Pens, Hedgehogs and Special Editions

More furious book-related activities

Hello there,

The pen is mightier than the sword.

—Edward Bulwer-Lytton

Thanks to Sean for sending that quote to me - a reminder that words have power and should be wielded with care. Well-chosen words can hurt or heal, obfuscate or explain, spread shadows or bring light.

But then, I would say that, wouldn’t I? Words are my stock in trade, and there’s scarcely a minute in the day when they aren’t whizzing about in my mind. Sometimes words are my way to solve problems, at other moments they conspire to raise a smile, but there are definitely times when, not to put too fine a point on it, they’re up to mischief.

I always enjoy a pun or a play on words, and I tend to store them away. Today’s quote. for example, reminds me that I saw one wag online suggest that the prevalence of penfish explains why we have so few swordfish.

What? Is that a groan I hear?

I come up with my own jokes now and then, but I tend to forget them. I should write them down, I know, especially since they’d be a fun addition to the Notes section on substack - it’s like social media but with no ads and no awful algorithm that feeds on outrage.

For instance, here’s one of my notes:

I occasionally repost notes from others if I find them entertaining. The section is here:

In a moment, I’ll move on to the photos, but first some words of thanks.

Thank you very much to this new paying member:

Harriette.

I’m raising a mug of Yorkshire tea in your honour, and your postcard and bookplate are in the mail. Thank you very much.

Care to join in? You can upgrade for only one month if you wish.

There are still some lovely people sending support on ko-fi.com, and I do appreciate your kindness, but you may like to switch to supporting me via substack instead - it keeps things neat.

Featured Photos

Three ways to enjoy the photos: a collage in the email, separate images in the substack app, an interactive gallery in the online post.

Photos from Devon in March

A visitor to our garden, probably coming out of hibernation. Primroses and the local lane, still looking a bit wintry. A few seaside scenes from Teignmouth on a windy day.

The train line runs right along the coast for a stretch, making this a lovely journey by rail, although prone to storm damage.

More photos soon. Until then, happy reading.

Behind the Scenes

I’m recording these videos as a thank you to paying members. There is a free preview via the ‘Read the full story‘ link below, and that gives a flavour.

Book News

A Shamefaced Murder

This upcoming book is back from the editor, so it’s almost ready. I’ve been looking at the possibility of launching it via Kickstarter so that I can create a limited edition deluxe hardcover at the same time, as well as signed books. For those not in the know, Kickstarter is a crowd funding platform enabling creators to release products that would otherwise be too expensive and/or time consuming to make.

So I’m talking about a sumptuous hardcover with foil on the jacket and the sleeve, printed endpapers, sprayed edges, and a ribbon bookmark.

There’d also be paperbacks, signed copies and ebooks too.

I haven't decided yet, but if I go for it, I shall be shouting about it from the rooftops - Kickstarter projects have to hit their funding goals or nothing happens, so it’s all or nothing.

Amazonian Confusion?

In my last newsletter, I mentioned that my ebooks are available in libraries and many other stores around the world, but I’d like to make it clear that this is in addition to them being on Amazon. That said, it’s worth knowing that Amazon has recently changed its terms, and ebooks bought on a kindle are merely licensed to the user on a limited number of devices - the customer doesn't own the ebooks.

However you read your ebooks, the copies bought direct from me via my own store will work seamlessly.

On my store, you own the ebooks and they are transportable between devices and apps, now and in the future. Switch from Kindle to Kobo or Nook? No problem. Thanks to BookFunnel, you can download them from your BookFunnel library (created automatically and completely free ), or you can even read them in any browser or in the Bookfunnel app.

To temp you to try it, here’s a 15% Coupon Code to use when buying the ebook of A Must-Have Murder during April: VIP-MHM-APR

Signing Off

I’d better get back to work, swinging the pen with a thrust and a parry.

I’m making excellent headway with the new Devonshire Crime Thriller starring DC Spiller and set in the nineties. These books are much harder hitting than my mysteries, but it’s a change of pace for me and helps me to keep my writing muscles fresh.

I’m enjoying taking Spiller back to his younger days when he was keen as mustard and had a more positive outlook than when we meet him in the present day. A long career in policing seems to have taken its toll on the poor chap, but where would Dan and Alan be without him turning up to slap the cuffs on the criminals?

We shall see what happens. Each time I launch a book I ask myself whether I want to carry on the series. All I can tell you is that it would be hard to let Dan and Alan go.

And it would make a number of people very cross.

There’s bound to be a mystery out there somewhere, waiting to be discovered, isn’t there?

On that enigmatic note, I’ll leave you for now.

All the best.

Happy reading and take care,

Mikey