to advise new authors to embrace that re-write. It can be fun. You already have the basis of the novel; the tough thinking is over. Now, you have the joy of making it better. Not flying with you? Well, I can sympathize, but it’s rare to write the best book on the first draft. Good luck.
About Emma Dakin
This is Emma Dakin’s first series, set in Britain the homeland of Emma’s grandparents. Emma channels her mother’s inherited English culture along with the attitudes and sayings of the modern Brits. She travels widely in England and at one point this May while travelling through the Yorkshire Moors she had all the tourists in a tour bus looking for a good place to hide a body. As Marion Crook, she has published many novels of adventure and mystery for young adult and middle grade readers as well as non-fiction for adults and young adults and non-fiction on social issues. Firmly in the cozy mystery genre now, and committed to absorbing the culture and changing world of Britain, she plans to enjoy the research and the writing of cozies.
Webpage/Blog emmadakinauthor.com
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TOUR PARTICIPANTS
November 11 – Reading Is My SuperPower – CHARACTER GUEST POST
November 11 – Readeropolis – SPOTLIGHT
November 12 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW
November 13 – Literary Gold - SPOTLIGHT
November 14 – Brooke Blogs - SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT
November 14 – The Pulp and Mystery Shelf – GUEST POST
November 15 – eBook Addicts - REVIEW, RECIPE
November 15 – Hearts & Scribbles - SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT
November 16 – Cinnamon, Sugar, and a Little Bit of Murder - REVIEW, RECIPE
November 16 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT
November 17 – A Blue Million Books – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
November 18 – StoreyBook Reviews – CHARACTER GUEST POST
November 19 – Carole's Book Corner – GUEST POST
November 19 – Book Club Librarian – REVIEW
November 20 – A Wytch's Book Review Blog - REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW
November 21 – That's What She's Reading - REVIEW, GUEST POST
November 21 – Laura's Interests - REVIEW
November 22 – Diane Reviews Books - REVIEW, RECIPE
November 23 – I Read What You Write - REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST
November 23 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – GUEST POST
November 24 – Celticlady's Reviews - SPOTLIGHT, EXCERPT
November 24 – Cozy Up With Kathy – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
