Notes From
The Cave
The blog of Thriller Author, A. D. Hay
featuring an exclusive look at her
behind-the-scenes misadventures.
TBN002, What’s On My TBR List | Thriller Novels I Want to Read
During August, I decided to devote much of my time to preparing my debut crime thriller novel, Missing for publication. So that meant, revising my fourth draft and preparing the manuscript for editing. At present, I’m eight books behind schedule. In the spirit of reading and getting back on track in this episode of the Thriller Novel Nerd Podcast, I’m going to share with you exactly what’s on my TBR list.
TBN001, I Have an Embarrassing Confession to Make!
As you can probably tell by the super spoiler-y title of this blog post, I’m a writer, and I’m in a reading slump. I find this super embarrassing because, at the moment, all I’m doing is writing, editing, and preparing my books for publication.
Introducing The Book Nerd Podcast
The Book Nerd is a virtual book club podcast that comes out every second Sunday. Each episode will be a maximum of 20 minutes Long. I wanted to make each show short and be respectful of your time because I get it, you’re busy and may not have a spare hour to listen to a podcast or watch a video.
Chapter Three of Entitled to Murder: A Cozy Mystery Short Story
I’m excited to share with you the third chapter of my very first cozy mystery short story titled, Entitled to Murder. Every Friday, over the next few weeks, I will release a chapter from the short story over on this blog. Every few days, I will release a chapter from the short story over on this blog throughout the next couple of weeks. If you want to receive notifications via email, sign up for updates by filling out your first name and email address in the opt-in form at the end of this post. By opting-in, you’ll receive an email from me, letting you know the latest chapter is available, plus a copy of the ebook when the story is finished.
Chapter Two of Entitled to Murder: A Cozy Mystery Short Story
I’m excited to share with you the second chapter of my very first cozy mystery short story titled, Entitled to Murder. Every Friday, over the next few weeks, I will release a chapter from the short story over on this blog. If you want to receive notifications via email, then sign up for updates by fill out your first name and email address in the opt-in form at the end of this post. By opting-in, you’ll receive an email from me, letting you know the latest chapter is available, plus a copy of the ebook when the story is finished.
Chapter One of Entitled to Murder: A Cozy Mystery Short Story
I’m excited to share with you the first chapter of my very first cozy mystery short story titled, Entitled to Murder. Every Friday, over the next few weeks, I will release a chapter from the short story over on this blog, and on Wattpad. The story is set on a sheep farm in Derbyshire, England, on October 31st, 1989. Yes, it’s set in the ’80s and early ’90s. Say goodbye to mobile phones, ADSL, and the world wide web. But, it’s not all that bad, in 1989 we had Lotus Notes, Nintendo Game and Watch, and good old landlines. I have to admit the lack of mobile phones with cameras and high-speed internet connections adds a bit of drama and conflict to the world of amateur sleuthing.
Get a Sneak Peek at a Chapter from James Lalonde, Book 2
In this blog post, I share the title and cover for James Lalonde Book 2, as well as an exclusive preview of two scenes from chapter six of the story. For the sake of clarity, the events of this novel occur a few months after the first book, Suspicion. However, you don’t need to read Suspicion to enjoy this new story.
The One with All the Hauls | BTS Vlog #19
As suggested by the title, this behind the scenes author vlog is packed to the brim with shopping hauls. Some bookish related while others are not And, I also share some exciting news about my upcoming publishing schedule.
An Important But Nonetheless Embarrassing Author Milestone | BTS Vlog #18
Watch this writing vlog to discover an embarrassing author-related moment for me, and I share exactly how much of a tech nerd, I really am.
My Writing Plans for Book Two and Cute Bookish Purchases | BTS Vlog #17
I’m excited to announce that I’ve published the first book in my James Lalonde Crime Thriller series, Missing. But, there’s no rest for wicked because this author has already started the final revisions on book two. Or, so I thought. In amongst all the work, I managed to squeeze in a bit of fun with two bookish related unboxings.
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 at 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?
£2.49 £0.99
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.
£2.49 £0.00
A Murdered Professor. A Priceless Manuscript Stolen.
Moments after James discovers a secret code on the pages of the manuscript, a hooded figure murders a professor and steals the manuscript from Oxford University.
While James is receiving medical attention, he discovers a secret about his past that he was never supposed to know. Instead of staying on bed rest, James decides to leave town and uncover the truth. But, the police put a hold on his passport, believing he organised the murder and theft. Before James leaves for New York, he must investigate the truth behind the lab break-in. As his investigation digs deeper, James discovers everyone has means, motive, opportunity and something to hide.
With an endless list of possible suspects, James must clear his name, find the manuscript, and identify the murderer before they strike again.
Duplicity is the second novel in A D Hay’s gripping amateur sleuth mystery series. If you like cloak and dagger mysteries filled with twists and turns, you’ll love this instalment from the series.
£3.99 £0.99
One Locked Room. A Dead Body. Five Suspects
It’s the opening of Clovervale Hall, an exquisite bed-and-breakfast in Oxfordshire, owned and operated by Professor Xavier Watson and his wife, Flora. And James Lalonde can’t believe his luck—he gets an all-expenses paid trip.
And he gets to write a story about the opening of the bed-and-breakfast for the Northampton Tribune. It’s going to be the easiest weekend of his life. Unfortunately, the weather is scorching hot, and a cyclonic storm sets in, trapping him and the guests inside the manor house.
But, there’s one thing he didn’t count on—a killer is on the loose, roaming the halls of Clovervale Hall. While cyclonic weather conditions rage on outside, James hunts down the killer. Lurking behind every corner, he discovers secrets and lies. But his investigations haven’t gone unnoticed. The killer has a watchful eye on James.
Can James solve the murder before the bodies start to pile up?
£2.49
What I’m Writing!
First Draft
6,430 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 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.
Publishing Updates
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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