Notes From
The Cave
The blog of Thriller Author, A. D. Hay
featuring an exclusive look at her
behind-the-scenes misadventures.
TBN007, A Giant Female Amateur Sleuths Book Haul
As you can guess by the spoiler-y title, I will share with you an embarrassingly long and overdue female amateur sleuth book haul. On a surprising note, I have managed to stop myself from reading these books. As always, I will endeavour to be as spoiler-free as possible.
TBN006, The Book Buying Tag
As you can tell by the super spoiler-y title of this video, I’ll be doing the Book Buying Tag created by Megan Olivier. Click the link on my blog to watch the original version of the tag on YouTube. Even though this is quite an old tag that was created back in 2013, I loved it so much that I clearly couldn’t resist filming it. And, there was one question that I struggled to answer. But, that’s was of no surprise to me.
Using Foreign Languages in Fiction and A Tour of my Animal Crossing Island | BTS Writing Vlog 022
Goals, for me at least, are constantly moving and adjusted to my ever-changing needs as a writer. And that’s where I started off this behind the scenes writing vlog. Just like all the others, I fell off the wagon, got back on, and went on to achieve a little bit of success.
Writing Distractions, A Book Cover Reveal, and Getting Vaccinated | BTS Writing Vlog 021
On Tuesday, I started the writing vlog off strong by setting a goal to reach the midpoint of the novella by the end of the week. Well, as you know, this is me setting a goal, and I got distracted by a few other important bright, shiny and new distractions. However, despite all of the distractions, I did make some progress, and as you’re aware, some progress is better than no progress.
A Folio Society Unboxing and Writing the First Book in a New Amateur Sleuth Mystery Series | BTS Writing Vlog 020
Hello, Booklovers! As suggested by the title, in this weekly writing vlog I'm going to take you along with me as I write The Candidate which is the first book in the Rookie Reporter amateur sleuth mystery series. If you want to know more about the series then...
A Writer Writes: I’m Writing a New Amateur Sleuth Mystery Series
Hello, Book Lovers! I hope you are all well and are staying safe. I have some exciting news to share with you. In between book launches of my James Lalonde mystery series, I've decided to write a series of twelve short stories featuring James...
I’m Back, About Me and Welcome to My YouTube Channel
Hello, Book Lovers! I hope you are all well and are staying safe. It’s been a year since I last shared a video on this channel. During the last twelve months, I’ve found it difficult to create content for this channel because of the lockdown. Now that...
Chapter Ten of Entitled to Murder: A Cozy Mystery Short Story
The end of act one has arrived. And, I’m excited to share this next chapter of my cozy mystery short story with you. Partly because I’m excited about writing this story and the series, and the story changes after this point. But, more on that later. One of the exciting things about writing within the murder mystery and cozy mystery genres is the research. Although, I suspect I might be on some time of watch list, thanks to my internet search history after the various research sessions I conducted. You’ll see what I mean when you get to the end of the chapter. Don’t worry, this story is still gore-free.
TBN005, A Giant Crime, Mystery, and Thriller Book Haul
As you can guess by the spoiler-y title I’m going to discuss the crime, mystery, and thriller books that I purchased over the last six months of 2019. Yes, some of these books have been sitting in a pile on the floor in my office for eighteen months. What can I say? I’m a chronic procrastinator.
Chapter Nine of Entitled to Murder: A Cozy Mystery Short Story
On Wednesday evening, I reached the end of the first act of my cozy mystery short story, Entitled to Murder. Yay! And, I’m excited to share with you, a revised draft of chapter ten. You’re one chapter away from a big plot reveal. But, don’t worry, I won’t spoil it for you.
Hello!
My Books
A Body is on the Lawn, and a Killer is on the Loose
When Will Thatcher, doesn’t show up for work, James Lalonde is forced to attend an afternoon tea with Alistair Carmichael in his place. The lovely autumn afternoon tea comes to an abrupt end when a body turns up on the lawn of the Carmichael Estate with strange markings on his neck.
But, something is missing, a priceless painting is off the wall. However, it’s no ordinary painting, it’s a Van Gogh purchased in an auction a few months ago. After discovering fresh tracks, most likely left by the murderer James realises the murder is still in the estate.
Can James figure out who the thief and murderer are before he or Alistair is next?
A Murdered Judge. A Dark Secret Silenced.
Rookie reporter James Lalonde is bored. And, he isn’t a journalist. He’s an all-round dogs-body, to editor-in-chief, Rhys Kelly. But, his luck has finally changed. After eavesdropping in on the morning editorial meeting, James learns he has his first-ever story. There’s one catch. If the story gets too complicated, it will be taken away from him and given to another journalist with more experience. Sure it’s a boring interview with the soon to be sworn-in magistrate, Albert Harrington, but it finally gets him out of his six-month slump as an editorial research assistant.
The following day, James turns up to his interview with Albert to discover a trail of blood smeared through Albert’s house, an empty safe, the murder weapon on the floor, but no body. Detective Anwar Khan turns up to the crime scene, puts two and two together, and believes James murdered the controversial magistrate. Can James clear his name and write his first-ever story before his editor takes it away from him?
$2.99
Excalibur is Missing. A Killer is on the Loose. One Reporter is Determined to Uncover the Truth.
James has a nose for trouble. But that’s nothing new. This time, things are different–his life is on the line. James is the chief editor of a small newspaper. It’s hardly captivating work. He’s bored. But all of that is about to change.
Late one evening, he returns home to discover his long-time girlfriend and journalist, Valentine, has left. Early the next morning, James fails to reallocate her assigned story. To avoid blank space in the culture section and losing his job, he decides to write the story on the local museum’s latest acquisition, Excalibur. But, there’s one thing he didn’t count on–Excalibur is missing, and a dead body is at the crime scene.
If you love gripping cloak and dagger mysteries with twists and turns, then you’ll love this first instalment in the James Lalonde Amateur Sleuth Mystery series. Get it now.
$2.99
What I’m Writing!
Final Draft
86,532 of 85,000 Words
Yesterday, I sent Duplicity off for proofreading. Yay! And I’ve set up preorders for this novel on Kobo, B&N, and Google Play with a release date of the 24th of November 2022. And, I will be making this novel available for free to my James Lalonde Insiders reader club. You can become an insider here.
Publishing Updates
First Draft
0 of 60,000 Words
I’ve decided to add an extra book between the second book and the start of the byline series, where James arrives in New York. Book Three will be set in a 24-hour period in London. This novel will be available in ebook on all major ebook retailers by the end of 2022. And the paperback editions soon after. I will be making this novel available for free to my James Lalonde Insiders reader club. You can become an insider here.
Revised Draft
112,960 of 99,000 Words
Book Four in the James Lalonde series needs one final round of revisions before I can hand it off to my editor. This longer novel will be published on all major ebook retailers in early 2023. And the paperback editions soon after. I will be making this novel available for free to my James Lalonde Insiders reader club. You can become an insider here.
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